Mesothelioma and Other Illnesses Caused by Asbestos Exposure

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral known for its durability and fire-resistant properties, as well as its toxic effects on humans and animals. The substance has been used in a wide variety of building materials, including insulation products, siding, cements, flooring and roofing to name a few.

When asbestos-containing materials become damaged or disturbed, toxic asbestos fibers are released into the air. If these microscopic fibers are inhaled or ingested, there are several illnesses that may potentially develop, including lung cancer, asbestosis and mesothelioma. These illnesses have a severe latency period for symptoms though, ranging from 10 to 50 years for symptoms to arise.

This latency period can have a significant impact on patients diagnosed with asbestos cancer. For example, because mesothelioma symptoms and other signs of asbestos-related disease take several decades to appear, the disease is often already in its latest stages of development when a diagnosis occurs. As a result, many patients only have the option of palliative treatment remedies that work to provide pain relief rather than cure the disease.

Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer almost exclusively caused by asbestos exposure. The condition develops when the fibers of asbestos become lodged in the lining of the lungs (pleural mesothelioma), heart (pericardial mesothelioma), or abdomen (peritoneal mesothelioma). Testicular mesothelioma is another type of asbestos cancer, though there have been less than 100 recorded cases.

In most instances, mesothelioma can take anywhere between 20 and 50 years to develop. In addition to experiencing difficulty while breathing and swallowing, extreme weight loss is also a side effect of malignant mesothelioma cancer.

Another asbestos-related disease is asbestosis, which also causes scarring of the lungs. This disease typically develops after someone has experienced prolonged exposure to airborne asbestos. The latency period with this disease is usually 10 to 20 years and symptoms include breathing difficulties and a decrease in the elasticity of the lungs.

Aside from mesothelioma and asbestosis, lung cancer is another condition that can develop from exposure to asbestos. The risk of developing lung cancer caused by asbestos can also be increased by cigarette smoking and other agents. Pleural plaques are indicators of asbestos exposure as well, but these are not fatal. Instead, they are usually taken as early signs of development for other diseases.

Prognosis for these illnesses is commonly poor because patients typically do not have the option to utilize curable treatment options. For mesothelioma, the average prognosis for a patient is approximately 11 months. For asbestosis or lung cancer, the prognosis is usually longer, but the symptoms may be more painful.

Additional information about mesothelioma may be found through the Mesothelioma Center.

This entry was posted on Monday, November 30th, 2009 at 3:27 pm and is filed under Asbestos Exposure, Mesothelioma. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS feed. Responses are currently closed, but you trackback from your own site.