Mesothelioma Cancer May Have Potential Early Warning Signs

The study focused on biomarkers of mesothelioma cancer and found that biomarkers often form before mesothelioma cancer symptoms appear, which may offer early warnings and potentially a successful treatment for mesothelioma cancer patients, according to the study which was published in a June issue of Mutation Research.

Studying Biomarkers to Help Mesothelioma Treatment

Biomarkers are a type of "biochemically expressed substance" similar to a protein, according to a news report on the study. An effort is being collaborated on by the International Cancer Biomarker Consortium (ICBC) to better address biomarkers as indicators of cancer types such as mesothelioma.

This effort is on the level of the Human Genome Project, according to officials from the ICBC, and biomarkers are being studied worldwide. The Polytechnic study followed 119 individuals who had been previously exposed to asbestos; of these individuals, all exhibited increased numbers of biomarkers compared to individuals who were not exposed to asbestos.

What is Mesothelioma Cancer

Mesothelioma is a type of lung cancer that can develop after an individual is exposed to asbestos fibers or asbestos dust. After an individual is exposed to asbestos fibers, they may begin to develop cancerous cells on the interior lining of the lung. The cancer is often described as one of the only preventable forms of cancer especially since individuals are still being exposed to asbestos in America through improper cleanup and disposal methods. Currently, asbestos is found in insulation in homes, apartment buildings, hospitals, offices and schools.

Unfortunately, individuals continue to be exposed to asbestos fibers because of its existence in many products implemented throughout the country, and because it is too costly to remove all asbestos by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), many remain at risk. Additionally, because mesothelioma cancer usually remains dormant for years, it becomes increasingly difficult to diagnose and to successfully treat.

Finding Help for Asbestos Related Conditions Like Mesothelioma

It is important that individuals who may have been exposed to asbestos to contact a medical professional immediately to assess and potentially diagnose their condition. The sooner mesothelioma cancer can be diagnosed the more successful an outcome will be.

In addition to contacting a medical professional it may also be important to contact an experienced mesothelioma attorney to learn about developing a mesothelioma lawsuit, which may result in receiving monetary compensation to pay for expensive mesothelioma medical bills.

For the most up-to-date information and news on mesothelioma, visit http://mesothelioma-law-now.com/ . Individuals can also visit http://www.LegalView.com to learn about other legal conditions ranging from the latest on Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis treatments to developing a Ketek lawsuit.

What is Malignant Mesothelioma Cancer?

There are several varieties of mesothelioma cancer, however, malignant mesothelioma is considered one of the most lethal. It has been determined that malignant mesothelioma victims often have a median survival of only a few months in both untreated and treated cases, according to the study." Malignant mesothelioma is a rare cancer with malignant cancer cells forming on the sac lining of the chest or abdomen, according to the National Cancer Institute (NCI). It is often associated with exposure to airborne asbestos particles and fibers, which increases the risk of malignant mesothelioma developing in an individual.

Signs and Symptoms of Malignant Mesothelioma

Malignant mesothelioma is often marked by several symptoms including lumps in abdomen, weight loss, pain or swelling in the abdomen, pain under the rib cage and difficulties breathing. The cancer can also often cause fluid retention in the abdomen or around the lungs. The cancer often has symptoms similar to other conditions making misdiagnosis of the condition common.

Medical professionals have even admitted that malignant mesothelioma and lung cancer are very similar and differentiating between the two is difficult, however, there is an array of tests that physicians can use to increase the potential for a more accurate diagnosis. Tests for diagnosis may include the patient enduring physical exams, chest x-rays, biopsy of body tissues, getting a complete blood count (CBC), cytologic exam, which is an exam of cells under a microscope, or a bronchoscopy procedure where a bronchoscope is inserted into the nose or mouth for a better view of airways.

Diagnosing and Treating Malignant Mesothelioma

While treatments for mesothelioma are rare in and of themselves, it becomes increasingly difficult to treat malignant mesothelioma because of the severity of the condition. Factoring in the best method of treatment often depends on several factors. The following is a detailed list of these factors, according to the NCI:

* The stage of cancer, which includes stage I or localized malignant mesothelioma or advanced malignant mesothelioma that includes stage II, stage III and stage IV.

* The size of a tumor.

* Potential for tumor removal through a surgical procedure.

* The amount of fluid gathered in the chest or abdomen.

* A victim's age, physical health and previous health issues.

* Type of mesothelioma cancer.

* Whether a cancer is diagnosed as reoccurring or not.

Often, cancer may spread through the lymph system, blood stream or other bodily tissues.

