Understanding Mesothelioma

From the Industrial Revolution through the 1980s, many companies used asbestos in manufacturing without significant regulation.

Asbestos is a naturally occurring, fibrous mineral which is easily separated into thin, microscopic threads. These fibers are strong, flexible, heat-resistant and do not conduct electricity. For nearly five thousand years, people have recognized the desirable properties of asbestos. Unfortunately, for nearly as long, its dangers have also been evident.

The very nature of the mineral’s thin fibers and the ease with which they are released into the air is the root of its danger. When these fibers are inhaled during an individual’s exposure to asbestos, the can become lodged in the lungs and, over time, cause serious, asbestos-related illnesses.

The first case of disease linked to asbestos was diagnosed in 1924 in the United Kingdom. Throughout to ‘30s and ‘40s, the use of asbestos continued to expand, particularly in industrial settings.

It wasn’t until the 1970s that asbestos was officially regulated in the United States.

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Who is at Risk?

At hundreds of job sites across the United States, thousands of workers often encountered asbestos, jeopardizing their health and even their lives on a daily basis. Family members could also be exposed when loved ones brought the dust home on their clothes. This is called second-hand or take-home exposure. Those who worked in the following professions could be at risk.

  • Auto mechanics
  • Aircraft mechanics
  • Boilermakers
  • Carpenters
  • Cement workers
  • Construction workers
  • Electricians
  • Firefighters
  • Insulators
  • Iron workers
  • Machinists
  • Oil refinery workers
  • Paper mill workers
  • Pipefitters
  • Power plant workers
  • Maintenance workers
  • Metal workers
  • Miners
  • Railroad workers
  • Sheet metal workers
  • Shipbuilders
  • Ship scrappers
  • Steelworkers
  • Tile setters
  • U.S. military
  • Welders
  • And more…

The Facts

  • Over 3,000 Americans are diagnosed with mesothelioma every year.
  • Mesothelioma is 100 percent caused by asbestos exposure.
  • Worldwide, 1 in 3 deaths from occupational exposure is attributed to asbestos exposure.
  • Workers exposed to asbestos for a year or less have an increased risk of developing cancer.
  • Since the early 1940s, millions of American workers have been exposed to asbestos.
  • Overall evidence suggests there is no safe level of asbestos exposure.
  • Asbestos is still not completely banned in the United States.

Diseases Linked to Asbestos

Most asbestos-related illnesses have a long latency period. This means that the illness may not surface for as long as 10 to 50 years after asbestos exposure. The four most common diseases linked to asbestos exposure are mesothelioma, lung cancer, asbestosis and pleural plaques.

Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that most often occurs in the thin membrane lining of the lungs, chest and abdomen. Each year, approximately 3,000 Americans are diagnosed with mesothelioma.

Lung Cancer

Lung cancer causes the largest number of asbestos-related deaths. The occurrence of lung cancer in people who are or were directly involved in the mining, milling, manufacturing and use of asbestos and related products is significantly higher compared to the general population.

Asbestosis

Asbestosis is a chronic, non-cancerous respiratory disease. Asbestos fibers become lodged in the lungs and aggravate lung tissues, causing them to scar. The disease may cause cardiac failure in its advanced stages. Those suffering from asbestos-related cancers may also have asbestosis; however, asbestosis does not develop into cancer.

Pleural Plaques

Pleural plaques are bilateral areas of fibrosis present on the inner surface of the rib cage and the diaphragm that are often partly calcified. Pleural plaques by themselves are benign and cannot change into cancer. About one-third to half of those exposed to asbestos will likely develop calcified pleural plaques, though not all asbestos-exposed workers develop pleural plaques.

Mesothelioma Symptoms

Mesothelioma symptoms can take up to 30 or even 40 years to appear, making a mesothelioma diagnosis very difficult to pinpoint. Nearly all the diagnosed mesothelioma cases can be linked to asbestos, which can lodge in the lining of the lungs and abdomen.

As a cancer, mesothelioma has a long latency period, meaning that the symptoms of mesothelioma typically do not appear until years after the asbestos exposure has occurred.

Navigating Diagnosis

It is often difficult to diagnose mesothelioma since its symptoms are often similar to those of other, less serious conditions.

Your doctor’s first step will likely be to collect a full medical and asbestos exposure history, along with a thorough physical examination. This might include a chest X-ray, which, if mesothelioma is present, will reveal thickening of the mesothelium or pleura.

As a follow-up, your doctor may order a CT scan or MRI, which will identify any abnormal fluid buildup around your organs. In the case of pleural mesothelioma, the most common form of the disease, your doctor will scan your lungs.

If your physician detects a large amount of fluid, he or she may drain it so he can examine the cells to see if they are malignant, or cancerous. If the cells are malignant, your doctor will likely order a biopsy to confirm the mesothelioma diagnosis. This involves removing some tissue from the inner tumor so a pathologist can look at it under a microscope.

For cancer of the abdomen, your doctor may instead perform a laparoscopy, which involves making a small opening in your abdomen and inserting a laparoscope to take tissue samples. These samples will enable your doctor to determine if your symptoms are related to mesothelioma.

We encourage you to consult your physician or the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation for questions regarding your mesothelioma diagnosis.