Asbestos Cancer Exposure and Effects
Asbestos is a cancer caused by asbestos exposure. Asbestos is a group of naturally occurring minerals can be separated into thin threads. Asbestos fibers resist heat and fire and for this reason have been used in many products that must be resistant to heat and fire, such as brake pads, seals and pumps. Unfortunately, however, products containing asbestos can cause asbestos cancer.
Asbestos Cancer: Types
There are different types of asbestos cancer. These include lung cancer and mesothelioma. There are two types of lung cancer:
cancer, small cell lung (SCLC) and
non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)
Lung Cancer SCLC is the least common form of lung cancer and accounts for about 20% of cases of lung cancer. cancer, small cell lung occurs almost exclusively in cigarette smokers. It is the most aggressive type of lung cancer at the time of diagnosis, usually has spread to many parts of the body.
lung cancer non-small cell is the most common type of lung cancer occur in approximately 80% of cases of lung cancer. cancer non-small cell lung can have several causes, including exposure to asbestos.
Mesothelioma is a form of asbestos cancer. It affects the mesothelium, which is the membrane lining the body’s internal organs. The mesothelium produces a liquid to allow the organs to slide against adjacent structures. The peritoneum is the mesothelium that covers the organs inside the abdominal cavity. The pleura is the mesothelium that covers the lungs and lines the chest cavity wall. The pericardium is the mesothelium that surrounds the heart.
Types of Mesothelioma:
Pleural mesothelioma
The pleura is the lining of the chest cavity. A cancer of this coating is known as pleural mesothelioma. Pleural mesothelioma is the most common form of mesothelioma. Symptoms of pleural mesothelioma include the lack of breath chest pain and cough.
Peritoneal mesothelioma
The peritoneum is the lining of the abdomen. A cancer of the abdominal wall known as peritoneal mesothelioma. Peritoneal mesothelioma is less common than pleural mesothelioma. Symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma include abdominal swelling, bowel obstruction, and nausea.
How does asbestos with the development of cancers such as lung cancer and mesothelioma?
When asbestos fibers are inhaled, they can be trapped in the body’s internal organs as the lungs. Asbestos fibers can remain in lung tissue for life. Asbestos fibers in the body can trigger chemical reactions that can lead to cancer of asbestos, including lung cancer and mesothelioma. asbestos cancers usually have a long latency period, ie can develop decades after exposure to asbestos has occurred.
Who is at risk for cancer of asbestos, including lung cancer and mesothelioma?
People who work with asbestos-containing products are at greater risk of developing asbestos cancer, including lung cancer and mesothelioma. Because asbestos was used in many products, many workers are at risk of developing asbestos cancer. Some workers who are at risk include:
Mechanical
Carpenters
Shipyard workers
Welders
Construction workers
In addition, household members of people who work with asbestos products are also at risk of developing asbestos cancer due to secondary asbestos exposure. secondary exposure to asbestos occurs because asbestos fibers can cling to clothing for people working with asbestos products. When these workers get home, members of your household may inhale asbestos fibers and develop cancer decades later.
Asbestos Cancer Treatment Options
The treatment of lung cancer
Treatment options for lung cancer depends largely on the type of lung cancer and stage of cancer. Treatment techniques for lung cancer include:
Surgery – this treatment technique is to cut the tumor from lung cancer. Surgery is effective when the cancer has not spread beyond the lung. Surgical procedures for lung cancer are:
Thoracotomy – surgery performed through the chest wall
Median sternotomy – is cutting through the breastbone
Previous limited thoractomy – performed in front of the chest
thoractomy Anterioraxillary – held in front of the chest near the armpit
posterolateral thoracotomy – held in the back of the trunk
Photodynamic therapy – treatment technique is used when surgery is not feasible. It is the use of a specific type of light to kill cancer cells.
Mesothelioma Treatment
Treatment techniques for mesothelioma asbestos include:
Surgery – This procedure usually involves removing part of the lining of the chest or abdomen. The lining of the chest is removed if the cancer is pleural mesothelioma. The lining of the abdomen is removed if the cancer is peritoneal mesothelioma. In some cases, a whole lung may have to be removed. Also, sometimes the diaphragm (the muscle below the lungs) is removed.
Radiation therapy – involves the use of light rays to kill cancer cells and shrink the tumor. This technique is only effective treatment for the body part that is subjected to radiation. External radiation therapy is radiation that comes from a machine. Internal radiation therapy involves the insertion of substances that produce radiation through tubes into the area where cancer cells.
Chemotherapy – involves using drugs to kill cancer cells. Chemotherapy drugs for mesothelioma are usually given by intravenous injection.
Immunotherapy – involves the manipulation of the immune system to attack cancer cells. Normally, the human immune system does not kill mesothelioma cancer cells because they know that cancer cells are harmful. In one type of immunotherapy, known as active immunotherapy of mesothelioma cancer cells are removed and converted into a vaccine. The vaccine is injected into the patient. The hope is that the patient’s immune system recognizes the vaccine as harmful and therefore recognize mesothelioma and harmful.
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