Mesothelioma Risk Factors

Mesothelioma Risk Factors

The biggest and almost exclusively known risk factor for mesothelioma is exposure to asbestos. Those who have inhaled or ingested the toxic mineral are prime candidates for developing the disease. Even indirect exposure (known as secondary exposure) has been linked to cause mesothelioma in many instances.
Risks from Direct Exposure

Anyone who has encountered asbestos is at risk for developing mesothelioma. Asbestos and asbestos-containing products were commonly used in a wide variety of industries throughout most of the twentieth century. Some workers in those industries encountered the dangerous mineral on a daily basis, unknowingly exposing themselves to a substance that would eventually wreak havoc on their lungs.

Workers who may have encountered asbestos on the job include:

* Shipyard workers
* Insulators
* Construction workers
* Electricians
* Plumbers
* Pipefitters
* Steamfitters
* Welders
* Railroad employees
* Power plant employees
* Chemical plant employees
* Boilermakers
* Auto mechanics
* 9/11 first responders/emergency personnel

In addition to these professions, individuals who perform do-it-yourself projects at home where asbestos is present may be at risk for developing the disease. Such asbestos-containing building materials that were used in homes include attic and pipeline insulation, drywall and drywall glue, floor and ceiling tiles, "popcorn" ceilings, cements, shingles, and much more.
Risk from Secondary Exposure

In the past decade, more and more cases of secondary exposure to asbestos have come to light. Those subject to secondary exposure are often people who live in a household where someone else works with asbestos. These individuals usually inhale asbestos fibers brought home on the hair and clothes of other family members.

Many secondary exposure cases have been discovered in young people who sat on their father's or grandfather's lap when they came home from work. Other examples of secondary exposure have been found among those who lived near a factory that produced asbestos-containing products or near mines that harvested asbestos-laced vermiculite. While these individuals had no direct contact with the toxic mineral, the amount of asbestos dust in the air was enough to cause them to develop mesothelioma or another asbestos-related disease.
Smoking

Studies have shown that smoking does not cause mesothelioma. However, those that smoke and are exposed to asbestos have a much higher chance of developing the disease. As a matter of fact, some statistics show that smokers are as much as 90 percent more likely to develop mesothelioma after being exposed to asbestos. This is an important risk factor and one that is often overlooked by long-time smokers. In addition, those who have already developed asbestosis should avoid smoking at all costs, as the combination of the two significantly raises the risk of contracting mesothelioma.

Mesothelioma Prognosis

Pleural mesothelioma is a difficult cancer to treat because it can spread so extensively and it is generally not diagnosed until it is in the more advanced stages, making surgical removal of all the cancer difficult or impossible. Because it is a relatively rare cancer, mesothelioma has not been studied as much as more common forms of cancer. The stage at which treatment for mesothelioma is begun has a tremendous impact on the patient’s prospects for long-term survival.

The American Cancer Society reports that some pleural mesothelioma patients in stage I have had their mesothelioma successfully removed through an involved surgical procedure called extrapleural pneumonectomy. Extrapleural pneumonectomy is a grueling surgery only offered to patients in otherwise good health. The entire affected lung plus the pleural lining of the chest wall, diaphragm, and pericardium on the affected side are removed. Surgeons then reconstruct the diaphragm and the pericardium. This procedure works best for patients with epithelioid cell mesothelioma.

Some patients who have had a successful extrapleural pneumonectomy are now enjoying long remissions. A study of 120 patients, who underwent extrapleural pneumonectomy at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston between the years 1980 and 1995, revealed that 22 percent of these patients survived five years or longer. The surgery for these patients had been followed by chemotherapy and radiation (Cancer Help UK, 2008).

Removing most of the mesothelioma from patients in stage II and III in a procedure called pleurectomy/decortication may also increase a patient’s life expectancy. The aim of this procedure is palliative, as it can control fluid buildup and relieve pain and pressure.

Factors Influencing the Prognosis

The patient’s overall health status and age affect the prognosis. The American Cancer Society reports that 75 percent of those diagnosed with mesothelioma are 65 years old or older. Men are five times more likely to have mesothelioma than women are.

When mesothelioma is diagnosed, the doctors look at how far the cancer has spread and several health factors. Pleural mesothelioma patients have a poorer prognosis if they are experiencing chest pain, shortness of breath, inability to perform daily tasks, weight loss, a low red blood cell count, a high white blood cell count, and high blood levels of a substance called LDH. According to the American Cancer Society, most mesothelioma patients who have all these factors present pass away within six months of their diagnosis. It is rare for these seriously ill patients to live two years after their diagnosis. Patients without these serious risk factors at the time of their diagnosis have a better outcome.