> Surgery as Treatment Option for Lung Cancer - Risks of Lung Cancer Surgery, Questions to Ask your Doctor, Surgery Pictures
(October 9th, 2009)

> Researchers Seek Clinical Trial Patients for New Mesothelioma Drug: Gefitinib
(September 25th, 2009)

> Secondary Cancer in the Lymph Nodes - Role of Lymph Nodes in the Body & the Lymphatic System
(September 18th, 2009)

> Talcum Powder Slows Down Growth of Lung Cancer Tumors
(September 15th, 2009)

> Carbon Nanotubes that Look and Behave like Asbestos could cause Pleural Mesothelioma
(September 11th, 2009)

> Chest X-Rays Can Detect Early Lung Cancer, but also Alert many False-Positive Results
(September 7th, 2009)

> Peritoneal Mesothelioma – Cancer of the Peritoneum or Linings of the Abdomen - Symptoms of Peritoneal Lung Cancer, Role of Asbestos & Treatment Options
(August 31st, 2009)

> History and Advent of Cancer Treating Chemotherapy – Nitrogen Mustard as Anti-Cancer drug, Invention of Red Clover to treat Respiratory & Malignant Lung Cancers
(August 30th, 2009)

> Intra-peritoneal Therapy – Delivery of Chemotherapy Drugs in to Abdominal Cavity, Port and Catheter
(August 30th, 2009)

> Chemical Pleurodesis for Malignant Pleural Effusions or Fluids in Lungs
(August 26th, 2009)

> Evaluation of Pleural Thickening and its Effects on Development of Malignant Lung Cancer
(August 23rd, 2009)

> Chest X-Ray – Uses of Chest X-Rays, How to Prepare for X-Ray Session, Performance, Risks & Results, and Normal versus Abnormal Results
(August 15th, 2009)

> Multi-cystic Mesothelioma of the Peritoneum - Examinaton of the Pelvis, Abdominal Mass using Ultrasound, Process of Hysterectomy by a Gynecologist
(August 5th, 2009)

* > Mesothelioma Lung Cancer & Effects on Army, Navy & Marine Veterans - Asbestos Exposure in Battleships, Aircraft Carriers, Submarines and Navy Ships
(May 18th, 2009)

* Ruth Phillips - 10 Year Mesothelioma Survivor Living Large - Discussion of Immuno-Augmentive Therapy & Other Cancer Treatments
(May 5th, 2009)

* Prevention of Lung Cancer when You are at Risk, or when You Already Have Lung Cancer
(April 27th, 2009)

* Research Suggests Vitamin D Plays a Large Role in Preventing and Fighting Lung Cancer
(April 21st, 2009)

* What Types of Lung Cancer Exist? Differences between Small Cell & Non Small-Cell Lung Cancer
(April 15th, 2009)

* Steve Lee, 63, from Reading UK, Completes Half Marathon with Asbestos Lung Cancer
(April 8th, 2009)

* Basic & Advanced Symptoms of Mesothelioma & Common Misconceptions
(March 28th, 2009)

* Choosing Your Mesothelioma Doctor - Medical & Radiation Oncologists, Laparoscopic Surgeons
(February 4th, 2009)

* Study Suggests Computed Tomography (CT) Scans Increase Risk for Cancer Development - Mesothelioma News
(November 30th, 2008)

* Diagnosing Mesothelioma & Pathological Testing
(February 6th, 2009)

* Eat Fruits & Vegetables - Prevent Cancer and Stay Healthy
(January 12th, 2009)

* Gardening & Good Diet Leads to Less Lung Cancer Risk
(January 7th, 2008)

* PhotoDynamic Therapy - Types of Mesothelioma Treatments
(March 18th, 2008)

* Surviving Lung Cancer - Thoracic Surgeons Roll Out New Tumor Removal Procedure
(January 20th, 2009)

* Timing of Mesothelioma Cancer Treatment Options - Surgery, Chemotherapy & Radiation Therapy
(February 5th, 2008)

-> Mesothelioma is rarely developed by young people, and it has no relation with smoking, despite of rumours about this. Infact, Mesothelioma can take over 40 years to develop, before full diagnosis is realized!

