Mesothelioma Recovery

Depending upon a patient’s health and the size and location of their tumor, will determine how their asbestos cancer will be treated. Treatments for asbestos cancer are sometimes combined for the improvement of a patient’s quality of life. There are various options for treatment such as chemotherapy, radiation, surgery, and photodynamic therapy.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy treatment is the use of cytotoxic medicines to kill and destroy the the cancer cells. Commonly called anticancer medicines, they will first be introduced by way of chemotherapy resistance testing. This is done so that the oncologist can figure out what combination of medicines will work best. These types of medicines can be given in either pill or injection.

Radiation

This type of therapy uses radiation to destroy cancer cells in a localized area. Since radiation therapy can be damaging to the body, it is important that the oncologist use image guidance to survey the tumors before, during, and after treatment. According to oncologists with the Cancer Treatment Centers of America, image guidance is imperative so that the tumors can receive maximum radiation without having healthy tissues in the body recklessly damaged in the treatment.

Surgery

Depending on the location of the tumor in the lung, will determine the type of surgical treatment that can be done. An operation called segmental resection can be performed to remove a small part of the lung. A lobectomy is done when an entire lobe of the lung has to be removed, whereas a pneumonectomy is the removal of the whole lung. Per the American Cancer Society, after a proper period of recovery a patient whose lungs are accessed to be in in good condition upon a lobectomy or pneumonectomy, are allowed to return to normal activities.

Photodynamic Therapy

Photodynamic therapy is an experimental treatment that uses light to kill cancer cells. A special chemical is intravenously introduced to the bloodstream and absorbed by the cancer cells. Once the cells have absorbed the chemical (cancer cells absorb this chemical at much higher levels than normal cells), a laser light will activate the chemical and destroy the cancer cells. The National Cancer Institute states that in January 1998, sodium porfimer was approved by the FDA as a photosynthesizing agent to be used in the treatment of early non small cell lung cancer patients who could not have other lung cancer treatments done.

Asbestos is a tiny fibrous particle used in different items to make them fireproof.

Unfortunately, this substance is airborne and therefore all too easily inhaled by employees on the job working in the construction and heating industries, in shipyards, asbestos mines, in factories producing asbestos products, and also effecting workers who are employed in other sectors of the trade industry.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) took notice of the problem and implemented limits dictating how high a level of asbestos exposure is acceptable for workers to inhale on a daily basis.

And, OSHA has made sure that these workers are required to wear protective equipment where working closely with asbestos fibers is the daily agenda.

Although these two OSHA guidelines were designed to decrease the chance of asbestos exposure, the measures don’t solve the problem as there are still many occurrences of these people being plagued by lung cancer as a result of asbestos overexposure.

What are some of the symptoms of asbestos lung cancer to look out for in case a person suspects he or she may have the illness?

The disease usually starts out with asthma-like ailments where a patient may be experiencing issues with breathing. In that case, he or she may be diagnosed and subsequently treated with drugs meant for the common cold or something more serious like pneumonia.

This incorrect diagnosis and treatment allows the real root of the breathing issues, which is asbestos lung cancer, to go undetected sometimes for several years thereby allowing the disease to progress and slowly overcome the person’s body.

There are actually two different types of asbestos lung cancer that a person can contract – lung cancer and mesothelioma.

Lung cancer is simply cancer that has invaded the lung tissue.

On the other hand, mesothelioma is cancer of the mesothelium tissue.

The mesothelium is a protective membrane surrounding all moving organs of the body, permitting each one to easily travel by adjacent organs without damaging either one.

When a person has contracted mesothelioma, he or she is at risk of the cancer cells uncontrollably dividing and thus invading or damaging organs or tissues that are located nearby.

A fateful characteristic of asbestos lung cancer is that it does not fall into the category of highly curable diseases.

One of the reasons for this is because of the fact that the illness is usually detected many years after it has started to make its home inside a person’s body, thus making treatment and a cure much more difficult.

In addition, asbestos lung cancer does not start its deadly course until many years after a person has been exposed to the fibrous material which causes further delay for the patient in being diagnosed and treated for the condition.

