Mesothelioma
Cancer of the Mesothelium
What is the Mesothelium?
o Membrane covers and protects internal organs
o Two layers of cells
o One layer immediately surrounds organs
o Second layer forms a sac around it
o Produces lubricating fluid between these layers
o Lubricant helps moving organs (heart, lungs)
Most people do not know what the mesothelium is. Where is it, what is it made up of and what does it do. The mesothelium is a membrane that covers and protects some of your internal organs, especially moving organs such as the heart and lungs. It is made up of two layers of cells, one that immediately surrounds the organs and a second layer that forms a sac around the first. Between these layers a lubricating fluid is produced. This helps the moving organs a great deal to smoothly glide around their adjacent organs and body parts.
Where is the mesothelium?
o Several locations in the body
o Different name depending on its location
o Peritoneum: Abdominal cavity
o Pleura: lungs, wall of the chest cavity
o Pericardium: heart
o Tunica vaginalis testis: Male reproductive
o Tunica serosa uteri: Female reproductive
So where is the mesothelium at? There are several locations in the body, each having a different name depending on that location. There is the peritoneum, which is located in the abdominal cavity, the Pleura, which is around the lungs and the wall of the chest cavity, the pericardium, which is around the heart, and then the mesothelium around the reproductive organs.
What is Mesothelioma?
o Cells of the mesothelium are abnormal divide without control or order
o Almost always start at the pleura or peritoneum (lungs or abdominal region)
o Can invade/damage nearby tissues or organs
o Can also metastasize (spread)
So now that we know what the mesothelium is, what is mesothelioma, the cancer of the mesothelium. Cells of the mesotheium are abnormal and divide without control or order. Mesothelioma almost always starts at the Pleura or Peritoneum in the lungs or abdominal region. The cancer can cause the mesothelium to invade or damage nearby tissues and organs, and the cancer can also metastasize.
Causes of Mesothelioma
o Has no connection to smoking
o Over 90% of mesothelioma cases linked to asbestos exposure
o Abestos exposure may be the largest culprit, however has been reported in people without exposure
So what sort of things cause mesothelioma? Because mesothelioma is often linked to breathing problems and lung surgeries it is often believed by the mis-informed that smoking must be a cause of mesothelioma. However there is no connected. The actual culprit is asbestos exposure, and over 90% of mesothelioma cases are linked to asbestos exposure. There have however been cases of mesothelioma in people without any asbestos exposure.
So what is asbestos?
o Naturally occurring mineral
o Has been around for thousands of years
o Highly valued building material for its very valuable characteristics
So what is asbestos? Asbestos is a naturally occurring silicate rock, meaning a soft rock and is a name for several different types of related rocks. Asbestos has been around even back in the Greek days and is highly valued building material for its very valuable characteristics.
Highly valued characteristics
o Flame proof
o Does not conduct heat
o Sound absorbent
o Good insulator
o Strong tensile strength
o Flexibility
o Resistance to chemicals
o Resistance to electrical damage
As mentioned earlier asbestos has many highly valued characteristics. It is flame proof. In fact it was a parlor trick from the medieval times to throw an asbestos cloth into the fire to clean it. It does not conduct heat and is sound absorbent, it is a good insulator and has strong tensile strength, it is very flexible and has a resistance to chemicals and electrical damage. All of these characteristics make asbestos an amazing material making it nearly perfect for many obvious things.
So what is it used in?
o Vinyl floor tiles, sheeting, adhesives
o Roofing tars, felts, siding, and shingles
So what kinds of things is asbestos used in? Asbestos is in Vinyl floor tiles, sheeting, adhesives Roofing tars, felts, siding, and shingles. Here are some pictures of floor tiles and shingles with asbestos in them.
So what is it used in?
o Drywall and joint compound
o Plaster
o Mud and texture coats
o Caulk
o Gaskets
o Brake pads and shoes
o Clutch plates
Asbestos is also used in Drywall and joint compound, Plaster, Mud and texture coats, Caulk, Gaskets, Brake pads and shoes, and Clutch plates.
So what is it used in?
o Thermal pipe insulation
One of the more commonly seen and widespread places that asbestos is used in is thermal pipe insulation. Asbestos is the perfect material for this. Here are some pictures of asbestos covered pipes. These are very common especially in older houses and I personally have many running through my basement and I sleep directly under several asbestos wrapped pipes at night.
