Alveoli: tiny air sacs present in the lungs that help in oxygen/blood exchange. Alveoli are the cells that are mostly affected by asbestosis
Asbestos: the name given to 6 naturally occurring fibrous minerals that are used in insulation, construction and various other industries for their fire resistant property
Asbestosis: scarring and damaging of the lung tissues caused by inhalation of asbestos fibers and dust or asbestos exposure
Benign: a condition that is not dangerous or life threatening
Biopsy: removal of the abnormal tissues or cells with help of a needle to check for cancerous growth in that particular area of the body
Bronchoscopy: a thin lighted tube called bronchoscope is inserted through the nose or mouth to examine the breathing passage at the entrance of lungs
Butchart staging system: staging system with I to IV stages, to judge the stages of mesothelioma cancer depending on the scarring of the tissues
Cancer: abnormal or uncontrolled cell growth that is caused by mutation of cellular DNA. Cancer is benign or malignant/fatal
Chemotherapy: a form of cancer treatment by drugs given in form of pills or injected in the veins. It helps to kill the cancerous cells
CT scan: a type of x-ray that takes cross sections pictures of the body and shows mesothelioma affected areas
Curative treatment: treatment that aims to produce a cure of the disease
Gene therapy: of mesothelioma treatment that affects the way the body recognizes cancer
Immunotherapy: a new kind of treatment that induces a pro-inflammatory response
Latency period: the time period between the actual exposure to a harmful agent like asbestos and the appearance of cancer symptoms like mesothelioma
Malignant: cancerous growth of cells that can prove fatal if not controlled on time
Mesothelium: tissues formed by the special cells lining the chest, abdominal cavities and lungs. Mesothelium produces a lubricating fluid that helps organs to move freely
Mesothelioma: a cancer of the lining of the lungs, chest and stomach caused by inhalation of asbestos dust and fibers or asbestos exposure
Metastasize: a cancerous growth that invades a healthy organ or tissue from an already affected organ
Multimodal therapy: use of more than one kind of treatments to kill the mesothelioma cells
Pericardium: the lining of the chest or the sac that contains the heart and produces fluid that allows the heart to beat easily
Peritoneum: the lining that surrounds the abdominal cavity or the stomach and secretes fluid needed to ensure proper movement of stomach and intestine
Pleura: the lining of the lungs that secretes a fluid which allows the lungs to move as they inhale and exhale
PET scan: (Positron Emission Tomography Scan); a procedure in which a small amount of radioactive glucose is injected in the body and a scanner is used to make detailed pictured of the area where glucose is injected to detect the cancer cells
Pleural effusion: accumulation of fluid between the lining of the lungs and the chest cavity that causes pain and shortness of breath
Radiation therapy: use of high energy rays to destroy the mesothelioma cells inside the body
Vermiculite: a naturally occurring mineral used for insulation and other purposes. Sometimes vermiculite is contaminated with asbestos that can cause asbestos related diseases
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