Are you at risk of Mesothelioma?If you are above 40 and have ever been exposed to asbestos continuously for more than 2 months in last 15-40 years, then you are at risk of Mesothelioma. It is a rare but deadly cancer of membrane cells, which covers some vital parts of our body like lungs, abdominal cavity and heart, called mesothelium. Like in other cancers, in mesothelioma the membrane cells divide ruthlessly causing abnormal growth, which ultimately damage the lining of vital organ such as lungs and abdomen.

Causes of Mesothelioma

Asbestos a mineral, used in different processes including building, shipyard and manufacturing in the days of World War II and for a few more decades, is the main cause of Mesothelioma. Researches have proved that those who have worked in asbestos related industries are mostly at risk of Mesothelioma. The minute asbestos particles go into human body through nose or mouth during inhalation, talking or any other reason. They reach lungs or abdomen and damage the lining, causing Mesothelioma. Due to its long latency period, mesothelioma can attack you even 15 - 40 years after the inhalation of asbestos particles. Even the family members of person working in asbestos related industries could be vulnerable to mesothelioma.

Treatments for Mesothelioma

Because Mesothelioma is a newly found disease, many doctors may not be able to diagnose it. However, if you have a known history of asbestos exposure you should ask your doctor to look for the symptoms of this disease. The good news is that there is a treatment for mesothelioma in the early stages. Some treatment options for mesothelioma cancers are surgical removal of the effected tissues; chemotherapy and radiotherapy. However, the prognosis of later stage mesothelioma patients is bleak and the average survival time after diagnosis is 12-24 months.

Mesothelioma Compensations

The owners of Asbestos related industries were quite aware of the health hazards of asbestos. However, they persisted with its use without issuing any warnings or taking steps for avoiding the health hazards. This is the reason why US courts have awarded huge sums as compensations to the Mesothelioma patients/families by the companies/persons responsible for causing asbestos exposure.

Mesothelioma is a form of lung cancer, predominantly caused by exposure to asbestos fibers. In fact, mesothelioma is a cancer of the mesothelium, the sheath that covers major organs such as the lungs (pleurum), the heart (pericardium) and the abdominal cavity (peritoneum). Pleural mesothelioma is by far the most common kind.Mesothelioma and Asbestos

When asbestos fibers are inhaled, they become embedded in the lining of the lungs. Due to their small needle-like size, the normal defenses of the body are unable to detect them. Usually, any foreign bodies such as this would either be coughed up, or be removed through a build-up of mucus around them. But nor asbestos. They cause inflammation of the lungs and tissue damage, leading to scarring and coughing. These are the initial symptoms of asbestosis, though asbestosis is not mesothelioma.

No one knows for sure why cancers develop, but once cancerous cells are formed in the pleura, it gradually becomes thicker, and over time restricts breathing and causes shortness of breath and coughing. What is known as ‘pleural effusion’ occurs, as the fluid of the pleura, designed to lubricate the movement of the lungs against the other organs nearby, builds up and exerts pressure on the lungs. The thickening of the pleura continues as an increasing number of cells become cancerous, until death eventually occurs.

The Effect of Smoking

Although smoking is known to lead to a number of forms of cancer, it does not in itself promote mesothelioma. However, a patient that has been exposed to asbestos, and who also smokes, will be more liable to contract the disease than a non-smoker will. This is why smokers are generally awarded lower sums in compensation than non-smokers with the same condition. However, it would be wrong to state that smoking is a cause of mesothelioma.

It is, however, the cause of many more lung cancer cases than mesothelioma caused by asbestos, and smoking and asbestos together also increase the risk of the patient developing general lung cancer, just as prolonged exposure to asbestos causes more than just mesothelioma. Asbestos lung cancer and mesothelioma are not the same thing.

Symptoms

The major symptoms are shortness of breath, weight loss, nausea and pain. This is true of all forms of mesothelioma, not only pleural mesothelioma. In the case of peritoneal mesothelioma, the abdomen becomes very painful and distended, just as the pleural version causes tightening and swelling in the chest due to pleural effusion. The pressure created can also result in pain, apart from that of the cancer itself.

