Mesothelioma is an aggressive cancer that is caused mainly by exposure to asbestos. Although we now know that asbestos is a carcinogen, their widespread presence in the Industrial Revolution started and lasted until the substance was banned in the 1980s. So many people were exposed to the material, which means that more and more people will be diagnosed with this disorder, with a peak in about 2016.
To try to know the widespread impact of asbestos, it is vital to know why it is considered so beneficial. A family member silicate, asbestos has incredible insulating properties. Resists heat, fire, electricity, chemicals, and even biodegradation. By itself, tensile strength of this material has risen, and flexibility. Thus, it can easily be added to everything from vinyl flooring to the ceiling tiles of brake pads.
It was not until the 1950s that physicians and researchers demonstrated a clear link between asbestos exposure and mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is different from lung cancer that attacks the linings of the body including the lungs, rather than in the lung tissue itself. Mesothelioma linings are susceptible to lung, heart, abdomen and testicles. Besides these four main categories of this type of cancer, there are three subtypes of the disease: epithelioid, sarcomatoid and biphasic.
The subtypes of mesothelioma is related to its different forms. When examined under a microscope, the cancerous tissue is presented in different forms, which also give doctors a clue to how aggressive the cancer is.
The less aggressive form of mesothelioma, affecting 50-70% of mesothelioma patients is epithelioid. When viewed under a microscope, cells have a uniform tubular shape. Because this is a very common form of cancer cells, which can be confused with adenocarcinoma. But, adenocarcinoma, starts in the lining of organs rather than lining the body cavity.
Then, the subtype is more aggressive sarcomatoid mesothelioma. Fortunately, this only accounts for 10-15% of cases of mesothelioma every year because the future is uncertain. Sarcomatoid cancer cells are more irregular than those of epithelioid and tend to be more oval. As the epithelial cells, sarcomatoid cells can also be confused with other diseases such as sarcoma and sarcomatoid carcinoma.
Finally, biphasic mesothelioma contains a mixture of sarcomatoid and epithelial cells, and affects 46-63% of patients with mesothelioma.
No matter what type of mesothelioma develops, it is a relatively deadly cancer. If you or someone you know has been diagnosed with the disease after exposure to asbestos should contact a lawyer about their rights to financial compensation as possible. For more information, check out the asbestos lawyers at Williams Kherkher today.