Types of Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that originates from the mesothelium, a protective lining that sheaths the internal organs of the body. The different types of mesothelioma are terms used to differentiate where in the body the cancer exists.
Learn what the different types of mesothelioma are and the treatments specific to them. Fill out our information form located below and MesotheliomaSymptoms.com will overnight a detailed packet to you filled with factors concerning diagnosis, prognosis, and clinical trials.

Pleural Mesothelioma

Pleural mesothelioma typically develops within the chest cavity and lungs. The most common type of malignant mesothelioma, it often spreads to numerous other organs and lymph nodes in the body. The difficulty in diagnosing and detecting pleural mesothelioma makes treatment tougher. Symptoms such as chest pains, weight loss and fever are far too common to be noticed as a precursor for cancer. More severe symptoms such as breathing difficulties and fluid buildup may not appear until after the disease has progressed. The survival rate for sufferers of pleural mesothelioma is tragically low. Only 8% live beyond three-to-five years after the onset of initial symptoms, and the average life expectancy is closer to 12 months.

Pericardial Mesothelioma

The least common form of malignant mesothelioma, pericardial mesothelioma affects the heart. This rare form of cancer is found in the sac that surrounds the heart, also known as the pericardium. The cancer prevents the heart from transporting oxygen to the body efficiently, and as a result the patient's body deteriorates from an elevated heart rate. Heart attack, nausea, chest pain, and shortness of breath are signs of pericardial mesothelioma.

Peritoneal Mesothelioma

Peritoneal mesothelioma develops in the abdominal area and can quickly spread to the liver, bowel, or spleen. Fluid buildup or severe stomach pain can be a sign of peritoneal mesothelioma, in addition to vomiting, bowel trouble, fever, and tumescent feet.

Malignant Versus Benign

The aforementioned types of mesothelioma are malignant forms, and are thusly the most dangerous. Malignant mesothelioma is often the product of asbestos inhalation from
individuals who have worked or resided in areas not up to current health and safety standards. Since the disease has a high latency period, often times it is not diagnosed until it has progressed far beyond any rectifiable measure.
As the name suggests, benign mesothelioma is a form of non-malignant mesothelioma that is easily treatable. While benign tumors can at times be cancerous, unlike malignant mesothelioma, the tumors do not spread, making it easier to isolate and remove.

Mesothelioma in Uncommon Locations

In addition to pleural, pericardial, peritoneal, and benign mesothelioma, the cancer can also strike the ovaries and testes. These tumors are born in the membrane lining the organs. The total number of cases of testicular or ovarian mesothelioma are less than a hundred, and symptoms are rarely identified. As a result, the prognosis for this type of mesothelioma are not promising. The effects of the disease are such that any individual who has had prolonged asbestos exposure or initial symptoms of mesothelioma should consult a doctor.

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Mesothelioma Life Expectancy

Mesothelioma life expectancy is the projected number of months or years a mesothelioma patient will live following a diagnosis. The average life expectancy is about one year for mesothelioma, but each patient has a unique set of life expectancy factors that could help them surpass this average. Factors like overall health, age, stage at diagnosis and the unique type of mesothelioma a patient has will play a role in their expected life span.
Thankfully, research scientists and doctors have been working to improve the life expectancy for mesothelioma patients for decades. And they've done just that: survival rates for mesothelioma have steadily increased over the past several decades. These numbers are expected to climb in the coming years with recent advancements in mesothelioma treatment. While there is no definitive cure for mesothelioma, patients can elect to undergo specialized treatment or participate in clinical trials that often help prolong their life expectancy and improve their overall quality of life.
In an effort to help patients understand and improve their life expectancy, the Mesothelioma Center offers a complimentary packet that contains treatment information tailored to your specific diagnosis. The packet also covers the nation's top mesothelioma doctors and cancer centers, as well as financial assistance options to help cover medical costs. To receive your packet in the mail, please enter your information below.