Diagnosis

If the disease is not diagnosed early, then survival is unlikely. Therefore, any person who has previously worked in the asbestos industry, or has used asbestos in their employment, should make their doctor aware of that fact. They can then be placed on a schedule of regular examinations designed to detect the first signs of the disease. If the condition is detected early enough, most treatments available can be used effectively, and surgery is much more likely to be effective if the area affected is able to be isolated.

If you have contracted the disease, stopping smoking is essential, and you must try to avoid all infections of the lungs and airways. It is possible to have the condition treated, but if diagnosed too late then treatment tends to be palliative, and designed to make the patient as comfortable as possible.

It is essential, therefore, that people that have a history of contact with asbestos inform their physician immediately to make sure that if the symptoms do occur, they are spotted before any lasting harm can be done. Only then will there be a hope of a cure and successful recovery from this insidious disease.

Mesothelioma is a form of cancer that is caused by excessive exposure to asbestos. It is caused by inhalation of asbestos fibers in excessive amount that affect your lungs and abdominal cavities. The average lifetime of an inflicted person is less than 24 months.

It is unfortunate that this cancer is increasing at a rapid rate that it has already infected millions of people all over the world. These people are generally those who are working in companies that deal with asbestos refinery or manufacturing of asbestos products in one form or the other. People who are working in these companies day in and day out for their families, to give them better future do not know that while they are working so hard they are putting their own lives at stakes. They are exposed to harmful particles of asbestos all the day. They constantly inhale the white powder and even carry them to their home. And the worst thing to imagine is that they aren’t aware of what harm they are doing to themselves. Mesothelioma has a relatively long latency period of nearly 30 years or more so it becomes too late for a person to realize that he have this cancer because this is how long it can take to manifest.

Its is quite unfortunately that even after knowing that asbestos is so much detrimental to human body, the companies are still employing people in vast number and are making millions, if not billions, of dollars. People have no choice but to work there, risking their own life for making money for their living. These companies are so selfish that instead of taking some steps to assuage the problem they choose to make profit with a deadly product.

It is not that mesothelioma is any new disease but it is now when it is showing its existence and devastating effects. In the recent past we have heard so many cases of mesothelioma that we are bound to do something to counteract it otherwise it will continue spreading its terrible disease over mankind.

The term “Mesothelioma” in medical terms is defined as form of cancer that proliferates at a very fast rate after it has been diagnosed, which affects the mesothelial cells in the body. After detailed study of this disease by several scientists all over the world, it has been concluded that in most of the cases the reason is the direct contact with loose asbestos particles. This disease is generally known to be derived from an abnormality that arises from inhaling the loose asbestos particles suspended in the air for a very long time. The chances of the patients, diagnosed of mesothelioma, have very bleak chances of survival which is not more than one or two years and if it has been detected long back and rigorous medication has been started on the patient then the patient is likely to live for about five years. There are three types of mesothelioma but the symptoms of the diseases depend on their kinds. The symptoms vary from one-another but the general symptoms that are found in patients suffering from different types of mesothelioma are weight loss, chest pain, loss of appetite, short breath , plain cough and cough with blood. Diagnosing mesothelioma in its initial stages is not possible because symptoms surface very late and that, these symptoms are no special signs indicating the particular disease but are common for other diseases too. Generally the symptoms of mesothelioma resemble to that to any other normal lung diseases. Most of the symptoms arise in the lungs, where the mesothelial cells covering the lungs and the cavity between them are affected due to prolonged inhalation of asbestos fibers. Consulting with the physician is very necessary from time to time and necessary test must be conducted to detect the disease. The main symptom of mesothelioma is a constant pain in the chest which is followed by short breaths and difficult breathing because of accumulation of fluid in the chest, which makes breathing all the more difficult. Some of the other symptoms of the disease include abnormalities in the lungs, which can be diagnosed under proper supervision of the doctor with a chest CT-scan.Basically, the disease of mesothelioma advances in four stages. In the first stage, begins the formation of the tumor in the area of lining of the lung and doesn’t exceed from one side of the lung. And then in the second stage the tumor extends to other organs in the chest cavity, such as heart. Then in the third stage its extents to the other abdominal organs affecting all the other organs too. Finally in the fourth and the last stage the tumor extends to all parts of the body and affects all the parts adversely. These are some of the symptoms of the disease of mesothelioma, by which the disease can be tracked in the initial stages of its occurrence.

