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Mesothelioma:  'Asbestos Cancer'

Mesothelioma is a disease which has come to be known as "Asbestos Cancer."  This is because almost everyone who gets the disease has been exposed to asbestos.

More specifically, mesothelioma is a type of cancer which grows within the body's mesothelium.  This is the protective covering inside the human body which covers organs such as the lungs.  The human mesothelium is comprised of two layers.  As a cancer develops in the mesothelium, it does so within those two thin layers.  The narrow space between the layers makes it hard for doctors to diagnose the disease when it's still in the early stages.

Mesothelioma asbestos is equally difficult to treat.  Once the doctor diagnoses the cancer, most patients won't live more than 18 months. This is because, by this time, a lot of damage has usually been done. In addition, there has not yet been developed an effective surgical procedure for removing most mesothelioma tumors.

Although the majority of mesothelioma cases develop around the person's lungs, it also sometimes occurs in his or her abdominal mesothelim (known as the peritoneum or pericardium).  Although "asbestos cancer" occurs usually in the lungs, we must differentiate between it and lung cancer. The two cancers are quite different and require different treatment options.

Since mesothelioma results from asbestos exposure, let's talk about how this exposure occurs.  Asbestos is a mineral found within nature which has been used in various products for many centuries.  One of the attributes that makes it so valuable is the fact that it is fire resistant.  Historically, asbestos has been used within products that were designed to protect people or objects from fire and heat.  This includes some clothing items.  Other products include insulation or fireproof cloths for use in petroleum refineries or power plants.

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Additional benefits that made asbestos desirable include; its excellent noise deadening qualities and its insulation factors.  As a result, asbestos in the past was used for numerous construction products, including ceiling tiles and floor tiles, as well as wallboard.  If your house was built prior to 1978, chances are it contained asbestos until removed.

Exposure to asbestos takes place when the asbestos in any of these products gets damaged. .When it's damaged, these fibers are released and float around in the air.  These tiny fibers are invisible to the human eye and, if inhaled, can get lodged within the body and cause serious medical issues.

Asbestos exposure occurs when the asbestos that is in the products becomes damaged. Once damaged, the asbestos fibers are released into the air. The fibers are microscopic, smaller even than a grain of pollen, and invisible to the naked eye. The asbestos fibers, if inhaled or ingested, can become lodged into the body where it can create severe medical problems.

Asbestos cancer (mesothelioma) does not normally show up until years -- decades even -- following exposure.  Because of this, there is a long latency period between the time o exposure and the time that illness first manifests itself.  Even though exposure to asbestos is the only way of getting mesothelioma, it's possible to delay or reduce its development if the person takes care of his / her lungs today.

Some ways of protecting your lungs: If you're a smoker, stop.  Keep physically fit.  While everyone defines physical fitness differently, it's generally accepted that up to a half hour of activity several days throughout the week will provide significant benefit.

Also, watch what and how you eat.  Although there's been no direct link drawn between mesothelioma and certain foods, many other cancers are known to occur less among those who fill their meals with leafy vegetables and fiber.

Eat well. While there is no direct correlation proven between diet and mesothelioma or asbestosis, filling your meals with leafy and fibrous vegetables as well as whole grains has been proven to reduce the risk of other types of cancer.

If you think you might have been exposed to asbestos in the past, you should tell your doctor immediately. There's no cure for the disease, but early diagnosis greatly improves your chances.  If you've worked in a field which has historically had a high amount of exposure to asbestos, you need to consider youself at a raised risk for developing the cancer.  Some of these industries include petroleum plant workers, ship builders, power plant workers, and those working at construction sites.

While you cannot now undo any damage that asbestos has done to you in the past, you can work now to reduce your chance of future exposure.  You can also take some steps to make sure your body has a better chance of fighting the disease if it should develop.

If you find out you have mesothelioma, there are currently three treatment options that are being used.  These almost always concentrate on trying to destroy the malignant cells while preserving the healthy ones.  The three options are surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. The form of treatment the doctor suggests will be based on the tumor's location, the tumor's size, how far it has spread, whether it's in the beginning or an advanced stage, your age, and your health.

While surgery is almost always considered first, in reality, a curative operation is usually not an option since the cancer is nearly always diagnosed in a later stage.

A more common option is chemotherapy, in which cancer-fighting chemicals are introduced into the patient's system to try to kill the cancer cells. But if the patient's body is too frail for surgery or chemotherapy, the doctor will often recommend radiation.  One of the benefits is that radiation causes fewer side effects and less sickness than chemotherapy.

A diagnosis of mesothelioma is a scary thing.  Therefore, the best option is to work while you're young to keep away from asbestos exposure. If it's too late to avoid all exposure, but you have not been diagnosed, take a proactive stance by speaking with your doctor and eating well and avoiding smoking, in order to build up your body's ability to fight the vicious disease.