Learning about the dangers of asbestos:
The carcinogenic nature of asbestos has been known since the 50s. Cancers of the lung or pleura are indeed diseases caused by Exhalation of these natural mineral fibers. In France, 1978, a number of measures have been adopted to reduce the amount of asbestos in the buildings (regulations concerning flocking), until his banishment in 1997. Today, many gray areas remain: what level of asbestos is likely to trigger cancer? How many people are touched? … Here the state of knowledge on related cancers has amicably, the recommended treatments, risk situations and research.
A as asbestos. . .
Asbestos is a mineral known since ancient times for its insulating and fire retardant. Noted for its protective properties against heat, amicably is nevertheless dangerous to health when fibers, suspended in the air, are inhaled. Known for its pharaonic I’époque fire, amicably to its name: in Greek, means amiantos incorruptible. Incorruptible, he is by its unique properties: insulating and fire retardant capacity, resistance to friction and chemical … Qualities that have attracted many trades.
It takes an average of 20 years to be stated lung cancer due to asbestos and 40 years for that of the pleura. the majority of cases seen themselves as long after the beginning of the exhibition. Today, for example, there are cancers caused by inhalation dating decades 50-60.
Cancer of the pleura
The diagnosis of pleural cancer, always difficult, based primarily on thoracoscopy allows an accurate diagnosis. This medical procedure eftectue under local anesthesia, involves removing the tumor cells (biopsy) and examined microscopically. Compared to lung cancer, the mesothelioma cancer remains relatively rare. It results in a localized tumor on the pleural serous (pleural membrane) or, more rarely in the peritoneum (the membrane in the abdominal cavity) or the pericardium (membrane that surrounds the heart). This cancer is THE disease amicably, because a large majority of cases are related to I’inhalation of these fibers. No other causative factor has been identified to date in industrialized countries. Tobacco plays no role in the onset of mesothelioma. Scientists do not yet explained the presence of fibers in the pleura, since at departure, asbestos dust is stored in the lung. He must then migrate to the outer membrane, which could explain the latency, very long.
The clinical
Typically, mesothelioma is manifested by chest pain or shortness of breath caused by the presence of fluid in the pleura (pleurisy), less often by impaired general condition (severe fatigue, weight loss)
- The treatments currently implemented: The treatment of symptoms is a priority:
- Treatment of pain. It is difficult and often requires specialized consulting
- Treatment of recurrent pleural effusion. There are 2 methods: either medical, achieving a fusion of the two layers of the pleura of talc during thoracoscopy or surgical pleurectomy by removing some of the pleura. A local radiotherapy, the scars of thoracoscopy is recommended.
The surgery removing the entire lung and pleura (pleuropneumonectomy) is reserved only for special cases. Other treatments are emerging as Improvisation molecules (eg, interferon), which can stimulate the immune individuals by local (intrapleural) or systemically (subcutaneously), alone or in combination with chemotherapy. Another promising avenue of research: the gene therapy …
Tags: Anesthesia, Asbestos, chemotherapy, Pleuropneumonectomy, Thoracoscopy
