Asbestos Cancer
Mesothelioma, also referred to as asbestos cancer, is a deadly disease that affects over 2,500 people each year. This lethal form of cancer affects those who have worked with asbestos containing products such as cement, adhesives, ceiling tiles, fertilizers, and insulation materials. Asbestos cancer has a long latency period of 25 to 50 years after exposure. Tobacco smokers who have been exposed to this naturally-occurring mineral face a greater risk of mesothelioma and lung cancer than nonsmokers.
Mesothelioma and Exposure to Asbestos
Over 85 percent of all mesothelioma cases are linked to asbestos exposure. The first diagnosis of mesothelioma that was associated with exposure to this mineral was made in 1964. The term "asbestos" refers to six forms of mineral silicates. Due to its high tensile strength and fire resistance, asbestos was used in construction materials, cement products, weatherproof jackets, stove mats, fume hoods, cigarette filters, glue, paint, and turbines.
People are more likely to develop mesothelioma and other deadly diseases when they are exposed to high concentrations of asbestos. When inhaled, asbestos fibers accumulate in the lungs and affect breathing. Exposure to asbestos causes changes in the pleura such as calcification, plaques, and thickening. These fibers can reach the chest cavity (pleural mesothelioma, abdominal cavity (peritoneal mesothelioma), or heart (pericardial mesothelioma).
Asbestos Cancer Risk Factors
Individuals who have been exposed to asbestos present an increased risk of lung cancer, benign and malignant mesothelioma, nonmalignant respiratory diseases, pleural effusions, and asbestosis. There are several factors that determine how asbestos exposure affects an individual, including the size and shape of asbestos fibers, exposure concentration, and exposure frequency.
Approximately nine out of 10 cases of malignant mesothelioma are caused by asbestos exposure. Plumbers, electricians, shipbuilders, and construction workers have been exposed to asbestos at work. These individuals face a high risk of mesothelioma and lung disease. Researchers have found that asbestos cancer is five times more common in men than in women. People who have worked in offices and schools containing asbestos materials, as well as the family members of those who have worked with asbestos-containing products can develop mesothelioma and asbestosis as well.
Asbestos Cancer Symptoms
Mesothelioma is generally diagnosed decades after initial exposure to asbestos. Individuals who suffer from pleural mesothelioma experience shortness of breath, lung infections, weight loss, breathing difficulties, severe chest pain, swollen lymph nodes, pleural effusions, pulmonary emboli, fever, and anemia. Peritoneal mesothelioma causes an abnormal buildup of fluid in the abdomen, constipation, diarrhea, loss of appetite, night sweats, abdominal pain, bowel obstruction, and fatigue.
Pericardial mesothelioma, the least common type of asbestos cancer, triggers arrhythmia, heart palpitations, blood clots in the veins, severe ascites, hoarseness, and low blood sugar levels. Tumors that affect the heart and abdomen may not cause any symptoms until they are at a late stage. This deadly disease has non-specific symptoms that are often related to other conditions such as bronchitis, asthma, pneumonia, common cold, and flu.
Treatment Options
Mesothelioma patients are usually diagnosed in late stages when the available treatment options are quite limited. Chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery are often used for stopping the growth of cancerous cells. After performing several tests, doctors recommend custom treatments that may involve a pneumonectomy, a pleuroctomy, gene therapy, angiogenesis, or thoracentesis.
Chemotherapy kills cancerous cells and stops them from dividing. This procedure involves one or more drugs injected into the lungs or taken in pill form. In some cases, the drugs are given before surgery to shrink the tumor. Every individual responds differently to chemotherapy.
Radiation therapy destroys malignant cells by damaging their DNA. Mesothelioma patients may receive treatment before, during, or after surgery. This therapy aims to shrinks tumors and kill diseased cells. The doctor will prescribe a specific type of radiation therapy based on the size of the tumor, the type of cancer cell, the cancer location, and the patient's overall health.
When diagnosed in early stages, the tumor can be removed through surgery. Doctors use various surgical procedures to reduce fluid buildup and remove the affected issue. In rare cases, doctors remove the pericardium. Surgery is usually used along with chemotherapy and radiation.
Mesothelioma is generally caused by occupational exposure to asbestos. Many of the companies that have worked with asbestos-containing products were aware of the health risks involved. If you have been exposed to this mineral at work, contact a law firm. A good attorney can help you receive financial compensation. To find out more about mesothelioma lawsuits, fill in the form below.