When malignant cancerous cells are discovered in the mesothelium, which is the protective sac that surrounds the internal organs in the body, it is commonly identified as mesothelioma. This form of rare cancer has been linked to be caused by the inhalation of asbestos by laborers who have worked at jobsites where there are asbestos particles. Here are some answers to the most frequently asked questions regarding mesothelioma.
What is the function of the mesothelium?
The membrane that surrounds and protects various internal organs such as the thoracal cavity, or the pleura, the abdominal cavity, which is the peritoneum, and the heart sac, also known as the pericardium, inside the body is called the mesothelium. The mesothelial tissue also surrounds the male reproductive organs and is referred to as the tunica vaginalis testis. The female organs are protected by the serosa uteri.
As the mesothelium forms the lining around the internal organs, it has a layer that immediately surrounds the internal organ called the visceral mesotheluim, and another layer, the parietal mesothelium, that forms a sac that covers the body walls. The production of a lubricating fluid in between these layers helps provide a slippery surface to enable moving organs to have intracoelomic movement which makes it easier to glide against adjacent structures.
The mesothelium also serves to help in the transportation and the movement of fluid and particulate matter across the serosal cavities, leukocyte migration that happens because of inflammatory matters, combining of pro-inflammatory cytokines, the aiding of serosal repair through growth factors and extracellular matrix proteins, and the promotion and clearance of the fibrin such as plasminogen. Likewise, it is an antigen presenting cell. Furthermore, the secretion of glycosaminoglycans and lubricants will protect the body from any infection and tumor dissemination.
What is mesothelioma?
Mesothelimoa is cancer of the mesothelium, and is most commonly related to previous over-exposure to asbestos. This disease causes the cells of the mesothelium to become abnormal and then divide without any control or order. The nearby tissues and organs are then invaded and damaged. With most cases of mesothelioma usually starting in the pleura or peritoneum, it can also metastasize, or spread, from the original site and continue on in to other parts of the body.
The majority or people who develop mesothelioma have either worked on a jobsite where there was exposure to the inhalation of asbestos particles, or there was exposure to the asbestos dust and fibers from non-direct contact, but rather, contact with a family member who had direct contact. This non-direct contact may have been the result as something as simple as clothes being laundered in the same wash load.
How common is Mesothelioma?
Mesothelioma is concerned a relatively rare disease, in that approximately 7-40 out of 1,000,000 people are diagnosed with it. In the past twenty years alone, about 2,000 new cases are diagnosed every year in the United States. It also appears that men are more often diagnosed with Mesothelioma than women, and that the risk can increase with age.
What are the risk factors for Mesothelioma?
There are many risk factors for mesothelioma, but the most common risk factor would be working with asbestos. There are approxiamately 70 to 80 percent of reported cases that involve a history of working in an environment that had asbestos exposure. Yet, there are still some reported cases of mesothelioma that had absolutely no known history of any exposure to asbestos.
Asbestos consist of a group of minerals comprised of long, thin, fibrous minerals, or crystals. Asbestos was once a preferred material to use during the manufacturing and building of various buildings and such due to the asbestos being resistant to heat, electricity and chemical damage, as well as, sound absorption and tensile strength. Since asbestos consist of strong masses of flexible fibers that can separate into thin threads, and then woven, asbestos is widely used for many industrial products. Asbestos is used in such things as brake shoes, gaskets, cement, roof shingles, electrical insulation, and even textiles and flooring products.
It is when the tiny asbestos particles are released into the air during the manufacturing process that the asbestos is inhaled or swallowed, causing the related health problems. This inhalation can be the cause of not only mesothelioma, but also, asbestosis, which is a non-cancerous lung ailment, actual lung cancer, and even various other cancers such as in the larynx or kidneys.
As smoking has not appeared to actually increase the risk of mesothelioma, it does seem to be linked when combined with asbestos exposure. The combination of smoking and asbestos has been drastically related in the development of cancer in the passageways of the lungs.
Who is at an increased risk for developing mesothelioma?
As asbestos has been mined for commercial use since the late 1800s, and the use of asbestos increased during the time of World War II, millions of American workers have at some point in time been exposed to asbestos dust since the early 1940s.
