Asbestos Causes Mesothelioma in Lungs

Asbestos is often called the silent killer. It is a carcinogen which causes cancer in mesothelial cells and due to this the cancer is named "Mesothelioma". The mesothelial cells are the lining on internal organs like lungs, heart, abdomen etc. If mesothelioma develops in lungs, it is called pleural mesothelioma, if it develops in heart, it is called pericardial mesothelioma and in abdomen it is called peritonial mesothelioma.

This disease commonly occurs in lungs and the symptoms do not appear even after 40-45 years of inhalation of asbestos. People usually inhale fine fibers of asbestos at work places. It is used in many industries because of its durability, heat and fire resistant property by Metal plate workers, Decorators, Builders, Electricians, Carpenters, Gas fitters, Plumbers etc. Usually, men suffer with mesothelioma in lungs; women come in contact with asbestos while washing clothes of the people who have worked with asbestos.

Asbestos is found in many forms, but crocidolite, commonly known as blue asbestos is the most dangerous one. It is so because the fibers of blue asbestos are very fine. After inhalation, particles stick to the external lining of the lung known as pleura and cause cancer. The symptoms start with discomfort in the chest cavity, coughing, and eventual pain. Usually people don't come to know in beginning and this lung cancer is diagnosed in its advanced stage and therefore, 20% patients survive up to 5 years after diagnosis.


Mesothelioma in lungs is incurable. The treatments used to cure this disease like Photodynamic Therapy, Photodynamic Therapy, Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy, Gene Therapy, and Chemotherapy etc. can increase the life of the patient. Sometimes the affected lung, pericardium and half of the diaphragm are removed to extend the life of the patient.
Treatments to cure this disease are very expensive and therefore compensation is given to the patient by the person who is responsible for working with asbestos. But, patient has to prove that the reason behind mesothelioma was inhalation of asbestos. If the patient succeeds, he gets enough money to finance his treatment as well as to run and support his family.