Mesothelioma: A Full Spectrum Examination

Receiving much press in recent years ~ both because of the number of people affected, as well as the sometimes sensational, multi-million-dollar lawsuits that have been filed, fought, won & lost ~ is a rare form of cancer known as malignant mesothelioma, whose principle cause is exposure to aspestos fibers.

Asbestos, a known toxin since the 1930's, is an inexpensive fibrous material that is extremely durable and heat resistant. Because of these properties it was, for many years, heavily used in industry throughout the United States. Even after its carcinogenic (cancer-causing) properties were discovered, many industries continued to use asbestos, putting at risk those who were exposed to it. Asbestos-containing products remain, to this day, in buildings, ships, industrial facilities and other environments. The EPA has stated that asbestos "presents an unreasonable risk of injury to human health." Even low levels of asbestos exposure can trigger not only mesothelioma, but also asbestosis, pleural disease and lung cancer: diseases that are caused almost exclusively by asbestos. The statistics for recent years show an average of 3000 people per year dying of aspestos-related causes.

Because aspestos products have been used so heavily by industry, many people have come into contact with asbestos fibers via their jobs (e.g. via occupational exposure). There is also a risk to the family members of those working in at-risk occupations; this exposure is called paraoccupational exposure. People who live near sites that have asbestos around the facility are also at risk. Refineries, power plants, factories, shipyards, steel mills and building demolition are types of work sites that can release asbestos fibers into the environment and contaminate nearby residential neighborhoods. Mesothelioma can result from very small fibers or dust particles at low exposure levels. (Most such exposure would likely have occurred prior to 1973, but the latency period can be up to 40 years for most types of lung cancer to develop.) Trades in which aspestos exposure is likely include:

~ Asbestos product manufacturing (insulation, roofing, building, materials)

~ Automotive repair (brakes & clutches)

~ Construction/contractors

~ Maritime

~ Miners

~ Offshore rust removals

~ Oil refineries

~ Power plants

~ Railroads

~ Sand or abrasive manufacturers

~ Shipyards / ships / ship builders

~ Steel mills

~ Tile cutters

Malignant mesothelioma is the formal medical name for this form of lung cancer. (A lay term for the equivalent condition is Aspestos Cancer). Mesothelioma is the term used to describe a cancerous tumor which involves the mesothelial cells of an organ, usually the lungs, heart or abdominal organs. Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma or cancer of the lung lining is the most common form of mesothelioma cancer. Peritoneal Mesothelioma is cancer of the stomach lining and is the next most common form.

The onset of mesothelioma asbestos lung cancer is usually very slow: the time between aspestos exposure and the onset of symptoms can be many years. The most common mesothelioma symptoms are chest pain and pain in the lower back. Sometimes the pain is accompanied by difficulty breathing, coughing, weight loss and fever.

Symptoms for Pleural Mesothelioma (involving the lung / chest area) are:

~ chest pain and pain in the lower back

~ difficulty breathing

~ coughing

~ weight loss

~ fever

~ muscle weakness and sensory loss

~ swelling of the face and arms

~ hoarseness

~ coughing up blood

Symptoms of Peritoneal Mesothelioma (involving the abdominal / stomach cavity, liver, spleen or the bowel) are:

~ abdominal bloating due to fluid accumulation in the abdominal cavity

~ nausea & vomiting

~ swelling of the feet

~ fever

~ impaired bowel function

Diagnosing mesothelioma (within the framework of western medicine) can be challenging, because the symptoms are quite similar to those of other illnesses and conditions. A western medical diagnosis of mesothelioma might include any or all of the following: a review of the patient