As a matter of fact, only 16% of people who contract asbestos lung cancer have it caught on time by their doctors, which gives both doctor and patient a longer period to treat it and the patient more years to live.

A small carcinoma cell begins the asbestos lung cancer danger, with the cell usually found within the breathing tubes of the lungs before it grows bigger and moves to other parts of the body. The carcinoma can cause all kinds of issues such as fatigue, chest pains, coughing up blood, a shortness of breath, weight loss, chest pain when taking deep breaths, and bronchitis or pneumonia diagnoses on a frequent basis.

Asbestos lung cancer is an evil disease – anyone who has worked in any industry exposing them to the material should contact their doctor to schedule a check-up today.

Asbestosis, as is the case with other asbestos related disorders, is a condition which arises through the inhalation of asbestos fibers. After continued and prolonged exposure to these fibers, the lungs eventually begin to accumulate the fibers causing scar tissue to form as the fibers cut into the healthy lung tissue. The harmful effects of asbestos were not known for a long time due to the fact that asbestos related illnesses rarely show up right away and, instead, typically remain dormant for between 20 to 30 years. It is then that the symptoms may begin to present themselves. These symptoms typically include shortness of breath, trouble breathing, pain in the chest, and coughing. Asbestosis is, at times, difficult to diagnose because the symptoms begin to show up gradually, often taking months or years to develop fully. Initially, it is not uncommon for the symptoms to appear as those belonging to different, less serious, conditions. In fact, the symptoms of asbestosis are quite similar to those of asthma.

The life expectancy of an individual who has been diagnosed with asbestosis varies greatly depending on a number of factors. Although those solely suffering from this asbestos related disease are unlikely to die of the illness, asbestosis can prove fatal if the illness develops into a more serious condition such as mesothelioma.

One of the main factors in determining the life expectancy of an individual is how long and to what extent they were exposed to asbestos. In mild cases, it is not uncommon for a patient to exhibit few symptoms of the disease. However, a case in which a person was exposed repeatedly to asbestos fiber inhalation may display numerous side effects. The primary side effect, as well as the most dangerous, is decreased oxygen flow to the essential organs. If this were to occur, it is likely that the life span of that patient would dramatically decrease as the more oxygen deprived the body is, the less well it is able to function.

There are also a number of other factors which could have an impact on the life expectancy of a patient. One of the primary risk factors is smoking. Smoking has been known to exacerbate asbestos related diseases as well as increase the risk of lung cancer and other disorders such as emphysema which would hinder an individual’s ability to breathe. This would, therefore, even further decrease the amount of oxygen getting to the body’s organs. Along the same lines, asthma is another condition which could potentially decrease life expectancy as this too would decrease the amount of oxygen in the body. A third major problem which can decrease the life span of a person with asbestosis is the weakening of the immune system. This can occur over time in asbestosis patients and it makes the body more susceptible to other, lesser, conditions. Once these conditions are caught, it is almost impossible of the body to rid itself of it and oftentimes the body contracts something far worse. A common example of this is the common cold which, with a weaker immune system, can easily transform into pneumonia. Pneumonia consists of the lungs filling with fluid, again decreasing the amount of available oxygen.

As previously mentioned, it is not the disease itself that proves fatal. However, it is all too easy for the disease to evolve into a more deadly condition. One of the most common conditions which can result from asbestosis is mesothelioma. As of today, there is no cure for mesothelioma and patients rarely live beyond two years after diagnosis, usually succumbing far earlier to the cancer.

The 1970 revision of the Clean Air Act contained the initial designation of asbestos as a known human carcinogen. Section 112 of the landmark legislation identified the naturally occurring mineral under its guidelines regulating toxic emissions and hazardous pollutants.

Asbestos has long been coveted in the United States as a reliable material valued for its dynamic physical properties. The cultivated fibers of the mineral possess high levels of tensile strength, electrical and chemical resistance, and flame retardation. These characteristics have made asbestos especially attractive for both its construction and manufacturing applications.

