Asbestosis
Frequently Asked Questions
How Is Asbestosis Treated?+-
Just like mesothelioma, asbestosis is incurable. Most of the treatment focus on making the patient feel comfortable and pain-free as much as possible. The treatment options include antibiotics, analgesics, and bronchial inhalers.
How to Identify Asbestos?+-
There are around 3,000 products that may contain asbestos. Only trained accredited asbestos professionals could inspect and identify materials that contain asbestos. There is also naturally occurring asbestos, which refers to fibrous minerals existent in soil or rocks and released in the air as a result of human intervention or weathering processes.
How to Test for Asbestos?+-
Asbestos is present in millions of buildings however it is only dangerous when it becomes airborne. Unless there are signs of degrading materials or you plan to do new construction work, there may not be necessary any tests. If you simply need reassurance, it is strongly advisable for the testing to be conducted by a trained accredited asbestos professional.
Is Asbestosis Similar to Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis?+-
Asbestosis is similar to idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Still, the difference between these diseases is that idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is not caused by asbestos exposure.
Is Asbestosis Similar to Silicosis?+-
Yes, asbestosis is similar to silicosis. In both cases the person inhales substance from the external environment that reaches the lung alveoli. There is no cure for this two diseases, the treatment options are only palliative.
What Are the Most Common Asbestosis Symptoms?+-
The most common symptoms of asbestosis are: chest pain, coughing with blood, swelling in the neck and face, difficulty swallowing, loss of appetite, unexplained weight loss.
What Is Asbestos?+-
Asbestos is a group of minerals used on a large scale in building and construction due to its flexibility, resistance to heat, fire and chemicals as well as due to the fact that it does not conduct electricity.
What Is Asbestosis?+-
Asbestosis is known as a lung disease in which scarring is caused by breathing in asbestos fibers. Asbestosis can make you cough and also make your breathing quite difficult.
What Is the Major Difference Between Asbestosis and Mesothelioma?+-
The major difference is that mesothelioma is an aggressive and incurable cancer that attacks the pleura while asbestosis is a non-cancerous disease that attacks the lungs.
Why Should I Hire an Asbestos Attorney After Being Diagnosed?+-
Usually, asbestos exposure is caused at the workplace due to asbestos products and materials. An asbestos attorney will help you investigate exactly the nature and also the extent of the exposure and after that hold the responsible parties accountable.
Mesothelioma
Frequently Asked Questions
What Peritoneal Treatments Offer the Best Long-Term Survival Chance?+-
Surgery offers the best long-term survival chance. The Cytoreduction with HIPEC has turned into the standard care of peritoneal mesothelioma.
Are There Many Types of Common Mesothelioma Cells?+-
There are only two types of mesothelioma cells, epithelioid and sarcomatoid. Few people have a combination of these two cells, known as biphasic mesothelioma.
Are There Treatments Available for Mesothelioma?+-
There is currently no cure for mesothelioma, however treatment options such as chemotherapy, radiation or surgery can help improve the mesothelioma prognosis and may even increase one´s life expectancy.
Can Pleural Mesothelioma Be Cured?+-
No, at the moment there is no cure for pleural mesothelioma.
How Common Is Mesothelioma?+-
As stated by the American Cancer Society mesothelioma is relatively rare. It is estimated that there are around 3,000 cases every year and that represents a small proportion of all cases of cancer.
How Does Asbestos Cause Mesothelioma and How Easy Is to Get Mesothelioma? +-
Mesothelioma is caused almost exclusively by intense and prolonged exposure to asbestos. The time between exposure to asbestos and visible symptoms (latency period) is from 15 to over 50 years. Asbestos is the main cause of mesothelioma cancer, however the non-asbestos fiber erionite or a simian virus known as SV40 may also cause this disease.
How Is Asbestosis Treated?+-
Just like mesothelioma, asbestosis is incurable. Most of the treatment focus on making the patient feel comfortable and pain-free as much as possible. The treatment options include antibiotics, analgesics, and bronchial inhalers.
How Is the Mesothelioma “Latency Period” Defined?+-
The latency period refers to the time before the disease starts to develop. Mesothelioma has a long latency period of 20 to 50 years.
How Much Time Should I Be Around Asbestos to Get Exposed and Develop Pericardial Mesothelioma?+-
This depends on the concentration of asbestos, dust and fibers in the area, but there have been some exposure cases of only a few months that developed pericardial mesothelioma.
Is Asbestosis Similar to Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis?+-
Asbestosis is similar to idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Still, the difference between these diseases is that idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is not caused by asbestos exposure.
Is Asbestosis Similar to Silicosis?+-
Yes, asbestosis is similar to silicosis. In both cases the person inhales substance from the external environment that reaches the lung alveoli. There is no cure for this two diseases, the treatment options are only palliative.
Is Mesothelioma Alike Asbestosis?+-
No, mesothelioma is not the same as asbestosis. Mesothelioma is a malignancy of the pleura or lining of the lung, peritoneum or abdominal cavity. Asbestosis is a non-cancerous form of asbestos disease.
Is the Pleural Mesothelioma Stage Important?+-
Yes. The stage of your disease is important because it helps the doctor determine your prognosis and also, the most effective treatment.
