Asbestos Related Lung Cancer - Facts You Should Know

The link between asbestos and lung cancer is well established today. However, this was not always the case. For many decades, asbestos was considered to be a miracle mineral. It is an excellent insulator and this was one of its primary uses. Asbestos was also incorporated into a wide range of products manufactured.

Suspicions that asbestos exposure could cause serious health problems existed as far back as the last decade of the nineteenth century. It is thought that those interested in promoting asbestos consumption acted to discredit such reports.

By 1931, the British government had concluded that asbestos was possibly harmful to the body and took steps to ensure safety of those handling asbestos. The US government undertook similar actions during the 1970s.

Unfortunately, by that time, many thousands of people had their lives seriously affected by asbestos related lung cancer and other health problems. Asbestos was widely used in factories, homes and elsewhere.

Asbestos causes problems like scarring in the lungs, lung cancer, asbestosis and pleural plaques. It also causes a deadly, aggressive type of cancer called mesothelioma.

Unlike normal lung cancer which affects the tissues of the lung itself, mesothelioma affects the lining around the lungs called the pleura. This type of cancer arises almost only due to asbestos exposure.

Even a short exposure to asbestos can cause mesothelioma. Further, the cancer can show up several decades after the asbestos exposure.

As with most lung-related cancers, smoking increases the odds of contracting mesothelioma significantly. Some studies indicate that a smoker who has been exposed to asbestos has 50 to 90 times the chances of developing mesothelioma and other cancers of the lung, when compared to a non-smoker with similar asbestos exposure. A non-smoker who has been exposed to asbestos has about 5 times higher chance of developing mesothelioma compared to people who were never exposed to asbestos.

If you have had any exposure to asbestos either in the workplace or elsewhere, you should have regular screenings to detect any abnormalities in the lung. And this should be continued because lung cancer can show up as late as 50 years after the asbestos exposure. Early diagnosis of lung cancer offers the best hope for survival.

Diagnostic methods for detecting asbestos related lung cancers include going through a patient's medical history as well as performing chest x-rays, MRI scans, CAT scans, tissue sampling and biopsy.

The outlook for those diagnosed with mesothelioma (and other types of lung cancers) is generally not encouraging. In some cases, the life expectancy for someone diagnosed with mesothelioma may be as little as 2-3 months. Multi-treatment methods used in some clinical trials have managed to significantly enhance life expectancy -- one such trial achieved a 40% survival rate at five years.

Treatment for mesothelioma often combines chemotherapy, radiation and surgery. In many cases though, surgery may be ruled out because the cancer is diagnosed at a late stage. There are new chemotherapy treatments available that seem promising.

The first drug developed specifically to treat mesothelioma was Alimta, which was approved by the Food and Drugs Administration in 2004. When Alimta is used in combination with Cisplatin, which is also a drug used to treat cancers, it was found to increase patients' life expectancy. There is intensive research going on to produce a cure for these aggressive asbestos related cancers and these efforts may eventually produce a reliable cure.

Linda Day is a researcher who has written about the types of lung cancer, the smoking lung cancer connection and other related topics. To learn more about this disease, visit the previous links.

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The Risk of Lung Cancer From Asbestos

Asbestos has been categorized as a known human carcinogen (a material that causes cancer) by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the EPA, and the International Agency for Research on Cancer. Studies have revealed that exposure to asbestos may add to the risk of lung cancer and mesothelioma.

While the majority asbestos-associated cancers are related to the intensity and duration of exposure, reports in medical journals have connected some mesotheliomas to short exposure periods, on the order of months. People who get asbestosis have typically been exposed to high levels of asbestos extensively. The symptoms of these diseases do not typically come into view until about 20 to 30 years after the first exposure to asbestos.

Asbestos-related lung disease rose at very high rates toward the middle of the 20th century, when patients who were uncovered decades earlier to asbestos ultimately developed disease. British asbestos workers were among the first who were detected to suffer lung cancer related to asbestos.

