People usually think of mesothelioma as a type of lung cancer caused by asbestos exposure. In fact, if you look at the frequently asked questions, the answers about mesothelioma but doesn’t go into the specifics of the disease.
The word “mesothelioma” actually refers to a growth or tumor in the mesothelium – a membrane that lines several bodily cavities, and surrounds several organs. While mesothelioma is most likely to occur in the lungs of people who have been exposed to asbestos, it’s not the only place that these malignant tumors can appear. Additionally, although many mesothelioma sufferers are middle-aged men, they are also not the only victims.
Although many asbestos-related jobs were dominated by men, women still faced a risk of second hand exposure from asbestos on the clothing of the men in their households. They also faced environmental exposure from asbestos in construction materials in their homes, and in areas with high levels of asbestos in the soil. There was also a risk of exposure on military bases where asbestos use was common. Additionally, while most asbestos-related jobs were performed by men, there were some jobs were women did participate and were exposed.
Unfortunately, because most of the focus has been on men, and because public awareness of mesothelioma has centered mostly on the lungs, mesothelioma rates in women have been largely overlooked and the other types of mesothelioma have been forgotten.
The Types of Mesothelioma
There are two major types of mesothelioma:
- Pleural mesothelioma, which affects the lungs; and,
- Peritoneal mesothelioma, which affects the organs in the abdomen.
Although pleural mesothelioma is more common, because asbestos is most often inhaled into the lungs, peritoneal mesothelioma is also a major concern.
Peritoneal mesothelioma can occur when someone ingests or swallows asbestos fibers, which can usually happen if the fibers fall into food or drink, or as part of the inhalation process.
Mesothelioma can often be difficult to diagnose because there may be no symptoms at all in the early stages, or the symptoms could be mistaken for something else. For example, lumps in a woman’s abdominal cavity could be mistaken for benign fibroid cysts, rather than malignant mesothelioma tumors. Doctors might not think to test for mesothelioma at all until the symptoms become more severe and they have ruled out other causes.
There are also two more types of mesothelioma that are far less common, but deserve mention:
- Pericardial mesothelioma, which affects the heart; and,
- Mesothelioma of the tunica vaginalis, which affects the testicles.
Mesothelioma in Women
In studies conducted in areas like Turkey, where high levels of asbestos appear in the soil, scientists discovered that women actually have a higher susceptibility to mesothelioma of the lung than men. One theory is, in taller people with longer windpipes, asbestos particles tend to lodge in the windpipe and airways, rather than in the lungs. In shorter individuals, the asbestos tends to settle more within the lung tissue. Because women tend to be shorter than men, and have shorter windpipes, they are more likely to have asbestos particles in their lungs.
Another issue is the type of asbestos. In women with both pleural and peritoneal mesothelioma, there were higher levels of amphibole type asbestos. Amphibole type asbestos was used often in building materials, including home insulation and ceiling tiles. The theory is that women who spent more time in homes built with the materials were exposed to higher levels of this type of asbestos than the men, or that they inhaled these materials from the clothing and hair of the men who worked in industries that made those materials.
The treatment for both types of mesothelioma in women is similar to the treatment for men. However, where things sometimes differ is in the diagnosis. Because women aren’t often considered candidates for mesothelioma, a woman with the disease could go undiagnosed for much longer than a male counterpart. By the time she does receive a diagnosis, she could be in the later stages of the disease when treatment is much more difficult.
Another obstacle is that most women are exposed through secondary contact, which means they don’t have much legal recourse for getting financial assistance. Whereas a man could receive treatment under Worker’s Compensation, a woman who got sick through second hand exposure would not. However, with proper representation, they may very well be able to participate in a lawsuit for asbestos exposure.
This is why it’s important for people to be aware of the major types of mesothelioma, and the symptoms, so that they can get the diagnosis and treatment they need. It’s also important so that they can trace the method of exposure and begin the process of getting compensation.