-> There are about 200 - 500 cases of peritoneal mesothelioma each year, making it a very rare disease. Furthermore, peritoneal mesothelioma measures at about 20 - 30% of all mesothelioma cases in any given year. Approximately 54.7% of all the diagnoses are males and the rest are females. The median age when peritoneal mesothelioma develops is 65 - 69 years.

-> Fluid accumulated in the abdomen (also known as Ascites) is detected and removed through Paracentesis (a procedure that drains fluid from the abdomen of the body by the use of needles).

(View Archives)
 

Mesothelioma and its Link to Asbestos

What is Asbestos?

Asbestos is the common name of a string of highly strong and fibrous minerals with detachable, long and thin fibers. Asbestos fibers are so strong and flexible such that they can be spun and woven and when they enter into the lungs, they will stay there for long periods of time.

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has recently banned many Asbestos related products because of the dangers they possess. Due to this, asbestos today is usually found in very old homes, in pipe and furnace insulation materials, floor tiles, millboards and asbestos shingles, etc.

There are 2 types of Asbestos fibers, amphibole and chrysotile. Amphibole fibers have the tendency to stay inside the lungs for a greater length of time than chrysotile fibers.

The image on the side is of Amphibole asbestos fibers extracted from a vermiculite mining site near Libby, Montana (MT).

Exposure to Asbestos

Asbestos Exposure & Jobsites

Almost everyone is exposed to asbestos in their lifetimes. Low levels of asbestos exist in the air, water and soil on earth. However, most humans do not contract mesothelioma from this light exposure. People who develop mesothelioma thanks to asbestos exposure are usually those who work around asbestos for extended periods of time.

Starting as early as the 1940s, millions of Americans have worked around Asbestos and have been exposed to the deadly substance. The types of jobs where asbestos exposure is highly likely to occur include:

- Manufacturing of asbestos textiles and related products
- Insulation work in the construction industry
- Shipbuilding trades
- Asbestos mining and drilling
- Drywall removal
- Firefighting and automobile manufacturing (especially for brake repair mechanics)
- Demolition workers

An example of a group of workers at high risk of developing mesothelioma through asbestos exposure are those involved in the clean up of the site of the World Trade Center (WTC) in New York City after the September 11th, 2001 terrorist attacks.

Since Asbestos was used in the construction of the North Tower of the World Trade Center, hundreds of tons of asbestos particles were released in the air when the building collapsed. Breathing these particles into the lung system puts a person at great risk of developing asbestos related diseases such as mesothelioma.

The type of workers at the 9/11 scene at high risk of developing asbestos related diseases include:

- Firefighters
- Paramedics
- Police officers
- Volunteers at the site
- Construction workers

Take a look at the image above of the huge explosion that occured when the World Trade Center was bombed. You can see the hundreds of tons of asbestos particles blowing into the air, and the impact they could have on nearly humans.

Also, residents who live nearly as well as students who attended nearby schools are at great risk. Evidence also suggests that family members of workers who were exposed to asbestos also have a high chance of developing asbestos related diseases. How? Through asbestos fibers brought into the house in the shoes, hairs, skin and clothes. Another example is when the wife washes the clothes of her husband, who has worked around asbestos dust.

Amphibole Asbestos Exposure

Exposure to Amphibole asbestos can occur when labourers work around mills and mines that contain rocks and ores of tremolite asbestos. An example of a rock containing tremolite asbestos is talc.

The image below is of a mine in Libby, Montana, USA that contains vermiculite rocks that possess substances of Amphibole asbestos. Labourers working in this mine definitely have a high risk of exposure to malignant asbestos fibers that can develop mesothelioma lung cancer.

Amphibole asbestos is also present in many different types of building materials including:

- Ceiling or floor tiles
- Insulation materials
- Cement pipes

The image below is of asbestos materials packed in a secure bag commonly found in landfills. Labourers doing jobs such as demolition of buildings, maintenance or repair are at high risk of being exposed to Amphibole asbestos found in building materials.
Note: Exposure to asbestos only occurs when these building materials are aroused in such a way that they release asbestos fibers into the air. Inhaling such asbestos fibers into the lungs could potentially lead to mesothelioma lung cancer.

Useful Resources

Toxicological Profile for Asbestos http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxprofiles/tp61.html

 

 

 

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