Mesothelioma Cancer

by James F. Howell

Mesothelioma is a form of cancer caused by exposure to asbestos. Over time, cancerous cells develop in the mesothelium, a protective lining that covers most of the body’s internal organs. Only after several decades do symptoms begin to show, and often because of this delay, by the time mesothelioma is diagnosed it is too late for treatment to be effective.

Mesothelioma is rare, with a rate of infection of only 15 per 1,000,000 in the United States in 2004. It is most often found in individuals who encounter asbestos on the job, such as shipyard workers, people who work in asbestos mines and mills, producers of asbestos products, workers in the heating and construction industries, and other tradespeople.

There are three primary areas mesothelioma can develop, the lining of the lungs and chest cavity known as the pleura, the lining of the abdominal cavity called the peritoneum, or the sac surrounding the heart called the pericardium. Each form of mesothelioma cancer has its own specific symptoms, but there are many symptoms that can be found in all of them. Such symptoms include coughing, fever, shortness of breath, chest or abdominal pain, and fatigue.

Because the symptoms of mesothelioma are so general, it can be very difficult to diagnose the disease. This, combined with such a long delay before symptoms begin to develop often means that little can be done to help the patient. The most common forms of treatment are radiation, chemotherapy, and sometimes surgery. Unfortunately however, these treatments have been unable to increase the survival rate of mesothelioma victims beyond a few months.

About the Author
James Howell is a freelance writer and researcher. Find out more about Mesothelioma Cancer.

Tags: abdominal, abdominal cavity, abdominal pain, area, Art, Asbestos, asbestos products, cancer, cancerous cells, cavity, cells, chemotherapy, chest, chest cavity, construction industries, cough, decades, dis, disease, fact, fatigue, fever, form, gene, internal organs, job, Lung, lungs, man, Mesothelioma, Mesothelioma Cancer, mesothelioma victims, organs, patient, People, pericardium, peritoneum, pleura, radiati, radiation, rate, Research, shipyard, shipyard workers, shortness of breath, Surgery, Survival, survival rate, symptoms of mesothelioma, therapy, time, Treatment, united states, US

by Sam Gurgis

A recent study conducted on workers in a US Coast Guard shipyard has found a significantly greater mortality rate associated with lung cancer and mesothelioma compared to the general population. The study also found an increased general mortality rate.

The study followed 4702 (4413 men and 289 women) civilian workers who were employed at the shipyard between January 1950 and December 1964. The study then measured the number of deaths and their causes through 31 December 2001.

The study was conducted by S Krstev, P Stewart, J Rusiecki, A Blair and was published in Occupational and Environmental Medicine. The original study publication is available at http://oem.bmj.com/cgi/content/abstract/64/10/651.

Mesothelioma is a form of cancer that is usually associated with exposure to asbestos. The majority of individuals who are diagnosed with mesothelioma have a history of exposure to asbestos particles at work or home. Family members of workers have also been affected. Renovators of homes containing asbestos cement material are accounting for an increasing number of diagnosed sufferers. Symptoms of mesothelioma may not appear for decades after the exposure to asbestos. Symptoms include abdominal pain and weight loss. Diagnosis of mesothelioma can be difficult due to the fact that the symptoms are similar to other respiratory diseases.

Since mesothelioma is primarily caused by exposure to asbestos, mesothelioma can be best be prevented by avoiding or limiting exposure to asbestos in homes, public buildings, and at work. Workers that may be at risk include miners, factory workers, insulation manufacturers, railroad workers, ship builders, contractors and construction workers, particularly those involved with insulation. If there is a possibility of exposure (such as when renovating old buildings) protective equipment should be used and safety procedures should be applied. Asbestos was commonly used in building materials due to its durability and fire-resistant properties. In addition to buildings, asbestos was used in the manufacture of cars and ships and many other products.

About the Author
Sam Gurgis is a scientific writer and the webmaster at mesotheliomawise.org and sam-gurgis.com

Tags: abdominal, abdominal pain, account, Art, articl, Asbestos, asbestos particles, building material, building materials, cancer, cement, construction work, death rate, deaths, decades, diagnosis, dis, disease, diseases, fact, factor, family member, family members, form, gene, insulation, Lung, Lung Cancer, man, Mesothelioma, mortality rate, old buildings, part, particles, Prevent, procedure, public buildings, rate, respiratory disease, respiratory diseases, risk, shipyard, shipyard workers, symptoms of mesothelioma, US, web, weight loss

Malignant mesothelioma (cancer of the mesothelium) is a disease in which cells of the mesothelium become abnormal and divide without control or order. It is a rare form of cancer that most frequently arises from the cells lining the sacs of the chest (the pleura) or the abdomen (the peritoneum). Malignant mesothelioma is closely linked to exposure to asbestos - a natural fiber that was once used in manufacturing a wide variety of industrial and household products. Workers involved in asbestos mining, milling and manufacturing are at the greatest risk for developing malignant mesothelioma. Also at high risk are shipyard workers, workers in the heating and construction industries, and other tradespeople. Family members and others living with asbestos workers have an increased risk of developing malignant mesothelioma, and possibly other asbestos related diseases as well. Cases of malignant mesothelioma have even included people whose only exposure was breathing the air through ventilation systems.

