Mesothelioma: The Reason Why Asbestos is a Killer

Mesothelioma is a cancer that is linked to exposure to asbestos. Malignant cells develop in the protective lining that covers the body's internal organs called the mesothelium. The most common site for mesothelioma to occur is the outer lining of the lungs and chest cavity, or the pleura. It can also occur in the abdominal cavity and the sac that surrounds the heart.

Not only are people who have worked on jobs where they inhale asbestos particles at risk, but their families can be at risk as well. For example, a housewife who washes clothes of someone who works with asbestos can be as equally exposed as her family member. It's also very important to limit your exposure to asbestos cement products if you're doing home renovations.

Unfortunately the symptoms of mesothelioma can take 20 to 50 years to appear. Accumulation of fluid in the pleural space will lead to shortness of breath, coughing, and chest pains. This type of mesothelioma is called pleural mesothelioma. Symptoms of mesothelioma in the abdominal cavity can include weight loss, abdominal swelling and pain, bowel obstruction, blood clotting, anemia and fever. If the cancer spreads beyond the mesothelium, symptoms can include difficulty swallowing, intense pain and inflammation of the neck or face.

There is no universally agreed protocol to pre-determine whether people who have been exposed to asbestos will develop mesothelioma. Diagnosis of mesothelioma is often difficult because the symptoms match quite a few other conditions. If you have a history of asbestos exposure, it's important to let your doctor know that so that they can begin looking commons signs of mesothelioma such as pleural thickening or an abnormal amount of fluid where abnormal cells can be detected.

Treatment options have varying degrees of success. Surgery, even when used with pre and post-operative adjuvant therapies often yields little results it is not possible to remove the entire mesothelium without the end result being death. Radiation and chemotherapy after surgery can extend life expectancy to five years or more, but ultimately the cancer will continue to metastasize.
Typically life expectancy with mesothelioma is limited, but there are some noteworthy exceptions. Stephen Jay Gould was diagnosed with peritoneal mesothelioma in 1982 and lived another two decades before he died from metastatic adenocarcinoma of the lung; which had nothing to do with his mesothelioma. Paul Kraus was given only a few months to live in 1997, yet he survives to this day using integrative and complimentary modalities. He's even written a book about his experiences. However, these are rare cases and not the norm.

If you suspect that you've been exposed to asbestos, and especially if you start developing symptoms that could be mesothelioma-related, your best bet is to discuss it with your doctor. As with all forms of cancer, early detection greatly increases your chances for treatment and therapies that could prolong your life and help you maintain a higher quality of life even if you are diagnosed with mesothelioma.