No doubt you have seen one of those long-running TV commercials touting the benefits of attorneys skilled in litigating cases involving Mesothelioma. If you’ve wondered what mesothelioma is, you number among the lucky, healthy ones. A form of cancer linked to asbestos exposure, this disease strikes approximately 2,000 individuals in the United States each year. What is so insidious and terrifying about mesothelioma cancer is that it develops over the course of time, often not manifesting until three to five decades after the exposure.
Like most cancers, mesothelioma creates cell abnormalities. The abnormal cells then divide and ultimately, outnumber the healthy cells in the human body. The disease attacks the mesothelium, which is, essentially, two layers of protective tissue (cells) that envelope every organ in the body. Because mesothelioma cancer can thus assault any organ, the illness presents itself with a wide range of symptoms, making diagnoses extremely difficult. If mesothelioma is suspected, physicians conduct intake interviews with patients to determine their risk factors via their work histories. They also order a barrage of imaging tests providing views of the various systems/organs in the body, as well as tests that measure lung function.
Individuals at risk of this disease are those who have labored in the pipefitting/plumbing, electrical, boiler, construction, automotive-mechanical, and shipyard industries. Unlike most other cancers, there is evidence to support the theory that those who come into close and frequent contact with mesothelioma victims are also at risk, possibly because of the asbestos dust that lingers on work clothes. While the U.S. OSHA (Occupational Health and Safety Administration) mandates acceptable levels of asbestos in the workplace, and insists that those exposed wear protective clothing that meet stringent standards, the regulations were enacted after mesothelioma cancers were associated with exposure to asbestos. In other words, the legislation is preventive; it was not, unfortunately, proactive.
Traditional treatments for mesothelioma cancers usually follow the same clinical pathways as other cancers, dependent upon the stage and location of the disease as well as the patient’s age and overall health. These pathways include surgery, radiation/chemotherapy, and the sole FDA-approved drug designed to battle this type of cancer: Alimta. There are some practitioners who take alternative approaches to treatment; these include biological therapies and immunotherapies. The odds of surviving mesothelioma have been long indeed.
As with most cancers, early detection is key. So is education. If you or a loved one has been employed in one of the fields stated above and is exhibiting signs of an illness whose diagnoses eludes your health care professionals, timely and proper screening for mesothelioma is strongly recommended.
There are those who have battled mesothelioma and won, outliving their initial prognoses and surviving to fight another day. One such individual, Paul Kraus, has written a book – Surviving Mesothelioma: A Patient’s Guide. The book is the moving story of his personal struggle to survive this disease and is recommended reading for anyone diagnosed with mesothelioma. It is available for free via any of the links in this article.
