Tuesday, January 4th, 2011
Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that primarily affects the lining of the lungs. This cancer can also occur in the heart, abdomen or testicles, although such cases are reported less frequently. Mesothelioma is almost exclusively the result of asbestos exposure.
“Asbestos” refers to six naturally occurring mineral fibers. Used for their fire-retardant properties, these carcinogenic fibers were mined for over 200 years and incorporated into a wide variety of industrial products. Occupational exposure to asbestos-laced products was highest at jobsites such as shipyards, auto-manufacturing plants, metalworks, oil refineries, power plants and chemical plants.
When inhaled or swallowed, asbestos fibers can become lodged in the mesothelium – the tissue that lines vital organs. Cancer that originates in the mesothelium is referred to as malignant mesothelioma.
Regardless of the form of malignant mesothelioma, patients generally report symptoms 20 to 50 years after the original asbestos exposure. The time between exposure and emergence of symptoms is referred to as the latency period.
Unfortunately, the long latency period of mesothelioma often equates to a delayed diagnosis in an advanced stage of the cancer. Those exposed to asbestos during the 1950s, ’60s and ’70s are only now beginning to display symptoms of mesothelioma.
Individuals exposed to high levels of asbestos for short periods of time are at higher risk than those exposed to small amounts over the course of many years, although many studies agree that 90 percent of individuals exposed to any amount of asbestos for at least 40 years will develop mesothelioma. The percentage drops to 75 percent in those exposed to asbestos for 20 to 30 years and 10 to 15 percent in those with 10 to 19 years of exposure.
X-rays, biopsies and other imaging tests are suggested to confirm the presence of cancerous cells in patients who were exposed to asbestos for any amount of time and consider themselves at risk for mesothelioma or another asbestos-related disease.
Additional information on mesothelioma may be found through the Mesothelioma Center.
This entry was posted on Tuesday, January 4th, 2011 at 4:35 pm and is filed under Asbestos Exposure, Jobsite Exposure, Mesothelioma.
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