Asbestos Diseases
Asbestos, a naturally-occurring mineral found all over the world, was used in large amounts during the latter part of the 19th century and first half of the 20th century for both industrial applications and in the creation of a variety of products. What made asbestos so appealing was its lightweight combined with the high tensile strength of its fibers, along with its significant ability to insulate against heat. The word asbestos comes from the Greek, and means "unquenchable" - stories abound about ancient tablecloths made of asbestos that could be cleaned simply by casting them into fire and then removing them completely unscarred. Unfortunately, this miracle mineral had a hidden secret - its fibers can be deadly to humans when they are inhaled. Friable asbestos (easily breakable) releases thousands of tiny fibers into the air when it is broken, fibers that can become stuck in the stomach, abdomen or lungs of anyone nearby. Over the course of nearly 100 years, workers and families across the world were exposed to large amounts of airborne asbestos fibers, and it has now been confirmed that these fibers lead to a variety of asbestos diseases, each of which can significantly impact a patient's quality of life.
Perhaps the least aggressive asbestos diseases that are caused by the inhalation of these fibers are asbestosis and asbestos pleural disease. Asbestosis occurs when lung tissue is scarred as a result of asbestos fibers being inhaled. When some of the fibers reach the air sacs of the lungs, they will active the body's immune system and provoke a white-cell response. These cells will try to destroy the asbestos fibers but will be unable to, and cells in the body called fibroblasts will then build up and form tissue-based scars around the lungs. These scars, in turn, can cause lowered lung capacity and efficiency. Asbestos pleural disease is similar - except instead of attacking the lungs, the asbestos fibers will become lodged in the membranes surrounding lining of the lung and chest cavity, known as the pleura. The same process of response and scar tissue formation occurs with asbestos pleural disease as with asbestosis, and can lead to either a diffuse amount of scarring along the lungs, known as pleural thickening, or focused scarring, called pleural plaques. This pleural scarring can limit lung function and cause a shortness of breath. Both asbestosis and asbestos pleural disease can take years or decades to produce any symptoms, and while they are not malignant, their effects are permanent.
Mesothelioma and Asbestos Lung Cancer
Two other important asbestos diseases are mesothelioma and asbestos lung cancer. Asbestos lung cancer presents in the same manner as typical lung cancer, but what is important to understand is that the risk of this kind of cancer is significantly higher in patients who both smoke and who have been exposed to asbestos fibers over time. Early stages of this form of cancer may come with no symptoms, and can be detected by biopsies, spit samples and imaging tests. Mesothelioma, meanwhile, is a form of cancer that comes with a direct correlation to asbestos inhalation. When asbestos fibers are inhaled, they may become lodged in the lining of the stomach, abdomen, heart or lungs, and in some cases the immune response described above for asbestosis will lead not to the formation of scar tissue, but the abnormal division of cells and therefore cancer. As with asbestos lung cancer, mesothelioma will often present years or decades after exposure, and often with no symptoms. Once symptoms do occur, they are often confused for more typical lung and heart problems, and may not be detected as mesothelioma until late in the development of the cancer. Early cases of this type of asbestos disease may be addressed by full or partial lung removal in combination with radiation therapy, but more advanced stages of mesothelioma often come with only palliative care options. Any patient who has been exposed to asbestos and begins to develop mesothelioma-like symptoms should inform their doctor of the potential for this disease in order to ensure it is properly diagnosed.
While asbestos diseases can be both aggressive and in some cases deadly, there is help. Start by filling out the form below for a free information package bout asbestos-related diseases and learn more about what is being done to treat these conditions, how medical science is forging ahead with new ways to detect them, and which doctors in your area have the best programs for treating patients with asbestos diseases.