Mesothelioma and Asbestos

Mesothelioma is an uncommon form of cancer, commonly linked with prior exposure to asbestos. In this disease, cancerous cells grow in the protective lining (mesothelium) covering the internal organs of the body. This disease is commonly located in the outer lining of the chest cavity and lungs (pleura). It can also be found in the lining of the abdominal cavity (peritoneum), or the sac that envelops the heart (pericardium). People who contract this disease have invariably worked on jobs that put them in close contact with asbestos.

One of the characteristics of mesothelioma is that symptoms can appear very late, sometimes 50 years following first contact with asbestos. Symptoms of pleural mesothelioma, the disease’s most common form, include discomfort in the chest and difficulty in breathing. Symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma, another form of the disease, include weight loss, abdominal swelling and pain. Blood clotting, bowel obstruction and fever are other symptoms of this type of mesothelioma. If the malignancy has spread to other body parts, then symptoms may include pain, face swelling and difficulty in swallowing food. However, it is important to remember that these symptoms are not exclusive to this disease; they can happen with other less severe conditions as well.

Over the past two decades, the rate of mesothelioma cases has gone up. Still, in the larger picture, it is a relatively rare cancer. The percentage of cases largely depends on the populations’ exposure to asbestos. In the United States, it has been reported that that frequency may have hit the highest point at 15 per million in 2004. This trend is thought to continue in other parts of the world. Interestingly, mesothelioma is more common in men than women. The risk of this disease augments with age, but a person of any age or gender can be affected. About one-fifth to one-third of all mesothelioma cases are peritoneal.

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Mesothelioma Treatment

Typically, there are three main categories for treatment of mesothelioma: established therapies, experimental treatments, and holistic therapies. Often these treatments are not isolated-or used alone-but rather as a combination of treatments.

Conventional Mesothelioma Treatments include therapies such as surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy drugs such as cisplatin or alimta.

Experimental Mesothelioma Treatments, such as clinical trials, have shown encouraging results to date. Such treatments include photodynamic therapy, gene therapy, and immunotherapy, among others.

Holistic Therapies for Mesothelioma also known as alternative therapies, include methods such as massages, acupuncture, TENS therapy, aromatherapy, meditation, and yoga. Holistic mesothelioma therapies are a way in which to relieve the side effects associated with established therapies.

These and many other treatments may be available to you at the mesothelioma treatment center where you are being treated, however, it is also important to discuss all of the various options you might have with your doctor.

Mesothelioma Diagnosis

Mesothelioma is almost always caused by exposure to asbestos. As with most cancers, early diagnosis greatly increases the efficacy of treatment. Unfortunately, due to the way it forms, mesothelioma may not manifest until anywhere between 30 and 40 years after the initial exposure.

Mesothelioma symptoms are generally non-specific and resemble the signs of more common illness, such as flu, bronchitis, viral pneumonia and heart disease. Some common symptoms include shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, excessive coughing, chest or abdomen pain, weight loss and loss of appetite, among many others.

Usually it is the most common symptoms – breathing difficulties and shortness of breath – which prompt patients to consult with their doctor. It’s crucial to disclose any history of exposure to asbestos, even if it occurred decades before, as this information can aid doctors in their diagnosis. Such disclosure can also prevent uncomfortable and expensive tests as well as making treatment more effective.

Mesothelioma Symptoms

In their early stages, mesothelioma symptoms are vague and mild. They gradually become more severe as the illness progresses. Asbestos fibers can remain in the body for decades, slowly causing cellular damage that may result in mesothelioma cancer 20 to 50 years after asbestos exposure took place. During the final stages of this long latency period, the undetected cancer may spread to other parts of the body, but the most common symptoms are directly related to local effects of the tumor.

Because pleural mesothelioma is the most prevalent form of the cancer, most information about mesothelioma symptoms refers to the pleural subtype. Although observations of the other forms of mesothelioma have been limited by the cancer’s infrequent occurrence, a unique set of symptoms has been established for each type of the disease.

To get an accurate diagnosis, patients are encouraged to arm themselves with information about symptoms, doctors and the disease of mesothelioma. For a list of the top mesothelioma specialists as well as a complete list of symptoms, fill out our form below for a complimentary informational packet. A packet will be sent to you overnight.

Asbestos and the Development of Mesothelioma

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that was incorporated into thousands of products throughout the majority of the 20th century. Common items that contained the hazardous substance included insulation, roofing materials, drywall, ceiling and flooring tiles, cements, valves, seals and other construction products. Asbestos was primarily used because it was cheap, fire-resistant and had insulating capabilities.

Mesothelioma may develop after someone has either inhaled or ingested asbestos fibers. This most often occurs when asbestos-containing materials are damaged or disturbed and those in the area fail to wear protective equipment. Once the microscopic fibers that make up asbestos have entered the body, they typically attach to the lining of the lungs and become lodged. Overtime, these fibers create enough irritation and inflammation to cause tumors to develop. Unfortunately, these tumors do not cause symptoms until they have reached an advanced stage of development, leaving a person with limited treatment options and a poor mesothelioma prognosis.

What is Mesothelioma?

Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that can arise in the mesothelial lining of the lungs, heart or abdomen. Some cases have even been reported to develop in the lining of the testicles as well. The three major types of mesothelioma are called pleural mesothelioma (lung), pericardial mesothelioma (heart) and peritoneal mesothelioma (abdomen).

Combined, these cancers affect 2,000 to 3,000 people in the United States each year. Receiving a diagnosis can be difficult due to the similarity of symptoms to other, more common conditions and doctors may overlook mesothelioma as a diagnosis. Another contributing factor that makes these cancers difficult to diagnose is the severe latency period of symptoms. From the time of someone’s initial exposure to asbestos, the primary cause of mesothelioma, signs of development may take as long as 20 to 50 years to arise.

In an effort to help patients understand mesothelioma, Asbestos.com offers a complimentary packet that contains treatment options and other helpful resources tailored to your specific diagnosis. The packet also covers the nation’s top mesothelioma doctors and cancer centers, as well as financial assistance options to help cover medical costs. To receive your packet in the mail, please enter your information below.