Mesothelioma is an uncommon malignancy caused primarily by exposure to asbestos. Millions of people in the United States alone have been exposed to asbestos and are in danger of developing malignant mesothelioma. The number of patients diagnosed with mesothelioma is expected to continue to rise until 2020. In undeveloped countries where the use of asbestos has not been banned, the rate of asbestos-related disease will climb higher and for much longer.

Asbestos is a naturally occurring fibrous mineral that was widely used in many industries before its general use was banned in the United States in the mid-1980’s. Asbestos was added to thousands of products that are still in existence today. These materials when disturbed or damaged can release asbestos fibers into the air and cause a health risk.

When airborne asbestos fibers are inhaled or ingested, they become lodged in the lining of the lungs, abdomen or chest cavities and can cause mesothelioma to develop years later. After a long latency period of 10 to 40 years after exposure, symptoms begin to appear. The symptoms of mesothelioma are similar to and often confused with many other more common illnesses. The non-specificity of symptoms along with a long lag time between exposure and disease make mesothelioma very difficult to diagnose. The aim of current research is to identify tumors before they have reached advanced stages when interventions would be more effective.

Around the world, scientists and doctors are researching ways to improve diagnostic and treatment methods of mesothelioma. One area of research is focusing on ways to detect the disease earlier. To date, identifying mesothelioma accurately and in early stages has proven to be very challenging.

Some clinical studies have been looking into serological markers for early detection of malignant mesothelioma, especially in patients known to have high risk due to genealogy or exposure. New serum biomarkers are being researched that hopefully will lead to ways of recognizing and diagnosing mesothelioma symptoms before tumors have progressed to late stages. SMRP, a soluble mesothelin-related protein, is one such marker. Others that are being investigated are osteopontin and combinations of new and known biomarkers.

More and more is being discovered about patients who may be at a higher risk and efforts continue to find ways of diagnosing and treating mesothelioma. If the cancer can be identified in early stages, or even before tumors develop, new therapies and perhaps even a cure could be found. For mesothelioma patients, family members and loved ones, the costs both financially and emotionally are high. Finding ways to detect mesothelioma early could benefit millions of people who have been exposed to asbestos worldwide.

Sally Clapper is a representative for the law offices of Clapper, Patti, Schweizer & Mason in Sausalito, CA. If you or someone you know is in need of a mesothelioma lawyer, please contact the firm at 1-800-440-4262. As experts in the legal field of mesothelioma law, the firm’s attorneys are recognized as some of the leading plaintiffs’ asbestos attorneys in the United States..

categories: mesothelioma detection,mesothelioma diagnosis,cancer,scientific research,health

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