Types of Asbestos Cancers

When manufacturing or construction processes result in particles of asbestos containing materials becoming airborne, minute amounts of asbestos fibers are inhaled.
When trapped in the human body, these fibers may eventually lead to multiple types of asbestos cancers. There are different types of asbestos, but the International Agency for Research on Cancer has determined through extensive research that exposure to any type of commercial asbestos fibers can cause cancers.
The most aggressive of the asbestos cancers is mesothelioma. This cancer specifically targets the mesothelial cells that form a protective layer around the body’s internal cavities and organs. Mesothelioma typically affects the lining of the lungs, but it can also develop in the lining of the abdomen and of the heart.
The mesothelial lining of the lungs is called the pleura, and pleural mesothelioma accounts for approximately 75 percent of all diagnosed cases of mesothelioma. The lining that covers the abdominal cavity and surrounds the internal organs is called the peritoneum.
Peritoneal mesothelioma develops in this lining. Pericardial mesothelioma develops in the membrane that surrounds the heart, which is known as the pericardium.
There is no known cure for malignant mesothelioma, but there are a variety of palliative treatments that can prolong life expectancy and make living with the cancer more comfortable.
Mesothelioma is not usually detected in its early stages; one of the difficulties with asbestos cancers is their long latency period. These illnesses often take 20 to 50 years after initial asbestos exposure to develop, and in most cases the victim is not even aware the exposure has occurred.
Mesothelioma is not the only cancer caused by asbestos fibers in the body. The National Cancer Institute reports that asbestos exposure can result in an increased risk of developing a number of life-threatening cancers. These illnesses include lung, gastrointestinal, colorectal, kidney, throat, esophageal and gallbladder cancers. Higher incidences of breast cancer, prostate cancer and leukemia may also be linked to asbestos exposure.
Lung cancer is the second most common of the asbestos cancers, second only to mesothelioma. Lung cancer resulting from asbestos exposure is identified as either small cell lung cancer or non-small cell lung cancer. The identification depends upon the appearance of the cancer cells. Non-small cell lung cancer is the more prevalent of the two types.
The risk of developing cancer from exposure to asbestos is increased or lessened by a number of factors relating to the exposure. The primary risk factor is the amount of asbestos fibers inhaled. Larger numbers of asbestos fibers in the body equate to larger risks of developing asbestos cancers.
The fibers accumulate in the body, so the risk from a short term exposure to a large amount of airborne asbestos fibers could be the same as the risk from exposure to much smaller quantities of fibers over a longer period of time.
It is important to remember that not all asbestos cancers are terminal, and that early detection can be a key issue to successful; treatment. People who become ill with persistent coughing, chest pain, shortness of breath, unexplained weight loss or tiredness should discuss work history as well as symptoms with a physician.
Certain jobs in specific time periods are known to have carried a high risk of asbestos exposure, and this information may aid the physician in making a diagnosis.