Mesothelioma History

In the late 1800s and early 1900s, asbestos was considered an ideal material for use in the construction industry. It was known to be an excellent fire retardant, to have high electrical resistivity, and was inexpensive and easy to use.The problem with asbestos arises when the fibers become airborne and are inhaled. Because of the size of the fibers, the lungs cannot expel them.They are also sharp and penetrate tissues.

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Asbestosis - A lung disease first found in textile workers,asbestosis is a scarring of the lung tissue from an acid produced by the body's attempt to dissolve the fibers. The scarring may eventually become so severe that the lungs can no longer function. The latency period is often 10-20 years. Mesothelioma - A cancer of the mesothelial lining of the lungs and the chest cavity, the peritoneum or the pericardium. Unlike lung cancer, mesothelioma has no association with smoking.The only established causal factor is exposure to asbestos or similar fibers.The latency period for mesothelioma may be 20-50 years. The prognosis for mesothelioma is grim, with most patients dying within 12 months of diagnosis.

Cancer of the lung, gastrointestinal tract, kidney and larynx have been linked to asbestos.The latency period for cancer is often 15-30 years.Diffuse pleural thickening Considerable international controversy exists regarding the perceived rights and wrongs associated with litigation on compensation claims related to asbestos exposure and alleged subsequent medical consequences. Some measure of the vast range of views expressed in legal and political circles can perhaps be exemplified by the two quotes below, the first from Prof. Lester Brickman, an American legal ethicist writing in the Pepperdine Law Review, and second, Michael Wills, a British Member of Parliament, speaking in the House of Commons on July 13th,2006.

Basic Cancer Information

Cancer is a class of diseases in which a group of cells display uncontrolled growth ,invasion,and sometimes metastasis.These three malignant properties of cancers differentiate them from benign tumors, which are self-limited, do not invade or metastasize. Most cancers form a tumor but some, like leukemia, do not. The branch of medicine concerned with the study, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of cancer is oncology.Cancer may affect people at all ages, even fetuses, but the risk for most varieties increases with age.Cancer causes about 13% of all deaths.According to the American Cancer Society,7.6 million people died from cancer in the world during 2007.Cancers can affect all animals.

Nearly all cancers are caused by abnormalities in the genetic material of the transformed cells. These abnormalities may be due to the effects of carcinogens, such as tobacco smoke, radiation, chemicals, or infectious agents. Other cancer-promoting genetic abnormalities may be randomly acquired through errors in DNA replication, or are inherited, and thus present in all cells from birth. The heritability of cancers are usually affected by complex interactions between carcinogens and the host's genome. New aspects of the genetics of cancer pathogenesis, such as DNA methylation, and microRNAs are increasingly recognized as important.

Genetic abnormalities found in cancer typically affect two general classes of genes. Cancer-promoting oncogenes are typically activated in cancer cells, giving those cells new properties, such as hyperactive growth and division, protection against programmed cell death, loss of respect for normal tissue boundaries, and the ability to become established in diverse tissue environments. Tumor suppressor genes are then inactivated in cancer cells, resulting in the loss of normal functions in those cells, such as accurate DNA replication, control over the cell cycle, orientation and adhesion within tissues, and interaction with protective cells of the immune system.





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Mesothelioma Cancer Diagnosis

Diagnosing mesothelioma is often difficult,because the symptoms are similar to those of a number of other conditions.Diagnosis begins with a review of the patient's medical history.A history of exposure to asbestos may increase clinical suspicion for mesothelioma.A physical examination is performed,followed by chest X-ray and often lung function tests.The X-ray may reveal pleural thickening commonly seen after asbestos exposure and increases suspicion of mesothelioma.A CT scan or an MRI is usually performed.If a large amount of fluid is present,abnormal cells may be detected by cytology if this fluid is aspirated with a syringe.For pleural fluid this is done by a pleural tap or chest drain,in ascites with an paracentesis or ascitic drain and in a pericardial effusion with pericardiocentesis.

If cytology is positive or a plaque is regarded as suspicious, a biopsy is needed to confirm a diagnosis of mesothelioma. A doctor removes a sample of tissue for examination under a microscope by a pathologist.A biopsy may be done in different ways, depending on where the abnormal area is located.If the cancer is in the chest, the doctor may perform a thoracoscopy.In this procedure, the doctor makes a small cut through the chest wall and puts a thin, lighted tube called a thoracoscope into the chest between two ribs.Thoracoscopy allows the doctor to look inside the chest and obtain tissue samples.

If the cancer is in the abdomen, the doctor may perform a laparoscopy.To obtain tissue for examination,the doctor makes a small opening in the abdomen and inserts a special instrument into the abdominal cavity.If these procedures do not yield enough tissue, more extensive diagnostic surgery may be necessary.

Mesothelioma Different Symptoms And Signs

Symptoms of mesothelioma may not appear until 20 to 50 years after exposure to asbestos. Shortness of breath, cough, and pain in the chest due to an accumulation of fluid in the pleural space are often symptoms of pleural mesothelioma.Symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma include weight loss and cachexia, abdominal swelling and pain due to ascites.Other symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma may include bowel obstruction, blood clotting abnormalities, anemia, and fever.If the cancer has spread beyond the mesothelium to other parts of the body, symptoms may include pain, trouble swallowing,or swelling of the neck or face.


Mesothelioma that affects the pleura can cause these different signs and symptoms:

• Chest wall pain.
• Pleural effusion, or fluid surrounding the lung.
• Shortness of breath.
• Fatigue or anemia.
• Wheezing, hoarseness, or cough.
• Blood in the sputum (fluid) coughed up (hemoptysis).
• In severe cases, the person may have many tumor masses.

Different Symptoms are include:

• Abdominal pain. ascites, or an abnormal buildup of fluid in the abdomen.
• A mass in the abdomen.
• Problems with bowel function.
• Weight loss.
• Blood clots in the veins, which may cause thrombophlebitis.
• Jaundice, or yellowing of the eyes and skin.
• Low blood sugar level. pleural effusion.
• Pulmonary emboli, or blood clots in the arteries of the lungs.
• Severe ascites.

Mesothelioma Cancer Info

Mesothelioma is a form of cancer that is almost always caused by previous exposure to asbestos. In this disease, malignant cells develop in the mesothelium,a protective lining that covers most of the body's internal organs.Its most common site is the pleura,but it may also occur in the peritoneum or the pericardium.

Most people who develop mesothelioma have worked on jobs where they inhaled asbestos particles, or they have been exposed to asbestos dust and fibre in other ways, such as by washing the clothes of a family member who worked with asbestos. Unlike lung cancer,there is no association between mesothelioma and smoking.Compensation via asbestos funds or lawsuits is an important issue in mesothelioma.

The symptoms of mesothelioma include shortness of breath due to pleural effusion or chest wall pain, and general symptoms such as weight loss. The diagnosis can be made with chest X-rays and a CT scan, and confirmed with a biopsy and microscopic examination. A thoracoscopy can be used to take biopsies. It allows the introduction of substances such as talc to obliterate the pleural space,which prevents more fluid from accumulating and pressing on the lung. Despite treatment with chemotherapy, radiation therapy or sometimes surgery, the disease carries a poor prognosis. Research about screening tests for the early detection of mesothelioma is ongoing.