Mesothelioma asbestos cancer

Mesothelioma: asbestos related disease

Though minerals in many forms are helpful in many ways, some are deleterious to our health. Asbestos, for example, has proven to be one such mineral which has caused one asbestos related disease after another such as Mesothelioma.

Types of mesothelioma.

The 2 common types of mesothelioma are: Pleural mesothelioma (lung cancer) and peritoneal mesothelioma (abdomen organs). The survival time for a patient with diffuse malignant mesothelioma is from 4 to 24 months from the observance of the symptoms
For workers, neighbors, or people in the vicinity, coming into contact with airborne asbestos fibers can bring the risk of contracting an asbestos related disease like Mesothelioma. As asbestos gets crushed, particles of the smallest dimensions--those too small to be detected by the human eye--get released into the air. These particles are inhaled or ingested by the worker, by people within close proximity, and even by those at home...when the worker comes home with asbestos particles on his or her clothing.

Root cause of mesothelioma .

The asbestos related disease begins here, as the invasion of asbestos particles damages internal parts and organs: two layers of a thin membrane of cells (called mesothelial cells) cover and surround the lungs, the heart, the stomach, and other vital organs. When the person inhales or ingests the asbestos particles, the mesothelium (the cells) develop, divide, and multiply in unhealthy, abnormal ways, typically become destructive to tissues, cells, and organs--as a cancer...the asbestos related disease called Mesothelioma.

As you may have read about or heard about on specific ads for asbestos related disease, the first kind of person who may contract the disease of Mesothelioma is the one who experiences occupational exposure to asbestos. In insulation that is not damaged, broken, opened, or that is left in tact, there is no problem, but in the factory, the shipyard, the mines, at renovation sites and elsewhere--wherever asbestos fibers are freed into the air, wherever they are broken, sawed or cut into, etc., such workers are at risk for the asbestos-related disease.

Is it asbestos disease?

Just as disheartening is the chance of those who come into contact with the person who has been exposed to the asbestos fibers in the air, for they are likely to experience para-occupational exposure and are therefore also at risk, at another level, for asbestos-related diseases like Mesothelioma.

And as odd as it might seem, being so far away from the initial contact site, those who live or work near a place where asbestos has been released are also at risk for contracting an asbestos related disease by way of what is termed neighborhood exposure.

Though a ban in the mid-70s and the subsequent efforts to remove tons of existing asbestos-containing materials (a.k.a. ACM) have made people more aware, safer, and better protected, those originally exposed--millions between 1940 and 1980--have had to deal with such asbestos related diseases as Mesothelioma, lung cancer, and asbestosis. However, help is available...from environmental protection agencies, legal experts, and qualified medical professionals.

Stages of Mesothelioma Cancer

Mesothelioma cancer - Stages of Mesothelioma Cancer
What is mesothelioma?

One rare form of cancer is called Mesothelioma, a malignant tumor in the mesothelial tissues of the lungs and the abdomen, arising from the inhalation of asbestos. Its rarity is one of the reasons why a lot of people are not aware of this kind of fatal disease. In fact, many people die of Mesothelioma undiagnosed. Although there is now a growing awareness of the hazards of asbestos to health, still many have not heard of Mesothelioma and thus, have not understood its nature, cause, signs and treatment. Even some physicians find it hard to detect Mesothelioma because its symptoms are akin to other diseases like lung cancer and pneumonia. Furthermore, it takes decades for a patient who was exposed to asbestos to develop Mesothelioma — fifty years, at most.

First stage

Being unaware of Mesothelioma poses higher risks since it deters diagnosis and treatment. A person undergoing treatment must know the different stages of the cancer or the extent of the disease. Chances of recovering from Mesothelioma and the kind of treatment depend on the stage of the illness. There are basically two staging systems used for Pleural Mesothelioma (lungs): TNM system and Brighan system. These staging systems are also used in other kinds of cancers; however, the first is commonly used. There is no established method in determining the stage of the Peritoneal Mesothelioma cancer (abdominal) so the TNM system is used.