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Mesothelioma Treatment

Mesothelioma treatment can entail a number of therapies intended to kill cancerous cells, prevent the tumor from spreading or alleviate the symptoms of the disease. Each patient’s situation is unique and will shape their treatment plan. Factors such as the stage and form of mesothelioma, treatment history, patient’s location, ability to travel and financial situation are all important to consider when seeking treatment

Types of Mesothelioma Treatment

• Surgery
• Chemotherapy
• Radiation

If a patient’s diagnosis and health indicates that their response to curative treatment may be positive, their doctor may develop a course of treatment to remove the tumor(s) and attempt to prevent metastasis throughout the body. If the patient is dealing with a late-stage cancer, the treatment is more likely to be palliative in nature, addressing the symptoms while improving the patient’s quality of life. The following treatment options may be either palliative or curative, depending on the patient’s case:
Learn more about treatment for different mesothelioma types

Surgery

Facts about Surgery

• Primary Goal: Complete removal of the tumor
• More effective when used with other therapies
• Surgical biopsy is the most reliable way to diagnose mesothelioma

Surgery is one of the most common treatments for mesothelioma. Patients whose cancer was diagnosed before it spread beyond the lymph nodes may be eligible for curative surgery that removes the tumors. Depending upon the patient’s diagnosis and overall health, mesothelioma surgeries can be either curative or palliative, and may fall somewhere in between if surgery efforts are effective. Mesothelioma surgery is commonly followed by other treatments such as chemotherapy or radiation in an attempt to kill any remaining cancer cells.
Learn more about mesothelioma surgery

Chemotherapy

Facts about Chemotherapy:

• Primary Goal: To kill cancer cells and shrink tumors
• Can harm healthy cells as well as cancerous cells
• Combinations of two or more drugs can be more effective

Chemotherapy has shown to be the most effective and least invasive form of treatment to extend life expectancy. Depending upon the location of the cancer, some patients may be eligible for heated chemotherapy, a treatment commonly used for cases of peritoneal mesothelioma. Cisplatin, the most commonly used chemotherapy drug for mesothelioma, is frequently used in conjunction with pemetrexed to achieve the most advantageous results in reducing tumors.
Here is a list of some of the chemotherapy drugs a mesothelioma patient may be prescribed:

• Cisplatin
• Gemcitabine
• Alitma

• Navelbine
• Onconase
• Carboplatin

These drugs may be used on their own or as part of a combination of drugs for more aggressive treatment.
Learn more about chemotherapy for mesothelioma

Radiation Therapy

Facts about Radiation Therapy:

• Primary Goal: Kill cancer cells without harming the rest of the body
• Intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) delivers a precise, higher dose of radiation
• Can cause toxicity in other organs

Radiation therapy directly applies radiation to the cancerous locations. This is through either sealed or unsealed source radiation. Patients of all stages are eligible to receive radiation therapy, as it can be used in conjunction with other treatments to reduce tumor growth and ease symptoms.

 

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Reveal of mesothelioma statistics

Mesothelioma is a deadly cancer which affects the lining cover of the internal organs of the body, mainly the lungs and the abdomen and occasionally the heart and the reproductive organs. Mesothelioma statistics reveal the data about mesothelioma. Most victims do not live beyond one to two years after receiving the diagnosis.

mesothelioma statistics

What has the Statistics Revealed?

Mesothelioma statistics have revealed that nearly seventy to eighty per cent of all cases of mesothelioma have been directly linked to prolonged exposure to asbestos. Asbestos was a commonly used material in construction, railroad, factory, shipyard and automobile industries. Statistics have been able to highlight the link between asbestos and cancer since nearly sixty years ago. However, unscrupulous industries have chosen to continue using asbestos for profit motives. The available statistics also portray the disease to be a silent killer. This is because the disease lies dormant in the body for periods between ten to fifty years. It is usually diagnosed in patients when they are between fifty and seventy years of age. Normally the diagnosis is made after the case has reached the terminal stages and there is very little hope for the survival of the patient.