The majority asbestos lung cancer begins in the lining of the bronchi, the tubes into which the trachea or windpipe divides. However, it can also start in other parts such as the trachea, bronchioles (small branches of the bronchi), or alveoli (lung air sacs). Even though the cancer typically develops slowly, once it happens, cancer cells can break away and extend to other areas of the body.

Asbestos has been recognized as a principal risk factor for lung cancer for several years. However, though death statistics for Great Britain are readily obtainable, the number of deaths attributable to asbestos cannot be concluded in a straight line. This is because there are many agents that can lead to the disease - most significantly, tobacco smoke - and lung cancers resulting from asbestos exposure are clinically identical from those caused by these other agents.

There was a study that pointed out that exposure to asbestos and smoke makes you ninety times more possible to contract lung cancer than a person who is not exposed to either. A number of the symptoms of lung cancers include coughing, irregularities, breathing chest pains and also anemia.

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Asbestos - Asbestosis, Mesothelioma, Lung Cancer

Asbestos has many appealing qualities for builders. It is strong, flexible and corrosion resistant. It is also burn resistant and a good insulator. There are not many substances with these qualities and may explain why it was so widely used. It becomes hazardous when asbestos containing materials are disturbed or damaged. Asbestos is made up of microscopic bundles of fibers. When the materials become disturbed or damaged, these fibers separate and may become airborne. These fibers may get into the lungs and that may lead to serious and even fatal diseases. Some of these diseases include:

Asbestosis is a non-cancerous lung disease. Inhaling asbestos fibers for an extended period of time causes it. This disease takes twenty five to forty years to develop. As asbestos fibers become trapped in your lungs, the body will produce an acid to try to eliminate these fibers. The continued production of the acid can eventually scar the tissues in your lungs. An excessive amount of scarring may cause the lungs to function improperly. This can lead to serious breathing difficulties. If asbestosis is left untreated, it may cause cardiac failure. At this time, there is no effective treatment for this disease. People who renovate or demolish buildings that contain asbestos have the greatest risk of getting asbestosis. The chances of getting this disease through physical contact with a person who works with asbestos are minimal. People who worked in naval shipyards were the first ones diagnosed with asbestosis.

Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that affects the pleura (the outer membrane that encloses the lung and chest cavity) and/ or the peritoneum (the membrane lining the walls of the abdominal cavity). In the United States, there are only about 3000 new cases of this disease annually. Exposure to asbestos has been the cause in all of the cases. The exposure in these cases lasted anywhere from fifteen to thirty years. Unlike other forms of cancer, there is only one known cause of mesothelioma. Studies indicate that people who work in areas that contain asbestos, such as mines, mills, factories, or shipyards, or who manufacture and install asbestos installation are at the greatest risk of getting mesothelioma. You are also at risk if you live with a worker exposed to asbestos or near any area containing asbestos. Studies also indicate that younger people are more likely to contract mesothelioma when they inhale asbestos. This is the reason why people are going to great lengths to protect school children from asbestos exposure.

Many cases of lung cancer can also be attributed to asbestos exposure. Lung cancer is actually the leading cause of death among all of the illnesses caused by asbestos exposure. You can aggravate the effects of lung cancer by about fifty percent if you start smoking. People who work in occupations where they are directly involved in the handling of asbestos are at a greater risk of getting lung cancer. Exposure to both asbestos and another carcinogen, such as cigarette smoke, puts you at greater risk of contracting lung cancer than exposure to asbestos alone. There was a study that indicated that exposure to asbestos and smoke makes you ninety times more likely to contract lung cancer than a person who is not exposed to either. Some of the symptoms of lung cancer include coughing, breathing irregularities, chest pains and anemia. It usually takes fifteen to thirty years of exposure to asbestos to contract lung cancer.

Michael Russell

Your Independent guide to Asbestos [http://asbestos-guided.com]

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Lung Cancer Can Be Caused By Asbestos Exposure

Many people have found that they are simply are not as aware of the complications related to asbestos exposure as they should be. Because of this, some have ended up with lung cancer only to find out later that they have been exposed to asbestos. Even if you do not currently have any medical problems, it might be a good idea to think back through the past ten or twenty years to determine whether there was a time when you may have been exposed to high levels of asbestos. If so, you will know to keep an extra close eye on your health. If you start to experience any of the signs and symptoms related to asbestos exposure visit your doctor immediately.

