Mesothelioma Pages

A recent Los Angeles Times report covers asbestos threats in California. Known to hold some of the largest asbestos deposits in the US, Clear Creek Management Area in San Benito and Fresno counties has been a concern for many years. A popular area for motorcyclists, off-roading and all-terrain vehicle enthusiasts, continued vehicle traffic may be causing toxic airborne asbestos levels.

Asbestos is known to cause rare cancer mesothelioma, a disease specific to abdominal organ lining. Most often found in lung lining, mesothelioma begins to develop after asbestos fibers are inhaled. These fibers instigate a cancerous growth process in affected areas leading to malignant mesothelioma development. Mesothelioma tumors grow in an irregular web like pattern without causing external symptoms. Characterized by a latency period typically ranging from twenty to fifty years, mesothelioma is difficult to diagnose.

Mesothelioma treatments include surgeries, chemotherapy and radiation therapy, most often administered as palliative care. Treatments focus on extending patient life expectancy and raising quality of life. Alternative and more aggressive treatments are available for patients who meet a strict set of criteria. There is no known mesothelioma cure.

Environmental Protection Agency considers the potential for human asbestos exposure in Clear Creek Management Areas to be one of high risk; the area has been closed for several years. In an effort to decide how best to handle this, and other similar asbestos situations, federal government has had US Geological Survey release a map including marked locations of asbestos containing areas throughout California.

Not only could the US public be at risk from natural asbestos deposits, but much of the world could be at risk as well. Many nations continue to knowingly use manufactured asbestos containing materials, despite the knowledge of related health threats.  Developing countries specifically have fallen prey to the hard-to-match building properties of asbestos, and continue to import asbestos containing materials for use in building and construction projects. Unfortunately, unlike countries that have banned or heavily regulated asbestos, developing nations use limited, if any, asbestos safety precautions in the workplace.

A Times Herald article reports of an upcoming beef and beer fundraiser to honor Plymouth Pennsylvania local, Mario De Simone. An Italy native, De Simone is a long time resident of Plymouth. Diagnosed in March with rare cancer mesothelioma, De Simone is a husband, father grandfather and sibling of four.

Malignant mesothelioma is caused by exposure to toxic asbestos fibers, closely associated to industries and manufacturing lines prevalent in the mid-1900s. De Simone believes he may have been exposed to asbestos during his employment at a steel company in the 1970s.

Asbestos was mined, bought and sold around the world through the last century as nations building their industrial markets realized the innate qualities of the material. Asbestos is fire resistant, extremely durable and provides stabilizing qualities when added to other materials. In the US, asbestos earned the nickname, “backbone of American industry,” for its heavy use.

Mesothelioma is characterized by a latency period of twenty to fifty years. This not only makes mesothelioma difficult, if not impossible, to diagnose early, but it separates demonstrating symptoms from the cause by decades. Many mesothelioma patients have no idea they were ever exposed to disease causing asbestos. Even when health hazards of asbestos began to be understood, it was decades too late for thousand of victims.

Mesothelioma treatments include surgeries, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. These are often administered in combination as palliative care, focusing on patient quality of life and extending life expectancy. Following diagnosis, mesothelioma patient life expectancy ranges from just six months to two years.

Today, in many countries, strict regulations are in place for handling and working with asbestos. However, much of the developing world continues to use asbestos products with limited or no safety precautions.

Once asbestos fibers are inhaled, they can begin a mutative process in otherwise healthy lungs. As the body reacts to the invasion of these toxic fibers, pod-like tumors are formed, beginning development of cancerous masses that grow through surrounding areas. Mesothelioma is most often found in protective lung lining and is called pleural mesothelioma. Peritoneal mesothelioma is less common and specific to protective linings of other abdominal cavities. Both types are considered fatal.

De Simone is home now from hospitalization and major treatments. With the help of a medical aid he is keeping up his medication while trying to enjoy time with friends and family.

The past several decades have seen a rising number of mesothelioma cases in US, UK and other countries with a history of heavy asbestos use. While the mid 1900s witnessed an incredible worldwide industrial boom, due much in part to asbestos use, the late 1900s and past decade has witnessed the subsequent boom of related diseases.