Treatments for malignant mesothelioma can range from surgery to therapy, including chemotherapy and biological therapy to clinical trials, although the outcome is based on the progression of the cancer and most often, individuals are not aware of their condition until it reaches an advanced and, usually, an untreatable stage.

Epithelial Mesothelioma

Epithelial mesothelioma is a rare disease caused by asbestos exposure that may have occurred decades before the patient is diagnosed. It is not contagious and cannot be passed from one person to another. Unlike lung cancer, there is no association between epithelial mesothelioma and smoking. However, the Kent brand of cigarettes used asbestos in its filters for the first few years of production in the 1950s and some cases of epithelial mesothelioma have resulted from that. Epithelial mesothelioma occurs much more often in men than women, and three-fourths of mesothelioma sufferers are over 65 years of age. Most people who develop the disease have worked on jobs where they inhaled asbestos particles, or have been exposed to asbestos dust and fibers in other ways. One study of asbestos insulation workers reported a mesothelioma death rate up to 344 times higher than the general population. Family members and others living with asbestos workers have an increased risk of developing epithelial mesothelioma, and possibly other asbestos related diseases, such as lung cancer, asbestosis (a noncancerous, chronic lung ailment), and other cancers, such as those of the larynx and kidney.

Although reported incidence rates have increased in the past 20 years, epithelial mesothelioma is still a relatively rare cancer. Incidence of malignant epithelial mesothelioma currently ranges from about 7 to 40 per 1,000,000 in industrialized Western nations, depending on the amount of asbestos exposure of the populations during the past several decades. More than 500,000 asbestos or mesothelioma lawsuits have been filed against asbestos manufacturers and employers, for neglecting to implement safety measures after the links between asbestos, asbestosis, and mesothelioma became known.

Although epithelial mesothelioma is generally resistant to curative treatment with radiotherapy alone, it is often used to make the person with cancer comfortable or to relieve symptoms arising from tumor growth, such as obstruction of a major blood vessel. Radiation therapy alone has never been shown to improve survival from epithelial mesothelioma. In fact, the necessary radiation dose to treat mesothelioma that has not been surgically removed would be very toxic.

About the Author
James Howell is a freelance writer and researcher. Find out more about
Epithelial Mesothelioma.

Second Hand Asbestos Exposure

We've all, by now, heard the risks of inhaling asbestos fibers in factories, in houses, in schools, etc. What many people don't realize is that there is an equally large risk of second-hand exposure. Just like second-hand smoke hurts people, second-hand exposure to asbestos also hurts people.

When people say "second-hand exposure" they mean that the person that has been exposed to asbestos is not coming in direct contact with it at its source. The family of a miner that works in a taconite or asbestos mine would experience second-hand exposure if they came in contact with asbestos in their home rather than in the place where the material that contains asbestos is. It is similar to second-hand smoke in that there does not need to be direct contact with the cigarette (or insulation in this case) to experience some harmful affects of the item.

It is important to keep in mind, when dealing with asbestos, that the deadly fibers are inhaled into the lungs via other dust floating in the air. Just like when dusting, clothes can take in asbestos dust just like normal dust. This tendency of fibers to be trapped in the clothes of people means that whoever does the laundry is taking a serious risk. It gives a new adage to "Would it kill you to do the laundry?"

If the clothes to be laundered contain dust that has been exposed to asbestos, yes, it can actually kill you to do the laundry. The act of doing laundry involves picking up clothes from a laundry basket or hamper or something. When the clothes are picked up, there is air movement. This air movement stirs the dust particles to life and sends them floating through the air. When they are airborne, it is quite easy for someone to inhale that dust, just like any other dust. When one does the laundry for a husband or father's entire career in an asbestos mine, the asbestos fibers add up and accumulate in the lungs.

There does not need to be a lot of accumulation of fibers for Mesothelioma, the deadly lung cancer most commonly associated with asbestos, to develop. Lately, there have been numerous stories in the papers and across the internet about a dutiful wife doing her husband's laundry weekly and contracting Mesothelioma because of that. There have also been stories of children in large families contracting the disease after having been stuck with the chore of laundry while growing up. One of these instances resulted in the foundation of Kati's Hope Foundation for Mesothelioma.

Now, companies are requiring that their workers change out of their street clothes before starting work for the day. This requirement is designed to cut down on the amount of asbestos being taken home from the work place. Despite this new requirement, millions of people have still done a lot of laundry and given a lot of hugs over the years.

About the Author
If you or someone you know has been diagnosed with mesothelioma following asbestos exposure, contact the Mesothelioma Lawyers of Williams Kherkher.