You might initially experience a dry cough that will not go away, and you could end up having breathing problems. Upon further testing, there is a chance that lung cancer might appear. While there is no absolute cure for cancer of any type, it is important to remember that there are treatments that can possibly send the cancer into remission. Many people have lived for years after being diagnosed with lung cancer. The determining factor is often when the cancer is caught, what treatments are performed and the mental strength of the person going through the treatments.

You will want to make sure that you are keeping yourself and your family away from asbestos when at all possible. Avoid old buildings that are in bad need of repair. Miners and workers who are responsible for removing old building materials have a high risk of being exposed to asbestos, so it is important to make sure that you are using the proper equipment, from breathing masks to whole body suits. This is the best way to make sure that you and your loved ones will not be exposed to asbestos. Remember that you can bring asbestos home on your clothes, putting your children at risk for developing lung cancer in the future.
For those who have been exposed to high levels of asbestos, it is important to make sure that you are doing what you need to do in order to stay as healthy as possible. This means that you will want to have a consultation with your doctor. Explain the history of your exposure to asbestos, including when it and what your concerns are. Explain that you want tests performed to check the condition of your lungs. Make sure that you have not developed lung cancer.

You have good reason to suspect something could be wrong and are entitled to the tests that can save your life. Ask for them. Do not hold back. Stand your ground, and insist on being scanned for lung cancer. If it turns out that you are fine, then you can rest peacefully. Make sure, however, that you go back for periodic checkups because you never know if the lung cancer will form later on.

If you have been exposed to asbestos you may want to consider an asbestos lawsuit to help recover compensation for damages.

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Vital Facts You Must Know About Mesothelioma, Asbestos and Lung Cancer

Asbestos and lung cancer have been companions for the previous one hundred years. Most people who've contracted mesothelioma worked in occupations where they were exposed to and breathed asbestos fibers. Mesothelioma is a type of cancer which may be either malignant or benign. It's found in the mesothelium which is a skinny protective tissue covering most internal organs. The only recognized reason behind mesothelioma results from the instance of exposure to and breathing of asbestos dust floating in the air.

Inhaling asbestos dust over lengthy intervals of time can result in asbestosis, a chronic progressive lung disease, in addition to lung cancer and mesothelioma. Although asbestos and lung cancer have had a recognized affiliation for decades, new instances of asbestos-triggered cancer continue to appear each year.

Asbestos is mostly seen in the mining, milling, manufacturing, application, or removal of asbestos materials. Asbestos was banned from use many years ago, but still exists in merchandise produced prior to them being banned. The risk of developing a progressive lung disease, cancer of the lungs, or mesothelioma is associated with the overall life exposure to asbestos fibers.

Asbestos is a group of naturally occurring minerals which are resistant to fire and chemicals. They're fibrous mineral forms of impure magnesium silicate and found in fire-proofing merchandise, electrical insulation, cement, shingles, acoustic and decorative ceiling or wall plaster, and additional construction materials. When tiny asbestos fibers become airborne because of removal, replacing, fixing, or from being disturbed, they may be deeply inhaled into the lung tissue, causing mesothelioma, lung cancer, and progressive lung illnesses.

Asbestos seems to promote the manufacture of lung cancer, but is not the actual cause. If asbestos dust particles are breathed into the lung tissue the body's immune system cells attempt to remove them as best they can. In spite of this, the immune cells die which cause scar tissue to be produced, surrounding the lifeless cells. The scar tissue continues to develop until there is an ample quantity to cause the lungs to stop working. The risk of getting lung cancer is increased in smokers with asbestosis. The possibility of getting lung cancer is greatly increased in folks who are both heavy smokers and exposed to toxic asbestos.

