ASBESTOS QUESTIONS/ANSWERS

QUESTION:		What are the health hazards associated with asbestos?
ANSWER:		Asbestos exposure may increase the risk of the following diseases: 1) Asbestosis - a chronic lung ailment that can product shortness of breath and permanent lung damage and increase the risk of dangerous lung infections; 2) Lung Cancer - an uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells in the lungs. 3) Mesothelioma - Malignant mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer, is a disease in which cancer (malignant) cells are found in the sac lining the chest (the pleura) or abdomen (the peritoneum). Inhaling asbestos fibers can cause scar tissue (fibrosis) to form inside the lung. Scarred lung tissue does not expand and contract (elasticity) normally. The severity of the respiratory disease depends upon the duration of exposure and the amount inhaled. From the National Institutes of Health: Malignant mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer, is a disease in which cancer (malignant) cells are found in the sac lining the chest (the pleura) or abdomen (the peritoneum). Most people with malignant mesothelioma have worked on jobs where they breathed asbestos. A doctor should be seen if a person has shortness of breath, pain in the chest, or pain or swelling in the abdomen. If there are symptoms, the doctor may order an X-ray of the chest or abdomen. The doctor may look inside the chest cavity with a special instrument called a thoracoscope. A cut will be made through the chest wall and the thoracoscope will be put into the chest between two ribs. This test, called thoracoscopy, is usually done in the hospital. Before the test, the patient will be given a local anesthetic (a drug that causes a loss of feeling for a short period of time). Some pressure may be felt, but usually there is no pain. The doctor may also look inside the abdomen (peritoneoscopy) with a special tool called a peritoneoscope. The peritoneoscope is put into an opening made in the abdomen. This test is also usually done in the hospital. Before the test is done, a local anesthetic will be given. If tissue that is not normal is found, the doctor will need to cut out a small piece and have it looked at under a microscope to see if there are any cancer cells. This is called a biopsy. Biopsies are usually done during the thoracoscopy or peritoneoscopy. The chance of recovery (prognosis) depends on the size of the cancer, where the cancer is, how far the cancer has spread, how the cancer cells look under the microscope, how the cancer responds to treatment, and the patient's age. Stage Explanation Once malignant mesothelioma is found, more tests will be done to find out if cancer cells have spread to other parts of the body. This is called staging. A doctor needs to know the stage of the cancer to plan treatment. The following stages are used for malignant mesothelioma. How Asbestos Penetrates the Lungs Everyday Particles The lungs easily remove everyday inhaled particles such a dust, pollen, and smoke. One type of natural countermeasure is called Cilia. Millions of tiny hair-like structures that line the airways of the lungs simply "sweep" the particles away and out of the body. Asbestos Fibers Splinter-like asbestos fibers can be extremely small and can often evade the lung's natural defenses such as Cilia. Once inside the lung, sharp asbestos fibers become trapped and begin to cause various health problems.
QUESTION:		What should people do who have been exposed to asbestos do?
ANSWER:		Stop smoking, get regular health checkups, including chest x-rays, get prompt medical attention if symptoms of respiratory illness are noticed, if still working around asbestos use all protective equipment and work practices/safety procedures. Smoking and asbestos exposure have been shown to be particularly hazardous according to studies. Cigarette smokers on average are ten times likely to develop lung cancer as non-smokers. There is evidence that quitting smoking will reduce the risk of lung cancer among those exposed to asbestos.
QUESTION:		Who needs to be examined?
ANSWER:		Individuals exposed to asbestos on the job, through their home, during their military service or through a family member should be contact a physician regarding their asbestos exposure. A physical examination, including chest x-ray and pulmonary function tests of the lungs may be recommended to determine markers of asbestos exposure.
QUESTION:		What are the treatments for asbestos-related diseases?
ANSWER:		The key to successfully treating asbestos-related diseases lies in early detection. There is no cure available for malignant mesothelioma currently, but there are different types of treatment available, which include, but are not limited to: 1) Surgery 2) Radiation therpay 3) Chemotherapy 4) Intraoperative photodynamic therapy 5) Gene therapy