Asbestos Cancer

Asbestos cancer is one of the serious health risks caused by asbestos exposure. Pleural mesothelioma is the most commonly diagnosed form of asbestos cancer. Almost exclusively caused by asbestos exposure, mesothelioma cancer affects approximately 2,000 to 3,000 people in the United States each year.

Pleural Mesothelioma

Pleural mesothelioma accounts for 75 percent of all mesothelioma cases. This diagnosis designates cancer that affects the lining of the lungs, known as the pleura. Although the cancer usually develops in only one of the pleura’s two layers, over time it can spread to the second layer or other locations in the body.
Once inhaled and lodged in the pleura, asbestos fibers can cause inflammation and cell damage. The asbestos fibers cause abnormal cell division, which thickens the pleural membrane. In turn, this can create a buildup of fluid, referred to as pleural effusion, which places pressure on the entire respiratory system

Symptoms
Because it places added stress on the respiratory system, pleural mesothelioma interrupts normal breathing patterns and is accompanied by the following symptoms:

• Persistent dry or raspy cough
• Coughing up blood (hemoptysis)
• Difficulty swallowing (dysphagia)
• Shortness of breath, even without strenuous activity (dyspnea)
• Chronic fatigue
• Emergence of lumps under the skin in the chest area
• Unexplained weight loss
• Night sweats/fever

Diagnosis
Arriving at a pleural mesothelioma diagnosis can be a complicated process.  Symptoms generally do not emerge until 20 to 50 years after original asbestos exposure. This time span, often referred to as the latency period, as well as the vague nature of its symptoms make pleural mesothelioma a difficult disease to diagnose. Since most of the symptoms are general and mimic less threatening illnesses, doctors need to be aware of previous asbestos exposure in order to request the appropriate diagnostic tests that can confirm the presence of cancer.
Imaging tests such as X-rays and CT scans are commonly utilized techniques that can locate cancerous growths. Biopsies of fluid and tissue samples are often the next step to identify the type of cancer involved. As with any type of cancer, early diagnosis can optimize a patient’s prognosis. The average prognosis for pleural mesothelioma is four to 18 months, although longer and shorter spans have been reported.

Treatment and Cure
While there is no known cure for pleural mesothelioma, palliative treatments to improve the quality of life and increase patient comfort are popular options and include:

• Surgery
• Chemotherapy
• Radiation

Multimodality treatments, which combine two or more therapies, are often the most effective in treating the disease. Alternative treatment options such as gene therapy, immunotherapy and photodynamic therapy are becoming more popular through clinical trials that seek to test potential cures and treatments prior to public release.

Causes
Pleural Mesothelioma is caused almost exclusively by asbestos exposure.  While research on the precise process of disease progression is still being conducted, four major theories exist regarding the exact effects of asbestos on the body:

• Asbestos lodges itself into mesothelial cells, resulting in inflammation, scarring, damage and the eventual buildup of cancerous tumors.
• Asbestos interrupts normal cell division and changes the cellular structure, acting as a catalyst for cancerous growth.
• Asbestos encourages the production of free radicals, molecules which alter DNA and lead to cancerous mutations within existing cells.
• Asbestos signals the production of oncoproteins, molecules that override cellular division restraints, allowing cells to divide and develop into cancerous growths.

Other Asbestos-Related Diseases

Pleural mesothelioma is one of four major forms of malignant mesothelioma. The other types of mesothelioma – all of which are also caused by asbestos exposure - include peritoneal mesothelioma, pericardial mesothelioma and testicular mesothelioma. The risk of developing many other cancers can be increased by asbestos exposure. These cancers include lung, gastrointestinal, colorectal, kidney, throat, breast, prostrate, esophagus and gallbladder cancers.

The Next Step

Any individual that suspects asbestos exposure at any point in their past should inform their doctor about the possibility of developing pleural mesothelioma or a related asbestos cancer. Because pleural mesothelioma symptoms generally occur late in the progression of the disease, it is important to note asbestos exposure even if symptoms are not yet present.
Pleural Mesothelioma patients may also have legal options available to them if their case was caused by exposure to products manufactured by companies that knowingly included asbestos in their materials. An asbestos lawyer can help clarify and explain all available options.
Sources

1. http://www.lungcancer.org/reading/symptoms.php
2. http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Risk/asbestos