Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma cancer most commonly develops in the lungs of people exposed to asbestos.
Effective treatments are available to ease symptoms and improve your prognosis.
Mesothelioma is a rare cancer caused almost exclusively by exposure
to asbestos. It usually affects the thin, protective membrane
surrounding the lungs, heart or abdominal cavity. Doctors diagnose an
estimated 3,000 cases of mesothelioma a year in the United States, and
the majority of those are traced to job-related exposure.
Although asbestos use declined dramatically in recent decades in this
country, the incidence of mesothelioma remains steady. That difference
can be traced to the distinct latency period linked to mesothelioma. The
disease can take anywhere from 20 to 50 years after exposure to
asbestos before it shows obvious symptoms and an oncologist can make a
definitive diagnosis. While no cure for the disease exists and the
prognosis is typically poor, researchers made significant progress in
recent years in understanding mesothelioma and developing new treatment
options and alternative therapies.
How Asbestos Causes Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma cancer develops after exposure to asbestos, which most
often occurs in the workplace – in industrial settings, shipyards, auto
repair shops, old houses, schools and public buildings. It usually
takes long-term exposure to put someone at risk, asbestos is highly
toxic. Even short-term and one-time exposures are known to cause mesothelioma cancer.
Microscopic asbestos fibers are breathed in or swallowed. The human
body has difficulty destroying or getting rid of these fibers. Over
decades, the fibers cause biological changes that result in
inflammation, scarring and genetic damage. The most susceptible area to
these fibers is the lining of the lungs, called the pleura, although
fibers also can become trapped in the lining of the abdominal cavity
(peritoneum). Once fibers cause biological damage, the stage is set for
the decades-long latency period for the development of malignant
mesothelioma.
Types and Symptoms
Pleural mesothelioma is the most common type of mesothelioma,
representing about 75 percent of cases. Peritoneal mesothelioma is the
second most common type, consisting of about 10 to 20 percent of cases.
Approximately 1 percent of cases are of the pericardial variety. Another
rare type known as testicular mesothelioma represents less than 1 percent of cases.
Pleural
This type forms in the lining of the lungs. An increased incidence rate led to more studies to improve treatment methods and survival rates.
Peritoneal
Developing in the lining of the abdominal cavity, peritoneal mesothelioma responds best to a combination of surgery and heated chemotherapy.
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