There are three variables in the TNM system: tumor, lymph nodes and metastasis. In the earliest stage of Mesothelioma, stage me, the malignant Mesothelioma cells start to grow and multiply only one layer of the pleura. The pleura are the membrane that encloses the lungs and lines the wall of the chest cavity. However, there are some instances wherein the pericardium (membrane that covers the heart) and diaphragm cover are already affected. In this case, the cancer patient is still in stage I Mesothelioma.

Second stage.

In the second stage, the two layers of the pleura are already affected by Mesothelioma. Take note, however, that in this stage, only one side of the body is affected. Normally, the pleura produces only small amount of lubricating fluid that allows easy expanding and contracting of the lungs. The excess fluid is absorbed by the blood and the lymph vessels so there's a balance between the amount of fluid produced and removed. During the second stage Mesothelioma, fluid starts to build up between the membrane of the lungs and the membrane of the chest wall, resulting to pleural effusion. The increase in the volume of fluid produced causes shortness of breath and chest pain. Other Mesothelioma cancer patients experience dry and persistent cough. Diagnosis of the pleural effusion is achieved through a chest x-ray.

Third stage.

Stage III Mesothelioma means that the malignant cells have already spread to the chest wall, esophagus and the lymph nodes on one part of the chest. The patient may suffer severe pain near the parts affected. When not treated immediately or when the Mesothelioma patient doesn't respond well to medication, the cancer may advance to the fourth stage. The fourth stage Mesothelioma is formidable since at this stage the Mesothelioma cells have penetrated into the bloodstream and other organs in the body like the liver, the bones and the brain. The lymph nodes on the other side of the chest may also be affected by Mesothelioma in stage IV.

Brigham staging system, on the other hand, determines whether the Mesothelioma can be surgically removed or not and whether the lymph nodes are affected or not. In stage I Mesothelioma, the lymph nodes are not yet affected and the patient can still recover through surgery. In stage II, surgery can still be executed but some lymph nodes have already been infiltrated by the cancer cells. In stage III, the heart and chest wall are already affected; thus, surgery is no longer advisable. The lymph nodes in this stage, however, may or may not be affected. In the final stage, stage IV Mesothelioma, cancer cells have already gone to the bloodstream and other parts of the body like the heart, brain, bone and liver. In most cases, a patient who has reached stage IV Mesothelioma only has four to twenty-four months to live.

Mesothelioma Cancer Guide

Mesothelioma - What Exactly Is Mesothelioma?

Mesothelioma the medical name for cancer of the lung or the abdomen lining, and is usually caused by exposure to asbestos.

Asbestos is a type of building material used in thermal insulation products and ceiling tiles. Asbestos usage peaked during the 1950s - 1970s, but during the late 1960s, concerns over the health consequences of asbestos exposure began to arise, thereby decreasing the amount of asbestos manufactured over the following two decades. But even though new measures where brought in to get rid of it, many schools and public buildings still contain asbestos.

Small asbestos fibers that enter the air do not evaporate and can remain suspended in the air for a long time. These fibers, when breathed into the body, are toxic.

The people most at risk are:

• People working in factories that manufacture asbestos are likely to have a high exposure to asbestos and are most at risk of developing asbestosis or mesothelioma.
• Family members of workers exposed to asbestos in the workplace are susceptible to exposure from asbestos dust brought home by the worker on his clothes or skin.
• Those who live in the vicinity of an asbestos manufacturing plant are also at risk.

Symptoms of mesothelioma

Symptoms of mesothelioma may not appear until between twenty and fifty years after exposure, which explains why so many new cases of this form of cancer are coming to light now. Many people, who haven't been in contact with asbestos for decades, are now showing symptoms of this dreadful disease.
As with many forms of cancer, mesothelioma can spread rapidly. Symptoms include shortness of breath, coughing, loss of weight, and chest pains. If it is diagnosed early enough, the tumor can be surgically removed, and with chemotherapy and radiation treatment, a full recovery is often possible.

Treatment for mesothelioma

However, in more advanced cases, cure is usually not possible. In such cases, chemotherapy and radiation treatment can be used alongside other pain relief treatments, to ease the symptoms. Where cure is not possible, the average survival time is between four and eighteen months, depending on the stage of the tumor and the general health of the patient.