Although reported incidence rates have increased in the past 20 years, malignant mesothelioma is still a relatively rare cancer. Between 1973 and 1984, there has been a threefold increase in the diagnosis of pleural mesothelioma in Caucasian males. From 1980 to the late 1990s, the death rate from malignant mesothelioma in the USA increased from 2,000 per year to 3,000, with men four times more likely to acquire it than women. The actual rates may be even higher however, since it is possible that many cases of malignant mesothelioma are misdiagnosed as adenocarcinoma of the lung, which is difficult to differentiate from mesothelioma.

The average age of diagnosis of malignant mesothelioma is 60. The average survival time varies from 4 to 18 months, and death is usually due to infection or respiratory failure from the progression of the mesothelioma.

Read the rest of article here…

Tags: abdomen, Art, articl, Asbestos, asbestos related diseases, asbestos worker, asbestos workers, cancer, cancer of the mesothelium, case, cells, chest, construction industries, death rate, diagnosis, dis, disease, diseases, ears, ezinearticles, fact, family member, family members, form, high risk, Lung, Malignant Mesothelioma, man, Mesothelioma, milling, nci, People, peritoneum, pleura, pleural, Pleural Mesothelioma, rare cancer, rate, risk, shipyard, shipyard workers, Survival, test, time, US, year

Asbestos exposure is the only known cause for malignant mesothelioma and asbestosis. Asbestos has been mined, processed and used to manufacture goods for over 6000 years. However, the more recent heavy use of asbestos, from the late 1880s to the 1960s, caused laborers to be exposed to it in such quantities that asbestos exposure became a deadly curse.

Thousands of cases of mesothelioma and asbestosis have occurred since the 1930s, and medical specialists expect this epidemic to continue for 20 years. The lag time between initial asbestos exposure and the onset of these deadly diseases is typically 30 to 40 years and has been as long as 60 years.
Inhalation of Asbestos
Inhalation of asbestos dust poses the highest risk during asbestos exposure. The asbestos fibers are so tiny that they are able to bypass the natural filtration system of the human lungs. Once inside the most sensitive areas of the lungs, these fibers become embedded in the lung tissue. The durability and tensile strength of these fibers are why asbestos was so widely used as a fire retardant and as a construction component. However, these same characteristics allow asbestos fibers to stay embedded in lung tissue for many years without being destroyed by the body’s natural defense mechanisms. When mesothelioma erupts in the lung tissue, it is called pleural mesothelioma. Asbestosis also occurs due to the embedding of asbestos fibers in the lungs.

Pleural Mesothelioma
Pleural mesothelioma is the most common type of mesothelioma, and it has occurred in a wide range of different laborers exposed to asbestos. Laborers in the Navy shipyards during and after World War II received heavy doses of asbestos exposure while they used asbestos to insulate piping, boiler rooms and other areas of high heat. In many cases the air was filled with asbestos dust and without proper respiration systems, these workers inhaled the asbestos particles day after day.
Those who mined asbestos were exposed to heavy doses during the mining process. In mining towns, such as Libby, Montana, asbestos dust filled the air in not only the mines and processing facilities, but also in the town square. This asbestos exposure has lead many laborers and towns people to develop asbestos lung cancer.
Construction workers who installed asbestos insulation were also exposed. Asbestos was widely used in car brake linings; therefore, laborers involved in the automotive manufacturing process were placed in work environments where asbestos fibers were inhaled, potentially leading to pleural mesothelioma.
Other Asbestos Exposure
Pericardial and peritoneal mesothelioma are also thought to be caused by asbestos exposure. Pericardial mesothelioma occurs in the lining of the heart and peritoneal mesothelioma occurs in the lining of the abdomen. How the asbestos fibers become imbedded in the lining of these other organs is not well understood. For those laborers who contracted these diseases, food could have become contaminated due to asbestos exposure, leading to asbestos fibers invading the abdominal lining. Asbestos fibers could also have gotten into the blood stream, either through food or inhalation, due to asbestos exposure. Once in the blood stream, these fibers could become lodged virtually anywhere in the body.
Asbestos Removal
The use of asbestos has mainly been halted, and the potential for exposure to asbestos has fallen dramatically. However, a number of older buildings still include insulation and floor/ceiling tiles that contain asbestos. Great care should be taken to limit exposure to asbestos during demolition work in older buildings. Respirators should be used to filter the air, and the demolition areas should be sealed so that asbestos dust is not released from the demolition area. For construction sites, OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) has established extensive guidelines to protect construction workers involved in the demolition of buildings containing asbestos.
It is also common for floor tile in older homes to contain asbestos. When remodeling, it is recommended that these asbestos floor coverings not be disturbed and the new floor coverings be placed on top of the older ones. For homeowners, several websites provide information outlining safe removal procedures in order to limit asbestos exposure.