In the beginning, any associated risk to asbestos exposure was unknown, but an increased risk of developing mesothelioma was later discovered among shipyard workers, asbestos miners and millers, producers of asbestos products, heating and construction industry workers, and similar tradespersons who worked with or around asbestos. This led to the US Occupational Safety and Health Administration, or OSHA, establishing acceptable asbestos exposure levels in the workplace. Now people who work with or around asbestos are also encouraged, if not required, to wear personal protective equipment to help decrease any risk of asbestos exposure.
The risk of asbestos related diseases may increase with heavier exposure or even longer exposure time, but even brief exposure has shown to be the cause of developing mesothelioma in some individuals. It should also be kept in mind that not all workers who have been even heavily exposed to asbestos have developed asbestos related diseases.
Evidence has also developed which has linked family members or others that live with someone who has worked with or around asbestos have an increased risk of developing mesothelioma or other asbestos related diseases. The association of this risk is due to workers that are exposed to asbestos bring home the asbestos fibers in clothing or in hair, and then become transferred to others in the household. With this new found discovery, asbestos workers are usually required to change clothes, and even shower, before leaving the workplace.
What are the symptoms of mesothelioma?
There are various symptoms associated with mesothelioma, but may not even appear for about 30 to 50 years AFTER the exposure to asbestos. Some of these symptoms of pleural mesothelioma may include a shortness of breath and pain in the chest which is brought on by the accumulation of fluid that has collected in the pluers. Peritoneal mesothelioma may have symptoms of weight loss, abdominal pain, and swellings caused by a buildup of fluid in the abdomen, or even bowl obstruction, blood clotting abnormalities, anemia, and fever. Should the cancer spread beyond the mesothelium to other parts of the body, then symptoms could also include pain, swelling of the neck or face, and trouble swallowing.
How is mesothelioma diagnosed?
As mesothelioma is often difficult to diagnose, as the symptoms can be similar to a number of other conditions, it is important to remember that only a doctor can accurately make a diagnosis. A proper diagnosis usually begins with the patientís medical history being reviewed, which should include any history of asbestos exposure. Then, a complete physical exam may be performed, which could include chest X-Rays, as well as, abdomen and lung function tests. Other test may be ordered to be performed at the doctorís discretion.
Once mesothelioma is suspected, it will be necessary to have a biopsy to confirm the diagnosis. During the biopsy, a medical oncologist or surgeon will remove a sample of tissue that will be examined by a pathologist under a microscope. There are many different ways that a biopsy may be done based on where the abnormal area may be located.
Should the diagnosis be mesothelioma, the next step is for the doctor to determine the stage, or extent, of the disease. By knowing the exact stage of where the cancer is at and whether it may have spread to other parts of the body, will aid the doctor in a more specific treatment plan.
If the mesothelioma is described as localized, then the cancer has be found in only the membrane surface where it originated. Should the mesothelioma be classified as advanced, it has spread beyond the original membrane surface and has developed in other parts of the body.
How is mesothelioma treated?
Treatment for mesothelioma is based on the location of the cancer, at what stage the disease may be, and specifics about the patient such as age and overall health. Standard treatment options may include surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. There may be circumstances where these treatments may be used in combination with one another.
The most common treatment method for mesothelioma is surgery. The doctor may remove the infected area, and any necessary surrounding area, in order to get rid of all the cancerous cells, and prevent the spreading to other areas of the body.
With radiation therapy, or radiotherapy, the involving of high-energy rays are used to kill the cancer cells and shrink any tumors. Radiation therapy will affect the cancer cells only in any treated areas.
Chemotherapy is an anti-cancerous drug that is prescribed to kill cancer cells throughout the body. Most of the prescribed drugs used to treat mesothelioma are given by an injection into a vein, intravenous or IV.
New treatments are being sought in the fight against mesothelioma. Until such time as mesothelioma can be completely wiped out, there will be patients and loved ones that will continue to suffer. If there is a patient or loved that is suffering and would like to schedule a free no obligation consultation, click here to find out more information.