Radiation and Cancer Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma on

Saturday 4 April 2015

Within a few decades it is assumed that the only cause of mesothelioma is exposure to asbestos. While this asbestos is responsible for most cases of mesothelioma cancer. But gradually raised the possibility there are several other risk factors for this disease.

Worldwide, the number of cases of mesothelioma with no links to the cause of asbestos have been diagnosed. As one of fact, a study of 1980 patients (McDonald and McDonald's) in the US and Canada establishes that the amount of between 25 percent to 33 percent of all cases are not associated with exposure to asbestos. The doctor who discovered initially puzzled to explain. However, with some in-depth research and study of some scientists and medical professionals can determine that some patients with pleural mesothelioma has other similar factors are exposure radias.

• Radiation treatment, X-ray, and Mesothelioma

Several dozen cases of mesothelioma through radiation therapy for Hodgkin's disease has been found. A 2005 study entitled "Clinical Course of Thoracic Cancers in Hodgkin's Disease Survivors" (P. Das, AK Ng, MA Stevenson, and PM Mauch) appropriately established that patients with Hodgkin's disease who were treated with radiation therapy have a higher risk of disease mesothelioma.

In particular, this study followed 33 patients with Hodgkin's lymphoma who were treated at the hospital of Harvard and has grown mesothelioma lung cancer small cell. Of the patients who participated, 88 percent had a history of radiotherapy to the thorax as a treatment for their disease. Some patients have suffered from breast cancer in just one year after being treated for Hodgkin's disease. Whereas another patient contracted Hodgkin mesotheliokma after more than two decades later. Like most patients with mesothelioma, most patients diagnosed with mesothelioma when it reached stage III or IV and the prognosis is very difficult. The survival rate average is only 9 months.

In some cases, peritoneal mesothelioma has also been associated with radiation therapy for breast cancer or other cancers that do to the chest area

Other studies have found a relationship between mesothelioma and thorium dioxide, which is a radioactive substance that is used in conjunction with conventional x-ray to diagnose certain conditions. Thorium dioxide is widely used from the 1920s until the 1950s.

• Atomic Radiation and Mesothelioma

In 1995, the first case has been diagnosed with mesothelioma and is believed to be associated with the incident atomic bomb on Nagasaki. A report in this case, written by Masami Mizuki, Keiko Yukishige, Yasuharu Abe, and Tomiyasu Tsuda published in the journal Respirology in September 1997. They argue that the combination of exposure to atomic radiation and asbestos (patient worked for 2 years as a shipbuilder in a factory ammunition) is associated with an increased incidence of mesothelioma.

The doctor who wrote the study found, "If the pleural thickening or pleural effusion was found in the atomic bomb survivors, malignant mesothelioma should be considered as an option in the differential diagnosis, even though the atomic bomb attacks a few decades ago."

• Atomic Energy Workers and Mesothelioma

There seems to be a potential connection to the occurrence of mesothelioma in place with radiation exposure. Over the last few decades, some people currently or previously worked on atomic energy plant has been diagnosed with a rare cancer. In this case thought to be caused by constant exposure to low-level radiation. (Ionizing radiation: A risk factor for cancer; JE Goodman et al, 2009) It is important and should be noted that the authors concluded that given the low levels of mesothelioma in the general population as well as an increased risk of disease on individuals who are exposed to radiation, including those working in atomic power plant.

• Relationship Between Radiation and Mesothelioma

Knowing about the relationship between radiation and mesothelioma is one of the steps to speed up diagnosis and saved a lot of people who have been identified as potential victims of mesothelioma. Anyone who has been exposed to radiation in any form, either regularly in the workplace or through the x-ray or through therapy for other types of breast cancer, should always inform their physician about medical history and the history of its work despite the radiation exposure occurred in previous years. Therefore, if symptoms including chest pain, shortness of breath, and coughing can be determined conjunction with a medical history and employment history, the patient can be made the correct diagnosis and treatment of mesothelioma begin as soon as possible.

Labels: Medicine, Mesothelioma

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