What Is Asbestos?Asbestos disease, mesothelioma cancers, lung cancers and asbestosis are the diseases caused because of asbestos exposure. Asbestos constitutes different naturally occurring fibrous minerals in some rocks and soil. It has found widespread use in industries and building materials such as fireproofing, roofing shingles, electric insulation, furnace, hot pipe covering, and friction products.

Mesothelioma cancers are the cancers affecting these membranes. The names of the cancers depend on the tissue or linings they affect. Peritoneal mesothelioma, pleural mesothelioma and pericardial mesothelioma are the names of cancers of linings of abdomen, lungs and heart, respectively. Pleural mesothelioma is the most common of all mesothelioma cancers and is found in 70 % of the mesothelioma patients. Peritoneal mesothelioma constitutes 10% to 20% of the mesothelioma patients while third type pericardial mesothelioma, is rare.

Serious Effects Of Asbestos Disease

Mesothelioma is the most serious of several asbestos-related diseases detected so far. This is because of the carcinogenic effect of asbestos particles. Asbestos can cause cancer of the lungs, esophagus, colon, rectum, stomach, vocal chords, and kidneys. About 70 percent to 80 percent of all cases of asbestos disease mesothelioma - a rare type of cancer of the mesothelium, the membrane that covers and protects most of the body internal organs -are the result of asbestos exposure at work. Asbestos disease mesothelioma may not immediately manifest.

The asbestos particles can lie dormant in the body for several years and manifest later, when the prognosis is very grim. It is possible that by the time the disease is diagnosed, the cancer may have already spread significantly. In view of health concerns all new uses of asbestos in the manufacturing industries have been banned in the United States from July 1989 onward. In particular, the use of asbestos in hand-held hair dryers was voluntarily stopped in 1979. Schools are required to test for use of asbestos roofing and it is removed or covered up.

One alarming fact about the mesothelioma cancers is its extended latency period. These cancers may remain asymptomatic in the body for even up to 50 years. Chances of survival for mesothelioma patients are rare and the average survival period after diagnosis is not more than 12-24 months. Surgery if diagnosed early, chemotherapy and radiation therapy are some common treatments for all types of mesothelioma cancers. People suffering from mesothelioma cancers can file lawsuits to recover damages for medical expenses and other damages. They can file the lawsuits against the persons and companies responsible for causing asbestos exposure.

A group of scientists in Australia have discovered a new potential treatment for mesothelioma cancer victims with the application of two treatments normally reserved for skin cancer patients.During several tests conducted on laboratory mice with advanced mesothelioma tumors, a skin cancer cream known as Imiquimod was combined with an anti-cancer drug, antiCD40. The two were applied to the mesothelioma mice and, according to researchers, 50 percent of the mice receiving the treatment therapy went into remission following treatment.

The study, conducted by researchers from the Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital in Australia, is considered “breakthrough” according to a PerthNow news article. Additionally, scientists feel that this potentially new mesothelioma treatment may be more readily available than other treatments being researched and tested, as one of the drugs is “already commercially available and the other is currently being tested in clinical trials,” according to lead researchers of the study.

Mesothelioma Defined

Mesothelioma is a cancer that affects thousands of individuals worldwide. It has largely been classified as a relatively rare condition, although many physicians and scientists predict a large increase of victims in the near future because of the dormant nature of the cancer. Mesothelioma cancer is caused by exposure to varied levels of asbestos fibers and dust.

During the early part of the 20th century asbestos, which derives from vermiculite, was mined and used in a plethora of products and much more heavily within the construction industry leading to the diagnosis of many construction-related workers.

