Mesothelioma Treatment

Archive for the ‘Asbestos’ Category

The Agency of Environmental Protection U.S.. UU. ( EPA , for its acronym in English) identifies hazardous waste sites most serious in the nation. These sites make up the National Priorities List ( NPL , for its acronym in English) and are the sites targeted for long-term cleanup by the federal government. Asbestos has been found in at least 83 of the 1,585 sites on the NPL or were part of the NPL in the past. However, the total number of sites on the NPL where asbestos has been sought is not known. As more sites are evaluated, the number of sites where asbestos is found may increase. This information is important because exposure to this substance may harm you and because these sites may be sources of exposure.

When a substance is released from a large area, such as an industrial plant, or from a container as a drum or bottle, it enters the environment. This release does not always lead to exposure. You are exposed to a substance only when in contact with it. You can be exposed by breathing, eating or drinking the substance or by skin contact.

If you are exposed to asbestos, many factors determine whether you’ll be harmed. These factors include the dose (amount), duration (how long), fiber type (mineral form and their sizes) and how he came into contact with this substance. You must also consider the other chemicals you’re exposed, age, sex, diet, family traits, lifestyle (even if you smoke, snuff) and health condition.

What is asbestos?
Asbestos is the name given to a group of six fibrous (amosite, chrysotile, crocidolite and fibrous forms of tremolite, actinolite, and anthophyllite) that occur naturally in the environment. One of these, chrysotile, belongs to the serpentine family of minerals, while others belong to the amphibole family. All forms of asbestos are dangerous, and all can cause cancer, but amphibole forms of asbestos are considered more hazardous to health than chrysotile. Asbestos minerals consist of thin fibers arranged in parallel and can be separated from one another. The non-fibrous forms of tremolite, actinolite and anthophyllite also occur naturally. However, because they are not fibrous, they are not classified as asbestos minerals. Amphibole asbestos fibers are generally brittle and often have the form of rods or needles, whereas chrysotile asbestos fibers are flexible and curved. Chrysotile, also known as white asbestos, is the main commercial form of asbestos. Amphibole fibers are less commercial importance. Asbestos fibers are odorless and tasteless. Do not dissolve in water or evaporate and are resistant to high temperatures, fire, and degradation by chemicals and biological agents. Because of these properties, asbestos has been mined for use in a wide variety of products, mainly in building materials, friction products and materials heat-resistant fabrics. Because asbestos fibers can cause adverse health effects in people exposed to these compounds, the EPA has banned all new uses of asbestos in the United States.

Modern asbestos products are diametrically different from the old. Currently uses only a very particular type of asbestos: chrysotile. The industry puts on the market only products that are considered safe for the public, especially building materials chrysotile-cement, brakes, gaskets and certain plastics. All these products are dense and non-friable, and chrysotile fiber is encapsulated within a matrix of cement or resin.

In the old products, especially insulation, are used numerous types of fibers of asbestos, including crocidolite and amosite (amphibole), to produce friable material frequently, which can exert crumble simple finger pressure.

Chrysotile: Controlled use security
Chrysotile asbestos is the type that produces less dust and are more easily eliminated from the human body than amphiboles. If one can say that modern products are safe, is because studies on workers exposed to dust levels, far higher than those measured in factories today, do not indicate any excess lung cancer or mesothelioma (cancer of the pleura) .

On the other hand, this finding was explained recently by the Health Safety Executive Committee (HSE) of Great Britain, concluded: “the occurrence of lung cancer associated with chrysotile, such as asbestosis, is a matter of threshold. ” In addition, the HSE confirmed that very few cases of mesothelioma are attributed to chrysotile, despite high levels that were exposed thousands of workers in the past.

We now know that technology today allows to maintain a level of dust (from 500 to 1 000 f / l), below which the risk, if any, is so low that you can not discover. This is called a practical threshold.

The use of asbestos has been very extensive due to their physicochemical properties, which provide, inter alia, the following characteristics: high resistance to fire, thermal and acoustic insulation, resistance to alkalis and acids, and high processability tixotropante. Therefore, it has been used in construction such as fire protection in steel structures, acoustic panels and pipe lagging in the manufacture of tiles and floors, decorative ceiling panels, such as asbestos cement corrugated sheets, flat and pipes, paints, asphalts and mastics, etc.. In addition to the widely used ‘construction, asbestos was used as insulation in ships, rail cars, aircraft and nuclear power plants, appliances, boilers and pipes and in many applications. This breadth of use reaches the furniture.

Some types of asbestos, mainly chrysotile or white asbestos, which can be woven has led to the use of asbestos fabrics fireproof curtains, clothing insulation, fire hoses and gloves. This means that, although there are companies in which asbestos is not involved in the manufacturing process, can be found as part of the building materials, structures, equipment or facilities.

