By Peter Nisbet
There are various types of mesothelioma but asbestos lungmesothelioma is an asbestos-induced cancer of the mesothelium ofthe lung, more familiarly known as the pleura, which is theexternal lining of the lung.
Many of the major organs of the body have a mesothelium, thatof the heart being called the pericardium and of the heart theperitoneum. However, it is with the pleura that we are concernedhere, and the symptoms of asbestos lung mesothelioma are whatyou would expect: coughing, discomfort in the chest cavity andeventual pain.
Before we come to possible treatments and palliative care,let’s have a look at what causes it and why we are still seeingnew cases today after asbestos was banned for construction usein the 1970s.
Asbestos comes in several forms, the most dangerous thought tobe crocidolite, commonly known as blue asbestos. This form ofasbestos is in a highly fibrous form, and it is the inhalationand ingestion of these fibers that cause the problem. They tendto remain in the body for a considerable period of time and itcan take up to 40 – 45 years before the symptoms of mesotheliomabegin to appear, though some people contract it in their 30s.
To complicate the situation, it is not only asbestos thatcauses the symptoms, but any fibrous silicate, which it is whysome compensation cases are not as cut and dry as they could be.To add to this complication, smoking adds to the possibility ofcancer and it is argued that many patients would not havecontracted mesothelioma had they not smoked.
This is not only an argument made by solicitors in court, buthas been established by statistics. It is pretty certain thatsmokers have a greater tendency of contracting asbestos lungmesothelioma than non-smokers, since attorneys for the employershave used this as a reason for having the otherwise highcompensation significantly reduced.
There is a popular misconception that mesothelioma is caused byasbestos, but it is just a misconception. Lung cancer ismesothelioma, and in the USA 80% of mesothelioma cases arecaused by smoking. That is an indisputable fact. In order toprove the intervention of asbestos in a case, therefore, notonly would the patients have to prove that they had worked withasbestos, but also not to have smoked. Had they smoked, then theaward could be greatly reduced.
The term “asbestos lung mesothelioma” is therefore a correctone because that form of the disease to which we are referringis caused by asbestos, and not smoking, is of the pleura of thelung and not of the pericardium or peritoneum, and ismesothelioma.
Its treatment is largely palliative, or intended to easesuffering, because the prognosis is fairly grim. Only about 20%of cases live to 5 years after diagnosis, with most survivingonly one year, though much depends on how far the condition haddeveloped by the time it was diagnosed. Chemotherapy andradiation treatment are used, but not successfully, and variousdegrees of surgery are also used. Removal of the affected lung,pericardium and half the diaphragm is the most major of these,and even that only extends life to a maximum of around fiveyears from diagnosis.
There are new treatments being tested, but all treatment isexpensive, and a good attorney is likely necessary to secure thecompensation to pay for these. Ultimately hospice care will berequired and again compensation money should be kept back forthis. Ultimately, in spite of all the treatment given, it ispalliative care that will make the last days of the patientbearable, as will the help and support of the family, and thisis what compensation can fund.
About the Author: More information on this disease can beobtained from Pete’s webpagehttp://www.welshhealth.com/Mesothelioma/asbestos-lung-mesothelioma.htmlwhere more detail is given of possible treatment.
Source: http://www.isnare.com/
Permanent Link:http://www.isnare.com/?aid=241195&ca=Cancer+Survival
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