Statistics Related to Treatment:

The sad reality is that mesothelioma has no cure. According to statistics, after diagnosis, the average survival rate is only 12-24 months. Even with early detection and treatment, the survival rate can be stretched out to five years. The available treatments are very expensive and usually range – between four hundred thousand and eight hundred thousand dollars. This is the reason why most of the patients have to file lawsuits to recover medical and other costs related to this killer disease.

Some of the facts that the statistics have not revealed .

The available statistics reveal only the numbers of patients who have already been diagnosed with this deadly cancer. This number is between two to three thousand new cases every year. However, statistics is not able to reveal or predict the numbers of people who continue to slowly develop the cancer inside them. There is no statistical data to provide the probable number of mesothelioma patients in the coming future.

What is the usefulness of statistics ?

Government can make regulations that will make mesothelioma patients eligible for compensation. Statistics also help in providing valuable information about the disease for deserved settlements and necessary litigations. Also, statistics can also help the victims and lawyers to gather valuable information for supporting their deserved settlements claims.

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Smoking and Mesothelioma Risks

Smoking cigarettes is one of the most dangerous habits that people can have, and smoking can lead to a number of detrimental conditions including emphysema, COPD, lung cancer and heart disease. One deadly cancer that smoking does not cause, however, is mesothelioma.

Nevertheless, there is a complicated relationship between smoking and asbestos exposure, which is the only known cause of mesothelioma. Tobacco smoking, while it does not directly lead to mesothelioma, does make a person more susceptible to it if that person has also been exposed to asbestos. In order to understand this susceptibility, it's important to also understand asbestos, the risks of asbestos exposure, and the nature of the asbestos cancer mesothelioma.

Asbestos, an organic mineral, is fibrous in nature. It is durable, lightweight, strong and fireproof, and able to resist heat and other biological processes. Asbestos can be woven into fabric, or added to a number of industrial building materials, such as concrete. Perhaps its most well-known applications are as insulation or acoustical ceiling tiles, but throughout history it has been used for cloth, blankets, flooring, wiring, pipes, boilers, automotive parts and thousands of other products for commercial and residential use.

Exposure to asbestos or asbestos-containing products, however, especially when being mined, processed, installed or demolished, can lead to a number of fatal diseases, including lung cancer and mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is not the same as lung cancer, although it too is a cancer. It targets a membrane known as the mesothelium, which surrounds and protects the internal organs. The most common form of mesothelioma is pleural mesothelioma, which affects the lungs.

That's where smoking comes into play. Smoking weakens the lungs, making them more susceptible to damage from asbestos and other toxins. Although asbestos exposure can cause lung cancer, as can smoking, when a smoker is exposed to asbestos-containing materials, a synergistic effect is created which multiplies the risk of contracting the cancer. Some physicians liken the combination of smoking and asbestos exposure to that of alcohol and prescription drugs: each dangerous on their own, but even more deadly in combination with one another.

If you have been exposed to asbestos in the workplace, you may feel that having also been a smoker decreases your chances to successfully win a personal injury lawsuit against your former employer or the manufacturer of the asbestos-containing product or material. This is not necessarily so, however. Chances are good that your doctor will attribute your mesothelioma to both your occupational asbestos exposure and your tobacco habit.

The sooner mesothelioma is diagnosed, the better the prognosis and likelihood of effective treatment. Sadly, however, mesothelioma is usually not discovered until it has reached advanced stages, since it has an extremely long latency period. Further aggravating diagnosis is the great similarity of mesothelioma symptoms to the symptoms of more commonplace medical issues, such as emphysema, bronchitis and even influenza.

Although mesothelioma is currently considered incurable, it can be treated and managed. The first course of action is to stop smoking, if you haven't already done so. Consult with your health-care practitioner about the advantages of surgery, radiation, chemotherapy or a combination of these therapies. The effectiveness of any one remedy will depend on the stage and seriousness of your mesothelioma cancer, but many patients have been able to extend their lifespan or alleviate the symptoms of this disease through the right treatment approach.

