Asbestos is a class of fibrous minerals. Exposure to these minerals has been proven to case various forms of cancer and it has been occurring over the course of this past century. The asbestos fibers will cause an irritation and inflammation of cells called the mesothelial cells. This damage causes irreversible damage which eventually causes a disruption in the function for normal cell division. This produced abnormal cellular changes which what leads to cancer. Asbestos also cause damage to DNA which causes cells to eventually mutate and become cancerous. The most common form of cancer that is caused by exposure to asbestos is mesothelioma. This type of cancer will attack the lining of the lungs, heart, or abdomen. Every year, between 2,000 and 3,000 cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed in America.

The sympotoms of asbestos cancer don’t occur until 20-50 years after the first exposure to asbestos occurred. These symptoms are often difficult to diagnose and resemble that of the flu or a bad cold. These symptoms include a shortness of breath, chest pain, couching, fatigue, night sweats, fever, and weight loss. Most often, a patient will not be able to be diagnosed until the asbestos cancer has reached its later stages. This is due to the long time between exposure and sign of symptoms. Once the symptoms are present, the doctor may perform a diagnostic test including x-rays, CT, and MRI scans as well as a biopsy. These tests will reveal the stage of progression and help the doctor determine treatment plans. Treatment includes a wide range of options that depend on the needs of the patient. These treatments include radiation, chemotherapy, surgery, and experimental treatments.