Mesothelioma: How Do Doctors Diagnose Asbestos Cancer? Part 1

As we discussed in our previous article, you might have been exposed to asbestos airborne particles if you have been building ships, working with heat insulation and changing old brakes pads. There are many dangerous occupations exist, such as, asbestos plant workers, automobile mechanics, boiler workers, plumbers, drywall workers, electricians insulators, painters, even hairdressers and teachers. Many other professions might give an occasional exposure to the asbestos particles.

As the consequence of asbestos exposure you may get asbestosis, but you may also start do develop mesothelioma - relativity rare but deadly type o cancer.

So, how do doctors diagnose the mesothelioma?

When you see your doctor, the first think he does to suspect the mesothelioma is asking about your occupational history. The paramount importance is to catch the asbestos cancer in the early stages of the disease, so time is of the essence. The survival rate is eight to twelve months on average. However, catching and treating the mesothelioma early at some cancer centers gives better results.

Doctors look for signs and symptoms of the cancer. The mesothelioma symptoms often delay up to 20 and more years after asbestos exposure. Yet, in rats intra-pleural introduction of asbestos chrysotile fibers may cause mesothelioma in several months.

People with mesothelioma complain on breath shortness, persistent cough, sputum, and chest pain. The pain comes from pleura - the lungs lining that is very sensitive to irritation. Mesothelioma tends to cause fluid accumulation in the pleural cavity.

Peritoneal mesothelioma causes weight loss, pain and ascites (belly swelling due to fluid in the abdominal cavity). Peritoneal mesothelioma also may block bowels and cause all kinds of troubles with gut obstruction. As many cancers, asbestos cancer also changes blood clotting, causes blood cells decrease (anemia), night sweats, and fevers. Ascites may lead to nausea and feet swelling. Spreading of the cancer will bring pain, difficult swallowing, and neck swelling. This symptom happens because of compression of some great veins going to the heart in your chest. In general mesothelioma symptoms are not very specific. They may characterize any other type of cancer as well as many other non-cancerous diseases. This problem delays diagnosis. Sometimes patients think that they have viral pneumonia. Some patients don't have any symptoms at all. Mesothelioma in advanced stage, as well as majority of cancers, will cause fatigue.

An x-ray may show a fluid accumulation.

What is a pleural effusion? Pleural effusion means the accumulation of fluid between the pleura on inside chest wall and diaphragm and pleura covering lungs. What is pleura? Pleura is the thin layer of special cells covering the lung and inside of the chest wall. It has an idea of closed plastic bag with some small amount of fluid inside. Basically, this bag helps lungs to slide easily against chest wall during expansion from breathing. The membranes of pleura consist from mesothelial cells. Exactly these cells produce a small amount of the lubricant. The amount of fluid is always in balance. Extra pleural fluid is quickly reabsorbed. When there is too much fluid, it is the effusion. Abdominal cavity has similar lining named peritoneum, which covers abdominal organs the way pleura covers the lungs. Mesothelioma leads to fluid build up, which is caused by cancer cells irritating the pleura or peritoneum. This fluid leads to sickness in your abdomen or difficulty breathing.

Transudation is a pleural effusion with clear fluid. It usually results from imbalance of fluid production and removal. It is more characteristic for some other disease. Doctors would think first about congestive heart failure. Mesothelioma would rather cause an exudate. Exudates are a cloudy pleural effusion with many cells and proteins. Exudates happen after the pleura is irritated and inflamed, as it happen in mesothelioma. To check the type of effusion, doctors would stick a needle and get the fluid sample. This stick is called diagnostic thoracentesis. The fluid will be checked in the lab. If mesothelioma is the cause, cancer cells may be found in the fluid

Why shortness of breath develops? The dyspnea (breath shortness) happens exactly because too much fluid is accumulated and press on the lung, pushing it away form the chest wall inside and thus making the lung smaller. Also the pain from inflamed pleura prevents patient from deep breathing. The receptors in inflamed pleura also cause dry cough. Listening to the lungs with a stethoscope reveals decreased breath sounds. Tapping on the chest sounds dull. This all is the consequence of fluid accumulation.