Citation: Disabled World News (2009-10-08) - Relationship between smoking and asbestos exposure which is the only known cause of mesothelioma: http://www.disabled-world.com/health/cancer/mesothelioma/smoking-mesothelioma.php#ixzz2D3ps4kZd

Citation: Disabled World News (2009-10-08) - Relationship between smoking and asbestos exposure which is the only known cause of mesothelioma: http://www.disabled-world.com/health/cancer/mesothelioma/smoking-mesothelioma.php#ixzz2D3ps4kZd

Citation: Disabled World News (2009-10-08) - Relationship between smoking and asbestos exposure which is the only known cause of mesothelioma: http://www.disabled-world.com/health/cancer/mesothelioma/smoking-mesothelioma.php#ixzz2D3ps4kZd

Citation: Disabled World News (2009-10-08) - Relationship between smoking and asbestos exposure which is the only known cause of mesothelioma: http://www.disabled-world.com/health/cancer/mesothelioma/smoking-mesothelioma.php#ixzz2D3ps4kZd

Smoking cigarettes is one of the most dangerous habits that people can have, and smoking can lead to a number of detrimental conditions including emphysema, COPD, lung cancer and heart disease. One deadly cancer that smoking does not cause, however, is mesothelioma.
Nevertheless, there is a complicated relationship between smoking and asbestos exposure, which is the only known cause of mesothelioma. Tobacco smoking, while it does not directly lead to mesothelioma, does make a person more susceptible to it if that person has also been exposed to asbestos. In order to understand this susceptibility, it's important to also understand asbestos, the risks of asbestos exposure, and the nature of the asbestos cancer mesothelioma.
Asbestos, an organic mineral, is fibrous in nature. It is durable, lightweight, strong and fireproof, and able to resist heat and other biological processes. Asbestos can be woven into fabric, or added to a number of industrial building materials, such as concrete. Perhaps its most well-known applications are as insulation or acoustical ceiling tiles, but throughout history it has been used for cloth, blankets, flooring, wiring, pipes, boilers, automotive parts and thousands of other products for commercial and residential use.
Exposure to asbestos or asbestos-containing products, however, especially when being mined, processed, installed or demolished, can lead to a number of fatal diseases, including lung cancer and mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is not the same as lung cancer, although it too is a cancer. It targets a membrane known as the mesothelium, which surrounds and protects the internal organs. The most common form of mesothelioma is pleural mesothelioma, which affects the lungs.
That's where smoking comes into play. Smoking weakens the lungs, making them more susceptible to damage from asbestos and other toxins. Although asbestos exposure can cause lung cancer, as can smoking, when a smoker is exposed to asbestos-containing materials, a synergistic effect is created which multiplies the risk of contracting the cancer. Some physicians liken the combination of smoking and asbestos exposure to that of alcohol and prescription drugs: each dangerous on their own, but even more deadly in combination with one another.
If you have been exposed to asbestos in the workplace, you may feel that having also been a smoker decreases your chances to successfully win a personal injury lawsuit against your former employer or the manufacturer of the asbestos-containing product or material. This is not necessarily so, however. Chances are good that your doctor will attribute your mesothelioma to both your occupational asbestos exposure and your tobacco habit.
The sooner mesothelioma is diagnosed, the better the prognosis and likelihood of effective treatment. Sadly, however, mesothelioma is usually not discovered until it has reached advanced stages, since it has an extremely long latency period. Further aggravating diagnosis is the great similarity of mesothelioma symptoms to the symptoms of more commonplace medical issues, such as emphysema, bronchitis and even influenza.
Although mesothelioma is currently considered incurable, it can be treated and managed. The first course of action is to stop smoking, if you haven't already done so. Consult with your health-care practitioner about the advantages of surgery, radiation, chemotherapy or a combination of these therapies. The effectiveness of any one remedy will depend on the stage and seriousness of your mesothelioma cancer, but many patients have been able to extend their lifespan or alleviate the symptoms of this disease through the right treatment approach.


