Mesothelioma is a serious cancer that occurs in individuals exposed to asbestos. Mesothelioma victims have either inhaled or swallowed asbestos fibers which then travel through the lung and become lodged in the pleura (the thin, saran wrap-type membrane lining the lungs.) Each year 2,500 to 4,000 patients in the U.S. are diagnosed with mesothelioma and asbestos-related diseases.

While many uses for asbestos were banned in the mid-1970’s, the risk from exposure continues today due to mesothelioma’s long latency (inactive) period of anywhere between 15 – 50 years. Today, asbestos continues to be a threat to workers exposed through their occupations and in buildings that were erected prior to the ban. Experts predict that mesothelioma diagnoses will continue to increase in the United States for at least another 10 to 20 years.

Asbestos fibers are so toxic, that industrial and trade worker’s families may be exposed to mesothelioma through particles that cling to the worker’s clothing, shoes, skin and hair. This type of “second-hand” exposure to asbestos is known as Para occupational exposure.

Mesothelioma – The Disease

The National Cancer Institute defines mesothelioma as a rare form of cancer in which (malignant) cells are found in the sac lining of the chest (the pleura), the lining of the abdominal cavity (the peritoneum) or the lining around the heart (the pericardium). The mesothelium is a membrane that covers and protects most of the internal organs of the body and is made up of a layer surrounding the organ and another that forms a sac around it. The mesothelium produces a lubricating fluid between these layers that enables moving organs (such as the beating heart the expansion and contraction of the lungs) to move smoothly against adjacent structures.

Cancerous cells can invade and damage nearby tissues and organs, and may also metastasize (spread) from their original site to other parts of the body.

Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment

Symptoms

Because symptoms are generally non-specific and some patients do not even experience symptoms, a mesothelioma diagnosis may be delayed. The early symptoms of pleural mesothelioma may resemble viral pneumonia and there may be persistent cough and pain in the chest area. As the disease progresses, the accumulation of fluid (pleural effusion) in the chest cavity causes pain and is accompanied by difficult breathing and shortness of breath. Other pleural mesothelioma symptoms may include with fever, loss, abdominal pain and swelling, bowel obstruction, night sweats, weight loss, blood clotting problems and anemia. Pain, difficulty swallowing and swelling of the neck or face may indicate that the cancer has metastasized beyond the mesothelium. Peritoneal mesothelioma symptoms may include the above, as well as swelling or abdominal pain due to a fluid build-up

Diagnosis

Doctors use a variety of diagnostic procedures to determine if a patient has mesothelioma. These exams may include imaging tests, visualization tests, biopsies and pulmonary function tests. Because of the difficulties in diagnosing mesothelioma, doctors may perform other tests to confirm the presence of the disease. If the pathologist confirms a diagnosis of Mesothelioma, the doctor may request tests such as a Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scan to evaluate the stage or extent of the disease for an appropriate course of treatment.

Treatment

There is presently no known cure for Mesothelioma. As the disease progresses, the cancerous cells harden the lung area and spread. As time passes, breathing, sleeping and eating become more difficult, and it becomes increasingly more challenging for the victim to engage in normal activities and enjoy life.

There are three traditional types of treatment for mesothelioma patients: surgery to remove the cancerous masses from the body; chemotherapy, which uses potent drugs to destroy the cancer; and, radiation therapy using high doses of x-rays to kill the cancer cells. Doctors will often use two or more of these treatment courses jointly to provide the maximum likelihood of success.

Recently, the University of Chicago Cancer Research Center released the results of a yearlong clinical trial of Pemetrexed Disodium (Alimta). A clinical study has shown positive results when Alimta was used with vitamins and the traditional chemotherapy drug, Cisplatin, for treating malignant pleural mesothelioma. Because of its ability to reduce tumors, prolong survival and reduce pain, Alimta is available to some pleural mesothelioma patients on a “compassionate use” basis. Patients who have not yet received treatment for mesothelioma may be eligible to obtain Alimta free of charge prior to the Food and Drug Administration’s completion of its formal review of the drug in 2004.

Mesothelioma Was Preventable

Scores of corporations that manufactured and profited from the sale of asbestos-containing products knew the health hazards as early as the 1920's. During the same period, there were alternatives to asbestos available. Ignoring the deadly risks and repercussions associated with asbestos, corporations chose to sell and recklessly use it through the 1980's. These manufacturers did not advise workers of the dangers of asbestos and consequently, many Americans who have unnecessarily and tragically contracted Mesothelioma.

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