Mesothelioma is a cancer occurring in the lining of
the lungs, chest and abdomen. The only known cause of mesothelioma is exposure
to asbestos products.
The asbestos companies KNEW of the
dangers of asbestos for many years before they ever warned the public of those
risks.
About 4,000 people per year die from
mesothelioma.
As many as 3,500 new cases are
reported in the US each year. The incidence of cases have been rising since
1980, probably reflecting the 20 to 40 year latency period for asbestos exposure
and disease presentation.
The number of mesothelioma cases
diagnosed annually is expected to peak between the years 2000 and 2020
By the year 2030, it is estimated that
asbestos will have caused 60,000 instances of mesothelioma and approximately
250,000 other cancers resulting in death.
The risk of developing mesothelioma
varies, depending on duration and intensity of exposure.
Malignant mesothelioma affecting the
lungs and chest cavity is referred to as "pleural mesothelioma". When the
disease affects the abdominal cavity, it is referred to as "peritoneal
mesothelioma". A more detailed discussion of both types of malignant
mesothelioma appears later in this book.
Malignant mesothelioma is rare and
seldom curable. Most victims of this disease die within two years of diagnosis
For patients who undergo no treatment at all, the median survival rate is 4
months to 12 months. Those who undergo treatment often prolong their lifespan.
The longest living mesothelioma victim has lived more than 9 years
post-diagnosis but such lengthy survival is rare.
Mesothelioma generally begins in the
lungs and spreads to the abdominal lining; the patients prognosis worsens when
the abdominal lining becomes affected. In most cases, death is the result of the
invasive nature of the tumor on heart and/or lungs.
Asbestos exposure is generally a
common factor uniting mesothelioma victims.
Patients are generally male (over
80%).
Typical symptoms include chest pain,
shortness of breath, coughing, weight loss, and sexual dysfunction. In later
stages of the disease process, patients may experience deformation of the chest
wall and abdominal masses that may or may not obstruct the bowel.
There is no standard treatment regimen
for treating mesothelioma, and the Food and Drug Administration has never
articulated a treatment protocol for this disease.
Chemotherapy is frequently offered as
a treatment regimen but most patients who receive chemotherapy do not respond
favorably.
Radiation therapy may also be offered,
but is typically regarded as a palliative measure only (ineffective at
increasing survival, but mildly to moderately helpful in relieving pain and
other effects of the disease).
Treatment regimens may also include
surgery to remove bulk from the tumor.
Involvement of the visceral pleura is
one of the most important factors in determining a patients prognosis. There has
been no randomized phase III study showing the superiority of any treatment
(including radiation) compared to another.
Complementary methods (therapies not a
direct part of the conventional treatment offered by the patients doctor), such
as a vegetarian diet, exercise, vitamins, herbal remedies, and stress management
may help the patient to deal with the effects of mesothelioma and may enhance
their quality of life.
Families of asbestos workers have an
approximately 1% risk for contracting mesothelioma; typically The Cause to
family members is presented by the workers asbestos-laden clothing or
manufactured articles
While there are occasional patients
who cannot document a work, family or other exposure to asbestos. These are
regarded as cases that arise from "background" exposure of some incident of
exposure of which the individual is simply unaware.
It is possible that certain genetic
factors may play a role in predisposing certain individuals to mesothelioma and
making them more susceptible to the disease.
With mesothelioma, the cause of death
is typically from either extension of the tumor into the surrounding organs,
creating bowel obstruction, irregular heartbeat or heart failure; or respiratory
failure
In about 50 % of mesothelioma
patients, the disease has metastasized to other organs by the time of death.
One theory is that malignant
mesothelioma occurs when the tiny fibers of asbestos work their way into the
tissue covering the lungs outside surface (pleural tissue) or the tissue that
covers the stomach and bowels (peritoneal tissue), and become trapped there.
Pleural mesothelioma can usually be
diagnosed earlier than peritoneal mesothelioma
Illness and symptoms do not occur
immediately following exposure to asbestos. As in any asbestos-related
condition, there is typically a long period of time between exposure to the
asbestos and the tiny fibers being breathed in or swallowed into the body and
the appearance of disease.
Mesothelioma differs from other types
of lung cancer. Lung cancer arises in the lungs inner tissues in contrast to
mesothelioma, which develops in the tissue that covers the lung (and which can
also affect the peritoneal tissue). Lung cancer is much more common than
mesothelioma. Further, lung cancer can have other causes including cigarette
smoking, other environmental and lifestyle factors, and genetics. On the other
hand, smoking does not cause mesothelioma
Mesothelioma can also recur, meaning
that once it has been treated, it can occur again. Recurrent malignant
mesothelioma may come back to the same area of the body in which it initially
manifested itself (typically the chest or abdomen), or in another, previously
unaffected part of the body.
