| Asbestos-related diseases develop slowly, over | | | | when surgery is no longer a viable treatment. |
| several years. Herein lies the problem found in | | | | Chemotherapy, wherein medications to kill cancer |
| asbestos treatment and diagnosis. They may not | | | | cells are administered intravenously, can help |
| show up as cancer until decades after the initial | | | | control cancer but is not always the first choice |
| exposure occurred. While these manifestations | | | | patients elect for, due to its side effects. These |
| can be treated, they cannot always be cured. | | | | side effects arise because the chemotherapy |
| Asbestosis is an example of one asbestos-related | | | | targets and destroys any cells that are dividing |
| disease that currently lacks a cure. Asbestosis | | | | rapidly, which includes some types of ordinary, |
| results from inhaling asbestos fibers and involves | | | | non-cancerous cells. |
| scarring of the lung tissues, resulting in shortness | | | | Radiation therapy is similar to chemotherapy. It is |
| of breath, chest pain, and cough, among other | | | | designed to kill cancerous cells, but, unlike |
| symptoms. Sufferers of this disease may be at | | | | chemotherapy, may be administered externally, |
| increased risk for lung cancer; cessation of | | | | without the necessity of injecting anything into |
| smoking is therefore included as part of the | | | | the patient. Newer forms of radiation therapy are |
| treatment regimen. | | | | administered internally, however, in the form of |
| Asbestosis patients may receive several | | | | tiny rods that are implanted into a tumor to |
| vaccinations and medicines in order to manage the | | | | target it with a high dose of radiation. This |
| disease. In particular, treatment includes an annual | | | | therapy, in either form, is often partnered with |
| flu shot and periodic vaccination again pneumonia, | | | | surgery, but can be employed independently. While |
| to which asbestosis sufferers may be more | | | | not a cure for the disease, radiation therapy is |
| susceptible than most. Some asbestosis patients | | | | effective in relieving pain and symptoms |
| may be prescribed medications such as those | | | | associated with mesothelioma, at least short term. |
| designed to relieve symptoms of asthma, or | | | | Aside from those common treatments, |
| antibiotics to fight against lung infections in more | | | | experimental and less popular options do exist. |
| advanced cases. In all patients, clean surroundings | | | | These include photodynamic, gene, and |
| and proper hygiene are crucial to avoiding serious | | | | immunotherapy. Additionally, some patients |
| complications and infections. | | | | choose to rely on alternative therapies, which, |
| Mesothelioma, the most common | | | | though unconventional, may help control |
| asbestos-related disease, affects the lining of the | | | | symptoms and improve quality of life for |
| lungs and may be treated through surgery, | | | | sufferers. Therapies like acupuncture and |
| chemotherapy, or radiation therapy. Patients may | | | | massage can work to benefit the well being of |
| also elect for a multi-modal approach that | | | | patients, though these options will not cure the |
| combines several treatment options in order to | | | | disease. |
| target the cancer. An example of this would be a | | | | Researchers are aiming to find cures for |
| patient who, after undergoing surgery to remove | | | | asbestos-related diseases via clinical trials. Those |
| a tumor, then received chemotherapy to try to | | | | who do not want to endure the side effects of |
| destroy any lingering cancer. | | | | some treatments, or who have not seen any |
| Treatment options vary depending on the stage | | | | positive results from conventional treatments, |
| of mesothelioma. A patient whose disease is in its | | | | may elect to enroll in a clinical trial of an |
| early stages is more likely to opt for surgery. If | | | | experimental drug. These studies are invaluable in |
| the disease is caught in its very earliest stages, | | | | discovering the efficacy of new treatments for |
| surgery may even cure the patient. However, | | | | mesothelioma and other diseases, and may |
| most mesothelioma is diagnosed in later stages, | | | | eventually lead to a cure. |