Causes of Lung Mesothelioma
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Cancer is always of great concern to the individuals diagnosed with the affliction and to their families and friends as well. Billions of dollars are poured into research for the prevention and treatment of the various types of cancers including cancer of the mesothelium, which is called mesothelioma. The silver lining in the dark clouds of Lung Mesothelioma is its relatively rare incidence, with 2,000 new cases diagnosed per year in the United States but with the increase in cases for the past 20 years, it is but a small silver lining.
To understand Lung Mesothelioma, it is necessary to understand the anatomy of the mesothelium. It is the thin membrane that covers most of the body's internal organs, thus, forming protective sacs. It also releases a lubricating fluid that allows the internal organs to move easily and freely against the adjoining structures.
The mesothelium can be found in internal organs like the intestines and stomach (peritoneum), the lungs and chest cavity (pleura), the heart (pericardium), the male and female internal reproductive organs (tunica vaginalis testis and tunica serosa uteri, respectively). Thus, mesothelioma has different prefixes depending on the location of the cancerous cells - pleural mesothelioma for the lungs and peritoneal mesothelioma for the stomach, for example.
With that being said, the next issue is the causes of mesothelioma. Most of the prevention and treatment options center on counteracting these causes especially in individuals who have the highest risks for contracting the disease.
Asbestos as the Main Culprit
Scientific researches have pointed to asbestos as the main culprit in the development of Lung Mesothelioma in different parts of the body. Medical science, unfortunately, has yet to pinpoint the exact mechanism by which asbestos causes mesothelioma although there are a number of theories. The most common and most agreed on theories include:
• Asbestos leads to the irritation, inflammation and irreversible scarring of the Lung Mesothelioma
• Asbestos fibers enter the mesothelial cells, thus, disrupting normal cellular functions and structures
• Asbestos promotes the production of free radicals, which leads to the mutation of healthy DNA into cancer cells
In all of these theories into how asbestos adversely affects the Lung Mesothelioma, one common element is observed. Asbestos leads to cellular damage that, in turn, results to uncontrollable cellular division of otherwise healthy mesothelial cells. Cancer then develops from the impaired cellular functions with symptoms like shortness of breath, pain in the chest, bowel obstruction, blood clotting abnormalities and swelling of the face. These symptoms, however, will manifest in 20-50 years after exposure to the asbestos.
For asbestos to be a major risk factor, the individual must be directly or indirectly exposed to the group of minerals used in industrial products from cement to textiles. In 70-80 percent of mesothelioma cases, patients have reported asbestos exposure at work. The risks of contracting the cancer increase with longer exposure times or heavier exposure quantities or both.
However, it is not just the individuals directly exposed to asbestos that are at risk for Lung Mesothelioma. Evidence has suggested that household members living with asbestos workers have increased risks for developing mesothelial cancer as well as other related conditions like asbestosis. It is believed that indirect exposure results from the asbestos workers bringing home its dust through clothing and shoes.
It must be emphasized as well that not all asbestos workers will suffer from Lung Mesothelioma in the same way that not all those indirectly exposed to it will have increased risks for the cancer. It appears that Lady Luck may have a hand in it although the physical factors are more logical in these cases.
Non-Asbestos Risk Factors
Asbestos is not the only risk factor for Lung Mesothelioma although it is the main culprit. Other risk factors identified by researchers include:
• Radiation - Although relatively rare, cases of mesothelioma patients who have been exposed to radiation has been reported in medical literature.
• Non-asbestos Mineral Fibers - Erionite and taconite are two of the more common non-asbestos minerals that can mimic the effect of asbestos on the mesothelium.
• Simian Virus 40 - Other malignancies aside from mesothelioma have been linked to the Simian virus 40, which originated from rhesus monkeys and contaminated the polio vaccines during the 1950s and 1960s.
Other possible risk factors albeit not as strongly supported include a history of chronic inflammation, chest injuries and exposure to organic chemicals as well as a genetic predisposition to Lung Mesothelioma.
With the knowledge of the causes of Lung Mesothelioma, individuals should be better equipped to avoid the triggers. Ultimately, prevention of cancer is better than the most advanced treatment available.
For added helpful information make sure that you go look at MD Anderson.
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