A couple of months ago, I featured a guest post by Heather who was diagnosed with mesothelioma, a type of cancer with a survival rate of only seven to eight percent, which is caused by asbestos exposure. Asbestos is a substance commonly used in fiber cement boards, packaging materials and mechanical parts in motor vehicles such as brakes and clutch linings. It can also be found in houses, schools and buildings. Corrugated cement sheets and side walls may contain asbestos. However, experts claim that there is no problem as long as the materials are in good condition and will remain intact in which case they will not release asbestos fibers. To avoid exposure to asbestos in damaged housing materials, do not attempt to DIY. Have a qualified professional remove and replace materials that contain asbestos. Do not sand, saw or drill holes on asbestos containing materials and asbestos flooring.
In 2011, asbestos-containing wire gauzes used in public high schools in the Philippines which contain three percent chrysotile asbestos were finally removed, preventing the risk of exposure of students and teachers.
The following is a post by Sybil, an avid blogger who became aware of mesothelioma when her grandfather contracted it in 2007. She hopes to spread awareness of the disease and in so doing to increase early detection and help victims become survivors.
In 2011, asbestos-containing wire gauzes used in public high schools in the Philippines which contain three percent chrysotile asbestos were finally removed, preventing the risk of exposure of students and teachers.
The following is a post by Sybil, an avid blogger who became aware of mesothelioma when her grandfather contracted it in 2007. She hopes to spread awareness of the disease and in so doing to increase early detection and help victims become survivors.
When a
person has a prolonged exposure to asbestos, her body may develop cancerous
cells, which may result in a fatal disease called mesothelioma. Asbestos was
once used in the materials used to construct buildings, and although it is not
used anymore it still exists in some buildings built around the middle of the
twentieth century. While asbestos in good condition is not actually dangerous,
as soon as the material is damaged, asbestos fibers are released into the air
and can be inhaled or ingested. This is what causes mesothelioma, a fatal
cancer that kills several thousand people each year. There are different types
of mesothelioma cancers, and the most dangerous one among them is sarcomatoid
mesothelioma.
Most Common Symptoms
Some of
the common symptoms of mesothelioma are-
-
Respiratory Problems,
-
Small Lumps on Chest,
-
Pain in Chest,
-
Pain while Coughing.
-
Unexpected Weight Loss
A person
who has been exposed to asbestos may witness these symptoms anywhere from three
to 50 years later. The symptoms are often mistaken for regular aging problems
or do not become prominent for too long. The later the diagnoses, the more
challenging it is to administer treatments and increase mesothelioma
life expectancy.
Diagnosis of Cancer
After the
symptoms are recorded and history of exposure to asbestos determined, the next
step normally taken by the doctors is to check the whole body. This is normally
done with x-rays and then high-end imaging procedures like CT scans and MRIs.
(While mesothelioma often begins in the lungs or stomach, by the time it is
diagnosed the cancer has often spread to other organs.)
If the
obtained images show some significant abnormalities then a biopsy is carried
out. The biopsy either confirms or rules out the possibility of a mesothelioma
cancer.
Due to the
difficulties and complications in the diagnosis, it is always suggested to take
two three opinions to completely determine the presence of mesothelioma. If the
disease isn’t diagnosed quickly, then the cancerous cells may spread throughout
the body, and the patient may have very little chance of survival.
Treatment Options
Technically,
mesothelioma
treatment differs from other cancer treatments, but almost all cancer
patients usually undergo some kind of surgeries, radiation therapies, and
chemotherapy. The administration of these standard procedures purely depends
upon where the cancer is located and at which stage it has been diagnosed.
Very Low Survival Rates
Unfortunately,
such cancerous cells are extremely resistant to any kind of treatment and the
average survival period from diagnosis to death has been recorded as 6-18
months depending on the particular survey.
Only
a few lucky patients who are diagnosed early tend to survive, but the survival
rate is usually only around 7-8%. There are quite a few treatments available
for mesothelioma, but there isn’t a single fail-proof medication that is
capable of curing it.
Better to Be Safe
So,
if you had been exposed to asbestos, even moderately, and regardless of how
long ago, it’s highly recommended to get your body thoroughly checked for any
traces of cancerous cells.