What else is it used in?
o "transite" panels, siding, countertops, and pipes
o fireproofing
o stage curtains
o fire blankets
o interior fire doors
o fireproof clothing for firefighters
Other products
o aprons
o air cell pipecovering
o ASB weatherproof jacket
o AC&S asbestos products
o acoustical panels
o acoustical plaster
o acoustical tile
o Acoustone ceiling tiles
o adhesive
o Aeroflex
o Aerogun insulating mix
o AFJ board
o Aircell
o Aircell asbestos board
o Aircell block
o Aircell board
o Aircell paper
o Aircell pipecovering
o Aircell sheets
o Aircell zebra pipecover
o Allbestos
o Alumi-Shield pipecover
o Amblerex #2 cement
o Amblerex finishing cement
o Antisweat covering
o Antisweat pipecovering
o apron
o Armabestos
o Armabestos block
o Armabestos pipecovering
o Armafil
o Armaflex
o Armaflex finish
o Armaflex pipecovering
o Armaflex sheets
o Armaflex tape
o Armaglas
o Armaglas Flex
o Armaglas fire resistant
o Armalite
o Armalok
o Armaspray
o Armatemp #10 cement
o Armatemp 85% magnesia
o Armatemp block
o Cafco shield-coat
o Cafco sound shield
o Cafco spray
o calcium silicate
o calcium silicate block
o calcium silicate canvas
o calcium silicate cement
o calcium silicate cover
o calcium silicate hangers
o calcium silicate pipecovering
o Carey fibrous adhesive
o Flintkote floor tiles
o floor tiles
o Flurobestos
o Franco-therm cement
o frost proof
o furnace cement
o Fyrbestos sheets
o G. Bond wood fiber paster
o GAF asbestos felt
o GAF products
o Garlock gasketing
o Garlock products
o gasket material
o gaskets
o Gator tape
o Generator
o GE products
o glassbestos
o glassblower mitts
o Glosscell block
o Glosscell covering
o gloves
o Gold Bond adhesive
o Gold Bond asbestos paper
o Gold Bond asbestos sheets
o Gold Bond cement
o Gold Bond perfo-lyte
o Gold Bond Plaster
o Gold Bond products
o Gold Bond spackle paster
o Gold bond tar paper
o goldbestos
o Griptex mineral wool block
o Guardian heatguard
o gunning mix
o H.K. Porter canvas
o H.K. Porter products
o H/2 insulation block
o hairfelt
o Heatguard
o Heat-seal
o helmet
o HI mastic
o HI stick cement
o HI temp cement
o high pressure packing
o High Temp insulating cement
o Hilite insulating cement
o Hitemp block
o Hitemp board
o Hitemp pipecovering
o Hou Daille 10 11
o Hou Daille 1871H
o Kaytherm block
Here is a more complete list of known products that contain asbestos. I tried my best to fit them all of two pages because the list was so immense. Although today you probably wont find a new product that says it contains asbestos they may call it by another ‘street name’. They might use the scientific name, the specific type of rock it comes from, such as crocodilite, chrysotile, or another alternative name.
When is it dangerous?
o Not dangerous unless friable
o Fibers are the only danger
o Old, torn, ripped, friable
o Safe when intact
o Easily painted over in most cases
o Very dangerous to do-it-yourself remove
o Hire a licensed professional to remove it
o Removing non-friable asbestos more dangerous than leaving it intact
Asbestos is not always dangerous. The dangerous thing about asbestos is the fibers that are released into the air and then inhaled or ingested. Asbestos is perfectly safe if it is in good condition, not friable, intact, or in some cases painted over. Asbestos is dangerous when it becomes old, torn, ripped or is friable. The most dangerous thing you can do is attempt to remove intact asbestos yourself without seeking a licensed professional to remove it. In fact in some places it is unlawful to remove asbestos yourself without a license.
Signs and Symptoms
o Depends on the type of mesothelioma
o Different type of symptoms per mesothelioma type
o Different types in different parts of the body
So what are some signs and symptoms of Mesothelioma? It depends highly on what type of cancer it is because different types of mesothelioma reside in different areas.
Signs and Symptoms - Pleural Mesothelioma:
o Shortness of breath
o Pain in chest
o Chest wall pain
o Fluid surrounding lungs
o Fatigue or anemia
o Wheezing, hoarseness, or cough
For pleural, which is aroung the lungs, Mesothelioma the symptoms can be shortness of breath, pain in the chest or the chest wall, a fluid surrounding the lungs, fatigue or anemia, wheezing, hoarseness, or cough.