Cancer in the mesothelium results from abnormal tissue cells dividing out of control. Cancerous cells can metastasize, which means they'll invade other tissues which can be near the area of cancer, and spread via the lymphatic system and bloodstream to different areas of the human body. Mesothelial cancerous tumors usually develop in the mesothelium of the pleura or peritoneum. Pleura is the thin membrane protecting each lung which folds back to create a lining for the chest cavity. The peritoneum surrounds the walls of the belly cavity which wrap around the soft internal organs. Primary mesothelial cancerous tumors of the tissue surrounding the heart are extremely rare.

Disorders brought on by asbestos inhalation typically don't show signs for decades after actual exposure. By the time the disease is found it is typically in its later stages. Due to this, mesotheliomas brought on by exposure are ordinarily deadly within 2 to 4 years after diagnosis. The National Cancer Institute continues to sponsor scientific trials, hoping that they will someday result in a remedy or at the very least new and improved therapy.

It is essential to remove or seal any asbestos-containing materials that you may become exposed to. The asbestos removal cost is definitely worth the peace of mind you will receive realizing you are not breathing this hazardous substance.

If you were diagnosed with asbestos cancer, also referred to as mesothelioma, you can visit asbestos.com and receive a free package that has details about specific therapies geared to your specific diagnosis. The packet additionally includes top mesothelioma medical doctors and cancer facilities throughout the nation, along with a number of choices for monetary assistance that may perhaps help pay for medical expenses.

If asbestos products are in your home you need to have them completely removed or encapsulated at once. Learn how much an average asbestos removal cost will be along with essential details with reference to asbestos and lung cancer.

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Lung Cancer, Mesothelioma and Asbestos

Commonly, because lung cancer symptoms do not manifest in the early stage of the disease, treating it will be a big problem especially when detection happens when cancer metastases or secondary cancer cells already developed in the other organs of the body. Much research work has been dedicated to find out the first symptoms of lung cancer. Extensive research works conducted at Mesothelioma research clinics have uncovered some symptoms of lung cancer closely linked with the disease.

The main three symptoms to lung cancer that should not be ignored are shortness of breath, pain when breathing or coughing, and existence of a persistent cough, especially if it is accompanied by expectoration of sputum streaked with blood. Additionally, loss of appetite, fatigue, unusual losses of weight are three symptoms, which are indicative of lung cancer. The website further deals with the symptoms that can indicate and help identify the formulation of the preliminary stages of the disease (though difficult to be detected) so that adequate measures can be taken at the earliest possible opportunity.

Stage IV with extensive lymph node involvement or cancer that has spread to other organs, hen treated with chemotherapy and palliative care to reduce symptoms and increase comfort has a one-year survival rate.

Mesothelioma

Erionite fibers were found in biopsies of lungs of the mesothelioma cancer afflicted people. The third type of mesothelioma is called biphasic, it is a combination of the other two types and consists of 20-35% of all cases. In fact, Mesothelioma research news states that the period of the onset of Mesothelioma cancer could be from 10 to 60 years from the time of exposure to asbestos.

It is said that mesothelioma is linked to lung cancer and it is a good idea to get the help that is deserved when someone feels like they have been diagnosed because of the work that they did for a living. The term mesothelioma is used to describe a cancer tumor, which involves the mesothelial cells of an organ; this is usually the lungs, heart, or the abdominal organs. Mesothelioma cancer is caused by exposure to carcinogens such as asbestos.

Most cancers are caused by external stimuli and mesothelioma is no different.

Exposure

The time between exposure and development of cancer ranges from 15 to 30 years. Your risk increases by 30 percent from daily exposure to second-hand smoke. Second-hand smoke: Exposure to second-hand smoke has been shown to be a definite risk factor.

Although rarely discussed, exposure to toxic fumes in the workplace or environmental toxins in the air contribute to a significant number of deaths from lung cancer. For example, occupational exposure to diesel motor emissions, asbestos, and paint was found to be significantly correlated with an increased risk of lung cancer. Although changes in the lung begin almost immediately upon exposure to carcinogens, lung cancer takes years to develop.

