by admin on October 8, 2009
Asbestos Cancer
Asbestos are silicate compounds containing silicon and oxygen atoms in their molecular structure. They occur naturally in the environment as fiber bundles that can be separated into durable, thin threads. These fibers are:
- Heat resistant
- Fire resistant
- Resistant to other chemicals
- Do not conduct electricity
Due to these properties asbestos is used widely in many industries especially building and construction industries for cement and plastic strengthening, for insulation, sound proofing of rooms, fireproofing and roofing.
Asbestos when released into the air can be swallowed or inhaled without knowing because they are fine particles and have no taste or smell. These fibers stick to the walls of our internal organs like lung, abdomen etc and over the time they get accumulated and lead to severe health problems.
Asbestos is a known human carcinogen and over exposure to asbestos results in a condition commonly known as asbestos cancer or mesothelioma. This is a rare and aggressive cancer that develops in the mesothelial cells lining the internal organs as well as the body cavities.
In most cases, this type of cancer is diagnosed only during the later stages. This is because of the long latency period of the disease. Due to this reason the life span of an inflicted person from the point of diagnosis to death is less than 24 months. Since the symptoms shown are common to those of other diseases it is also difficult to diagnose mesothelioma. The symptoms include:
- Fatigue
- Chest pain
- Severe weight loss
- Severe and persistent coughing
- Fever or night sweating
- Breathlessness
There is no known cure for mesothelioma. But to make life easier or living with the cancer easier many of the affected patients wish to undergo whatever treatments available. Some of the treatment options for this condition are:
- Chemotherapy
- Radiation
- Surgery
- Immunotherapy
- Gene Therapy
The effects of asbestos on the human body were known to be harmful for years by the companies who employed workers to work in these hazardous conditions. But no precautions were taken to alleviate its effects on the workers because the companies knew of its long latency period of the disease as well. So they chose to make a great profit with a deadly product. Those at an increased risk of developing this deadly disease are those:
- Who work at an asbestos mine
- Who work at an asbestos mill
- Who work at shipyards
- Heating industry workers
- Construction industry workers
- Producers of asbestos and its products
- Different trades men
- Families and friends of workers who work in asbestos related industries
- People who live close by such industries
The risk of developing this cancer is mainly influenced by two factors.
- The amount of asbestos to which the person is exposed
- The duration of the exposure
As the number of asbestos fibers in the body increases the likelihood of developing serious diseases also increase. But the worst and the best part of this deadly disease is that it is a 100% preventable disease.
by admin on October 8, 2009
Asbestos Cancer Causes
Asbestos cancer or mesothelioma is a dreaded form of cancer which affects the lungs, stomach, abdomen, and the heart. The most common form, the pleural mesothelioma, is the cancer caused to the lungs by deposits of asbestos particles. The asbestos cancer which affects the stomach or abdomen is called the peritoneal mesothelioma. The pericardial mesothelioma affects the heart. It is estimated that most of the people in the United States have asbestos in their bodies. These asbestos fibers are entering the body along with air and water. Those fibers deposited in the lungs and heart have very little chance to escape from there. The indestructible nature of asbestos causes cancer. It affects the protective cover of the internal organs called the mesothelium.
Asbestos is a fibrous mineral. It divides into smaller size again and again until they become very small in size and can be seen only by electron microscopes. They are very light weight also and float easily in the air.
The major cause of asbestos cancer is obviously exposure to asbestos. The places where asbestos is handled are likely to have tiny asbestos particles in the air. Those who are constantly exposed to the air containing these fibers inhale them and the fiber gets deposited in the lungs. This being an indestructible material causes constant irritation to the tissues in the lungs. That results in inflammation in the lungs and cancerous cells are formed there. Since asbestos is fireproof, it is widely used as building material, stove lining, flooring, ceiling, even aprons and many more purposes. That is how most of the people are exposed to the danger of inhaling asbestos particles.
About 10 to 20 percent of the asbestos cancer patients in the United States suffer from the peritoneal mesothelioma or cancer affecting the stomach or abdomen. Asbestos particles enter into the stomach through food and drinks and get deposited there. In the atmosphere of the asbestos mines, a great number of minute particles of asbestos float in the air all the time. It naturally settles into the food and drink supplied in that area. It easily goes into the digestive system through these food and drinks. While the food passes through the system, the fibrous asbestos gets deposited there and causes cancer. Another way for asbestos fiber to reach the digestive system is through the blood stream. Some of the fiber in the lungs break into smaller particles and get into the stream and go to stomach through it.
The exact causes of pericardium asbestos cancer are not very clear. But it is caused by asbestos particles for sure. It is not yet established conclusively how it reaches there. It is believed that the asbestos fiber deposited in the lungs is transported to the pericardium through the lymphatic system. Another possibility of reaching there is through the blood stream.
In any case, those who are constantly exposed to asbestos particles in the air must report to their doctors the slightest doubt about contracting the asbestos cancer. It will go a long way in getting investigated and obtain timely medical help.