Basic Facts About Mesothelioma

v  Mesothelioma is a primary tumour arising from the surface lining of the pleura(80% of cases) or peritoneum(20% of cases).

v  About three-fourths of pleural mesothelioma cases are diffuse(usually malignant) while the remaining one-fourth are localized(usually benign).

v  Three quarters of cases of mesothelioma are seen in men while women account for the remaining one quarter.

v  Numerous studies have confirmed the association of malignant mesothelioma with exposure to asbestos(especially the crocidolite form).

v  The lifetime risk of all asbestos workers coming down with malignant pleural mesothelioma is as high as 10%.

v  About 60-80% of patients with malignant mesothelioma report a history of known exposure to asbestos.

v  The latency period between exposure and onset of symptoms is 20-50 years.

v  Workers get exposed to asbestos in the mining,milling and manufacturing industries.Other sectors/products with high risks of exposure include:shipyard work,insulation,brake linings,building construction and demolition,roofing materials,asbestos pipes,textiles,paints,tiles,gaskets and a host of other products that contain asbestos.

v  Although cigarette smoking significantly increases the risk of lung cancer in asbestos workers and aggravates the symptoms of asbestosis,there is no association between smoking and mesothelioma.

v  The mean age of onset of symptoms of malignant pleural mesothelioma is 60 years.Symptoms include the gradual(not easily noticed) onset of shortness of breath,chest pain and weight loss.

v  Pleural mesothelioma usually affects only one lung with up to 60% of cases affecting the right lung.Only 5% of cases involve both lungs.

v  Treatment include surgery,chemotherapy,radiotherapy and a combination of methods.However,treatments are generally unsuccessful.

v  Prognosis is poor.Most patients die of respiratory failure and complications arising from metastasis.

v  The mean survival time from onset of symptoms range from four to sixteen months.Survival up to five years is less than five percent.