Asbestos cancer is also referred to as mesothelioma. Asbestos cancer is the result of asbestos exposure and the resultant inhalation of asbestos fibers. Asbestos lung cancer is the most common type of asbestos-caused cancer, but there are other types that develop in the abdomen, heart, testicles, and other areas of the body. The reason it’s called mesothelioma is because the cancer develops in the mesothelium, which is a thin layer of tissue lining the lungs, abdomen, heart, and other organs where the disease is found. The three most common varieties of asbestos cancer are pleural mesothelioma (lungs), peritoneal mesothelioma (abdomen), and pericardial mesothelioma (heart). Pleural mesothelioma or asbestos cancer occurs seventy-five percent of the time, and is the most commonly-seen type of asbestos cancer.
What is asbestos and why is it dangerous? The fibrous mineral asbestos has been used as a fire retardant and insulation for thousands of years, and has been a major ingredient of many industrial and building materials since the mid to late 1800s. However, it wasn’t until the early 1900s that people started to notice an abnormal amount of lung diseases in people who worked in asbestos industries. Unfortunately, even after discovering the dangers of inhaling asbestos, it continued to be used for decades until its use was regulated and then banned by the Environmental Protection Agency, also known as the EPA, in the 1970s.
Malignant Asbestos Cancer Treatment
Malignant asbestos cancer is a terminal disease that is very hard to treat because in most cases, the disease does not show symptoms, and is therefore not diagnosed, until the later stages of the disease. Once it reaches the later stages the life expectancy is very short and there are very few good treatment options. This makes it important to get it diagnosed as early as possible. Anyone who has been exposed to asbestos should get regular medical exams to make sure it is found in its earlier stages. The prognosis for asbestos cancer patients is much better when asbestos cancer is diagnosed early in its development.
However, the best treatment is prevention. This means that whenever the possibility exists that asbestos is present, asbestos testing should be performed right away. Then, if testing verifies the presence of asbestos, asbestos removal or asbestos abatement should be carried out. It should also be understood that the actual removal of asbestos products is not always absolutely necessary. In some cases it is best to leave them alone, while in other situations it is better to encapsulate them by spraying them with a special sealant. For example, if your home as asbestos siding it is not always necessary to remove the siding. You can also choose to spray it with a sealant or just leave it alone if it is still in good condition and poses no risk of releasing asbestos fibers into the air. Asbestos is not dangerous until it becomes released into the environment where it can be inhaled into the lungs.
Asbestos Cancer Kills Thousands Every Year
Even though asbestos was banned decades ago, it continues to cause asbestos cancer today. It has been estimated that between 10,000 and 20,000 new cases of asbestos cancer will be diagnosed each year for the next couple of decades. This is because the symptoms of asbestos cancer don’t normally appear until 20 or 30 years after asbestos exposure.
People who live or work in buildings containing asbestos products may unknowingly inhale the microscopic asbestos fibers for months or years. And once asbestos cancer has begun to develop, it may take as long as 50 years or more to show symptoms. There are asbestos cancer victims that have the disease right now, but won’t become aware of it until it’s in its later stages 30 years from now. Fortunately, with advancements in the field of mesothelioma diagnosis, it can be detected in its earlier stages, making mesothelioma treatment more helpful.
On the other hand, if you have no idea that you’ve been exposed to asbestos, there is nothing that will prompt you to see a doctor. And if you have asbestos cancer, but don’t get it diagnosed early, and don’t start treatment early, the prognosis will be poor. This is why asbestos cancer is such a deadly and serious disease, because it can take years for the asbestos symptoms to appear, at which time the treatment will not be as beneficial.
If you suspect the presence of asbestos in your home, office, or other building, get an asbestos test immediately. If asbestos is discovered, and if there is a risk of it being released into the air, have it removed or encapsulated right away. If testing shows that it is present in the air you’ve been breathing, start getting regular checkups so that if asbestos cancer is in your future, you will be able to get it diagnosed and begin treating it as soon as possible.