Mesothelioma And Asbestos Cancer The Basics
ByAsbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that was found to have significant fire and heat resistant qualities by the early Greeks. They were also aware of the “sickness of the lungs” developed by the slaves responsible for weaving the silky material into cloth. Unfortunately, its long-term effects would become devastating.
The use of html”>asbestos continued through the centuries but became most popular during the Industrial Revolution in the late 1800s. At the turn of the twentieth century, reports indicate that researchers were seeing a high rate of death from lung disease among asbestos miners. Still, asbestos use continued in everything from building insulation to automotive brake shoes and more.
More recently, stricter laws and guidelines regarding the use and removal of asbestos have been instigated but for millions of Americans already exposed to this potentially deadly mineral, the damage may have already been done.
The most common forms of asbestos disease include the following:
Asbestosis
Asbestosis is caused by the inhalation of asbestos fibers. The fine asbestos fiber particles travel easily on the air and, when inhaled, can penetrate the body’s tissue not unlike fiber glass sticking your hand. In this case, the fibers enter the lungs causing irritation and inflammation. Over time, this can lead to the development of scar tissue in the small narrow spaces around the airways. The scar tissue can reduce the body’s ability to allow oxygen and carbon monoxide to travel properly through the lungs, thus breathing becomes more difficult. While asbestosis is not a form of cancer, it is a type of lung disease and is only associated with long-term exposure to asbestos.
Lung Cancer
Not all forms of lung cancer are asbestos-related. It is common for people in the early stages of asbestos lung cancer not to show any symptoms. Symptoms to watch for include a persistent cough, hoarseness, chest pain, weight loss and bloody phlegm. Should your doctor suspect asbestos lung cancer, he will need to conduct other tests to confirm his diagnosis before proceeding. It is possible, if detected early enough, for patients to survive asbestos lung cancer provided the treatment is in time.
Mesothelioma
Malignant, or cancerous, mesothelioma is the most common, yet rare, type of asbestos cancer. Generally, it affects the lungs, but can also form in the abdominal area. Frequently, mesothelioma will involve severe respiratory problems. While it does affect the lungs, however, mesothelioma is not the same thing as lung cancer. Treatment for mesothelioma can range from surgery to chemotherapy to radiation treatments or a combination thereof. Mesothelioma symptoms, as with any of the asbestos-related cancers, can take decades to appear. Generally, the outlook isn’t a positive one but can depend on how early the cancer is detected and how aggressively it is treated.
While asbestos is still manufactured and used today, the guidelines surrounding those areas are much more stringent and now include such things as upgraded ventilation requirements in plants and full-body protective gear when asbestos removal is required. Since, as previously mentioned, detection of asbestos-related symptoms can take 10, 20, even 40 years to appear, there are potentially hundreds of thousands of Americans that are sick and just don’t know it yet.
Watch the video related to asbestos cancer mesothelioma
www.mesotheliomaandasbestoscancer.com Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that is usually found in those previously exposed to asbestos. Cancerous cells form in the mesothelium, which is a protective lining that covers most of the bodys internal organs. These cells typically form in the lining of the lungs, abdomen, or the sac that encircles the heart.
Help answer the question about asbestos cancer mesothelioma
What job requires working near abestos?I am writing a play. I am doing research on mesothelioma which is a cancer caused by asbestos. My question is does anyone know what job a person would have to have in order to come in direct contact with this substance. I know you can get it from other things such as washing clothes of someone who has been exposed to it but I mean direct contact. Also if anyone knows, I need to know– if you get it from washing someones clothes does that mean that the person who wore the clothes has mesothelioma to?
About Author
If you or a loved one has been exposed to high levels of asbestos in the past, your health could still be in danger. Please contact the Baltimore Mesothelioma Lawyers at Parker, Dumler & Kiely, LLP to determine your next step.
9 Comments
October 14th, 2009 at 7:51 am
The ONLY treatment I've ever seen work (and work often!) is the Immuno Augmentive Therapy (IAT) Clinic in Freeport Grand Bahamas. They are run by British and Bahamian medical doctors, and are in my opinion by far the best alternative cancer treatment center in the world.
For some reason, their treatment (small injections you take several times a day containing immune system proteins) works especially well with mesothelioma, and they are well known for treating it, and often get referrels from Stateside and British MD.s.
Visit their website at either…
October 14th, 2009 at 8:41 am
Try the links in http://www.hot8sites.com/lawyer/mesothelioma-lawyers-helping-the-mesothelioma-v.html
October 15th, 2009 at 1:36 am
We found the most complete information is at:
http://www.mesothelioma-lung-cancer.org
We also checked out that link you sent:
http://www.mesothelioma-care-community.net which looks like a great place to
share stories and advice.
