Mesothelioma Prevention After Exposure

Individuals who have already been exposed to asbestos, but have not developed an asbestos-related disease should be diligent about monitoring their health on a regular basis. This can be done in a few different ways:

• Mesothelioma blood test - A simple blood test that can detect mesothelioma before its symptoms appear was approved by the FDA. Dubbed Mesomark, this test can be administered in a doctor's office. Find out if your doctor has access to the test and be sure to be tested annually.
• Imaging and other tests - Asbestos-exposed individuals can also be monitored via a diagnostic imaging test such as an x-ray, or by means of a pulmonary function test, which measures how well the lungs are working. These should also be done annually.

Also, anyone who has been exposed to asbestos and has not yet developed an asbestos-related disease should not smoke. Smoking greatly increases the possibility of developing such a disease. In addition, those who have asbestosis and continue to smoke run a much higher risk of developing mesothelioma.

• Joint compound
• Roofing tar
• Brake pads
• Fireproofing
• Pipes
• Insulation
• Countertops
• Floor tiles
• Textured wall and ceiling coatings

If these items are intact, they usually present little to no health hazards. However, if they are damaged or "friable," they should be removed from the house immediately. Removal should be done by a licensed abatement company, as this is the best way to protect you and your family from asbestos exposure.

On-the-Job Prevention

Workers in particular industries may still be at risk for exposure to asbestos. Those in the construction industry, for example, may encounter old buildings that contain asbestos. It is necessary to take great care in protecting yourself if the presence of asbestos is suspected, which includes wearing proper gear to avoid inhalation.

Monitoring Your Health

If you have already been exposed to asbestos, regularly monitoring your health is essential in order to catch the early warning signs of disease. Remember, treatment options are greater the earlier the disease is diagnosed. It is important to have regular chest x-rays and pulmonary function tests, even if you are experiencing no symptoms of disease.
In addition, if you have been exposed to asbestos in the past, you may be able to reduce your chances of developing mesothelioma by not smoking. Studies show that smoking damages the lungs and can affect the risk of developing mesothelioma. Anyone who does develop an asbestos-related disease should stop smoking immediately.
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Brigham System

The Brigham System is the most modern of the three malignant mesothelioma staging systems. The Brigham System looks at different variables such as the involvement of the lymph nodes and the surgical ability to remove a malignant mesothelioma tumor (respectability). For this reason, it is not used very often to stage mesothelioma, as the cancer is rarely operable. The Brigham System divides malignant mesothelioma into four stages:

• Stage 1 - Malignant mesothelioma tumor is still resectable (able to be removed surgically) and the lymph nodes are not affected.
• Stage 2 - Malignant mesothelioma tumor is still resectable, but the lymph nodes are now affected.
• Stage 3 - Malignant mesothelioma tumor is not resectable and the malignant mesothelioma has penetrated the heart, chest wall, abdominal cavity or diaphragm. Lymph nodes may or may not be affected.
• Stage 4 - Malignant mesothelioma tumor is not resectable and has completely metastasized (spread throughout the body).

Mesothelioma Prevention

For individuals who have worked with asbestos for many years, the discussion of mesothelioma prevention seems to be a moot point. Many who have been exposed to asbestos believe it's already too late to talk about ways to avoid developing mesothelioma. They think the affect of asbestos on the lungs has already manifested itself and there's no escaping the threat of developing the disease. However, past asbestos exposure is not the only factor people should worry about because the possibility of being exposed today is just one mistake away.
Asbestos was used in literally thousands of products throughout much of the twentieth century. Many of those items, particularly building products, are still in homes, offices, and factories across the country. Workers in specific industries can still encounter asbestos as well, including those who work in shipyards, power plants, chemical plants, or in the railroad and automotive industry.

Prevention at Work

In the past, the majority of workers had no idea that asbestos exposure could lead to the contraction of serious diseases. Today, however, most individuals are aware of the dangers, especially if they work in an industry that traditionally made use of the toxic substance. Regardless of the knowledge that is now available, not everyone takes the proper precautions that are needed to prevent exposure.
Preventing asbestos exposure and the risk of contracting mesothelioma at work can be accomplished through a few simple precautions. First of all, protective gear should be worn any time the presence of asbestos is suspected. Secondly, any clothes worn while working with asbestos should be left at the site. Wearing asbestos-covered clothes outside the work area could subject others to unwanted exposure. When dealing with asbestos, proper abatement methods should also be followed to ensure complete safety.