Mesothelioma is caused by asbestos exposure, then typically undergoes a latency period of twenty to fifty years. This explains why thousands of mesothelioma cases continue to be diagnosed each year in spite of asbestos regulations becoming more and more stringent since the 1980s. World Health Organization expects a mesothelioma and asbestos related disease peak to be still in the future, particularly due to the continued heavy use of asbestos in many developing countries.

Also due to characteristic long latency period, most mesothelioma patient are diagnosed with the disease between the age of fifty and seventy. However, as one Massachusetts family has learned, there are occasional abnormalities in disease trends.

According to a Boston news article, Kevin Morrison of Norwood, Massachusetts was diagnosed with mesothelioma in February, at age twenty-one. Decades younger than almost all mesothelioma patients, Kevin is about the age most patients are when they are first exposed to asbestos, decades before symptoms demonstrate. The specific time or means by which Kevin’s mesothelioma development began in a mystery at this point.

Once asbestos fibers are inhaled, they can begin a mutative process in otherwise healthy tissues. This most often occurs in protective lung lining and is called pleural mesothelioma. However, malignant mesothelioma development can also take place in lining of other abdominal cavities, which is called peritoneal mesothelioma. Kevin was diagnosed specifically with peritoneal mesothelioma.

Although both types of mesothelioma are considered fatal and without cure, more treatments options tend to be available for patients with peritoneal mesothelioma.  Treatment response depends heavily on patient heath and malignant tumor location. However, peritoneal mesothelioma is less likely to affect the heart or lungs, raising the chances for treatment accuracy and effectiveness.

Kevin’s doctors have suggested alternative treatments for his case, which are not available in the Boston area. His age puts him in a health bracket not usually applicable to patients in their elderly years; his own immune system and physical strength will be a great benefit during his treatments time.

Treatments and medical care so far have depleted Kevin’s family’s funds. Friend and family are organizing events to raise additional funds for his medical attention.

A bad storm in New Mexico has left the Belen Municipal Court building in a broken state. Just weeks before remodeling was scheduled to begin at the historic site, the storm has put a halt to plans. Not only did parts of the building collapse, but also asbestos was found in the wreckage afterwards.

Asbestos is known to cause severe respiratory illnesses, including rare cancer mesothelioma. Present in countless buildings and construction components after a century of heavy manufacturing use, asbestos can be found in most homes and structures built before the nineteen eighties in the US. Although relatively safe when contained inside another material, asbestos fibers pose a severe health threat when exposed.

Once inhaled, asbestos fibers can begin a mutative process in protective organ lining. Most often affecting lung lining, this mutation begins development of malignant mesothelioma tumors. Mesothelioma tumors grow in irregular patterns through the surrounding area without showing external signs and symptoms. Mesothelioma is characterized by a latency period typically ranging from twenty to fifty years.

Most mesothelioma patients have no idea they are developing the fatal disease until decades after original exposure. However, when symptoms do demonstrate, they mimic those of bronchitis or pneumonia, making mesothelioma difficult to diagnose. Following diagnosis, mesothelioma patient life expectancy is short and grim, ranging from just six months to two years.

Mesothelioma treatments include surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy. These are considered palliative in nature—focusing on extending patient life expectancy and raising quality of life—as there is no known cure for mesothelioma.

Although insurance will cover the repairs to Belen’s buildings, asbestos abatement will not be covered. Anticipated remodel costs were budgeted between twenty-nine thousand and forty thousand dollars, but factors have unfortunately changed.  Because of its unique dangers, removing asbestos can prove to be a tedious and costly project. Given the storm damage and asbestos complications, city officials are waiting to see if the building can be saved at all.

About three thousand American suffer with mesothelioma each year. An estimated twenty thousand suffer with it worldwide. World Health Organization suggests this global estimate is greatly undercut by lack of disease recognition and appropriate reporting. What is known for sure is that the mesothelioma case numbers will continue to rise as long as asbestos continues to be used.