What is mesothelioma?
Mesothelioma is cancer of the mesothelium. Like most cancers,
mesothelioma involves the abnormal dividing of cells of a particular
part of the body -- in this case, the mesothelium. Mesothelioma is so
deadly because it remains dormant for many years and then begins to
rapidly expand. The cancer then begins to invade and damage nearby
tissue, including the vital organs.
What is the mesothelium?
Many of the internal organs of the body are protected by a membrane
called the mesothelium. This membrane actually consists of two layers
of cells. The inner layer surrounds the organs, and the second is a sac
surrounding the inner layer. When organs within this membrane must
move, expand or contract -- such as the heart, lungs, bladder, and so
on, they are able to do so because the mesothelium produces a
lubricating fluid between the two layers.
Mesothelioma most often begins in the pleura or peritoneum. The pleura
surrounds the lungs and covers the chest cavity. The peritoneum covers
most of the organs in the abdominal cavity. Other mesothelium tissue is
also vulnerable to mesothelioma. These include the pericardium that
surrounds and protects the heart; the tunica vaginalis testic which
surrounds the internal male reproductive organs; and the tunica serosa
uteri which is the membrane covering the internal reproductive organs
in women.
Who is at greatest risk to develop mesothelioma?
Mesothelioma has a very specific cause - exposure to asbestos. During
the first half of the previous century, right up until the mid 1970s
asbestos was an important material used to insulate buildings,
machines, heavy equipment, and a broad range of commercial
applications. Because it was plentiful and inexpensive to mine,
asbestos was used in many building products such as home insulation,
floor, ceiling and roof tiles. It was also used in commonly found
commercial products such as brake linings and pipe insulation.
This meant that millions of people were coming in contact with asbestos
on a daily basis. And since the effects of exposure to asbestos fibre
often do not become apparent for 30 or 40 years after prolonged
exposure, companies and health officials were slow to recognize the
dangers of asbestos. As a result, shipyard workers, men and women
working in asbestos mines and mills, workers producing asbestos
products, workers in the heating and construction industries, and
virtually all other tradespeople were exposed to asbestos fibres for
extended periods of time.
Today it is understood that anyone working with or near asbestos has an
increased risk of developing mesothelioma, so there are strictly
controlled limits of exposure in the work place. But since the dormancy
period of mesothelioma can often be 30 or 40 years, there are millions
of workers who are at risk because of their exposure in the decades
before the safety controls were put in place.
What are the symptoms of mesothelioma?
Pleural mesothelioma - cancer of the pleura or lung lining - causes
shortness of breath or chronic coughing. Other symptoms of pleural
mesothelioma may include chest pain, chronic coughing, shortness of
breath, fatigue, wheezing, hoarseness, weight loss, or blood in the
phlegm from the lungs when coughing.
Peritoneal mesothelioma affects the lining around the stomach and
intestines and is usually just as dangerous. Symptoms of peritoneal
mesothelioma include pain or swelling in the abdomen, weight loss,
bowel obstruction, anemia, and fever.
Many of the symptoms of mesothelioma can easily be mistaken for
allergies or a common cold. Mesothelioma is often discovered when
patients think they have one of these other common illnesses.
How Serious is Mesothelioma?
By the time most infected people become aware they have mesothelioma,
it is no longer dormant and becomes extremely aggressive. In its active
phase, mesothelioma can travel quickly, and is almost impossible to
stop. There are treatments used to keep the patient comfortable, but
there is currently no cure for mesothelioma. As many as 75% of those
who develop the disease will lose their life within one year. The
remainder may last for up to an additional six months.
This makes it extremely important to detect the disease before it
enters its active phase.
,
Mesothelioma is often not diagnosed until it reaches an advanced stage.
This is because of its long dormancy period, and because once it
becomes active the initial symptoms are similar to much more comman and
less dangerous sicknesses such as colds or the flu. If a patient has a
history of exposure to asbestos, then a complete physical examination
is advised. This would normally include x-rays of the chest or abdomen
and lung function tests. It might also include a CT (or CAT) scan or an
MRI. Both of these tests give detailed pictures of areas inside the
body.
If these tests indicate the probability of mesothelioma, then it is
necessary to perform a biopsy to confirm the diagnosis. Doing a biopsy
involves an oncology specialist taking a small sample of affected
tissue and examining it under a microscope for signs of malignancy.
Depending on the location of the affected tissue, doing a biopsy can be
a relatively traightforward procedure. It normally involves the
insertion of a small instrument into the suspect cavity. These surgical
devices have both viewing and sample taking capabilities. So the
oncologist or surgeon can look at the cavity from the inside, and then
take tissue samples from different areas.
If mesothelioma is discovered, the initial tests are followed up with
what is called "staging". This involves more tests to determine how far
the disease has spread.
How is mesothelioma treated?
Standard treatments include the normal options available to cancer
patients: surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. Sometimes,
these treatments are combined. If the mesothelioma is discovered at an
early enough stage these treatments can sometimes be effective.
Among the treatments that are used in order to reduce the effects of
the disease are oxygen, postural drainage and pain killers. Many
alternative treatment methods are also being tested, including attempts
to strengthen the body's immune system. Gene therapy is also being
tested in an attempt to attack the problem at the DNA level. Other
treatments being tried and tested include homeopathy, herbs and
acupuncture. Unfortunately none of these have been found to be very
effective once the disease reaches its aggressive stage.
As with all cancers, early detection is the best defense against
mesothelioma. Anyone who has been exposed to asbestos should be alert
for symptoms and contact a doctor immediately. Detecting mesothelioma
at the earliest stage possible greatly increases the chances of beating
the disease.