Mesothelioma cancer commonly remains dormant for 10 to 30 years until symptoms begin to appear, at which point, treatment is almost non-existent.

Patients of mesothelioma cancer are advised to speak with a medical professional immediately and those who suspect they may suffer from asbestos-related conditions can also suggested to contact a medical professional and experienced mesothelioma attorney for additional information.

Diagnosing Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is a growing condition in not only America, but around the world. A mesothelioma diagnosis is often a grim and bitter situation for not only a victim, but for family members and friends.

Once an individual has been informed of their condition, they will need to take immediate steps to ensure the best quality of care is received. By determining this, an individual increases their chances of receiving monetary compensation for their disease through the development of a mesothelioma lawsuit.

Such compensation can assist a victim with paying for costly medical treatments including chemotherapy treatments, which can range in the thousands. Speaking with a knowledgeable mesothelioma lawyer can provide insightful information as to a potential lawsuit.

Mesothelioma is cancer that affects the mesothelium which is the lining or membrane that protects and covers most of the internal organs in the body cavity. The first layer encircles the organ and the second layer forms a sac for protection. There is a lubricating fluid present between the layers to facilitate movement. The mesothelium is called pericardium when it covers the heart, pleura when covering the lungs and peritoneum when covering the abdominal organs.In mesothelioma there is uncontrolled cell division which leads to the extra cell masses invading the nearby tissues and organs and causing damage. Mostly it is observed that mesothelioma begins in the pleura or the peritoneum. The cancer then metastasizes to other parts of the body.

Mesothelioma occurs mostly due to exposure to asbestos. This is considered to be the major risk factor. 70% to 80% of sufferers have a history of exposure to asbestos. There are exceptions to this and cases have been reported where asbestos exposure was found not to exist. The condition is more common in men as compared to women. It has also been found that risk increases with age.

Mesothelioma is a very rare. Mostly said to be associated with workplace exposure to asbestos. Asbestos is a collection of minerals that can be made to exist as strong masses of sheets or flexible fibers. It is widely used in industrial products like cement, roofs, flooring products, textiles, brake linings and insulation. Tiny particles of asbestos float in the air and can be inhaled or swallowed by the people exposed to it like the workers in manufacturing companies etc.

Continuous exposure over a period can lead to asbestosis. Exposure to asbestosis increases the risk of developing mesothelioma and other types of cancer like that of kidney and larynx. There are acceptable levels of asbestos exposure that have been brought into effect in workplaces using the mineral. Another very interesting aspect of mesothelioma is that family members of people exposed asbestos in their work place show an increased incidence of this cancer as compared to others. This has been attributed to the fact that the remnants of asbestos particles adhering to the clothes, hair etc when brought home can expose the family members to it.

The cancer takes around thirty to forty years to surface. The initial symptoms include shortness of breath, and pain in the chest if it is the pleura that are affected. If the cancer is in the peritoneum then there is weight loss, abdominal swelling and pain, fluid accumulation in the abdomen, bowel obstruction. Fever, anemia and blood clotting irregularities have also been observed. In severe cases there is swelling of the neck and face, trouble swallowing and severe pain.

Diagnosis of mesothelioma is very difficult since there are no specific symptoms. A medical history review would be very valuable since asbestos exposure needs to be determined. X rays of chest, abdomen, lung function tests, scans, MRI are the usual tools that help in confirming the diagnosis. Biopsy is done for the final confirmation and treatment includes chemotherapy and radiations.

To Your Health!

Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that affects the mesothelium or the sac like protective covering of internal organs. The main cause is exposure to asbestos. Therefore the best possible prevention is to avoid exposure to asbestos. Mesothelioma takes about thirty to fifty years for making itself prominent. People above the age of sixty five have shown an increased tendency to develop asbestos cancer. The mesothelioma is more common in men than women.Asbestos is a mineral that is very commonly used. Due to increased health risks the use of asbestos has been reduced according to government regulations. In spite of all the regulations asbestos is being used in many manufacturing industries where it is mandatory for production. The most effective prevention method is to limit the exposure.

