Snehal Smart is the Pleural Mesothelioma Center’s in-house medical doctor, serving as both an experienced Patient Advocate and an expert medical writer for the website. When she is not providing one-on-one assistance to patients, Dr. Snehal stays current on the latest medical research, reading peer-reviewed studies and interviewing oncologists to learn about advancements in diagnostic tools and cancer treatments.
The cancer has grown beyond its initial point of origin, and it may have spread to nearby lymph nodes. Certain symptoms such as shortness of breath, weight loss, or chronic coughing are likely to occur, but may still be relatively mild and misdiagnosed.
Pleural mesothelioma may take decades to develop after exposure to asbestos, but this rare cancer attacks quickly once taking hold. Symptoms vary by stage, which is often described in Roman numerals (stage I, stage II) or simple numbers.
Serious side effects are uncommon, because the dose is so small. The most common problem is constipation, and a laxative will usually be given at the same time to help you pass stools.
Asbestos has been mined and used commercially in North America since the late 1800s. Its use increased greatly during World War II (3, 4). Since then, asbestos has been used in many industries. For example, the building and construction industries have used it for strengthening cement and plastics as well as for insulation, roofing, fireproofing, and sound absorption. The shipbuilding industry has used asbestos to insulate boilers, steam pipes, and hot water pipes. The automotive industry uses asbestos in vehicle brake shoes and clutch pads. Asbestos has also been used in ceiling and floor tiles; paints, coatings, and adhesives; and plastics. In addition, asbestos has been found in vermiculite-containing garden products and some talc-containing crayons.
The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) leads or sponsors many studies aimed at preventing, diagnosing, and treating heart, lung, blood, and sleep disorders. Learn more about participating in a clinical trial. View all trials from ClinicalTrials.gov. Visit Children and Clinical Studies to hear experts, parents, and children talk about their experiences with clinical research.
Pericardial mesothelioma: This type of mesothelioma, originating in the heart, also causes chest pain. Fluid builds up in the protective sac lining the heart, causing the heart to work harder.
Because this disease is similar to other types of pulmonary fibrosis, diagnosing asbestosis requires thorough medical and occupational histories in addition to medical testing. Most patients diagnosed today were exposed to asbestos before the 1970s, when the U.S. began to restrict the use of the toxic mineral.
If an asbestos material is damaged or disturbed, it releases lots of tiny asbestos fibres into the air. When these are inhaled, they become trapped in the lungs’ air sacs, and eventually lead to the reduced capacity to take in oxygen and remove carbon dioxide. Breathing in asbestos fibres can lead to many serious health problems of the respiratory tract later in life.
Laws are now in force that set standards for protective clothing and regulate the record keeping of data about any possible exposure. Other areas that need close regulation include the use of respirator equipment when asbestos levels are above a specified level, appropriate labeling of materials that contain asbestos, and air and water safety. Employers must provide mandatory medical examinations at specified intervals for workers who are exposed to asbestos.
In the most advanced stage, symptoms are severe and can affect many areas of the body. They include pain, difficulty swallowing or breathing, and systemic problems. Treatment for Stage 4 mesothelioma is limited to palliative care to reduce pain.
Doctors have many ways to collect tissue samples. One way is through bronchoscopy (bron-KOS-ko-pee). For this procedure, your doctor will pass a thin, flexible tube through your nose (or sometimes your mouth), down your throat, and into your airways. He or she will then take a sample of tissue from your lungs.
Tragically, children and other family members of people exposed to asbestos in the workplace have contracted asbestos-related illness from fibers carried home on the clothing of their loved ones. If you or a member of your household works in an industry where asbestos exposure may take place, take every precaution to ensure not only that you are not exposed, but that you do not unwittingly place your loved ones in harm’s way. Because asbestos related illnesses take many years to develop, children of those exposed to asbestos in the workplace would not normally develop symptoms until adulthood.
Asbestos is a family of naturally occurring silica compounds (similar to, but not the same as, the silica of window glass and computer chips) found in rocks and soil. These substances form fibers with varying shapes and sizes and are found throughout the earth. There are three commonly available types of asbestos:
Learn more about participating in a clinical trial. View all trials from ClinicalTrials.gov. Visit Children and Clinical Studies to hear experts, parents, and children talk about their experiences with clinical research.
Usually, it takes years of continued exposure to high levels of asbestos—like those in an industrial environment—to cause health problems. People working under those conditions are more likely to develop lung cancer, mesothelioma, asbestosis, or abnormalities in the lining of their lungs. (According to an EPA review of asbestos data, factory workers exposed for a year to a significant dose of 44 asbestos fibers per cubic centimeter of air had their rates of lung cancer go up by 2.8 percent.) Scientists have plenty of data on these severe cases but much less information about what happens when you inhale small amounts of asbestos—e.g., at rates of less than one fiber per cc of air. At low levels of exposure, the effects may depend on the type of asbestos fiber inhaled, as well as the genetic makeup of the victim and whether he or she is a smoker.
The latency period for mesothelioma can last for many years, usually decades. This provides a long timeframe during which symptoms can develop, and in many cases they may be confused for symptoms of another condition even after the symptoms begin to occur.