What is Asbestos Cancer? Mesothelioma Doctors and Asbestos Cancer Treatment

What is Asbestos Cancer?

Exposure to a constant and high level of asbestos can often times lead to cancer. Mesothelioma and lunch cancer are to of the most common asbestos cancers reported today. Gastrointestinal cancer and colorectal cancer have also been highly reported due to asbestos exposure. Asbestos is a highly hazardous chemical that was commonly used in homes and buildings starting in the 1930's. Asbestos was used as insulation in walls as well as the backing for flooring. What makes this chemical so harmful to people is that when dry, the small shards of asbestos break off and become airborne which then creates the chance of inhaling the chemical. If asbestos is inhaled on a consistent basis, the shards attach onto the lunch tissue and in the breathing airway. After a while of continuous exposure, shards become inflamed which can lead to the growth of cancerous tumors.

Mesothelioma is a cancer that unfortunately is extremely difficult, if not impossible to cure. It attacks the thin lining of the lungs, abdomen and heart and typically affects 2,000-3,000 people every year. The link between Mesothelioma and asbestos was not originally known as most types of this cancer have not progressed to a cancerous form for 20-50 years after exposure. However, scientists who have researched for decades on the link have found that the two are directly related to each other.

Lung cancer, another commonly diagnosed cancer caused by asbestos is equally as dangerous as Mesothelioma, but this cancer can be linked to other issues such as smoking or exposure to second-hand smoke and not just asbestos exposure. Some of the symptoms of lung cancer are chest pain, shortness of breath, chronic coughing, a change in color of sputum or blood in your sputum. Other symptoms include chronic fatigue, headaches and weight loss. Contact your physician immediately if you are concerned that this cancer may have been caused by a constant level of asbestos.

Since Asbestos cancer takes such a long time to come out of dormancy, and the signs and symptoms are so subtle, that a trip to your physician is not warranted until it is too late. In cases of cancer caused by asbestos, many times these cancers are incurable because they were not aware of the sickness to begin with.


Mesothelioma Doctors and Asbestos Cancer Treatment



Mesothelioma doctors are medical specialists that treat mesothelioma, a rare and very dangerous type of cancer that is most usually caused by exposure to asbestos. Since mesothelioma is not easy to treat, doctors that specialize in its treatment are some of the most experienced medical professionals in the field of oncology.

As there are three types (pleural mesothelioma, peritoneal and pericardial) and several stages of mesothelioma that vary in severity, from stage I to stage IV, there are multiple treatment options available, all of which require a different set of skills, and as such a different doctor.

After preliminary diagnosis, which is typically conducted by a general practitioner, the patient is directed to a specialist called pulmonologist that will proceed with further tests. Should the original diagnosis stand true, the treatment of mesothelioma begins.

Surgery is an option if the disease did not spread far, and it can be done by a mesothelioma specialist called thoracic surgeon. However, recent studies have proven that surgery on itself is not efficient in treating mesothelioma cancer.

Chemotherapy is an additional treatment option; while it can be used alone, it has proved to be the most efficient when combined with traditional mesothelioma therapy such as surgery. The name for mesothelioma chemotherapy specialist is an oncologist.

Radiation can also be used to treat the conditon, often in combination with both surgery and chemotherapy. The doctor that specializes in mesothelioma radiation treatment is called a radiologist.

These doctors all work as one team providing the most efficient treatment to a patient, but the team would not be complete without a pathologist -- another doctor, who is reponsible for monitoring the changes in patient's condition. This doctor examines the spread or remission of the cancer while testing the patient's tissue samples and bodily fluids and is the one responsible for the prognosis.

All in all, mesothelioma doctors are some of the most experienced and dedicated medical professionals out there with a very hard job. They deal day to day with gravely ill and terminal patients, while saving or prolonging lives in the process. These hard working men and women fully deserve our respect and gratitude.