Working in a company which uses asbestos is not safe. Looking for alternate employment would be the safest option. The companies have asbestos related safety precautions and one can ensure they are being followed. The commonly seen jobs that pose the highest risk of mesothelioma are:

1-Insulation manufacturing and installations.

2-Mining

3-Railroad workers

4-Workers in the factories

5-Asbestos manufacturing companies

6-Ship yard workers

7-Automotive repairs

8-Manufacturers of gas masks

Many old homes contain traces of asbestos. If you suspect your home to contain materials made of asbestos they can be tested in the laboratory. There are agencies dealing with asbestos removal and they can be contacted for removing asbestos from your home. Though it can be done by yourself it is safer to let an asbestos abatement or removal contractor perform the procedure.

Asbestos that is not disturbed is not considered a health hazard. But if there is flaking, friable ceilings and plumbing and if the building is built before the 1980s then there are chances that they contain asbestos and have to be removed safely. Public buildings like schools, office buildings, libraries, theatres etc are all prone to this hazard. The problem should be brought to the city authorities’ notice. Living near someone who works near asbestos also exposes you to the mineral.

Asbestos can be transported through clothing, skin and hair. Even a few strands of asbestos can sometimes lead to mesothelioma.

Once you have been exposed to asbestos and have not yet been diagnosed with the fatal condition, there is still hope for you. If care is taken you might not even develop it. Blood tests can be done annually to confirm that you are well. There are other diagnostic tools that can be performed annually on asbestos exposed individuals to reconfirm their health status. These tests also aid in early detection when the condition is curable and can be controlled.

Smoking should be stopped since smokers are more susceptible to the onset of the condition if they have asbestos exposure history. Prevention is the best way out in mesothelioma since it is fatal if not diagnosed early.

To Your Health!

DefinitionThe most thorough definition of mesothelioma describes it as a rare cancer caused by asbestos fibers that have been lodged in the mesothelium for many years. The mesothelium is the membrane that encases organs such as the lung, the heart and those of the abdomen. Although it takes many years, these fibers can cause cancer cells to grow in the membrane tissue surrounding the fibers.

Mesothelioma most often develops in the membrane surrounding the lung, and results from inhaled asbestos fibers. This mesothelial membrane is called the pleura. Because lung tissue is so soft and porous, the motion of breathing massages the fibers through the lung tissue to the membrane. The consistency of the membrane is such that the fibers penetrate the pleura and remain trapped there.

Occasionally, fibers that are swallowed follow a similar path through the stomach wall where they become lodged in the lining around the stomach, called the peritoneum. With less frequency, fibers can pass through to the lining around the heart, called the pericardium. Mesothelioma can grow in any of these membranes.

Symptoms

Pleural mesothelioma symptoms can include thickening of the pleura, pleural effusion (fluid collecting in the pleural space), which in turn compresses the lung in that area reducing the amount of oxygen that can get into the blood. This causes shortness of breath along with some pain due to inflammation and, sometimes, infection. Persistent cough is common.

Symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma might include stomach pain or swelling, bowel obstruction, foot swelling, nausea, weight loss, and pain.

Fever, night sweats, or anemia might also be symptoms of either form of mesothelioma. Diagnosis involves specific testing to differentiate it from other diseases, many of which have similar symptoms.

Diagnosis

There are a number of diagnostic tests that are used together with the results of a physical exam to make a diagnosis of mesothelioma. These tests differentiate between diseases and allow the doctor to rule out other diseases and cancers, identifying mesothelioma as the one that matches all of the diagnostic criteria. These include:

