Asbestos and Mesothelioma Cancer
Exposure to asbestos fibers in the air is the single most prevalent cause of mesothelioma, or mesothelioma cancer. Asbestos is the name given to certain naturally-occurring fibrous materials used in construction, factories, mills, and shipyards. The reason for asbestos' usefulness is the reason it is such a dangerous carcinogen: it does not break down naturally through chemical or biological means.
When an individual inhales these fibers, they adhere to his or her mesothelium, the tissue that provides elasticity between the lungs and the chest cavity. The result is malignant mesothelioma, a rare and often deadly form of lung cancer. The malignancy often does not cause any discernible symptoms for up to 30 years or more.
Because of this long period between exposure and the incidence of symptoms, mesothelioma cancer is often diagnosed after the disease has metastasized, making it virtually incurable. The mean survival period following a malignant mesothelioma diagnosis is 12 months. Mesothelioma can kill more quickly depending on the age of the patient, the extent of his asbestos exposure, and his overall health.
In the 1970s, the U.S. Government banned the use of asbestos in fireplaces and compounds used for repaired sheet rock. A decade later, the substance was banned in all new applications; unfortunately, there were enough old houses, factories, shipyards, and other places of employment that a new generation of workers suffered exposure to asbestos. There are between 2,000 and 4,000 new cases of mesothelioma cancer diagnosed annually in the United States, and public health officials fear that the malignant mesothelioma problem will get worse before it gets better.