The lungs, stomach, and heart are lined with tissue called mesothelium. Inhalation of asbestos particles , also known as asbestos, in the workplace or at home is associated with mesothelioma, a rare cancer with very few treatment options that affects the mesothelium or peritoneum (layer of tissue that lines the abdomen and most of its organs). It can also form in the heart or testicles, but is much less common.
After exposure to asbestos (its fibers), the disease usually takes a long time to show its face. It usually starts in the lungs, but it can also start in the abdomen or other organs.
What are the symptoms of mesothelioma?
The most dangerous thing about mesothelioma is that it is often detected in advanced stages of its development , so there is less room for maneuver to treat it successfully. Also, sometimes it is difficult to differentiate it from lung cancer.
The most common symptoms of mesothelioma are the following:
- Difficulty breathing.
- Pain under the ribs.
- Pain, swelling, or even lumps in the abdomen.
- Lose weight for no apparent reason.
Surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, and/or targeted therapy are used to treat mesothelioma. In the latter, drugs that fight specific cancer cells are used.
Asbestos as a cause of mesothelioma
As we have mentioned, one of the causes of mesothelioma is exposure to asbestos . In the past, this material was widely used in construction, due to its resistance to corrosion and heat and, despite having been withdrawn and no longer used (in the European Union it has been prohibited since 2001), it is today responsible for the appearance of new cases of this disease. Keep in mind that past exposures may now be surfacing in the form of mesothelioma.
The danger of asbestos lies in its fibers, which are microscopic . If an object containing asbestos is shaken or moved, the fibers can become dislodged and remain suspended in the air. As these fibers are inhaled, they will pass into the lungs and remain trapped there for a long time. If they build up, they cause problems.
And what relationship does asbestos have with the Madrid metro?
The use of asbestos had its peak in the Industrial Revolution. Its resistance to chemicals, heat, water and electricity made it the perfect insulator for steam engines, turbines and generators. In the case of the Madrid underground, it was used in the vaults of the tunnels, in the wagons and in auxiliary rooms.
To have a problem with asbestos, exposure to it must be prolonged (so that it accumulates in the lungs) and it must be manipulated so that the fibers come off. Breakage, drilling and demolition are therefore very risky, even if the material has aged.
mesothelioma research
In Spain, Dr. Manel Esteller , director of the Josep Carreras Institute, participates in the PREDICT-Meso project whose objective is to study the development of mesothelioma, as well as to validate different therapeutic approaches. Esteller’s group investigates the molecular processes that are involved in the formation of this type of tumor. It also tries to find ways to identify mesothelioma early.
On the other hand, Dr. Luis Paz-Ares is one of the leading experts in mesothelioma in our country, head of the medical oncology service at Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre in Madrid. Currently, it is part of an international research project that aims to expand knowledge about this type of cancer in order to improve its diagnosis and treatment. Dr. Paz-Ares’ group studies the genetic abnormalities that occur in tumor cells, in order to later seek more personalized methods to treat each case.
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References:
MedlinePlus in Spanish [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): National Library of Medicine (USA). Mesothelioma; [updated 13 Jul. 2020; revised Jul 13 2020; query 27 apr. 2022]; Available at: https://medlineplus.gov/spanish/mesothelioma.html
National Cancer Institute. Malignant Mesothelioma Treatment (Adult) (PDQ®)–Patient Version originally published by the National Cancer Institute; [updated 25 Jun. 2021; revised 25 jun 2021; query 27 apr. 2022]; Available at: https://www.cancer.gov/espanol/tipos/mesotelioma/paciente/tratamiento-mesotelioma-pdq
