| Asbestos lung mesothelioma is a rare cancer that | | | | undetected for long periods of time. |
| can develop in special lubricating cells that form a | | | | People can inhale these mineral particles without |
| supporting sac around the lungs. It can take | | | | knowing it. The microscopic particles travel |
| between 10 and 60 years to develop, but usually | | | | through the lungs, through the alveolar air sacs, |
| averages 30 to 50 years before victims notice | | | | and end up in the supporting lung tissue. They are |
| enough symptoms to see a physician. | | | | impossible to remove, so the mineral particles |
| Despite its name, it is not actually lung cancer as | | | | stay there for life. They can slowly cause |
| the lung tissue is not the primary site of | | | | malignant cancer. |
| malignancy. Instead, it is the supporting tissue | | | | This condition is currently considered incurable. |
| around the lungs that becomes cancerous. This | | | | Usually there are very few symptoms until the |
| tissue around the lungs accounts for around 75% | | | | later stages when the cancer has metastasized. |
| of the diagnosed cases, but similar tissue around | | | | After diagnosis, survival time averages between |
| other organs can also be primary sites of cancer | | | | one and two years. |
| initiation. | | | | Early detection offers great advantages. It is |
| Currently there are between two and three | | | | always recommended that people who suspect |
| thousand new cases diagnosed in the United | | | | they might have had some environmental |
| States each year (U. S. National Cancer Institute, | | | | exposure find a physician with specialized training |
| 2002). | | | | to monitor their condition as soon as possible. |
| This condition accounts for approximately 75% of | | | | Treatment may include chemotherapy, radiation |
| the cancer caused by asbestos exposure. | | | | therapy, and surgery. |
| Asbestos is a mineral deposit having the quality of | | | | After decades of experience, medical research is |
| heat insulation. It was used extensively throughout | | | | now focusing on slowing or preventing the |
| the world over the last century in the military, | | | | progression of this cancer. By learning all the |
| building construction, and consumer products until | | | | biochemical pathways involved in the initiation, |
| it was banned for carcinogenic effects. People can | | | | progression, and proliferation of cancer, scientists |
| be exposed in the community, at work, in | | | | hope that they can find ways to change how |
| schools, at home, or even from the clothing of | | | | cancer develops. |
| others who have been exposed. It is likely that | | | | Since asbestos lung mesothelioma can take |
| most people have been exposed at some time in | | | | decades to develop into the fatal malignant state, |
| their lives. | | | | there is hope that finding more early interventions |
| This mineral's composition creates a quality that is | | | | will allow people to live normal lives. Researchers |
| very friable. It breaks into chunks and then | | | | are exploring new therapies including natural |
| disintegrates easily. This allows microscopic | | | | substances that have shown positive laboratory |
| particles to rise into the air where they will float | | | | findings in cancer prevention. |