Prevention in the Home

Most people don't encounter asbestos simply by walking around their home even if there is asbestos inside. Asbestos exposure usually occurs during home renovation projects because do-it-yourself projects can catch non-professionals off guard. Some of the in-home items that may contain asbestos include:

• Attic insulation
• Roof shingles and tar
• Drywall and drywall glue
• Floor tiles
• Popcorn ceilings
• Joint compounds
• Wrapping on pipes and electrical wires

Asbestos that is already damaged or may be crumbling because of age is referred to as "friable" asbestos. This kind of asbestos is especially dangerous because the toxic fibers that make up asbestos can easily circulate through the air become inhaled. Anyone performing any type of serious renovation work on a home built prior to 1980 should always wear protective gear.

Testing for Mesothelioma

Mesomark is an easily performed blood test that uses an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to measure the amount of Soluble Mesothelin-Related Peptides (SMRP) in human serum. SMRP is a biomarker that is produced by mesothelioma cells, and this biomarker may be elevated in the serum of patients who have mesothelioma. The detection of the biomarker through a blood test can help attain an early diagnosis, resulting in more treatment options and a better prognosis for patients.
Mesomark is what is referred to as an in-vitro test. In this test, the blood that is drawn from the patient is sent to a laboratory to measure the level of SMRP. This is performed by using monoclonal antibodies that are known to specifically bind to SMRP. Measuring the amount of bound antibodies in the blood indicates the amount of SMRP, and certain levels indicate the presence of mesothelioma.
In addition to detecting the presence of mesothelioma in yet-to-be-diagnosed patients, the Mesomark blood test may also be used to monitor the success of treatments in patients who have already been diagnosed with the disease. These tests will also help determine the next course of treatment.

Is it Successful?

For potential mesothelioma sufferers, Mesomark sounds like a boon. But does it really work? It does, say researchers at New York University, who released a study in February 2007 on the competency of the test.
The study was led by Dr. Harvey Pass of the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery and NYU's School of Medicine and included a team of additional cardiothoracic experts. The study used the Mesomark assay to test serum and pleural effusions in patients who have already been diagnosed with mesothelioma. Results revealed that those individuals showed "significantly higher" amounts of SMRP in their blood than those in the control group, which including individuals with previous asbestos exposure as well as patients with other forms of cancer.
In a press release issued by NYU, Dr. Pass stated, "As a relatively rare and often misdiagnosed disease, mesothelioma has been somewhat of a mystery to the medical world. For years, we've believed SMRP played a role in the classification of the disease, but there was no accurate way to confirm it.
"Our findings not only show that SMRP is indeed a valid biomarker for mesothelioma, but also justify further research as a prospective screening test," he noted. "As we continue to learn more about this complex disease through tests such as Fujirebio Diagnostics' Mesomark Assay, we might finally be on our way towards improving survival rates and the quality of life for patients diagnosed with this aggressive and often fatal disease."
For more information on the Mesomark test, consult your oncologist, who can also help you find out where the assay is available and if you are a candidate for the test.

Are Tumor Markers Used to Screen for Cancer?

Screening is a process during which a cancer can be detected before symptoms are evident. Many researchers believe tumor markers aren't sensitive enough to be used for screening, yet one tumor marker, the prostate-specific antigen (PSA), has been used in the screening of prostate cancer among men for several years and has shown much success. However, an elevated PSA level does not necessarily indicate cancer, but does indicate the need for further testing.

Tumor Markers and Mesothelioma

A test approved last year by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is now being used to screen for mesothelioma among individuals at risk for the disease. Because mesothelioma symptoms do not usually surface until after a long latency period, this new test, called Mesomark, could make the difference between life and death for mesothelioma patients.
Mesomark measures the amount of Soluble Mesothelin-Related Peptides (SMRP) in human serum. SMRP is a tumor marker that is produced by mesothelioma cells. This tumor marker may be elevated in mesothelioma patients even in the very early stages of the disease.

Process of Staging Malignant Mesothelioma

When mesothelioma is diagnosed by a physician or specialist, they must determine the extent of the cancer and how far it has spread. Most often, they will use imaging procedures to see inside the chest or abdomen to help determine the staging of the malignant mesothelioma. The imaging options physicians may use include:

• Chest x-ray
• CT scan of the chest and/or abdomen
• MRI scan of the chest and/or abdomen
• PET scan of the chest and/or abdomen

Once the doctor is able to determine the stage of the mesothelioma, they will be able to formulate a plan for treatment and provide a prognosis.