Cancer Resources

Mesothelioma is a disease characterized by scattered pulmonary fibrosis from the infiltration of asbestos dust into the lungs. Recent laws limit the usage of asbestos, but a lot of industries used it in the past. Hence, exposure occurred, and may still happen, in many jobs, comprising of manufacturing and mining of asbestos, shipbuilding, demolition of structures containing asbestos, and roofing. Further diseases connected to asbestos exposure include lung cancer, asbestosis, and asbestos pleural effusion.

The amount of exposure that leads to disease in people is up for debate. While there are numerous cases of factory or other workers that have had heavy exposure to free, friable exposure for several years developing disease, there are also cases where exposure has been as short as some months or only a few weeks. Intensity of exposure is most probable as relevant as length of time.

Dust of asbestos is a vicious thing. Due to the chemical structure of the material, the dust is like a cloud of fine glass particles. While they will not harm your skin, they do great harm to the lungs. Making matters worse, asbestos dust is so fine that it is simply raised from asbestos material like ceiling tiles and walls. Once in the air, it is all but unseen. Continue reading ‘Helpful Tips to Remove Asbestos Dust’ »

Asbestos dust exposure can result in the development of disease.  This fact has been a strong impetus for research.  One interesting study involving the disease development in the lungs of rats is called, “Hydroxyl radicals are formed in the rat lung after asbestos instillation in vivo.” By Schapira RM, Ghio AJ, Effros RM, Morrisey J, Dawson CA, Hacker AD – Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee – Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol. 1994 May;10(5):573-9.  Here is an excerpt: “The hydroxyl radical (.OH) has been implicated as a cause of lung injury following asbestos exposure. However, despite in vitro evidence associating asbestos with .OH production, there has been no demonstration of such generation in vivo. Continue reading ‘Lung Injury and Disease Resulting From Asbestos Exposure’ »

One group of people that have been particularly impacted by asbestos exposure is shipyward workers and their families.  Asbestos was so prevalent in the construction of ships because of its fire retardant qualities and durability.  During a ships construction, the workers would typically handle asbestos insulation products and consequently inhale large amounts of toxic dust.  Unfortunately, many of these workers have died because of this asbestos exposure.

One thing we can all do is try to raise public awareness about asbestos exposure and the link to lung cancer and mesothelioma.  One good study is called, “Asbestos exposure: factors associated with excess cancer and respiratory disease mortality.” By Henderson VL, and Enterline PE.  Ann N Y Acad Sci. 1979; 330:117-26.  Here is an excerpt: Continue reading ‘Workers And Their Families Exposed To Hazardous Asbestos Dust And Mesothelioma’ »