Asbestos and Rising of Cancer - An Overview

What Is Asbestos?

Asbestos is the term for six minerals found in nature as bundles of fibers for commercial and industrial applications. These fibers are fire-resistant and chemical resistant, and it has been widely employed in various sectors. Erionite is another asbestos-like material found in the natural environment.

Asbestos minerals are silicate compounds, which means they have silicon and oxygen atoms in their chemical structure. The two principal forms of asbestos are as follows:

1. Serpentine Asbestos: The mineral chrysotile has long, curly woven strands found in serpentine asbestos. Chrysotile asbestos is the most often utilized type in commercial applications.

2. Amphibole Asbestos: Actinolite, tremolite, anthophyllite, crocidolite, and amosite are all found in amphibole asbestos. Amphibole asbestos possesses straight, needle-like fibers that are more brittle than serpentine asbestos and has fewer fabrication options.

How Does Asbestos Contribute to Cancer?

Asbestos is a mineral that can be separated into flexible threads. Unfortunately, when someone inhales or eats tiny asbestos fibers, the body frequently cannot break them down or eliminate them. Instead, the fibers become entangled in the delicate tissue around the lungs or abdomen.

Over time, the fibers induce irritation and inflammation, causing cell and deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) damage. Genetic alterations caused by damaged DNA can result in aberrant cell development and cancer. For example, mesothelioma and lung cancer are caused by asbestos exposure and laryngeal and ovarian cancer may also be caused by the same.

What Is Asbestos Cancer?

Asbestos cancer is induced by asbestos exposure. It includes mesothelioma (cancer of the lining of the lungs) and lung cancer. The primary cause of asbestos-related disorders is occupational exposure. According to the World Health Organization, asbestos is responsible for half of all occupational cancer fatalities. Secondhand and environmental asbestos exposure can also lead to cancer.

Who Is at Risk for Asbestos Cancer?

Today, the most severe exposures occur in the building sector and ship repair industries, notably during the removal of asbestos-containing materials as part of repairs, refurbishment, or destruction. However, workers may also be exposed to asbestos-containing items, such as textiles, insulation, friction products, and other manufactured construction materials.

What Are the Types of Asbestos Cancer?

It has been found that asbestos causes four forms of cancer, of which mesothelioma and lung cancer are the most common.

• Mesothelioma - The leading cause of mesothelioma is asbestos exposure. For example, 80 percent of people with malignant pleural mesothelioma have a history of direct or indirect asbestos exposure. Approximately 75 percent of mesothelioma malignancies develop in the pleura, the protective lining of the lungs. About 20 percent of mesothelioma cases develop in the peritoneum, the abdominal lining. In addition, cancer can develop in the tissue surrounding the heart or testes in rare situations.

• Cancer of the Lungs - Lung cancer, unlike mesothelioma, grows within the lungs. About four percent of lung cancer cases are caused by asbestos exposure. The majority of lung cancer occurrences may be traced back to smoking. The combination of smoking and asbestos exposure, on the other hand, considerably increases the chance of acquiring lung cancer. Approximately 63 percent of individuals with localized lung cancer survive five years or longer. Patients with late-stage or distant metastatic lung cancer have a seven percent five-year survival rate.

• Cancer of the Larynx - The most common causes of larynx cancer, also known as voice box cancer, include smoking and heavy alcohol intake. On the other hand, inhaled asbestos fibers can become lodged in the voice box as they pass through the trachea, or windpipe, on their route to the lungs. Therefore, combining smoking, heavy drinking, and asbestos exposure increases a person's risk of laryngeal cancer significantly.

• Cancer of the Ovaries - Asbestos exposure has also been related to an increased risk of ovarian cancer, particularly in women who use asbestos-contaminated talcum powder. Once asbestos fibers enter the body, they can get permanently stuck in soft tissues, causing inflammation and cellular damage over time. Asbestos fibers accumulate in ovarian tissue and cause damage to the ovaries, eventually leading to cancer.

What Are the Asbestos Cancer Symptoms?

Mesothelioma and other malignancies caused by asbestos exposure can develop over time. However, the initial symptoms might be similar to those of more frequent tumors such as respiratory or abdominal cancer. Therefore, a mesothelioma expert is usually required to confirm asbestos-related malignancy. People who have been exposed to asbestos should get frequent health examinations. In addition, they should pay close attention to the following symptoms, which may indicate cancer.

These are signs of peritoneal mesothelioma, stomach, colon, and ovarian cancer.

• Swelling and discomfort.

• Digestion problems.

• Changes in bowel habits.

• Nausea.

Throat Symptoms:

• A chronic painful throat.

• Persistent hoarseness.

• Trouble swallowing.

Symptoms of the Reproductive System:

• Menstrual changes.

• Weariness.

• Back discomfort.

• Pain during sex.

An earlier diagnosis provides more treatment choices with a better prognosis and survival.

How Are Asbestos Cancers Diagnosed?

Asbestos cancer is a complex disease to diagnose. These tumors can be confused with other malignancies and less severe illnesses such as pneumonia or bronchitis. The specifics of each patient's diagnosis may differ, but the sequence of events is often the same. If a primary care physician believes a patient has cancer, the patient will be sent to a cancer specialist.

• Imaging Tests: X-rays, computed tomography (CT) scans, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and positron emission tomography scans check for tumors or other cancer-related symptoms, such as inflammation inside the body.

• Blood Testing: Searches for cancer-related symptoms such as abnormal blood cell counts. They can also aid in determining if cancer treatment is effective.

• Biopsies: Biopsies are tissue samples taken from a tumor. Pathologists utilize the data to establish the kind of cancer cell and confirm an asbestos cancer diagnosis, such as lung cancer, mesothelioma, or ovarian cancer.

What Is the Treatment for Asbestos Cancer?

Following a positive biopsy diagnosis, mesothelioma and other forms of asbestos cancer are treated with the following:

• Surgery.

• Chemotherapy.

• Immunotherapy.

• Radiation therapy.

• Multimodal therapy.

The specific medications used in chemotherapy differ based on the location of the illness. For example, immunotherapy has a track record of efficacy in lung cancer and is also used for mesothelioma treatment. During active therapy, continuing tests such as imaging scans, blood tests, and physical examinations help evaluate if the treatment is effective or whether new choices should be considered.

Conclusion:

The combination of cigarette use and asbestos exposure is hazardous. However, smoking cessation has been found to lower lung cancer incidence among asbestos-exposed employees. Each kind of asbestos cancer has a different standard of care. Furthermore, what works well for one patient may not work well for another. Therefore, before formulating a treatment plan, a specialist specializing in mesothelioma and other asbestos malignancies would assess the patient's overall health and medical history. Asbestos cancer treatment options include surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation. Early-stage or peritoneal mesothelioma surgery is more successful. Chemotherapy for mesothelioma can help prevent cancer development or recurrence.