During your doctor's visit, you should discuss your concerns about asbestos exposure in the past. Your doctor should check the area of pain and swelling; he also should listen to your breath sounds and check for fluid collection. If your doctors suspect the effusion he may send you for tests and X-rays or refer to a specialist.

If a doctor suspects mesothelioma, he dose not have many specific tests on hands. Many of the usual tests may show no results in mesothelioma. Simple chest x-ray does not always show small pleural effusion. A lateral decubitus film may be required for smaller effusions (the same x-ray but the side view). Otherwise CT scan or ultrasound may show the effusion.

Aleksandr Kavokin, MD, PhD. Medical Articles http://www.kavokin.com, Free On-line diagnostics at http://www.symptomat.com, http://www.rdoctor.com

Asbestos and Malignant Mesthelioma

Many people are wondering about the risks of asbestos exposure and getting malignant mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is a type of cancer on the pleura, or lining of the lungs. It can lead fluid in the lungs, difficulty breathing, and eventually death. When it comes to how our bodies age and handle illness, 65% depends on the environment, like the things we feed, expose, and do to our bodies. The remaining 35% is due to genetics, that wonderful nuclear and mitochondrial DNA that we got from ours parents and mothers, respectively.

When we think about environment, consider the following study. A 35-year period evaluation of workers in an asbestos factory in Poland revealed that increased rates of lung cancers, pleural mesothelioma, and all malignant cancers were higher in these workers than in the general population. Of the 4,187 subjects studied (2805 men and 1382 women), five died from pleural mesothelioma. Also, the risk for these types of illness did not differ between those that had a preceeding documented diagnosis of lung asbestosis and those that did not. So, where people work, and the polutants they are exposed to, clearly influence disease risks.

Now with genomics laboratories, investigation of disease risk is taken to a new level. A recent study in Northwest Italy evaluated single nucleotide DNA polymorphisms in 4 genes responsible for DNA repair. Polymorphisms are like typos in the DNA language. The assumption was that sloppy DNA repair increased the risk for this cancer when a gene-damaging substance like asbestos was thrown into the picture. It's like trying to fix an important system with an entire chapter ripped out of the repair manual. So seven different variations of these 4 genes were studied in 81 malignant mesothelioma patients and 110 of their age-matched and sex-matched controls. All subjects were residents of Casale Monferrato, a town polluted with asbestos. The results showed that with one type of polymorphism (or DNA typo) a 2.147 oddds ratio existed for this disease, another variant (or DNA typo) had a 4.09 odds risk ratio. These genetic variations can certainly put people at an increased risk of developing the cancer. This is valuable information because the residents of this town can now look at their family genetics and give more consideration about whether or not they should move out of there!

Environment and genetics...we are getting more options now than ever before to learn about our risks of getting cancers, like malignant mesothelioma. If you have any concerns about a history of personal asbestos exposure, I encourage you to explore with your physician or health care provider what diagnostic tools are available for further evaluation.

References: Dianzani I, et al. Polymorphisms in DNA repair genes as risk factors for asbestos-related malignat mesothelioma in a general population study. Mutant Res. 2006 Marc 23; (epub ahead of print) Wilezynska U, Szymezak W, Szeszenia-Dabrowska N. Mortality from malignant neoplasms among workers of an asbestos processing plant in Poland: results of prolonged observation. Int J Occup Med Environ Health 2005; 18(4):313-26.

Natalie Kather, MD, is a diplomate of the American Board of Anti-Aging Medicine and diplomate of the Amercian Board of Family Medicine. She specializes in using the latest longevity and anti-aging research to extend and improve her clients' lives.

