Asbestos Cancer
Over the years, builders and manufacturers in a number of commercial industries have used asbestos in their line of work. This set of six naturally-occurring silicate materials is composed of long thin fibrous crystals, and has been woven into fabric, used for insulation and applied as a fire-retardant material. Unfortunately, asbestos has been proven to be a toxic material, and frequent exposure to asbestos can lead to asbestos cancer.
Asbestos cancer is known as mesothelioma. There are three different forms of this cancer, which are pleural mesothelioma, peritoneal mesothelioma and pericardial mesothelioma. As a result of mesothelioma, one's vital organs and their surrounding areas will grow malignant tumors, which lead to the lining of these organs becoming abnormal. Asbestos cancer is difficult to diagnose in time to save a patient's life, as symptoms of mesothelioma do not typically present themselves until decades after one's asbestos exposure.
Pleural mesothelioma takes place in one's pleura, which is the lining surrounding their lungs. As the disease affects this lining over time, an individual's lung capacity will diminish as fluid builds up.
Peritoneal mesothelioma is found in the peritoneum, which is a thin layer of cells that envelops an individual's abdomen. As the disease causes fluid to accumulate in this area, mesothelioma symptoms will arise.
The most serious form of mesothelioma is known as pericardial mesothelioma. This form of asbestos cancer is found in the pericardium, which is the lining around an individual's heart. Because of its proximity to such a vital organ, it is difficult for surgeons to successfully operate on pericardial mesothelioma, even if it is diagnosed in an early stage.
How Is Asbestos Cancer Caused?
Asbestos cancer is caused when asbestos is either inhaled or ingested. By inhaling or ingesting these fibers, one allows them to lodge in their pericardium, peritoneum, or pleura, where they will eventually cause mesothelioma to manifest.
Who Is Most At Risk for Developing Asbestos Cancer?
Anyone whose line of work involved frequent exposure to asbestos is at risk of developing asbestos cancer. Jobs that have historically proven to produce a high number of asbestos patients include those found at shipyards, construction sites, steel mills, power plants, oil refineries and aluminum plants.
Symptoms of Asbestos Cancer
Diagnosing mesothelioma is difficult for doctors, as the three forms of this disease share symptoms not only with each other, but also with a number of other ailments. For this reason, it is highly important that individuals with a history of asbestos exposure notify their physicians of this fact.
Some common symptoms of asbestos cancer include:
- Abdominal swelling
- Nausea
- Anemia
- An irregular heartbeat
- Shortness of breath
- Fevers
- A lump forming just under the skin of one's chest
- Night sweats
- Sudden loss of weight
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Lack of appetite
- Shortness of breath
- A persistent chest pain
- Constipation
Treating Asbestos Cancer
In the fight against asbestos cancer, there are a number of treatment options available. These include surgery, as well as radiation and chemotherapy options.
A biopsy is a form of diagnostic surgery used to identify both the presence of mesothelioma in one's body and its location. If the mesothelioma is diagnosed early enough, potentially curative surgery may be an option, provided that the mesothelioma is not pericardial. With potentially curative surgery, a surgeon may save a patient's life by removing all of the cancerous tissues in their body.
Palliative surgery may be used if one's asbestos cancer has reached a point where saving one's life is no longer possible. With palliative surgery, one's symptoms will be treated and their pain will be alleviated.
In later stages of mesothelioma, surgery is no longer an option. At this point, a patient may choose to undergo radiation or chemotherapy treatments. These treatments are designed to kill the cancerous cells in one's body, which can help to alleviate their pain and symptoms, and may even extend a patient's lifespan.
There are also non-traditional treatments that have been used for managing asbestos cancer. These include hormonal therapy, immunotherapy and gene therapy.
Learn more about Asbestos Cancer
To ensure that consumers are fully educated about asbestos cancer, The Mesothelioma Center has created a toll-free Patient Advocates line. Anyone who thinks that they have developed this disease should call 1-800-615-2270 today to learn more about asbestos cancer. If you have been unjustly exposed to asbestos and have developed mesothelioma, you may be eligible to receive financial compensation.