Citation: Disabled World News (2009-10-08) - Relationship between smoking and asbestos exposure which is the only known cause of mesothelioma: http://www.disabled-world.com/health/cancer/mesothelioma/smoking-mesothelioma.php#ixzz2D3ps4kZd

Smoking cigarettes is one of the most dangerous habits that people can have, and smoking can lead to a number of detrimental conditions including emphysema, COPD, lung cancer and heart disease. One deadly cancer that smoking does not cause, however, is mesothelioma.
Nevertheless, there is a complicated relationship between smoking and asbestos exposure, which is the only known cause of mesothelioma. Tobacco smoking, while it does not directly lead to mesothelioma, does make a person more susceptible to it if that person has also been exposed to asbestos. In order to understand this susceptibility, it's important to also understand asbestos, the risks of asbestos exposure, and the nature of the asbestos cancer mesothelioma.
Asbestos, an organic mineral, is fibrous in nature. It is durable, lightweight, strong and fireproof, and able to resist heat and other biological processes. Asbestos can be woven into fabric, or added to a number of industrial building materials, such as concrete. Perhaps its most well-known applications are as insulation or acoustical ceiling tiles, but throughout history it has been used for cloth, blankets, flooring, wiring, pipes, boilers, automotive parts and thousands of other products for commercial and residential use.
Exposure to asbestos or asbestos-containing products, however, especially when being mined, processed, installed or demolished, can lead to a number of fatal diseases, including lung cancer and mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is not the same as lung cancer, although it too is a cancer. It targets a membrane known as the mesothelium, which surrounds and protects the internal organs. The most common form of mesothelioma is pleural mesothelioma, which affects the lungs.
That's where smoking comes into play. Smoking weakens the lungs, making them more susceptible to damage from asbestos and other toxins. Although asbestos exposure can cause lung cancer, as can smoking, when a smoker is exposed to asbestos-containing materials, a synergistic effect is created which multiplies the risk of contracting the cancer. Some physicians liken the combination of smoking and asbestos exposure to that of alcohol and prescription drugs: each dangerous on their own, but even more deadly in combination with one another.
If you have been exposed to asbestos in the workplace, you may feel that having also been a smoker decreases your chances to successfully win a personal injury lawsuit against your former employer or the manufacturer of the asbestos-containing product or material. This is not necessarily so, however. Chances are good that your doctor will attribute your mesothelioma to both your occupational asbestos exposure and your tobacco habit.
The sooner mesothelioma is diagnosed, the better the prognosis and likelihood of effective treatment. Sadly, however, mesothelioma is usually not discovered until it has reached advanced stages, since it has an extremely long latency period. Further aggravating diagnosis is the great similarity of mesothelioma symptoms to the symptoms of more commonplace medical issues, such as emphysema, bronchitis and even influenza.
Although mesothelioma is currently considered incurable, it can be treated and managed. The first course of action is to stop smoking, if you haven't already done so. Consult with your health-care practitioner about the advantages of surgery, radiation, chemotherapy or a combination of these therapies. The effectiveness of any one remedy will depend on the stage and seriousness of your mesothelioma cancer, but many patients have been able to extend their lifespan or alleviate the symptoms of this disease through the right treatment approach.