Signs and Symptoms - Peritoneal Mesothelioma:
o Weight loss
o Abdominal swelling
o Blood clotting abnormalities
o Anemia
o Fever
o If metastasized symptoms can be pain, trouble swallowing, swelling of the neck or face
The signs and symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma, which is in the abdominal cavity, are weight loss, abdominal swelling, blood clotting abnormalities, anemia, fever, and if it has metastasized symptoms can be pain, trouble swallowing, and swelling of the neck or face
Diagnosis
o Difficult, symptoms are similar to other conditions
o Review of medical history
o History of asbestos exposure
o Physical examination
o Chest X-ray
o Lung function tests
o CAT scan or an MRI
o Biopsy needed to confirm a diagnosis
o Biopsy includes making small cut in chest wall or abdomen, putting small tube between ribs allowing doctor to see in and take samples
So how do you diagnose mesothelioma? It is very difficult because the symptoms are similar to other less serious much more common diseases and conditions. First they might review the persons medical history. They will then look at their history of asbestos exposure. They do a physical examination and then a chest X-ray as well as lung function tests. They will then do a CAT scan or an MRI. To confirm the diagnosis a biopsy is needed. The biopsy includes making a small cut in the chest wall or abdomen and putting a small tube between the ribs allowing a doctor to see inside and take samples.
Treatments
Two main treatments
1. Radiation/Chemotherapy
2. Surgeries
Radiation/Chemotherapy
o Most successful form of treatment
o 74.6% success rate in extending life span 5+ years
Radiation has the most successful form of treatment. There is a 74.6 percent success rate in extending a patients life span for five or more years.
Surgery
o Disappointing and not as effective
o 16.3% success rate in extending life span 5+ years
Surgery is rather disappointing as far as treatments go and is not as effective as radiation with chemotherapy. There is only a 16.3 percent success rate in extending the patients life span by five or more years.
Mesothelioma Survival Improved by Adding Heated Chemotherapy to Surgery
o Study from The Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery
o The chemotherapy drug is kidney damaging, so patients are given a kidney protective drug
o 51% of patients had the cancer return
o 4.3% died post-surgery
o 49% experienced complications after surgery, mostly kidney related, drug did have some protective benefits
Another interesting study I found conducted by the journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery was that you can make surgery more successful by adding heated chemotherapy to it. The chemo drug is damaging to the kidneys so the patient I given a protective drug for their kidneys beforehand. 51 percent of patients had a reoccurrence of mesothelioma afterwards. 4.3 percent of patients died post surgery. This however is similar to the surgery without chemotherapy. 49% of people experienced complications after surgery but it was noted that this was mostly kidney related and was made less worse by the drug.
Alternative Treatments
o Acupuncture
o Relaxation exercises
o Sitting near a fan to reduce breathlessness
o Breath training
Incidence Rates
o Rising rates of Mesothelioma past two decades, still a rather rare cancer
o Average incidence rate 1 per 1,000,000 1,000 per 1,000,000 for lung cancer as comparison
o Australia, UK, Belgium 30 per 1,000,000
o 7-40 per 1,000,000 in Western nations
o United States peaked at 15 per 1,000,000 in 2004
Although there have been rising rates of mesothelioma in the past two decades it is still a rather rare cancer. The average incidence rate is about one per million. For comparison the incidence rate for lung cancer is a thousand per million. Australia, the United Kingdom and Belgium have some of the highest rates of incidence at 30 per million. The rate of incidence in western industrialized nations can range from seven to forty per million depending on location. The united states incident rate peaked at 15 per million in 2004.
Statistics
o 1/5-1/3 of all Mesothelioma are peritoneal
o 1940-1979 27.5 million people occupationally exposed to asbestos in US
o 1973-1984 300% increase in pleural Mesothelioma incidence among Caucasian males
o 1980-1990s, death rates increased from 2,000 to 3,000 per year
o Men 4x more likely than women during that time period
Here are some other mesothelioma statistics. One fifth to one third of all mesothelioma cases are peritoneal, in the abdomin. From 1940-1979 27.5 million people were occupationally exposed to asbestos in the united states. From 1973 to 1984 there was a 300% increase in pleural mesothelioma among caucasian males. From 1980 to the late 1990s the death rates increased from 2000 per year to 3000 deaths per year. Men during that time were found to be four times as likely to get mesothelioma than women.
