Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is an uncommon but aggressive cancer that forms in the mesothelium, which is the tissue that lines certain internal organs. Roughly 3,000 people in the U.S. are diagnosed with mesothelioma annually. Two-thirds of those patients are 65 or older.

The most common type of mesothelioma affects the tissue around your lungs. It can also develop in the lining of the abdominal organs, testicles or the sac surrounding the heart.

The leading cause of most mesothelioma cases is asbestos exposure. Asbestos is a mineral that was previously used in automotive products, construction and shipbuilding.

When asbestos is disturbed, it’s possible to inhale or swallow airborne fibers. Once in your body, the fibers can irritate the lining of the lungs, abdomen, heart or testicles. This irritation can scar the lining of your organs and may lead to cancer.

The most common early symptoms of mesothelioma are chest pain, cough, digestive issues, night sweats and shortness of breath.

How Is Mesothelioma Diagnosed?

Doctors use imaging tests (chest X-ray, CT, MRI or PET scans) to diagnose mesothelioma.

They may also:

• Order blood tests to check for substances linked to mesothelioma.
• Remove fluids from around your lungs to look for signs of cancer.
• Take tissue samples during a minor surgical procedure called a biopsy.

Diagnosis can be challenging because mesothelioma symptoms can mimic other common illnesses.

What To Expect After Diagnosis

If you are diagnosed with mesothelioma, your doctor will review your treatment options with you. How far the cancer has spread and the type of cancer you have will determine your options.

It never hurts to get a second or third opinion at cancer centers with experience in treating mesothelioma.

Prognosis and Why It’s Often Diagnosed Late

The average mesothelioma prognosis is typically poor, with the median survival of pleural mesothelioma patients ranging from eight to 12 months. Peritoneal mesothelioma patients may survive six months to one year without treatment.

Patients with testicular mesothelioma may live two to three years. People with pericardial mesothelioma typically have a life expectancy of roughly two to six months.

There is no cure for mesothelioma, and outcomes are better when the cancer is caught early. However, it’s usually diagnosed late because sometimes it’s misdiagnosed or difficult to detect on scans.

People are usually exposed to asbestos at work. However, they can also be exposed through environmental exposure, secondary exposure or when renovating old buildings and homes.

Navy veterans are among those most at risk since asbestos was widely used in naval facilities and ships. Up to one-third of pleural mesothelioma cases occur in military veterans.

Veterans who served in these environments decades ago remain at risk because of the disease’s potentially long latency period.

Secondary and Environmental Exposure

People who don’t work with asbestos can be indirectly exposed through environmental or secondary exposure.

Environmental exposure may occur if you live near factories that work with asbestos or live where asbestos occurs naturally.

Secondary exposure can happen if you live with someone who is regularly exposed to asbestos. It’s possible for people with asbestos exposure to bring fibers home on their skin, clothes or gear, exposing you and anyone else in your home.

DIY, Renovation and Older Buildings

Asbestos is still present in many older buildings and homes. Remodeling, demolition or repairs can release dangerous fibers into the air, exposing homeowners, renovators and construction workers.

Exposure to asbestos-contaminated talcum powder has been linked to cases of mesothelioma and ovarian cancer in medical studies.

Some cosmetic talcum powder products have been shown to contain asbestos. This can happen because of contamination during mining, as talc and asbestos can naturally occur together.

What Studies Have Found

Scientific studies have found a link between talcum powder and mesothelioma because some cosmetic talc products have been contaminated with asbestos. This can cause people to receive a diagnosis of mesothelioma due to talc usage.

In a 2023 case series published in the Journal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology, 122 of 166 mesothelioma patients had no known potential asbestos exposure aside from cosmetic talcum powder use. Researchers said cosmetic talc is often overlooked as a source of asbestos exposure.

Another study in the European Society of Medicine examined case studies of mesothelioma patients who had only been exposed to talc. Researchers found asbestos fibers in the patients’ tissues.

Who’s at Risk From Cosmetic Talc Exposure

People most at risk include frequent users of talcum powder products contaminated with asbestos. This can include adults using baby powder for personal hygiene and children exposed to talc-based products.

Certain occupations, including barbers, cosmetologists and hairdressers, are also at an increased risk of talc exposure.

Which Talc Products Have Been Linked to Mesothelioma?

Johnson & Johnson’s talc-based baby powder is the main product in the asbestos talcum powder controversy. The company faces thousands of talcum powder lawsuits claiming the product led women to develop ovarian cancer.

In addition, Johnson & Johnson faces claims that the baby powder led to mesothelioma in some people.

In October 2019, Johnson & Johnson recalled some of its Johnson’s Baby Powder after the FDA found trace amounts of asbestos in one lot of the talc-based powder.

According to a Reuters report, evidence from Johnson & Johnson company documents and independent tests showed asbestos contamination in some lots as far back as 1972.

If you’ve been diagnosed with mesothelioma, you might be eligible to file a mesothelioma lawsuit against an asbestos or talcum powder manufacturer. Some manufacturers have gone bankrupt, but they’ve established mesothelioma and asbestos trusts to compensate people who were injured by their products.

Be sure to keep all your medical and employment records and any receipts that show you purchased a talcum powder product.

You can get a case review on Drugwatch. It doesn’t cost you anything, and the choice to file a lawsuit is always yours.