Citation: Disabled World News (2009-10-08) - Relationship between smoking and asbestos exposure which is the only known cause of mesothelioma: http://www.disabled-world.com/health/cancer/mesothelioma/smoking-mesothelioma.php#ixzz2D3ps4kZd

Smoking cigarettes is one of the most dangerous habits that people can have, and smoking can lead to a number of detrimental conditions including emphysema, COPD, lung cancer and heart disease. One deadly cancer that smoking does not cause, however, is mesothelioma.
Nevertheless, there is a complicated relationship between smoking and asbestos exposure, which is the only known cause of mesothelioma. Tobacco smoking, while it does not directly lead to mesothelioma, does make a person more susceptible to it if that person has also been exposed to asbestos. In order to understand this susceptibility, it's important to also understand asbestos, the risks of asbestos exposure, and the nature of the asbestos cancer mesothelioma.
Asbestos, an organic mineral, is fibrous in nature. It is durable, lightweight, strong and fireproof, and able to resist heat and other biological processes. Asbestos can be woven into fabric, or added to a number of industrial building materials, such as concrete. Perhaps its most well-known applications are as insulation or acoustical ceiling tiles, but throughout history it has been used for cloth, blankets, flooring, wiring, pipes, boilers, automotive parts and thousands of other products for commercial and residential use.
Exposure to asbestos or asbestos-containing products, however, especially when being mined, processed, installed or demolished, can lead to a number of fatal diseases, including lung cancer and mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is not the same as lung cancer, although it too is a cancer. It targets a membrane known as the mesothelium, which surrounds and protects the internal organs. The most common form of mesothelioma is pleural mesothelioma, which affects the lungs.
That's where smoking comes into play. Smoking weakens the lungs, making them more susceptible to damage from asbestos and other toxins. Although asbestos exposure can cause lung cancer, as can smoking, when a smoker is exposed to asbestos-containing materials, a synergistic effect is created which multiplies the risk of contracting the cancer. Some physicians liken the combination of smoking and asbestos exposure to that of alcohol and prescription drugs: each dangerous on their own, but even more deadly in combination with one another.
If you have been exposed to asbestos in the workplace, you may feel that having also been a smoker decreases your chances to successfully win a personal injury lawsuit against your former employer or the manufacturer of the asbestos-containing product or material. This is not necessarily so, however. Chances are good that your doctor will attribute your mesothelioma to both your occupational asbestos exposure and your tobacco habit.
The sooner mesothelioma is diagnosed, the better the prognosis and likelihood of effective treatment. Sadly, however, mesothelioma is usually not discovered until it has reached advanced stages, since it has an extremely long latency period. Further aggravating diagnosis is the great similarity of mesothelioma symptoms to the symptoms of more commonplace medical issues, such as emphysema, bronchitis and even influenza.
Although mesothelioma is currently considered incurable, it can be treated and managed. The first course of action is to stop smoking, if you haven't already done so. Consult with your health-care practitioner about the advantages of surgery, radiation, chemotherapy or a combination of these therapies. The effectiveness of any one remedy will depend on the stage and seriousness of your mesothelioma cancer, but many patients have been able to extend their lifespan or alleviate the symptoms of this disease through the right treatment approach.


Citation: Disabled World News (2009-10-08) - Relationship between smoking and asbestos exposure which is the only known cause of mesothelioma: http://www.disabled-world.com/health/cancer/mesothelioma/smoking-mesothelioma.php#ixzz2D3ps4kZd

