It is important that you understand mesothelioma is contracted and treated if you are at risk of developing the condition. While mesothelioma is a rare cancer, it is increasingly diagnosed as people come out of the 20-50 year latency period of the disease. People who worked or lived near companies that made extensive use of asbestos during the 1950s through 1980s are fast approaching the age in which the disease presents itself, around 60 years old. If you are experiencing symptoms of mesothelioma and are at risk for having been exposed to asbestos, you should consult with a physician well versed in mesothelioma.
Getting to Know Asbestos
Asbestos exposure is nearly the only way you can contract mesothelioma. Asbestos is an incombustible, chemical resistant mineral that was used for fireproofing and insulating buildings, ships, automobile parts and chemical filters. The fibrous mineral is as strong as steel and heat resistant which made it invaluable to many industries. The fibers could be woven to create strong, fire resistant cloth, ropes and coverings. The fibers degrade infinitely slowly which means the materials constructed using asbestos remains useful for a very long time.
There are two types of asbestos, amphibole and chrysotile. Of the two, amphibole fibers are considered more toxic because they stay in the lungs for a longer period of time allowing them to affect the cells of the lungs. Within the two groups there are several different types of fibers with differing densities, flexibilities and sizes which cause variation in their toxicity.
Asbestos and Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma is caused by the inhalation of asbestos fibers. The link between asbestos inhalation and the formation of cancer was reported as far back as 1925 and was widely known within the industries that made use of the mineral. Research proved even then that prolonged exposure to asbestos fibers increases the incidence of cancer diagnosis.
Two thirds of all mesothelioma cases are for patients who were exposed through working with or around asbestos. Of the remaining third, most exposure is either from relatives who worked with asbestos (and brought the fibers home on their clothes) and people who lived near asbestos processing plants. A very small number of cases have little or no risk factors but can be attributed to travel (asbestos was used in ship building), living or working in buildings insulated with asbestos and even household appliances that made use of asbestos.
When asbestos is damaged or disturbed the fibers can be released into the air and inhaled. The inflammation caused in the lungs causes scar tissue to build up and is a prime location for the formation of mesothelioma. They can also penetrate the lungs and make their way to the lining the surrounds the lungs known as the pleura.
The changes that these fibers cause in the cells of the lung tissue and the pleura allow mesothelioma to develop. The fibers can also be swallowed and get stuck inside the digestive system. The locations where they are imbedded become inflamed and allow cancer to develop. As in the lungs, the fibers in the digestive system can travel through the tissue and reach the peritoneum (the membrane the covers the abdominal organs) and develop into mesothelioma.
Causes of Mesothelioma: Occupations with Asbestos
Since mesothelioma is largely due to occupational exposure, it is important to be aware of the industries that made extensive use of the materials. You should consult with a doctor about your risk of mesothelioma diagnosis if you, or someone you lived with, worked in any of the following industries:
- construction
- plumbing
- electrical
- boiler making
- ship building
- demolition
Also, if you lived near asbestos factories or worked in a building known to have had asbestos used in its construction, you should have yourself checked out.
Finding and Treating Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma is a difficult disease to diagnose because the symptoms tend to match those of other, less lethal, diseases and sometimes have symptoms associated with aging. In the case of pleural mesothelioma (found in the lung lining) the symptoms include, shortness of breath, wheezing hoarseness, coughing and pain in the chest. Peritoneal mesothelioma (found in the lining of the abdomen) can include abdominal pain, bowel irregularity or obstruction and swelling. Other symptoms that present themselves with either form of mesothelioma include sweating, fatigue, weight loss and loss of appetite.
If you have worked in or lived near asbestos-using industries, you should visit your physician to have a number of tests done to determine whether or not you have mesothelioma. Like other cancers, when it is detected earlier there is a greater chance for successful treatment and extended longevity. Mesothelioma is currently incurable, but research is on to find the best treatment and a possible cure. The tests you should expect to have done to diagnose mesothelioma include: a chest x-ray. |
CT scan – you are inserted into a machine that takes a series of 3-D pictures of the inside of your body. While painless, some people experience anxiety related to the small space in which the exam takes place or the minute amount of harmless radiation that is used. The exam takes between 10 and 30 minutes to complete. You will be asked not to eat or drink for an hour before the exam and may be given an injection or drink that puts a form of dye inside your body to allow any abnormalities to show up on the scan.
biopsy – the doctor will remove a small sample of tissue from the pleural or peritoneal membrane. You will be given a local anesthetic to numb the area and the doctor will use a special needle to extract a portion of possibly affected tissue. The tissue is then sent to a lab for analysis.
aspiration of the pleural or peritoneal membrane – if you have any fluid in your chest or abdomen, the doctor will remove a sample of the fluid using a needle. The fluid drawn from your body will be sent to a lab for examination to locate the presence of any cancer cells. |
