Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that is known for its durability and fire-resistant properties. The substance has been used in a wide variety of building materials, including insulation products, siding, cements, flooring, and roofing, to name a few.
When asbestos-containing materials become damaged or disturbed, toxic asbestos fibers can be released into the air. If these microscopic fibers are inhaled or ingested, there are several different kinds of diseases that can develop. These diseases include lung cancer, asbestosis, and mesothelioma, which all have a latency period ranging from 10 to 50 years.
This latency period can have a significant impact on patients diagnosed with asbestos cancer. For example, when mesothelioma symptoms and other signs of disease take several decades to appear, the disease is usually already in its latest stages of development. As a result, many patients only have the option of palliative mesothelioma treatment options rather than curative.
Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that is almost exclusively caused by asbestos exposure. The disease occurs when the fibers of asbestos become lodged in the mesothelial lining of the lungs (pleural mesothelioma), heart (pericardial mesothelioma), or abdomen (peritoneal mesothelioma).
In most instances, this disease takes anywhere between 20 and 50 years to develop. In addition to having difficulty with breathing and swallowing, extreme weight loss is also a side effect of malignant mesothelioma cancer.
Another form of asbestos cancer is asbestosis, which also causes intense scarring of the lungs. This disease typically develops after someone has experienced prolonged exposure to asbestos. The latency period with this disease is usually 10 to 30 years, and symptoms include breathing difficulties and a decrease in the elasticity of the lungs.
Besides mesothelioma and asbestosis, lung cancer is another disease that can develop from exposure to asbestos. However, this disease can also be enhanced by cigarette smoking and other agents. Pleural plaques are indicators or asbestos exposure as well, but these are not fatal. Instead, they are usually taken as early signs of development for other diseases.
Prognosis for these illnesses is commonly poor because patients do not have the availability of curable treatment options. For mesothelioma, the average prognosis for a patient is six months to two years. For asbestosis or lung cancer, the prognosis is usually longer, but the symptoms are much more painful. Hence the reason why more research is needed for finding a cure for these diseases.
Source:http://www.asbestos.com/news/2008/11/26/information-on-mesothelioma-and-other-asbestos-related-illnesses/
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