Tags: abdomen, abdominal, Administration, area, Art, articl, Asbestos, asbestos dust, asbestos exposure, asbestos fibers, asbestos insulation, asbestos particles, asbestos removal, asbestosis, blood, brake linings, cancer, care, case, ceiling tiles, construction sites, construction work, deadly disease, dis, disease, diseases, ears, environments, fact, fibers, floor coverings, form, Health, inhalation, insulation, Lung, Lung Cancer, lung tissue, lungs, Malignant Mesothelioma, man, mechanisms, Mesothelioma, navy, occupational safety and health, occupational safety and health administration, organs, osha, part, particles, People, pericardial, peritoneal mesothelioma, piping, place, pleura, pleural, Pleural Mesothelioma, procedure, quantities, removal, risk, shipyard, shipyards, site, tensile strength, tiles, time, type, US, web, work environment, world war ii, year

Asbestos exposure is by far one of the most common causes of mesothelioma. Over 50% of the patients have a history of asbestos exposure. This exposure could occur while directly handling the fibrous material, or it could occur through just environmental exposure.
There are numerous documented cases where patients contracted the disease due to living close to the asbestos mines or by coming in contact with asbestos when some of the fibers became airborne. Persons most commonly afflicted include shipyard workers, construction workers, automobile mechanics (particularly those working on brake linings), insulation workers, pipe and heater installation and flooring workers and roofers.

Also, for those who have had asbestos exposure and who smoke, the risk becomes exaggerated. Studies show that asbestos workers who also smoke are 55 times more likely to die of mesothelioma than nonsmokers without asbestos exposure.
Erionite
Erionite is a mineral that has a long, thin rod-like amphiboles structure. Exposure to this mineral has been associated with increased incidence of mesothelioma. Erionite exposure has a high mortality rate due to mesothelioma in Anatolia, Turkey.
Exposure to asbestos is the primary cause for malignant mesothelioma in most patients. If you or a loved one has been exposed to asbestos, then you are at risk. There is no minimum level of exposure that is deemed safe. Insure that during your routine health care, you advise your doctor of previous asbestos exposure, particularly if you experience any chest pressure, shortness of breath, chest pain or coughing. While these symptoms do not indicate the presence of the disease, they are the most common symptoms and should be further investigated if you have had asbestos exposure.

Tags: amphiboles, Art, Asbestos, asbestos exposure, asbestos worker, asbestos workers, brake linings, care, case, chest, chest pain, construction work, cough, dis, disease, experience, fibers, hand, Health, Health care, high mortality rate, insulation, insulation work, love, Malignant Mesothelioma, Mesothelioma, mortality rate, nci, part, patient, presence, rate, risk, shipyard, shipyard workers, shortness of breath, smoker, time, turkey, US

There is a large movement of the opposition, the draft law on combating S.852 - the justice Asbestos Injury Resolution Act of 2005.

Battle lines have been drawn, the big companies have on several top lobbyists in Washington to the law.

The lobbyists for the whole bill as the answer to help the burdens of our judicial system disputes over asbestos.

The net result of this bill, if adopted, it will be several layers for the participation of the government in an already overburdened justice system.

Increase the involvement of the Federal Government, to increase spending on litigation related to asbestos.

Adding another layer of bureaucracy to the victims, the mesothelioma is not the answer. Individuals, these pollutants have the right to be heard on an individual basis.

The draft law has developed guidelines for the people her asbestos exposure.

To the people who have asbestos in a 3-tier model is unfair.

The three levels of asbestos exposure are in a way, subjective to the duration of employment in exposure to asbestos in the course of employment. They are:

• The exhibition moderate
In a normal year of work, the person has in the immediate areas where the products that contain asbestos were installed, repaired or removed, and participates regularly in emissions of asbestos. This includes years as a genuine occupational exposure.

• Heavy Exposure
In a normal year of work, the person was directly in the installation, repair or removal of products that contain asbestos and therefore the asbestos on a regular basis. This counts as two years of substantial occupational exposure.

• Very strong burden
In a normal year of work, the person works in the elementary school asbestos, a shipyard of the Second World War and asbestos insulation professions, and therefore was exposed to asbestos fibers on a regular basis. This counts as four years of substantial exposure in the workplace.

The bill will destroy the rights of the individual to fair compensation in the shortest possible time. The mesothelioma is a disease caused by asbestos causes.

Tags: asbestos exposure, asbestos fibers, asbestos insulation, burdens, bureaucracy, draft law, duration, emissions, federal government, judicial system, justice system, litigation, lobbyists, Mesothelioma, occupational exposure, pollutants, professions, second world war, shipyard, tier model