The turn of the 20th century saw wide ranging use of asbestos coincide with the initial understanding of the potentially hazardous effects regarding human exposure. British physician Dr. W.E. Cooke dismissed earlier understanding of asbestos-related illness identifying the ailment as ‘chronic bronchitis’ and ‘fibrosis.’ The term ‘asbestosis’ was later applied after the Dr. Cooke performed an autopsy on a 33 year-old male who worked in an asbestos ‘carding’ room.

The current medical understanding regarding asbestos exposure establishes a direct correlation with mesothelioma, a rare cancer originating in the membranes that cover the body’s internal organs and cavities. Malignant mesothelioma is caused with long-term exposure to the microscopic fibers that are present with the industrial use of asbestos.

The cancer is thought to occur when these tiny fibers penetrate the wall if the protective membranes, or mesothelium, causing erratic cellular reproduction which can result in the formation of a tumor.

The occurrence of mesothelioma is seen in workers and family members who may come in direct contact with the clothing of an individual working in an environment containing asbestos dust and fibrous material. The signs and symptoms of mesothelioma may not appear for several decades following asbestos exposure.

In addition to the rare occurrence of mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer is believed to account for 3,500 to 8,500 of the new lung cancer cases per year. Adenocarcinoma, a glandular cancer affecting the skin around the organs and cells of the body, and bronchial carcinoma, a cancer directly affecting the aveoli; have both been identified as having asbestos related origins in some patients. An unfortunate reality is that early stage asbestos related lung cancer may arrive without symptoms. This combined with the effects of long term smoking may lead to a misdiagnosis regarding the cause of the ailment.

Although asbestos use is widely regulated in the United States, sufficient levels of public awareness must be maintained regarding the dangers of exposure to the hazardous material. The gradual elimination of asbestos as a chief building material must coincide with a concerted effort to keep the risks, dangers, and ailments associated with the mineral foremost in the public conscious.

The rare occurrence of mesothelioma is often accompanied by the onset of harsh realities. The general understanding associated with the asbestos-related cancer is that the life expectancy of those suffering from the illness may range from 4 to 18 months following initial diagnosis. This time period combined with the exhaustive search for new and effective treatment strategies forces health care providers to sometimes offer palliative rather than curative measures of treatment.

Though medical professionals and researchers have established the general time frame regarding life expectancy, the truth remains that each patient’s prognosis may vary dependant on several key factors. Consideration must be made for the age of the patient when the initial diagnosis is made, the type of mesothelioma cancer found in the patient, the time elapsed from onset of the condition to the diagnosis, and the general health of the patient at the time of diagnosis. Each of these factors weighs heavily when determining mesothelioma life expectancy.

Mesothelioma may not manifest signs or symptoms for several decades after the initial period of asbestos exposure. This factor alone should underscore the importance of early detection. The early detection of mesothelioma in some patients has seen an average life expectancy rate of at least 2 years.

The average age of an individual diagnosed with mesothelioma stands at 60. The age of the individual combined with accompanying health issues such as tobacco use often complicates the effort to increase the life expectancy of those suffering from the ailment. Current curative treatment measures for mesothelioma include surgical removal of the diseased tissue, radiation therapy, the introduction of chemical and drugs, and the use of the patient’s immune system to fight the cancer.

Innovative procedures such as extra pleural pneumonectomy and intracavitary chemotherapy have given rise to optimism regarding patient survival rates. These new procedures have shown promise as surgeons have recorded successful trials while applying these techniques to mesothelioma sufferers.

Palliative or quality of life measures are often used to comfort an individual diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma. Daily drainage of affected tissue combined with the use of drugs to control pain is seen in many cases where the life expectancy is considered low.

As earlier noted, each case regarding life expectancy and mesothelioma must be judged by the factors surrounding the individual’s diagnosis. The treatment of the rare asbestos-related cancer remains open to innovation and trial. Efforts to find a cure and increase life expectancy have seen promise and given hope to those suffering the life altering ailment.