October 15th, 2009 at 4:43 am
Shortness of breath is the main first symptom. Fatigue, weight loss, and a dry cough are also symptoms. My mom died from mesothelioma in 2006.
October 15th, 2009 at 5:54 am
I'm so sorry. It's a terrible and scary disease and just so hopeless at every turn.
I lost my dad to Mesothelioma back in 2003. His brother died from it a few years earlier, but progress is being made against the disease all the time. It claimed my uncle in only 9 months, but my dad made it almost 3 years – and was on medicines that weren't even invented when my uncle was battling it. I imagine that's the case now too.
We were lucky because he was able to be treated by Dr. Jablons at UCSF who is one of the big researchers in the field. My dad had chemo, followed by an experimental surgery, then radiation, more chemo and finally some compassion release chemo drugs that were part of a clinical trial.
My dad was a active and physically fit, so he was able to monitor his health quite well (he'd actually go for 5 mile walks after having his daily radiation). He could really monitor his breathing and getting his chest drained would make an short-term improvement. As he got sicker he complained a lot of the big "gorilla" that felt like it was compressing his chest all the time. He also had a lot of pain that got worse as his disease progressed – all of the pain was situated in his chest and lungs. He lost quite a bit of weight as he got sicker, and eventually was on oxygen and couldn't walk across the room without having to sit down and catch his breath.
Some of the odd chemo side effects were that all of his black hair fell out but he kept his gray hair – so he looked older almost over night. It was weird. And everything tasted like metal to him when he was on the chemo (he had Cisplatin and I forget what the other one was)…everything that is but hot dogs.
I think some of the best advice we had was to really make each day meaningful and be close as a family.
The other thing that was a great piece of advice from Dr. Jablons that probably isn't so obvious was to not be afraid of young doctors. I remember the second oncologist my dad had was so young we thought she had to be 17. But, young doctors are usually very willing to work really hard and research anything and everything to try and find a way to help you buy some time, while the older, more experienced oncologists tend to accept meso as a death sentence. The younger doctors tend to ask for a lot of advice from the experienced oncologists rather than relying on their knowledge, and they may have open options to participate in clinical trials where more seasoned veterans have used up all their trials. I guess the way a lot of research studies work is that each doctor is allowed 1-2 patients into the trial, so sometimes doctors have used up all their trials. It typically takes a lot of paperwork and effort to get a patient into some of the trials too, but having a doctor who has the tenacity to make sure everything gets done to ensure their patient is included is a relief.
Sorry, this is long winded but I hope some if it is helpful.
October 15th, 2009 at 12:03 pm
to disturb it, you'd need to sand paint off something, or tear down ceiling tiles, or get a project going of taking off old pipe insulation, or be trying to remove painted-over wall paper, or some deep destruction like that….as long as there is no peeling paint that a child could ingest by eating paint chips, and there's no dust filtering down from ventiliation areas that are wrapped in asbestos , then you're pretty much safe…..but you can get a home test kit…
http://www.google.com/search?q=home+asbestos+test+kit&rls=com.microsoft:en-us&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&startIndex=&startPage=1
use it on various area of your home and be sure….. if you FIND it loose in the house, your next move is a new place to live….. but if it's recently and WELL renovated, you should not find a problem… the gorgeous living space in those old buildings is wonderful… I'll hope it's okay for you…..
one little nail in the wall won't be a problem at all… nail up your pictures !!!
October 15th, 2009 at 7:23 pm
there is a mesothelioma website they would be able to help
i can look on my map tomorrow and get back to you and maybe get some info
October 15th, 2009 at 9:39 pm
I understand where you are coming from. You just want the facts not someone to try to make you feel better (as if that is possible at this point). Although I deal with cancer everyday I really don’t know the answer to your question and honestly his oncologist would know the answer specifically to your grandfather better than anyone. However, I am on my way to a tumor board now and will ask one of the oncologist when I’m there and edit my answer when I return.
EDIT: According to one of my oncologists most often death is due to heart failure.
Now for the rest of your question., there is a small chance the new chemo may help pull him out of this for awhile, but it is more likely this is the beginning of the end. You will know when he loses weight, sleeps more, tires easily, coloring changes, gets confused and he doesn’t want to eat or drink much.
You may want to look into hospice so that when you and your family are ready, you have a plan. They help the entire family not just the patient and they are wonderful people. I am very sorry you and your grandfather have to go through this. May God bless both of you.
October 17th, 2009 at 12:33 pm
Try to search for Cyberknife and Trilogy.
Cyberknife Robotic Stereotactic Radiosurgery System is an advanced, noninvasive alternative for treating benign and malignant lesions anywhere in the body.
Trilogy is an External beam radiation therapy comes from a machine that aims radiation at your cancer. The machine does not touch you, but rotates around you, sending radiation to your body from many directions. This is a local treatment, meaning that the radiation is aimed only at a specific part of your body.