The MACK Group, LLC Completes the Asbestos Abatement of Several Buildings Located in Belmar, New Jersey

May 2006 - The MACK Group, LLC (website http://www.mackgrp.com ) recently completed the asbestos abatement of five (5) buildings located in Belmar, New Jersey. The five buildings consisted of three houses and a one story and three story commercial building. Asbestos abatement needed to be completed on the 5 buildings prior to their demolition. The project consisted of the asbestos abatement of asbestos containing materials including roofing, flashing, transite siding, wall board, floor tile and window caulk. The developer plans to build a town home community on the property following demolition of all existing structures.

The MACK Group, LLC accomplished this asbestos abatement and removal project on schedule and without injury.

About the Mack Group, LLC

The MACK Group, LLC is an asbestos abatement and demolition contractor that operates on a nationwide basis but predominantly in NJ, NY, PA, DE, CT, MA, MD, WV, NC, GA, and SC. Services include asbestos abatement, asbestos removal, demolition, Terminator flooring removals, Shot Blast/Blastrac services, asbestos siding removal, asbestos consulting and fluorescent bulb and ballast recycling services.

Contact Information

The MACK Group, LLC 1500 Kings Hwy. N., Ste 209 Cherry Hill, NJ 08034 Tel: 973-759-5000 Fax: 973-759-5554 Web: www.MACKgrp.com For more information contact:

Stephen King (973) 759-5000 ext. 302 SKing@mackgrp.com

Know Your Rights About Asbestos Litigation

 Due to the rise in Mesothelioma related Cancers, which are a result of exposure to Asbestos based fibers and materials, there is now a wave of Asbestos related litigation being initiated.

Although there has been information related to Mesothelioma related Cancers and the effects of Asbestos on the human body, Mesothelioma cases have often taken 30 to 40 years to appear.

Mesothelioma Cancer is related to the Mesothelioma cells, which line the lungs, heart and abdominal area of the human body. Asbestos causes these cells to slowly develop into cancerous nodules, which later develop to form tumors.

Once diagnosed with Mesothelioma Cancer, a patient can live between 7 months to 7 years, depending upon the stage of the Cancer and which organ has been affected. Abdominal Mesothelioma Cancer often is coupled with immune deficiencies and requires extra treatment measures.

There are now a number of Attorneys, paralegals, investigators, doctors and academics that specialize in Asbestos Litigation. Over the years, Asbestos Litigation has taken on various forms. Initially, the cases included minor situations involving scaring of the chest lining, known as Asbestosis.

However, many of the more serious asbestos symptoms did not develop until much later. It slowly became apparent that Asbestos was a dangerous substance that causes Mesothelioma Cancer.

Asbestos has since been removed from the building industry and removed from buildings. Although, for many, it is too late, as their exposure to Asbestos has already occurred and many have since died as a result.

Now people who develop Mesothelioma Cancer can pursue Asbestos litigation, however there are rules to going about this. One of those rules includes, that the person seeking Asbestos litigation must be able to provide evidence that they were exposed to the Asbestos substance.

The person seeking Asbestos litigation must be able to supply information about the particular Asbestos substance and the particular location in which the exposure occurred. The more details a person can supply the more favorable the outcome of their Asbestos litigation will be.

Asbestos litigation should also be accompanied with medical documents that provide evidence of any internal damage, or side affects that have resulted from exposure to Asbestos. As well as medical documents, a letter from a doctor detailing the outcome of the exposure and what would be required in the way of treatment and ongoing support.

In the case of Mesothelioma Cancer that has been caused by exposure to asbestos, those affected by this exposure should be aware of their rights. If you, or someone you know has been showing symptoms of exposure to Asbestos, such as abdominal pain, chest pain, coughing, weight loss, or fever and frequent illness, consider seeking medical advice.
Learn more about mesothelioma treatment and asbestos litigation go here: http://www.mesothelioma-treatment-center.com/asbestos-litigation.htm