What is Mesothelioma?

Mesothelioma: an agressive form of lung cancer resulting from long exposure to asbestos. This disease in uncurable and results in respiratory failure. The term mesothelioma, is used to describe a cancerous tumor that involves the "mesothelial" cells of an organ, usally the lungs, heart or abdominal organs.

There are 2 types of mesothelioma, pleural and peritoneal. Pleural mesothelioma is the most common type, a very agresive form of lung cancer. The "pleura" is a thin membrane found between the lungs and the chest cavity, which serves as a lubricant to prevent the lungs from charing against the chest wall. Peritoneal mesothelioma is less common than pleural mesothelioma but is more invasive and therefore results in a shorter life expectancy for the patient. Mesothelioma has also been found in other abdominal organs.

A unique feature of asbestos-related diseases is the long latency period between exposure to asbestos and the onset of the injury or disease. For mesotheliomas, the latency period is between 15 and 50 years, or more. Meaning that a person could have been exposed to asbestos 50 years ago, and develop mesothelioma today. The average mesothelioma latency period is approximately 35 - 40 years.

The following are diseases that also result from exposure to asbestos:

Asbestosis
This lung condition is referred to as "diffuse pulmonay fibrosis", which results from inhaling asbestos fibers. This disease is progressive, non-reversible in nature, and typically leads to subsequent respiratory disablility. In most severe cases, asbestosis may lead to death from pulmonary hypertension and cardiac failure. This disease is categorized as an "environmental lung disease" or "occupational lung disease". Asbestos fibers, once inhaled, accumulate in the lung tissue, thus distinguishing it from other fibrotic diseases. Additionally, asbestos fibers have been found in small numbers beyond the lungs: such as the tonsils, thoracic and abdominal lymph nodes, pleura, peritoneum, pancreas, spleen, kidneys, liver, stomach, esophagus, small and large intestines.

Lung Cancer
Although smoking cigaretts can lead to cancer, it is not the sole cause of it. Breathing in asbestos fibers can also cause lung cancer. The risk of lung cancer, however, is increased greatly if you no only smoke, but also worked with or came in contact with asbestos in some form or another. The combination of both risk factors not only increase the risk of lung cancer, but in fact multiplies it. Asbestos lung cancer if diagnosed late, can result in Asbestosis.

About Asbestos:

The historical background of asbestos dates back to at least 2500 B.C., when it was used as pottery making. One of the earliest accounts of asbestos describes its use as dress-cloths for kings at their funerals, containers to hold the creamated ashes of the dead, and even floor mats by both the Egyptians and Chinese.

After the discovery of substantial deposits of the mineral in the Ural Mountains around 1720, the very first asbestos-factory was established. This factory made asbestos products such as, handbags, socks, gloves, and textiles. However this factory was only in business for 50 years, eventually shutting down due to lack of demand.

This fiberous material found widespread use in fireproof clothing, insulation and other industrial applications. However, even though the pulmonary disease resulting from asbestos inhalation was made aware to the public at the turn of the twentieth century this disease was not taken seriously until the 1920’s when major efforts were mounted to control it.

Asbestos has been used as a thermal insulation material for decades and today it is present in many common household items and old buildings.

Products that may contain Asbestos:
Asbestos was mined and used commercially in North America beginning in the late 1800s. Its use increased greatly during World War II. Since then, it has been used in many industries. For example, the building and construction industry has used it for strengthening cement and plastics as well as for insulation, fireproofing, and sound absorption. The shipbuilding industry has used asbestos to insulate boilers, steampipes, and hot water pipes. The automotive industry uses asbestos in vehicle brakeshoes and clutch pads.
Other products that may contain asbestos are; electrical wires, wire casings, artificial ashes, roofing/siding, heat/fire retardent products, caints/coatings, caulking/patching tape, roofing material, cement sheets, table pads, pipe product, cement/ceiling tiles, industrial filters for beverages, insulation material, talc containing crayons, adhesives, gasckets and packing slips, garden products, and packing materials.

Professions who deal with asbestos:
Some of the occupations that are typically associated with asbestos, which may result in mesothelioma later in are as follows; auto mechanic, blacksmiths, boiler makers, brick masosn, buffers, carpenters, cement finishers, chemical techs, clothing ironers, cosmetologists, electricians, elevator workers, draftmen, drywall tapers, foundry workers, insulators, machinists, material handlers, metal lathers, molders, mine workers, painters, plasterers, plumbers, pipefitters, railroad, refinery, roofers, servicemen, shipyards workers, welders, and many others.