Is There a Staging System for Peritoneal Mesothelioma?+-
Unfortunately, peritoneal mesothelioma doesn’t have a standard staging system, it is either localized or advanced.
Is There Any Favorable Research for Pericardial Mesothelioma?+-
Researchers predict that new drugs are on the way but for the moment there is still nor cure for mesothelioma.
What Are the Most Common Asbestosis Symptoms?+-
The most common symptoms of asbestosis are: chest pain, coughing with blood, swelling in the neck and face, difficulty swallowing, loss of appetite, unexplained weight loss.
What Are the Most Common Pleural Mesothelioma Symptoms?+-
The most common mesothelioma symptoms are: Chest pain, Shortness of breath (dyspnea), Fluid in the lungs (pleural effusion), Dry cough.
What Are the Most Common Symptoms of Pericardial Mesothelioma?+-
The most common symptoms of pericardial mesothelioma are persistent coughing, shortness of breath, chest pain and palpitations, coughing up blood.
What Are the Most Common Symptoms of Peritoneal Mesothelioma?+-
The most common symptoms are: Upper abdominal pain, Abdominal swelling due to fluid retention or tumor growth, Cough and shortness of breath, Fever, Weight loss, Fatigue, Anemia, Digestive disturbances.
What Are the Most Common Symptoms of Testicular Mesothelioma?+-
The symptoms are not clearly defined because the disease is very rare. Still, some noticeable symptoms are: a mass in the testicle, an accumulation of fluid in the scrotum, testicular swelling.
What Are the Symptoms of Mesothelioma?+-
Mesothelioma does no present noticeable symptoms in its early stages. As the cancer increases and starts to press on a nerve or other organ, the symptoms become more visible. Shortness of breath, chest pain, sweating and fever, fatigue, lack of appetite and weight loss are common symptoms.
What Causes Testicular Mesothelioma?+-
Asbestos exposure is the only known cause of testicular mesothelioma.
What Is a Prognosis? How Accurate It Is?+-
A prognosis is a knowledge-based guess of doctors. For each patient the prognosis is unique and depends on several factors for instance: the type of mesothelioma, the stage of the disease and the overall health.
What Is Asbestosis?+-
Asbestosis is known as a lung disease in which scarring is caused by breathing in asbestos fibers. Asbestosis can make you cough and also make your breathing quite difficult.
What Is Mesothelioma? Is It a Type of Cancer?+-
Mesothelioma is known as one of the most crucial asbestos-related diseases. Benign mesothelioma is a non-cancerous type of mesothelioma, whilst malignant mesothelioma is a cancerous tumor developed in the mesothelial cells of an organ. Based on the organ where it originates, mesothelioma is named Pleural Mesothelioma for the lungs, Peritoneal Mesothelioma for the abdomen, Pericardial Mesothelioma for the heart and Mesothelioma of the tunica vaginalis for testicles.
What Is Pericardial Mesothelioma?+-
Pericardial mesothelioma is a very rare form of cancer that develops in the thin membrane that surrounds the heart.
What Is Pleural Mesothelioma?+-
Pleural mesothelioma is a type of cancer often encountered by people who have been exposed to asbestos frequently. The disease affects the pleura, a thin membrane of cells that lines the chest wall and lungs.
What Is Testicular Mesothelioma?+-
Testicular mesothelioma is the rarest form of deadly cancer. Testicular mesothelioma is so rare that researchers have not developed yet a list of symptoms or a standard treatment diet.
What Is the Major Difference Between Asbestosis and Mesothelioma?+-
The major difference is that mesothelioma is an aggressive and incurable cancer that attacks the pleura while asbestosis is a non-cancerous disease that attacks the lungs.
What Is the Prognosis for Pericardial Mesothelioma?+-
Luckily, peritoneal mesothelioma patients have a better survival rate than those with pleural or pericardial mesothelioma. With treatment, some patients survived beyond 5 years.
What Is the Prognosis for Testicular Mesothelioma Patients?+-
According to the American Cancer Society, the median survival time for testicular mesothelioma is one year to 21 months, depending on how early is diagnosed.
What Is the Survival Rate of Pleural Mesothelioma?+-
Even if the survival rate is low, treatments are constantly increasing day by day. People are living decades after being diagnosed thanks to the progress in diagnosing and treating asbestos-related diseases.
What Treatment Options Are Available for Testicular Mesothelioma?+-
The treatment options available for testicular mesothelioma are: Radical inguinal orchiectomy, chemotherapy, and additional surgeries.
Where Does Peritoneal Mesothelioma Appear?+-
Peritoneal mesothelioma appears in the abdomen, right on the surface of omentum. When the disease develops around the abdominal lining, fluid accumulation appears.
Why Is Mesothelioma Difficult to Diagnose?+-
It can be very difficult for a doctor to decide if the cells or tissues taken from the lungs or abdomen are a type of mesothelioma. They can look similar to other types of cancer cells. Several tests are required in order to achieve an accurate diagnosis and sometimes, even surgery may be necessary, such as thorascopy or open pleural biopsy.