Frequently Asked Questions About Mesothelioma
If you have been recently diagnosed with mesothelioma, you probably
have a lot of questions. Your oncologist is most likely happy to answer
all of them, but in order to get the most information possible out of
your consultation, it's a good idea to make a note of all of your
concerns. Here are some of the questions that are most often asked by
mesothelioma patients.
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How Did I Get Mesothelioma?
Mesothelioma, also known as asbestos cancer, is almost always caused
by exposure to this toxic mineral. Used in the construction,
shipbuilding and metalworking industries - just to name a few - asbestos
works extremely well as a fire and soundproofing substance, but can
also release a dust into the surrounding air that, when inhaled, leads
to diseases such as mesothelioma. Microscopic fibers in that dust can
pierce the mesothelium, a protective membrane surrounding the lungs, and
lead to a diagnosis in later life of this devastating, albeit rare,
form of cancer.
How Can My Mesothelioma Be Occupational, If I’m Already Retired?
One of the unfortunate hallmarks of this disease is its long latency
period - the time between an asbestos exposure and diagnosis, which can
be as long as 50 years. The cancer may have been developing in your body
asymptomatically for decades. Or you may have missed the symptoms,
since they are often similar to other respiratory conditions, such as
bronchitis, emphysema or even the common cold. These symptoms include
breathing problems, coughing, fatigue, and chest or rib pain.
Is There A Cure?
There is little chance for a cure of mesothelioma at the current time, although researchers are hard at work searching for one.
Can Mesothelioma Be Treated?
Your treatment options depend on the stage in which your cancer was
diagnosed, as well as your overall health. Surgery may be possible in
the earliest stages of mesothelioma. Chemotherapy and radiation may also
be administered, although later-stage patients may not be strong enough
to withstand these often debilitating treatments and their side
effects. For some patients, the primary goal of treatment will be pain
management.
Is Mesothelioma the Same As Lung Cancer?
No. Lung cancer affects the lung tissue, whereas mesothelioma attacks
the thin membrane that lines the lungs, called the mesothelium.
Confusion often arises because asbestos exposure can cause both types of
cancer, but there are other causes of lung cancer - particularly
cigarette smoking. Lung cancer is also a far more common form of cancer,
with approximately 200,000 new cases diagnosed each year in the United
States, compared to 3,000 cases of mesothelioma. Additionally, because
lung cancer�s tumors are less diffuse and more clearly delineated,
surgery is usually more effective at removing them than in the case of
mesothelioma.
What’s the Prognosis for Mesothelioma Patients?
Unfortunately, the prognosis is usually grim. The median survival
time for mesothelioma patients is only six to 18 months post-diagnosis,
and many people actually succumb much sooner. Fewer than 10 percent live
past the two-year mark. Yet there have also been documented cases of
mesothelioma patients who have far exceeded their doctor's estimation of
life expectancy, living five and more years after learning they have
this form of cancer. One man, Paul Kraus, is well known in the
mesothelioma community because to date he has lived over 10 years with
the disease.
Is My Family At Risk?
The tragic answer to this question is yes, your family may also be at
risk for asbestos-related diseases. This cancer is not contagious, but
if you labored on a job site that was contaminated with asbestos, you
may well have brought the toxin home with you. The dust or fibers can
cling to clothing and hair, and there have been several cases in which
the caretakers of workers developed mesothelioma from secondhand
asbestos exposure. Shaking out the work clothes, or laundering them, is
considered a form of this exposure. So, too, is simply embracing or
being near someone who has asbestos particulate on their clothes.
Isn’t Asbestos Banned?
Not entirely. Although some regulations have been enacted concerning
the handling of asbestos materials, and although many of its
applications have been restricted, there are still scores of products
that are legally allowed to contain asbestos in the United States.
What Are My Rights Under the Law?
You may be entitled to compensation for your medical expenses, lost
wages, or even pain and suffering. Asbestos litigation has become the
largest tort in United States legal history, with a record number of
companies paying out large settlements after having been found guilty of
willfully exposing their employees to this toxin.