Mesothelioma is a rare but deadly type of cancer usually caused by exposure to asbestos or asbestos-containing products. People who get lung cancer from asbestos exposure usually get it from work or from living in an older home. Factors that may protect people from lung cancer are not smoking, avoiding second hand smoke, a diet rich in fresh vegetables and fruit, and limiting exposure to potential carcinogens in the environment such as radon.

Asbestos

Imagine a building with asbestos insulation torn apart and exposing all that insulation, well now you can see the problem. Lung Cancer is affiliated with Asbestos Exposure.

People working in industries which involve extensive use of asbestos and other chemical substances/fumes are also at a greater risk of lung cancer. There are no reported cases of mesothelioma in people who were not exposed to asbestos either in the workplace or through their environment. Because asbestos related diseases take decades to form, early detection is critical for proper treatment.

However, exposure to asbestos presents an added urgency for routine appointments.

For more related information about Asbestos Exposure [http://www.asbestos-exposure-news.com/index.htm], Asbestos Cancer [http://www.asbestos-exposure-news.com/asbestos-cancer.htm], Pleural Asbestosis [http://www.asbestos-exposure-news.com/pleural-asbestosis.htm] and various other pages on this topic, stop by and see if the information we have can help you.

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Treating Lung Cancer With Radiation Therapy

Sometimes called radiotherapy, radiation therapy uses rays of high-energy to kill off cancer cells by damaging their DNA and hindering their ability to both grow and divide. When cancerous cells realize that their DNA has been damaged, they die and are eliminated from the body naturally. Small cell lung cancer will discover this damage much more earlier on than non-small cell lung cancer, as it grows more rapidly helping the tumor to die more quickly. There are two types of radiation therapy available:

External Beam Radiation Therapy

Using a linear accelerator (machine), external beam radiation therapy offers an effective way to kill off cancerous cells, as it is capable of focusing a radiation beam precisely in the body for an exact period of time. It is usually given to patients over a period of several weeks where the lung cancer is either primary, or has metastasized to other organs.

Although this therapy is still widely used by doctors, it is in fact beginning to lose its place due to more modern technology. Such technology may include:

1. Three-Dimensional Conformal Radiation Therapy (3D-CRT) - Used to treat lung cancer tumors by delivering a precise dose of multiple radiation treatment fields.

2. Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT) - Modifies the radiation by varying the intensity of their beams. IMRT is a specialized form of 3D-CRT.

3. Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT) - Used to treat early stage lung cancer by delivering small doses of high radiation to an exact target. SBRT is a specialized form of IMRT.

4. Proton Beam Therapy (PBT) - The most advanced radiation treatment available today that uses proton beams rather than X-rays, although due to it being a newly developed treatment process is not widely available.

Internal Beam Radiation Therapy (Brachytherapy)

Used to shrink the tumor with the use of a bronchoscope (flexible lighted instrument inserted into the trachea [windpipe]), to relieve the airways that may be blocked, although this is also a procedure that can be done surgically. Small amounts of radioactive material are placed either directly into the cancerous cells, or into the airway next to the cancerous cells.

Because brachytherapy radiation therapy is so precise, less damage is usually caused to the surrounding healthy tissue. It is also used in combination with chemotherapy where the tumor is difficult to operate on due to its size or location, or when the patient is unable to be operated on because of ill-health.

Side-Effects of Radiation Therapy

The side-effects of radiation therapy usually depend on the condition of the patient and which organs are receiving treatment, as the response between both can be quite dramatic. Some patients may appear to have short-term side-effects that disappear quickly, but where the damage tends to linger on, and other patients may suffer from more severe side-effects which disappear more quickly. However, one thing can be assured, there will be side-effects of some degree or another for all patients who receive this type of treatment.

Philip was born in the United Kingdom. Today he works as a freelance writer in Mexico, where he spends much of his time researching and writing about health related issues. If you feel that you have benefited from reading one of his articles: please recommend them to others who may also benefit. Thank you for reading Philip's articles!

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