
What Veterans With Mesothelioma Need To Know About Coronavirus
COVID-19 is a new type of virus that emerged in late 2019. This highly contagious disease attacks the body’s respiratory system, causing flu-like symptoms and, in rare cases, severe health problems.
As the coronavirus continues to spread, it is important to stay informed about the disease and its dangers. This is especially true if you have mesothelioma, an incurable asbestos-caused cancer.
Veterans with mesothelioma may be at a higher risk because:
- Mesothelioma and other types of cancer weaken the body’s immune system. This makes it harder to fight off a coronavirus infection. Cancer treatments can also reduce immune system function.
- About 75% of mesothelioma cases affect the lining of the lungs and cause breathing problems. Coronavirus attacks the respiratory system and can make it even harder to breathe. The virus can also cause other lung diseases like pneumonia and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).
- Most mesothelioma patients are diagnosed in their early 70s, and the risk of severe coronavirus complications increases in seniors. 80% of all coronavirus deaths in the U.S. were from those over the age of 65, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).