Diagnosis for Malignant Mesothelioma Cancer: Screening

Screening Methods to Identify Asbestos-Related Disease:

After a preliminary physical examination, the doctor may need to look inside your chest cavity with a thorascope for accurate diagnosis. During this thoracoscopy procedure, a cut will be made in your chest and a small piece of tissue (biopsy) may removed for examination. While you may feel some pressure, there is usually no pain.

Another special tool that may be used is the peritoneoscope, which allows for examination inside your abdomen. This instrument is inserted into an opening made in the abdomen, and a biopsy specimen may also be taken.

If the presence of fluid is indicated by either of these procedures, the doctor may drain it by inserting a needle into the affected areaa. Removal of chest fluid is called thoracentesis; removal of abdominal fluid is call paracentesis.

Other screening methods for diagnosis of asbestos-related disease include various imaging tests. In addition to X-rays, methods include magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or positron emission tomography (PET). A more recent and promising screening method is the computed tomography (CT) scan.

Computed Tomagraphy / CT Scan:

Computed tomagraphy, or spiral CT scan, is a special radiographic technique that produces a clear cross-sectional image that allows a radiologist to see distinct aspects of the lung or pleura that are not readily apparent from the standard X-ray image. Recent studies (CHEST 2002;122:15-20 and MAYO CLIN PROC 2002;77:329-333) support the use of annual chest computed tomography (CT scans) exams as a valuable screening tool for people with a high risk of developing lung cancer, including mesothelioma cancer. There does appear to be conflicting assessment as to the cost-effectiveness of CT screening. A 2003 study by Johns Hopkins raises this concern about the cost-effectiveness of CT scans and states, "There is a downside to this, including high costs and possible harm to individuals who may unnecessarily get invasive procedures if the scan detects a benign lung nodule." A more recent study in Chest, 2003:124:614-621 comes to a different conclusion: "A baseline low-dose CT scan for lung cancer screening is potentially highly cost-effective and compares favorably to the cost-effectiveness ratios of other screening programs."

Mesothelioma - Big Payout Too Late

WORKING in clouds of asbestos dust came back to haunt former builder Stewart Beckworth decades later.

Mr. Beckworth, 63, who has asbestos-related lung cancer, has just won a large compensation payout from the James Hardie company but it provides little comfort for the father of nine. Mr. Beckworth, of Mt Martha, knows Mesothelioma will kill him but he is more worried about other problems confronting his devastated family.

His wife Ginny, 61, has much more than her husband's illness to cope with. She has a heartbreaking wait hoping for the green light to donate one of her kidneys to accountant son Nathan. Nathan Beckworth, 34, was born with cystic fibrosis and had a heart-lung transplant 14 years ago. He is one of the longest survivors of the operation but he suffered another blow when stricken with kidney failure. Only a transplant can now save his life but he must build up lung capacity for the operation.

The couple also care for Mrs. Beckworth's mother, 96, who has recently been seriously ill. "I'm angry this happened to me," Mr. Beckworth said. "But I'm also angry what it has done to my family. "I've got a lovely family and we love one another to death. I see those kids hysterical that dad's not going to be around to walk them down the aisle or to see the grandkids born. It's a terrible thing."

Mr. Beckworth sued James Hardie, claiming that although it knew its asbestos products were dangerous it did not to warn builders. Hardie's settled the case before it got to court but continued to deny liability. Mrs. Beckworth said waiting for the kidney transplant operation, coping with her sick mother and dealing with her husband's cancer was taking its toll. "It's awful. I thought to myself, 'please, I don't want three funerals'," she said. Mr. Beckworth had nothing but contempt for Hardie's.

"I'm a normal working man. I don't deserve to be poisoned by people like that," he said. Mr. Beckworth was a builder on the Mornington Peninsula for more than 40 years. All of his constructions until the late '70s contained asbestos cement sheeting. "I had no idea this dust was deadly," he said.

He was diagnosed with Mesothelioma in January and told he had six to 12 months to live. "I thought what am I going to do? I've got kids crying, I've got my wife crying, I'm a bit upset myself," he said. Mr. Beckworth's solicitor, Peter Gordon, a partner at Slater and Gordon, said his case was sadly not unusual.

He said more builders would develop Mesothelioma but another danger was to home renovators. "Stewart is one of a generation of Australians who have been exposed this way by Hardies but it could be any one of us in the future," he said.

Mesothelioma

What is asbestos?

"Asbestos" is the name given to a group of minerals that occur naturally as masses of strong, flexible fibers that can be separated into thin threads and woven. These fibers are not affected by heat or chemicals and do not conduct electricity. For these reasons, asbestos has been widely used in many industries. Four types of asbestos have been commonly used:

Chrysotile, or white asbestos (curly, flexible white fibers), which accounts for about 90 percent of the asbestos currently used in industry; Amosite (straight, brittle fibers that are light gray to pale brown in color); Crocidolite, or blue asbestos (straight blue fibers); and Anthophyllite (brittle white fibers). Chrysotile asbestos, with its curly fibers, is in the serpentine family of minerals. The other types of asbestos, which all have needle-like fibers, are known as amphiboles.

Asbestos fiber masses tend to break easily into a dust composed of tiny particles that can float in the air and stick to clothes. The fibers may be easily inhaled or swallowed and can cause serious health problems.