Overview of Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is a particularly combative variety of cancer which is nearly always linked to an exposure to asbestos – the carcinogenic building material that was widely used in the early to mid 20th Century in fireproofing and insulating capacities. In this type of cancer, malignant cells develop in the mesothelium.

The mesothelium is a protective tissue that covers the body's internal organs, allowing them to move by producing a special fluid. Mesothelioma affects the mesothelium, most commonly in the pleura, or the outer lining of the lungs and internal chest wall. It can also attack the peritoneum, which lines the abdominal cavity, and the pericaridium, which surrounds the heart.

Unfortunately, there are two factors which prevent mesothelioma from being diagnosed accurately and in a timely manner. First, it has a long period of latency, which means that it does not develop or manifest immediately after the exposure, but may remain latent in the body for between 10-40 years. Second, its symptoms are not unique, but mimic those of many other diseases and medical conditions, such as emphysema, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and bronchitis. Some of the major symptoms associated with mesothelioma include shortness of breath, chronic coughing, coughing up blood, wheezing, pain in the chest wall, and fatigue or anemia.

Despite its long latency, once mesothelioma cancer is diagnosed it usually develops, and becomes fatal, in a relatively short period of time. Currently, there is no cure for mesothelioma, although treatment is an option. As with most cancers, the sooner the mesothelioma is diagnosed, the better the chance for effective treatment. For this reason it's vital that anyone who has experienced asbestos exposure, especially repeated and/or long-term exposure, inform their health care provider of this fact, so that an accurate diagnosis can be made and treatment begun for mesothelioma.

Some of the options for mesothelioma treatment include chemotherapy, radiation and surgery to remove tumors or affected areas of the lung. Usually these treatments are used in conjunction with one another to increase their effectiveness. Some holistic and nontraditional therapies, such as immunotherapy, are also occasionally used and continue to be tested in clinical studies.

Mesothelioma is most common in men, mostly due to the high incidence of workplace exposure to asbestos in traditionally male occupations. Shipbuilders and shipyard workers, military personnel, miners, construction workers, tile installers, pipefitters, and mechanics are all occupations associated closely with asbestos-containing products or materials, and hence with high incidences of mesothelioma diagnoses. There have been some instances, however, when spouses or children of asbestos workers have contracted mesothelioma after repeated exposure to the carcinogen during the laundering of contaminated clothing. Additionally, since the mineral's fibers become airborne when they are mined or otherwise disturbed, there are some mesothelioma cases that are believed to have been cause by simply living in the vicinity of an asbestos mine or processing plant.

The first lawsuit against an asbestos manufacturer was brought in 1929, but the first mesothelioma-related case of asbestos exposure was not confirmed until 1962, in an Australian man who had worked at an asbestos-mine mill. Despite the fact that hundreds of suits have been brought against manufacturers and other firms alleging willful and knowledgeable exposure of employees to asbestos, some of which have gone to the United States Supreme Court, there is currently no United States federal law governing compensation for asbestos cases.

Although many people believe that asbestos was outlawed in the United States, the EPA has ruled that many consumer products may still contain trace amounts of the mineral. Additionally, asbestos remains in structures and vehicles, and is allowed to do so until the building must be renovated or demolished, at which point abatement procedures and safety precautions must be undertaken.

It's estimated that the number of mesothelioma diagnoses, and related lawsuits, that have already come to light are just the beginning. Due to its long development period, mesothelioma has not yet been diagnosed in many of the workers who were exposed to asbestos, and thereby contracted asbestos cancer, years or even decades ago. Asbestos has been called “the silent killer,” and one of its most deadly weapons is the aggressive form of cancer known as malignant mesothelioma.