Mesothelioma Scholarship Article

Asbestos and Cancer.

Asbestos is a carcinogen to humans. In other words, it can produce cancer. Exposure to asbestos in the form of inhalation or ingestion can raise the risk of cancer. Asbestos causes two types of cancer. Lung cancer and mesothelioma. Studies have indicated that asbestos exposure raises the risk of other cancers such as stomach, bowel, pancreas, kidneys and esophagus. It is also suggested that smokers who had exposure to asbestos have a higher risk of developing lung cancer. Birth defects have not been shown in animals exposed to asbestos. Asbestos exposure can also cause asbestosis and asbestos plaques.

Asbestosis:

This is scarring that slowly develops in lung and pleural tissue. The asbestos fibres lodge in the lungs causing fibrosis. Fibrosis results in shrinking of the lungs. It becomes less elastic and expansion becomes restricted. This will cause shortness of breath.
Mild asbestosis may not cause much problem but severe asbestosis can cause disabling problems and can be fatal. The restricted lung exerts added pressure on the heart and it can enlarge and fail. This condition is called Cor pulmonale. There is no cure for asbestosis but medications are available to improve symptoms. Asbestosis tends to get worse with time. It can also lead to lung cancer.

Pleural Plaques:

 These plaques are caused by asbestos exposure. As a rule they are painless and do not cause symptoms. People with pleural plaques have an increased risk of developing lung cancer and mesothelioma.

Lung Cancer:

 Three types, small cell lung cancer, non-small cell lung cancer and mesothelioma. Asbestos exposure increases the risk of lung cancer and smoking cigarettes combined with exposure to asbestos increases the risk further.

Mesothelioma:

There are pleural mesothelioma (lung), pericardial mesothelioma (abdomen) and peritoneal mesothelioma.  Asbestos exposure is the singly most likely cause of mesothelioma. The disease develops years following exposure. It is estimated that the incidence in USA and Europe will increase yearly. In the UK, it is estimated that there will be a significant increase in the next 10-15 years and will reach its peak in Europe between 2010 and 2020.