Mesothelioma Cancer

Asbestos Related Diseases

Asbestos Fibers

There are four main types of asbestos fibers: Chrysotile or white asbestos which are curly, flexible white fibers; Amosite, which are straight, brittle fibers that are light gray to pale brown in color; Crocidolite, or blue asbestos, which are straight blue fibers and Anthophyllite, which are brittle white fibers. Chrysotile asbestos (curly fibers) are part of the serpentine family of minerals. The other three types of asbestos fibers are all straight " needle like" and called amphiboles. Asbestos fibers break easily into dust and therefore float in the air and are easily inhaled and/or carried around by a person's clothing, skin, or hair. Therefore, even workers who did not work directly with asbestos, but worked within the "breathing zone " of its use or removal run the risk of developing an asbestos related disease. Exposure to asbestos fibers can be harmful and are known to cause several health conditions as follows:

Asbestos Diseases

Malignant Mesothelioma is a cancer of one or more of the following: the pleura -- lining/covering of the lung; the peritoneum -- lining or covering of the abdominal organs; or pericardium -- lining or covering of the heart. Mesothelioma cancer usually develops 15-40 years after the initial asbestos exposure. Expert opinion varies as to just how much actual exposure is necessary to develop this cancer. Many doctors believe that even light exposure to asbestos can cause mesothelioma. Contrary to popular belief cigarette smoking is not a factor in the development of Mesothelioma Cancer. This cancer can also manifest through "second hand" exposure. Mesothelioma can develop in people whose only asbestos exposure came from contact with a person who worked around asbestos. There are many documented cases where a family member such as a spouse or child was exposed while doing the laundry of a tradesman and years later developed mesothelioma. This can occur even if the tradesman did not develop mesothelioma. Some mesothelioma victims had very limited exposures, such as from a summer job during high school or college, and developed mesothelioma cancer many years later.

Lung Cancer can develop twenty or more years after the initial asbestos exposure. Asbestos related Lung Cancer generally has signs of Asbestosis or Asbestos Related Pleural Disease in the lungs, although it can develop without evidence of it. Cigarette smoking in conjunction with asbestos exposure is known to synergistically increase the risk of Lung Cancer by a factor of 40 times. Some doctors indicate that the risk factor could be up to 90 times greater when a person is exposed to both asbestos fibers and cigarette smoking.

Asbestosis is a non-cancerous condition that can develop after years of asbestos dust exposure. Extensive scarring can form when asbestos fibers reach the alveoli (clusters of honeycombed air sacs). The amount or severity of scarring determines the degree of disease. Asbestosis often results in impaired breathing known as Restrictive Lung Disease.  It is caused by inadequate oxygenation of the blood. Breathing can become very difficult and cause disability and in severe cases, even death. People who have Asbestosis have a greater risk of developing Lung Cancer.

Pleural Plaques and/or Pleural Thickening is generally considered an early sign of Asbestos Related Disease. The walls of the lungs become thickened as the body tries to remove the embedded asbestos fibers. As the lung walls thicken breathing difficulties can develop. In some case this condition can be severe.

The universally accepted method of evaluating or rating the degree of asbestosis or asbestos related pleural disease is determined by an x-ray reading known as an International Labor Organization (ILO) B-Read. This rating of the degree of asbestos related disease is evaluated by a medical doctor who is a Certified ILO B-Reader. This standardized interpretation method is used and accepted throughout the world.