• X-rays - X-rays can reveal pleural effusion, pleural calcification, and scarring
• CT or CAT Scan (Computed Axial Tomography) - CT Scans identify tissue density and can identify pleural effusion, pleural thickening and calcification, but it can’t differentiate between mesothelioma and other disease.
• MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) - An MRI is more sensitive than CT or X-ray, and is useful for more accurate identification of tissue changes during the course of treatment, and evaluating for surgery.
• PET Scan (Positron Emission Tomography) - PET Scans measure cellular activity. Cancer cells are more active than healthy cells, and this activity shows up in PET Scans.
• Biopsy - A biopsy involves taking a sample of the suspect tissue, either with a needle or through a small incision, and sent to the lab for analysis.
• PFT (Pulmonary Function Testing) - PFT involves a set of breathing tests to measure your lung volume, elasticity, airflow, and gas exchange into your bloodstream. These measurements reveal whether areas of your lung have a reduced volume or are not exchanging gas (i.e., from pleural effusion and resulting atelectasis, aka collapsed lung,) restrictive lung disease, or reduced airflow from obstructive lung disease.
• CBC (Complete Blood Count) - CBC shows the number of red and white blood cells and platelets, the amount of hemoglobin, and the percent of blood that is red blood cells. It also tests other common blood factors that indicate health and illness.
• Bronchoscopy - A bronchoscope is inserted into the patient’s lungs through the throat that allows the doctor to view the trachea and upper airways. The scope has the ability to take a tissue sample that can be examined under a microscope, in the same was as tissue collected from a biopsy.
• Cytology - A pathologist microscopically examines cells drawn from fluid near the site of the suspected disease.

The U.S. Department of Labor gives links to OSHA’s standards and guidelines for evaluating exposure to asbestos. These links include medical questionnaires, X-ray interpretation standards, medical surveillance for asbestos and more.

Mesothelioma and its partner disease, asbestosis, are not limited to any one person or any one nation. Asbestos and asbestos products have been mined and manufactured, and sought after and sold, in nations around the world. The latent diseases of asbestosis and its cancerous partner, mesothelioma, are slowly developing into a world-wide epidemic.Mesothelioma and asbestosis diseases have been clearly defined as being attributed to asbestos exposure. Despite these undisputable findings, world production of asbestos has risen from 2.18 million metric tons in 2006 to 2.20 million metric tons in 2007, according to the US Government’s 2007 Minerals Handbook. The International World has yet to agree upon and abide by a universal consensus of asbestos safety levels. As some countries ban the use of asbestos, others continue to seek safe exposure levels, and yet others disregard the impending health epidemic. Many smaller nations continue to ignore the perilous diseases of asbestos, while asbestos workers may or may not be aware of their life-risking work environments. Even advanced nations fail to implement protection and procedures to protect workers exposed to asbestos for fear of substantial economic loss.

Even though the European Union banned asbestos in 2005, European companies still have financial interest in companies located in Africa, Canada and South America. Canada has been one of the world’s largest asbestos producers, however they only use 29% of what they produce, and aggressive sales efforts are targeted towards Asia, Africa and South America. In Japan, local factory and building inspections failed to identify asbestos in more than half of the buildings inspected. Even with occupational laws in place, India and China fail to protect the majority of their asbestos workers.

The leaders of asbestos production, Russia, China, Kazakhstan, Brazil, Canada, and Zimbabwe, are responsible for 96% of the world’s asbestos production. In China, the world’s second largest asbestos producer, a significant portion of asbestos workers work without any protection in environments conducive to asbestosis and mesothelioma production. China not only fails to protect its workers from asbestosis and mesothelioma on a mass scale, but their asbestos producing factories are typically located near heavily populated cities. The effects of asbestos exposure and the incidences of asbestosis and mesothelioma are vastly unreported in highly populated areas due to lack of medical records, non-existent laws mandating lengthy medical record-keeping standards, and political interference.

Asbestosis and Mesothelioma are devastating diseases that can affect men, women and children that are exposed to asbestos. It is up to the socially responsible individuals and corporations to continue their advocacy work to protect hard working men and women from the incapacitating diseases of asbestosis and mesothelioma. With the prevalence of asbestos exposure that still exists, there is little doubt that asbestosis and mesothelioma will continue to develop well into the next century. The deadly misfortune of the disease on hardworking individuals can only be eradicated with an end to the demand for asbestos containing products.