When any of these cases is required to perform demolition work, rehabilitation, maintenance, repair and other operations involving the handling of asbestos materials described is when you need the required design and implementation of a specific work plan. Read the rest of this entry »

As Asbestos Causes Cancer

The exact method by which asbestos causes cancer in mesothelial cells is currently unknown. However, there are four different theories:

1. Asbestos causes irritation of mesothelial cells, causing cell damage and eventually causing cancer
2. Asbestos fibers enter the mesothelial cells and damage molecules that are crucial for normal cell division
3. Asbestos fibers promote the formation of free radicals, which damage DNA and cause mesothelial cells turn into cancer cells
4. Asbestos fibers cause mesothelial cells produce molecules called oncoproteins that make cancer cells become

As with other malignant cancers, the key element is that the cells begin to divide continuously. Eventually these cells form tumors that inhibit the normal functioning of other cells and organs.

Symptoms

The first symptoms of malignant mesothelioma are not specific and can often resemble viral infections – this means that early diagnosis of this type of cancer is difficult. Symptoms such as shortness of breath, chest pain or a persistent cough are common. Night sweating, fever and weight loss are less common symptoms in people with pleural mesothelioma. Symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma include pain or swelling in the abdominal area, nausea, weight loss, bowel obstructions, and anemia.

Diagnosis

Malignant mesothelioma diagnosis quickly and accurately is very important for two reasons. First, the correct diagnosis is essential to treat patients as soon as possible. The second reason is that some patients might want to try and obtain financial compensation from the company that was responsible for his exposure to asbestos.

The diagnosis is based on the patient’s symptoms, along with a physical examination. This I can include chest x-rays and other procedures designed to discover what kind of cancer is and what stage you are. The diagnosis is confirmed by biopsy or blood tests that determine whether cancer cells are present or not in the body.

Forecast

In general, the prognosis (life expectancy) for people with malignant mesothelioma is very poor. The first symptoms of the disease are so general that this type of cancer is very difficult to diagnose in the early stages, and when confirming an accurate diagnosis, about 50% of patients will die within a year.

Treatment

The most common treatments for malignant mesothelioma are surgery and chemotherapy, usually used in conjunction with each other. Surgical procedures typically involve the extraction of malignant cells to improve the quality of life for patients and continuing with chemotherapy to remove residual cancer cells.

Other forms of treatment are largely experimental. These types of treatment include immunotherapy and gene therapy. Immunotherapy involves manipulating the body’s own immune system in an effort to induce it to kill cancer cells. Gene therapy involves using a virus that has been genetically modified to infect cancer cells and make them produce molecules that are only capable of killing malignant mesothelioma cells.

Since there is a national threat of an epidemic of asbestos-related cancer, the hospital managers are waiting for further guidance on the steps after you have been diagnosed with asbestos-related cancer patient.

Mesothelioma is a deadly cancer of the lining of the lungs caused by inhaling asbestos fibers.

The use of asbestos is now prohibited and the rules on the handling of construction material have become more stringent.

But the epidemic is expected to happen in the period from 2011 to 2015, since it believes that that is when people who were exposed to asbestos in the 1960 and 1970 were diagnosed with the disease.

Doctors at the Trust’s National Health System (NHS) of East and North Hertfordshire are diagnosed with mesothelioma at a rate ranging from 10 to 20 patients annually.

The trust is currently recommending eligible patients who are willing to participate, clinical and surgical procedures involving the use of new drugs.

A trust spokesman said: “We look forward to new guidelines soon, probably recommend the discussion of all cases of mesothelioma in a conference covering all Hertfordshire and South Bedfordshire: Area Cancer Network Mount Vernon (Mount Vernon Cancer Network).

“This will allow a small number of people get experience and make sure that no one loses any appropriate recommendations.

“The trust is already committed to its local network partners to ensure that the new guidelines are ready to put into effect once published.

“However, it is important to remember that until you find a treatment that offers the possibility of a cure, the aim will be to ensure that patients with mesothelioma have the best possible quality of life.

What is mesothelioma?

Malignant Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that originates in the mesothelium, the membrane that covers and protects most internal organs of the body. The mesothelium has two layers, one surrounding the organ itself, and the other forming a lining bag inside it. Between these two layers are usually produces a small amount of liquid to lubricate the movement of organs protected. When the normal cells of the mesothelium out of control and multiply rapidly, it is called mesothelioma. The most common form of mesothelioma is mesothelioma pleural, which is generated in the lining of the lungs. Other forms are mesothelioma peritoneal, affecting the lining of the abdominal cavity, and mesothelioma pericardial, affecting the lining of the heart.

