What does asbestos have to do with mesothelioma?
The only known cause of mesothelioma in the United States is previous
exposure to asbestos fibers. Asbestos manufacturers knew about the hazards of
asbestos seventy years ago - but they kept this knowledge to themselves. The
first warnings given to workers exposed to asbestos were in the mid-1960s, and
they were terribly inadequate. Even today, workers are not always told they are
working around asbestos and are at risk for asbestos disease.
What can someone with mesothelioma do?
- Seek out the best and most up-to-date information.
- Seek out the best medical care.
- Early screening for mesothelioma diagnosis.
- Stay in close contact with your doctor.
- Consider whether or not you want to bring a lawsuit because of this
asbestos-related injury.
- Remember that resources are available to you through community and
medical support groups, asbestos victims' organizations, your place of
worship, as well as your family and friends.
How common is mesothelioma?
Although reported incidence rates have increased in the past 20 years,
mesothelioma is still a relatively rare cancer. About 2,000 new cases of
mesothelioma are diagnosed in the United States each year. Mesothelioma occurs
more often in men than in women and risk increases with age, but this disease
can appear in either men or women at any age.
What are the risk factors for mesothelioma?
Working with asbestos is the major risk factor for mesothelioma. A history of
asbestos exposure at work is reported in about 70 percent to 80 percent of all
cases. However, mesothelioma has been reported in some individuals without any
known exposure to asbestos.
Asbestos is the name of a group of minerals that occur naturally as masses of
strong, flexible fibers that can be separated into thin threads and woven.
Asbestos has been widely used in many industrial products, including cement,
brake linings, roof shingles, flooring products, textiles, and insulation. If
tiny asbestos particles float in the air, especially during the manufacturing
process, they may be inhaled or swallowed, and can cause serious health
problems. In addition to mesothelioma, exposure to asbestos increases the risk
of lung cancer, asbestosis (a noncancerous, chronic lung ailment), and other
cancers, such as those of the larynx and kidney.
Smoking does not appear to increase the risk of mesothelioma. However, the
combination of smoking and asbestos exposure significantly increases a person's
risk of developing cancer of the air passageways in the lung.
Who is at increased risk for developing mesothelioma?
Asbestos has been mined and used commercially since the late 1800s. Its use
greatly increased during World War II. Since the early 1940s, millions of
American workers have been exposed to asbestos dust. Initially, the risks
associated with asbestos exposure were not known. However, an increased risk of
developing mesothelioma was later found among shipyard workers, people who work
in asbestos mines and mills, producers of asbestos products, workers in the
heating and construction industries, and other tradespeople. Today, the U.S.
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) sets limits for acceptable
levels of asbestos exposure in the workplace. People who work with asbestos wear
personal protective equipment to lower their risk of exposure.
The risk of asbestos-related disease increases with heavier exposure to
asbestos and longer exposure time. However, some individuals with only brief
exposures have developed mesothelioma. On the other hand, not all workers who
are heavily exposed develop asbestos-related diseases.
There is some evidence that family members and others living with asbestos
workers have an increased risk of developing mesothelioma, and possibly other
asbestos-related diseases. This risk may be the result of exposure to asbestos
dust brought home on the clothing and hair of asbestos workers. To reduce the
chance of exposing family members to asbestos fibers, asbestos workers are
usually required to shower and change their clothing before leaving the
workplace.
People considering clinical trials may be interested in the NCI booklet
Taking Part in Clinical Trials: What Cancer Patients Need To Know. This booklet
describes how research studies are carried out and explains their possible
benefits and risks. The booklet is available by calling the CIS, or from the NCI
Publications Locator Web site at
http://cancer.gov/publications on the Internet.
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Mesothelioma:
Questions and Answers - Part 6b
If the cancer is in the chest,
the doctor may perform a thoracoscopy. In this procedure, the doctor makes a
small cut through the chest wall and puts a thin, lighted tube called a
thoracoscope into the chest between two ribs. Thoracoscopy allows the doctor to
look inside the chest and obtain tissue samples. If the cancer is in the
abdomen, the doctor may perform a peritoneoscopy. To obtain tissue for
examination, the doctor makes a small opening in the abdomen and inserts a
special instrument called a peritoneoscope into the abdominal cavity. If these
procedures do not yield enough tissue, more extensive diagnostic surgery may be
necessary.
If the diagnosis is Mesothelioma, the doctor will want to learn the stage (or
extent) of the disease. Staging involves more tests in a careful attempt to find
out whether the cancer has spread and, if so, to which parts of the body.
Knowing the stage of the disease helps the doctor plan treatment.
Mesothelioma is described as localized if the cancer is found only on the
membrane surface where it originated. It is classified as advanced if it has
spread beyond the original membrane surface to other parts of the body, such as
the lymph nodes, lungs, chest wall, or abdominal organs.
Diagnosis for
Malignant Mesothelioma Cancer: Screening
Contact the Cancer Information
Service
The National Cancer Institute offers an informational and educational service
known as the Cancer Information Toll-Free Telephone Service (CIS). Information
is available in Spanish and English, and is up-to-date and easy to understand.
You can get information about recent scientific advances, cancer programs,
prevention, early detection, and other topics.
Contact the CIS, toll-free in the United States and Puerto Rico, at
1-800-4-CANCER (1-800-422-6237), Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.,
your time.
Mesothelioma -
Emerging Mesothelioma Treatments
Mesothelioma - Photodynamic
Therapy - Part 2
Photodynamic therapy is a new
approach to treating Mesothelioma cancer and is based on using light to kill the
cancer cells. In photodynamic therapy, a drug is first administered
intravenously that targets and renders the cancerous cells more sensitive in a
number of days.
The drug is easily eliminated by normal cells, ensuring that they will not be
harmed when light therapy is given. After the cells have been given the proper
time of exposure to the drug, a special frequency of light laser beams are
directed towards the Mesothelioma cancer with the intent to eradicate it from
the body without having to use more invasive methods.
Although there are occasional cases of eye sensitivity and nausea and/or
vomiting, the main side effect of photodynamic therapy is skin sensitivity after
the procedure is completed.
More information on photodynamic therapy can be found on new Web site,
Mesothelioma Help ( http://www.mesohelp.net/
) The Web site contains several informative articles, including a primer on
emerging treatments for Mesothelioma.
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