Mesothelioma is a malignant tumor that usually develops in the pleura. Pleura is a membrane located between the ribs and the lungs.
Mesothelioma often grows from the pleura to the organs near the pleura. For example, to the lungs, diaphragm and organs in the abdomen.
Mesothelioma grows rapidly and is usually not cured. The average person still lives 13 to 15 months after diagnosis.
Asbestos cancer
The cause of mesothelioma is almost always exposed to asbestos. That is why this disease is also called asbestos cancer.Asbestos is a material that was previously widely used in the construction of houses and other buildings. Most people with mesothelioma are also men who work in construction, heavy industry or shipyards.
Where does mesothelioma occur?
Usually, mesothelioma develops in the pleura. Sometimes in other membranes:- 5 to 10% in the peritoneum: the web around the digestive organs
- less than 1% in the pericardium: the membrane around the heart
- less than 1% in the membrane around the testes
All of these membranes are called serous membranes. serous membrane lounges the organs, between the inside of the body cavity and the outside of the organs within the body cavity.
Serous membrane consists of a special cell layer: mesothelium. Mesothelium is a mesothelioma caused by exposure to asbestos.
Relationship of Lung Cancer and Asbestos
Asbestos is a natural mineral consisting of small fibers and under certain conditions can produce dust. This asbestos-containing dust can be inhaled to the lungs through the respiratory process, which will continue to stay there for decades.
In Indonesia, asbestos is still very commonly used as a building material. We should be aware that long-term exposure to this asbestos material can cause various diseases such as cancer. Because of this risk, in some developed countries, asbestos is no longer mined, processed or produced. Even selling, using or storing products containing asbestos is an illegal act.
High risk exposure to asbestos
Almost everyone is believed to have been exposed to asbestos even in a small amount. But there are some people who have a risk of exposure to long-term asbestos is higher than others. They are the people who work at:
• Asbestos mining
• Asbestos factories or factories whose products use asbestos materials
• Workers and destroyers of buildings, if buildings use asbestos materials.
Asbestos and lung cancer
Just as smoking can cause lung cancer, long-term exposure to asbestos can also cause lung cancer. A smoker exposed to asbestos has a risk of developing lung cancer higher. No valid data have been found for patients with lung cancer in Indonesia, but it is believed to have increased 20% of cases each year.There are two main types of lung cancer:
• Small cell lung carcinoma - has a strong relationship with smoking habits
• Non-small cell lung carcinoma - consists of three main forms.
Three forms of non-small cell lung carcinoma are:
• Squamous cell carcinoma - begins in the large respiratory tract, called the bronchus
• Large cell carcinoma - similar to squamous cell carcinoma
• Adenocarcinoma - the most common form of lung cancer. It usually starts in peripheral lung tissue.
Asbestos and mesothelioma
Mesothelioma is a fairly rare cancer but its spread is fast. Mesothelioma is almost always associated with asbestos exposure incidents. This new cancer develops about 30-40 years since exposure to asbestos. Mesothelioma is mainly due to high levels of asbestos use and asbestos mining activity for many years.
Mesothelioma usually starts from the membrane that wraps around the lungs, called the pleura. Cancer cells cause fluid buildup between the pleura and the lungs, which in turn will cause pressure on the lungs.
Symptoms are shortness of breath and a painful cough. Along with its development, mesothelioma can grow also inside the chest wall and sometimes can also develop in the lining of the stomach (peritoneum), the heart membrane or reproductive organs.
Diagnose lung cancer and mesothelioma
There are several types of checks that can be done to check lung cancer and mesothelioma, among others:• X-ray - either using a standard X-ray or with a CT scan (which produces a three-dimensional image of the chest).
• Sputum cytological testing - sputum examination, as lung cancer cells can sometimes also be found in sputum.
• Biopsy - small sampling of lung cells with special means, sufferers will get anesthesia (anesthesia) locally or commonly.
• Other examinations - such as bone examination, liver or brain scans, and blood tests, to see if cancer cells have spread to other body parts.
Treatment of lung cancer and mesothelioma
As lung cancer and mesothelioma are often newly diagnosed after progression has been far, so sometimes it is difficult to treat it. However, with more research on cancer, and better treatment technology, each case still has hope of recovery. Treatment of lung cancer and mesothelioma include:• Surgery or surgery - to remove the tumor
• Radiotherapy - using X-rays to kill cancer cells
• Chemotherapy - use anti-cancer drugs to kill cancer cells.
Other diseases related to asbestos
In addition to causing cancer, there are several other non-cancer conditions that can be caused from exposure to asbestos, among others:• Asbestosis - the formation of scar tissue in the lungs that makes breathing difficult.
• Pleural plaques - asbestos fibers can cause patches of thickening of scar tissue in the pleura, or lining of the lungs.
The above state is a non-cancer condition.
Things to keep in mind
• Asbestos is a mineral that has been linked to various diseases, including lung cancer.• Mesothelioma is a fairly rare type of cancer but its spread is rapid, which is almost always caused by exposure to asbestos.
• Treatment for lung cancer or mesothelioma may consist of surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy.
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