What causes mesothelioma?

Mesothelioma is almost always prevent exposure to asbestos fiber. Many people have been exposed in the military, others because of their work, others, secondarily, through contact with workers exposed. Because of its latency, the cancer may not occur for 20-50 years and higher after exposure.

What types of products generally contain asbestos?

These products generally contain asbestos in varying concentrations. This list is not exhaustive and is intended only as a general reference.

* Coatings shaped or molded, used for thermal insulation of pipes and boilers

* Asbestos spray used as fire protection in ducts, in firebreaks, panels, partitions in, in the floor boards, ceiling panels and around structural steel
* Insulating boards used for fire protection, thermal insulation, the partitions and pipes
* Coatings used asbestos in firebreaks and ceiling cavities
* Double-pressed cardboard, paper and paper products used for the insulation of electrical equipment, asbestos paper may also be used as a flame retardant coating on the panels of wood fiber
* All asbestos cement products, both flat corrugated sheets used for roofing or wall covering, cement products were also used in the gutters in the rain and water tanks
* Textured finish (such as Artex)
* Roofing material made of bitumen
* Tile Vinyl or thermoplastic

The pleura in a double layer covering the lung
The pleura is a membrane consisting of two thin sheets (visceral and parietal). They are the lungs and the inside of the chest cavity. In case of illness the space between the two pleural (pleural cavity) may fill with fluid, which causes breathing difficulties.

Asbestos case
It is assumed that about half of all malignant mesothelioma is caused by asbestos dust. Mesothelioma can develop decades after exposure to asbestos. If the asbestos dust may cause cancer should notify the appropriate accident insurance of the employer with whom the patient was exposed to dust, even if the patient is retired.

The lungs ‘walled’
The pleural mesothelioma is spread across the pleura and may invade nearby organs like the lungs or diaphragm. Arise breathing problems, coughing and chest pain. For the diagnosis is used in radiography, computed tomography or other methods of examination of the chest. It also collects fluid from the pleural cavity.

Surgery, radio and chemotherapy
The type of treatment depends on the spread of cancer. Typically, therapy is a combination of surgery, radio and chemotherapy. If pleural mesothelioma is diagnosed in a very advanced stage of recovery is not possible.

Pleural metastases
Much more frequent pleural mesothelioma are pleural metastasis, ie secondary tumors. Pleural metastases arise mostly from malignant tumors of lung, breast, stomach and esophagus.

Other risk factors

* Exposure to asbestos, a fibrous mineral used as insulation in homes and buildings, also increases the risk of lung cancer. In houses, this material is not dangerous as they are not broken or handled in the open air, which may be the case during the renovations.
* Wood stoves, if they are not waterproof, are sources of fine particles in the air of homes, particularly dust and ashes. Wood smoke contains over 7,000 toxic substances. NB In its natural form, talc may contain asbestos. However, Canadian law requires, since 1973, as consumer products containing talc (body powders, face and baby) are free of asbestos.
* Being frequently exposed to air pollution. The air pollution is responsible for 5% of all deaths from cancer of the trachea, bronchus and lungs. The particles from burning coal, oil, natural gas and the incineration of garbage are damage. The problem is especially crucial in countries poorer and densely populated, particularly in Asia, but relates to some degree, all major cities.

* Having a diet low in fruits and vegetables. Twenty studies (cohort or case-control) on eating habits show a slightly reduced risk among consumers of fruits and vegetables rich in beta-carotene (sweet potatoes, pumpkins, carrots, spinach and other green vegetables dark, winter squash, etc..). In general, consumption of fruit and vegetables exert a protective effect in people exposed to smoke tobacco.

Epidemiological studies indicate that consumed in supplement form (at a dose of 20 mg or more per day), beta-carotene slightly increases the risk of lung cancer and mortality among smokers. It is not known if this negative effect persists when the beta-carotene is used in combination with other carotenoids in supplements.

Potential risk factors

* Smoking marijuana. For now, the data tend to show that marijuana does not increase the risk of lung cancer. Smoke marijuana, or cannabis, although exempting nicotine, contains several carcinogens found in tobacco smoke. Researchers believe that tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) present in cannabis smoke’s effect. Marijuana smoke is often inhaled deeply and held longer in the lungs. Some data suggest that marijuana may cause oral cancer.
* Smoking the hookah (pipe eastern water pipe, hookah). The data are currently insufficient to determine the impact of this practice on the risk of lung cancer. The amount of tobacco smoke hookah is much lower than that found in cigarettes.Smoking the hookah is a tradition in North Africa and the Middle East. The smoker draws through a long pipe, smoke flavored tobacco. Although filtered water, smoke contain certain amounts of nicotine, carbon monoxide and other harmful substances.