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Diagnosis of Mesothelioma

Diagnosing mesothelioma is often difficult, because the symptoms are similar to those of a number of other conditions. Diagnosis begins with a review of the patient's medical history. A history of exposure to asbestos may increase clinical suspicion for mesothelioma. A physical examination is performed, followed by chest X-ray and often lung function tests. The X-ray may reveal pleural thickening commonly seen after asbestos exposure and increases suspicion of mesothelioma. A CT (or CAT) scan or an MRI is usually performed. If a large amount of fluid is present, abnormal cells may be detected by cytopathology if this fluid is aspirated with a syringe. For pleural fluid, this is done by thoracentesis or tube thoracostomy (chest tube); for ascites, with paracentesis or ascitic drain; and for pericardial effusion with pericardiocentesis. While absence of malignant cells on cytology does not completely exclude mesothelioma, it makes it much more unlikely, especially if an alternative diagnosis can be made (e.g. tuberculosis, heart failure). Using conventional cytology diagnosis of malignant mesothelioma is difficult, but immunocytochemistry has greatly enhanced the accuracy of cytology.
Generally, a biopsy is needed to confirm a diagnosis of malignant mesothelioma. A doctor removes a sample of tissue for examination under a microscope by a pathologist. A biopsy may be done in different ways, depending on where the abnormal area is located. If the cancer is in the chest, the doctor may perform a thoracoscopy. In this procedure, the doctor makes a small cut through the chest wall and puts a thin, lighted tube called a thoracoscope into the chest between two ribs. Thoracoscopy allows the doctor to look inside the chest and obtain tissue samples. Alternatively, the chest surgeon might directly open the chest (thoracotomy). If the cancer is in the abdomen, the doctor may perform a laparoscopy. To obtain tissue for examination, the doctor makes a small incision in the abdomen and inserts a special instrument into the abdominal cavity. If these procedures do not yield enough tissue, more extensive diagnostic surgery may be necessary.
Immunohistochemical studies play an important role for the pathologist in differentiating malignant mesothelioma from neoplastic mimics. There are numerous tests and panels available. No single test is perfect for distinguishing mesothelioma from carcinoma or even benign versus malignant.

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Cause of Mesotheloma

Working with asbestos is the major risk factor for mesothelioma. In the United States, asbestos is the major cause of malignant mesothelioma and has been considered "indisputably" associated with the development of mesothelioma. Indeed, the relationship between asbestos and mesothelioma is so strong that many consider mesothelioma a “signal” or “sentinel” tumor. A history of asbestos exposure exists in most cases. However, mesothelioma has been reported in some individuals without any known exposure to asbestos. In rare cases, mesothelioma has also been associated with irradiation, intrapleural thorium dioxide (Thorotrast), and inhalation of other fibrous silicates, such as erionite. Some studies suggested that simian virus 40 (SV40) might have acted as a cofactor in the development of mesothelioma, but these studies have not been corroborated by later research.
Asbestos was known in antiquity, but it was not mined and widely used commercially until the late 19th century. Its use greatly increased during World War II. Since the early 1940s, millions of American workers have been exposed to asbestos dust. Initially, the risks associated with asbestos exposure were not publicly known. However, an increased risk of developing mesothelioma was later found among shipyard workers, people who work in asbestos mines and mills, producers of asbestos products, workers in the heating and construction industries, and other tradespeople. Today, the official position of the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the U.S. EPA is that protections and "permissible exposure limits" required by U.S. regulations, while adequate to prevent most asbestos-related non-malignant disease, they are not adequate to prevent or protect against asbestos-related cancers such as mesothelioma.^[13] Likewise, the British Government's Health and Safety Executive (HSE) states formally that any threshold for mesothelioma must be at a very low level and it is widely agreed that if any such threshold does exist at all, then it cannot currently be quantified. For practical purposes, therefore, HSE assumes that no such "safe" threshold exists. Others have noted as well that there is no evidence of a threshold level below which there is no risk of mesothelioma. There appears to be a linear, dose-response relationship, with increasing dose producing increasing disease. Nevertheless, mesothelioma may be related to brief, low level or indirect exposures to asbestos. The dose necessary for effect appears to be lower for asbestos-induced mesothelioma than for pulmonary asbestosis or lung cancer. Again, there is no known safe level of exposure to asbestos as it relates to increased risk of mesothelioma.
The duration of exposure to asbestos causing mesothelioma can be short. For example, cases of mesothelioma have been documented with only 1–3 months of exposure. People who work with asbestos wear personal protective equipment to lower their risk of exposure.
Latency, the time from first exposure to manifestation of disease, is prolonged in the case of mesothelioma. It is virtually never less than fifteen years and peaks at 30–40 years. In a review of occupationally related mesothelioma cases, the median latency was 32 years. Based upon the data from Peto et al., the risk of mesothelioma appears to increase to the third or fourth power from first exposure