Asbestosis is a serious condition. Symptoms can include coughing, shortness of breath, and pain while breathing. Asbestosis is caused by exposure to asbestos which results in irreversible lung damage. The scar tissue which forms in the lungs as a result of the damage is unable to function the same as healthy lung tissue. While there is no known cure for the lung damage associated with asbestosis, there are treatments available that can greatly improve the quality of life that individuals with asbestosis experience.

For those seeking treatment for this condition, there are three primary types of treatment available: Surgical, Pharmaceutical, and Alternative treatments.

Surgical Treatments:

In order to determine whether a patient’s symptoms are the result of asbestosis and not mesothelioma or another type of cancer, doctors can perform a variety of surgical tests. Among the types of procedures that can be used for diagnosing a patient, there are fine needle aspiration, thoracentesis, and thoracotomy.

Fine needle aspiration involves inserting a hollow needle through the chest and removing the affected area of tissue for sampling.

Thoracentesis involves inserting a needle through the wall of the chest, into the area that is between the chest and lungs. Fluid is this withdrawn from this area to be tested. This method can also be used to help relieve some of the symptoms associated with asbestosis.

Thoracotomy is the more invasive of these procedures. A doctor administers an anesthetic, then opens the chest cavity of the patient in order to remove a sample. Due to the extreme risk associated with major surgeries like this, the vast majority of doctors will not use this procedure for testing but only for treatment.

While these treatments can be used to diagnose and treat the majority of cases, some of the more severe cases require a lung transplant. This is the last option used by doctors, given the extreme risk involved to the patient.

Pharmaceutical Treatments:

Various types of pharmaceuticals can be used in treating the symptoms associated with asbestosis. These include antibiotics, bronchodilators, and painkillers.

Asbestosis patients are highly susceptible to lung infections. Respiratory antibiotics can be used as a preventative measure to avoid infection.

Bronchodilators relax the muscles of the airways, maximizing the air intake of the lungs. This helps to counteract the decrease in lung function that asbestosis patients experience.

Finally, painkillers are used in treating the extreme pain that can develop as a result of this condition. How much pain a patient experiences varies from case to case, and as a result, so do the types of painkillers used to manage the pain.

Alternative Treatments:

Many patients suffering from asbestosis have turned to alternative forms of treatment to relieve their symptoms.

Acupuncture is always a popular choice when turning to less traditional methods of treatment. By inserting needles into the body at a variety of points, acupuncturists are able to provide pain relief for those suffering from a variety of conditions, including asbestosis. Acupuncture has also been shown to make breathing easier on many patients. Coupled with massage therapy, acupuncture can sometimes be as effective as other, more traditional treatments.

Traditional herbal treatments for conditions like asthma can often provide a measure of relief for those with asbestosis. Homeopathic treatments have also been used with varying success.

Before beginning any type of alternative treatment, particularly herbal and homeopathic treatments, patients should check with their doctors in order to avoid any potential dangerous and life threatening drug interactions.

Remember, there is currently no cure for asbestosis. By relieving symptoms, patients suffering from this condition are often able to go about their daily lives with little to no differences. Anyone exposed to asbestos, particularly those already suffering from asbestosis, should leave the area immediately. The only true treatment for this condition is to avoid getting it in the first place.

Sources:
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000118.htm
http://www.ucsfhealth.org/adult/medical_services/pulmonary/old/conditions/asbestosis/signs.html
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/asbestosis/DS00482/DSECTION=1
http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/articles/article.aspx?articleId=35&sectionId=1

Asbestos is a class of fibrous minerals known to cause cancer. The most prominent form is mesothelioma but there are several other types of cancer that can be attributed to asbestos. Those types include lung cancer, colon cancer, colorectal cancer, rectal cancer, laryngeal cancer, throat cancer and gastrointestinal cancer.

