What is Mesothelioma and Are You At Risk?

You’ve seen the commercials on television for mesothelioma lawyers. In fact, you can’t really watch your favorite show on any network without coming across either ads for legal advice or offers for packets for free information on mesothelioma. But, just what is mesothelioma, really? Are you at risk? Is it really that dangerous?

Malignant Mesothelioma is a Type of Cancer

Your body has a lot of cool features that keep it running and working smoothly. Some of your organs have a lining called the mesothelium that allows your organs to rub up against one another without causing pain or injury. This mesothelium has a few different names based on the location in your body, but it surrounds your lungs, your heart, your abdomen, and can also be found in the testicles in men.

Mesothelioma happens when cancerous changes happen in the cells of this lining. It is most common in the lining around the lungs, which is called Pleural mesothelioma. The second most common location is the abdomen, known technically as Peritoneal mesothelioma. Pericardial mesothelioma of the heart lining or Tunica vaginalis mesothelioma in the male reproductive system are very rare, but they can happen.

Causes of Mesothelioma

Years ago, using asbestos as an insulator was considered the best thing since sliced bread. It was being used in homes, schools, shipyards, industry --- you name it and asbestos was there. The thing about asbestos is that it was very good at what it was created for --- an energy efficient insulation product that was also cost-effective. As a heat resistant mineral, it gets the job done.

So, it was also used in things like stucco, linoleum, tile, paints, shingles, and other products. When contained, say, in an unbroken tile, it is still considered to be non-toxic. However, if it becomes torn or broken --- like during remodeling --- the dust and fibers can be inhaled accidentally. Those fibers do not get broken down by the body. They remain, and eventually can cause damage to cell DNA, which then can cause a kind of pulmonary fibrosis called asbestosis, lung cancer, or it gets into the lining of the organs and can cause mesothelioma.

There may also be a link between mesothelioma and the SV40 virus. Between 1955 and 1963, many people who were inoculated against polio were accidentally exposed to SV40 in the vaccines. Studies are limited, but it is thought that exposure could raise the risk of developing mesothelioma.

If you’ve been exposed to asbestos, smoking can increase your risk of developing mesothelioma.

Mesothelioma Prognosis

This is currently a terminal disease with an unfortunately low survival rate for more than a year from the time of detection. There are a few reasons for that.

First, it can take from 15 to 40 years after exposure for symptoms to appear. By the time symptoms do show up, the tumors have usually spread through the lining and have become inoperable. Because bits of the asbestos can be very small and travel through the mesothelium, removing one tumor doesn’t mean that others aren’t going to grow or that all the cancerous cells have been removed.

Second, even though people with asbestos exposure are at risk, there aren’t any screening recommendations or special tests.

Third, there aren’t a lot of specialized treatments or huge studies on the best way to treat it. While there are clinical trials that patients can get into, that isn’t always the right fit for everyone.

Prevention and Symptoms of Mesothelioma

Unfortunately the symptoms --- such as pain, coughing, shortness of breath, weight loss, lumps of tissue in the stomach or chest, or abdominal swelling --- could be caused by a rather large host of different diseases and conditions, many of which are benign or could be blown off as “just one more pain” that comes with getting older. So, it is very important to seek help if you have these and exposure to asbestos. The earlier it is caught and the younger you are at diagnosis, the longer the survival rate.  

As for prevention, the best thing is to limit exposure to asbestos. If you have an older home and need to remodel, you can have your home tested. Don’t try to remove the asbestos yourself. Seek professional help. The best thing you can do for you and your family is to limit exposure for the best prevention.