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Signs and symptoms of Mesothelioma

Symptoms or signs of mesothelioma may not appear until 20 to 50 years (or more) after exposure to asbestos. Shortness of breath, cough, and pain in the chest due to an accumulation of fluid in the pleural space (pleural effusion) are often symptoms of pleural mesothelioma.
Symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma include weight loss and cachexia, abdominal swelling and pain due to ascites (a buildup of fluid in the abdominal cavity). Other symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma may include bowel obstruction, blood clotting abnormalities, anemia, and fever. If the cancer has spread beyond the mesothelium to other parts of the body, symptoms may include pain, trouble swallowing, or swelling of the neck or face.
These symptoms may be caused by mesothelioma or by other, less serious conditions.
Mesothelioma that affects the pleura can cause these signs and symptoms:

• Chest wall pain
• Pleural effusion, or fluid surrounding the lung
• Shortness of breath
• Fatigue or anemia
• Wheezing, hoarseness, or cough
• Blood in the sputum (fluid) coughed up (hemoptysis)

In severe cases, the person may have many tumor masses. The individual may develop a pneumothorax, or collapse of the lung. The disease may metastasize, or spread, to other parts of the body.
Tumors that affect the abdominal cavity often do not cause symptoms until they are at a late stage. Symptoms include:

• Abdominal pain
• Ascites, or an abnormal buildup of fluid in the abdomen
• A mass in the abdomen
• Problems with bowel function
• Weight loss

In severe cases of the disease, the following signs and symptoms may be present:

• Blood clots in the veins, which may cause thrombophlebitis
• Disseminated intravascular coagulation, a disorder causing severe bleeding in many body organs
• Jaundice, or yellowing of the eyes and skin
• Low blood sugar level
• Pleural effusion
• Pulmonary emboli, or blood clots in the arteries of the lungs
• Severe ascites

A mesothelioma does not usually spread to the bone, brain, or adrenal glands. Pleural tumors are usually found only on one side of the lungs

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Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma (or, more precisely, malignant mesothelioma) is a rare form of cancer that develops from transformed cells originating in the mesothelium, the protective lining that covers many of the internal organs of the body. It is usually caused by exposure to asbestos.
The most common anatomical site for the development of mesothelioma is the pleura (the outer lining of the lungs and internal chest wall), but it can also arise in the peritoneum (the lining of the abdominal cavity), and the pericardium (the sac that surrounds the heart), or the tunica vaginalis (a sac that surrounds the testis).
Most people who develop mesothelioma have worked in jobs where they inhaled asbestos, or were exposed to asbestos dust and fibers in other ways. It has also been suggested that washing clothes of a family member who worked with asbestos increases their risk for developing mesothelioma. Unlike lung cancer, there seems to be no association between mesothelioma and tobacco smoking, but smoking greatly increases the risk of other asbestos-induced cancers.Some people who were exposed to asbestos have collected damages for asbestos-related disease, including mesothelioma. Compensation via asbestos funds or class action lawsuits is an important issue in law practices regarding mesothelioma (see asbestos and the law).
Signs and symptoms of mesothelioma include shortness of breath due to pleural effusion (fluid between the lung and the chest wall) or chest wall pain, and constitutional signs such as unexplained weight loss. The diagnosis may be suspected with chest X-ray and CT scan, but must be confirmed pathologically, either with serous effusion cytology or with a biopsy (removing a sample of the suspicious tissue) and microscopic examination. A thoracoscopy (inserting a tube with a camera into the chest) can be used to acquire biopsy material, and allows the introduction of substances such as talc to obliterate the pleural space (a procedure called pleurodesis), preventing more fluid from accumulating and pressing on the lung. Despite treatment with chemotherapy, radiation therapy or sometimes surgery, the disease carries a poor prognosis. Research about screening tests for the early detection of mesothelioma is ongoing.

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