Mesothelioma Cancer Type of Asbestos Cancer

Mesothelioma is a rare, but aggressive cancer; occurring in about 2,000-3,000 new cases each year in the United States. It develops in the mesothelial cells which line several organs and body cavities. This type of cancer usually attacks the lung’s lining and the lining of the heart or abdomen, and rarely, the lining of the testicles. There are four types of mesothelioma:
1. Pleural mesothelioma which occurs in 75 percent of diagnosed patients. It develops in the lining of lungs.
2. Peritoneal mesothelioma which develops in the peritoneum of the abdomen. The peritonueum is a lining that
blankets the abdominal cavity and encloses abdominal organs.
3. Pericardial mesothelioma which develops in the pericardium, which surrounds the heart.
4. Testicular mesothelioma which attacks the lining of the testicles, called the tunica vaginalis.

Symptoms of mesothelioma occur between 20-50 years after asbestos exposure. Because the symptoms are similar to influenza, this cancer is difficult to diagnose. Symptoms include:
• shortness of breath
• persistent coughing
• chest pains
• fatigue
• fever or night sweats
• unexplained weight loss

Currently there is no cure for mesothelioma, but some patients elect treatments such as surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation in order to live more comfortably with the disease. Some patients elect to participate in clinical trials of new medications and treatment options

Asbestos-Related Lung Cancer

Lung cancer was the first cancer linked to asbestos exposure. The most common type of lung cancer caused by asbestos is non-small cell lung cancer. About 80 percent of those diagnosed with lung cancer will have this type. It is estimated that in the United States 10,000 people each year die from asbestos related lung cancer. Lung cancer symptoms develop years after exposure to asbestos. Symptoms include:
• Coughing and chest pain
• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
• Change in sputum color or volume
• Blood in the sputum
• Unexplained weight loss
• Fatigue
• Headaches

Diagnosis is made from a tissue sample of the lung. Treatment includes surgery, chemotherapy and radiation treatment. Many victims of lung cancer related to asbestos suffer from asbestosis which is a scarring of the lung tissue and is also caused by asbestos exposure. While there have been numerous studies to determine whether asbestosis is present in all cases of lung cancer; it has not been proven to be a reliable factor.

Other Cancers Related to Asbestos

Colon, rectal, and colorectal cancers have a higher incidence rate in those who have been exposed to asbestos. Colorectal cancer is the second largest cause of cancer deaths in the United States. While there is no definitive evidence that asbestos causes colorectal cancer; there is evidence that there is a possible correlation between exposure to asbestos and the development of colorectal cancer. People who are smokers and have been exposed to asbestos are at a 36 percent higher risk than nonsmokers in developing colorectal cancer. In addition to smoking, other factors that affect the possibility of developing asbestos related cancer include the amount of asbestos of the exposure, the length of time of the exposure and overall health and medical history of the person exposed.

As with other asbestos related cancers, colorectal cancer is difficult to diagnose as symptoms take decades to present. Symptoms include:
• blood in the stool
• abdominal pain
• diarrhea
• unexplained weight loss

Preventive screening is recommended, especially for those who have been exposed to asbestos.

Laryngeal and throat cancer have been associated with exposure to high levels of asbestos, as has gastrointestinal cancer. There is evidence that workers exposed to asbestos have a higher risk of developing gastrointestinal cancers. People diagnosed with gastrointestinal cancer are at risk for developing cancers in the stomach. As with the other cancers, symptoms of laryngeal, throat and gastrointestinal cancers related to asbestos may not show up for decades after the initial exposure. People with gastrointestinal cancer may not show symptoms in the early stages of the cancer. If the cancer spread to the liver the symptoms include:
• Flushing of the neck
• Stomach ailments
• Diarrhea
• Shortness of breath
• Wheezing

As with other types of cancer, the amount of asbestos and length of time exposed is a factor in risks of developing these types of cancers. Other risk factors include smoking, overall health and medical history of the person exposed.

Cancer doctors diagnose diseases related to asbestos by using a variety of methods including blood and urine tests and imagining scans, as well as reviewing the medical history of the patient. People who have been exposed to asbestos are advised to seek medical advice from a qualified physician and in some cases, the counsel of a knowledgeable attorney.

Sources:
National Cancer Institute
Mayo Clinic