About Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer -- a disease in which cancer cells are found in the lining of the chest, the lining of the abdominal cavity or the lining around the heart Mesothelioma is the most serious of all asbestos related diseases. It is a rare cancer that has been conclusively linked to asbestos exposure. Mesothelioma is almost always found in patients with a history of asbestos exposure, and, like all asbestos related diseases, the latent period between exposure and the onset of symptoms can be 20 to 40 years. Men are more frequently affected by mesothelioma than women, although anyone with direct or indirect exposure to asbestos is vulnerable to mesothelioma. Mesothelioma affects about 7% of asbestos workers, and most symptoms begin to appear by the time the patient is 70.

Types of Mesothelioma

There are two types of mesothelioma: pleural mesothelioma and peritoneal mesothelioma. Pleural mesothelioma is a cancer that affects the pleura, or the lining around the outside of the lungs and the inside of the ribs. Pleural mesothelioma is believed to be caused by inhalation of asbestos or asbestos containing materials. The vast majority of mesothelioma cases (about 80%) are pleural in nature. Pleural mesothelioma can be either benign, which is localized and non-cancerous, or malignant, which is diffuse and cancerous.

Peritoneal mesothelioma is a cancer of the membrane surrounding the abdomen. This type of cancer can also be benign or malignant. It is believed that peritoneal mesothelioma is a result of ingesting asbestos fibers in the mucus, the protective layer of saliva that works to expel foreign agents from the body. Peritoneal mesothelioma is extremely rare, occurring in only one-fifth of diagnosed cases.

Symptoms of Mesothelioma

Common symptoms of mesothelioma include shortness of breath, especially during exertion; a frequent cough; coughing up blood; tightness in the chest; wheezing; and general chest pain. Excessive sweating and weight loss are also signs of mesothelioma.

Early diagnosis is important.
The sooner mesothelioma is diagnosed, the better the prognosis tends to be. This is because, as in all cancers, mesothelioma progresses through stages. In its early stages, mesothelioma is found in the lining of the chest cavity or the abdominal cavity. In later stages, the cancer has a tendency to spread into the lymph nodes, chest wall, heart, and other organs and tissues.

An x-ray is usually the first step in diagnosing mesothelioma. While mesothelioma itself cannot usually be seen in an x-ray, the pleural effusion (fluid collecting between the lung and chest wall) that the tumor causes is visible. Two views will probably be taken, one where the x-ray passes through the back (posterior-anterior view) and one where the x-ray passes from one side to the other (lateral view.)

A thoracic CT might be performed to examine the structures inside the chest. A CT scanner emits x-rays all around you, photographing an area in 'slices' that are compiled to give a doctor a detailed three-dimensional image. This is a non-invasive procedure.

A thoracoscopy may be administered so your doctor can examine your chest cavity. In this procedure, an instrument called a thoracoscope will be put into the chest wall between two ribs while the patient is under local anesthetic.

A peritoneoscopy might be performed so your doctor can examine the interior of the abdomen. A peritoneoscope is put into an opening made in the abdomen while the patient is under local anesthetic.

If abnormal tissues are detected in any of these tests, a doctor will elect to perform a biopsy, where a small piece of tissue will be removed for examination under a microscope. The biopsy will probably occur during the thoracoscopy or the peritoneoscopy.

Once mesothelioma has been diagnosed, the doctor's next step is to determine the size, location, and progress of the cancer. They will want to take into consideration how the cancer appears on the microscopic level, how well it responds to treatment, and the age of the patient.

News Report: Asbestos Related Deaths on the Rise in the U.S.
According to a July 2004 report published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), asbestos deaths in the United States have skyrocketed since the late 1960s and will probably keep on climbing through the next decade because of long-ago exposure to the material, once widely used for insulation and fireproofing. Asbestos related deaths are expected to rise through the next decade because asbestos related illnesses are slow in developing and can take up to 40 years between the time someone is exposed to the material and dies from it. The report also found that coastal states such as Alaska, Washington, Mississippi, Virginia, Massachusetts and Maine were among those with the highest rates of asbestosis mortality between 1982 and 2000.

ASBESTOS SETTLEMENT APPROVED
In December 2004, a Judge approved the settlement of asbestos lawsuits against Halliburton Co. Judge Terrence McVerry of the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania approved a $1.5 billion trust to be set up by two Halliburton units and their insurers to settle asbestos claims that will take effect by the end of this month. The deal also opens the way for the two units, DII Industries and Kellogg Brown & Root, to exit bankruptcy. The two companies units filed for bankruptcy in December 2003 as part of the asbestos lawsuits. In July 2004, a bankruptcy judge in Pennsylvania approved a $4.17 billion settlement of asbestos and silica related health claims of a former Halliburton subsidiary. Houston-based Halliburton inherited the liability when it bought Dresser Industries Inc. in 1998.