Radiation and Cancer Mesothelioma

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 the more chances there are several other risk factors for this disease.

Atomic Radiation and Mesothelioma

Across the world, a number of cases of mesothelioma with no causal connection has been diagnosed with asbestos. As a fact, a study of 1980 patients (McDonald and McDonald) in the US and Canada established that the number between 25 percent to 33 percent of all cases are not related to asbestos exposure. The doctor who discovered initially at a loss to explain. However, with some in-depth research and studies, some scientists and medical professionals can determine that some patients with pleural mesothelioma have other similar factors that exposure radias.

Radiation treatment, X-ray, and Mesothelioma

Several dozen cases of mesothelioma with 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) exactly establish that patients with Hodgkin's disease who were treated with radiation therapy have a higher risk of disease mesothelioma.Specifically, this study followed 33 patients with Hodgkin hospitalized Harvard and has grown mesothelioma lung cancer small cell. Of the participating patients, 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 over a year after being treated for Hodgkin's disease. Whereas other patients 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 areaOther 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 believed to be associated with the incidence of the 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 ammunition factory) was associated with an increased incidence of mesothelioma.The doctors 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 several decades ago."Atomic Energy workers and MesotheliomaIt seems that there is a potential connection to the occurrence of mesothelioma in place with radiation exposure. Over the past few decades, few people currently or previously worked on atomic energy plant have been diagnosed with a rare cancer. In this case thought to be caused by constant exposure to radiation in low levels. (Ionizing radiation: A risk factor for cancer; JE Goodman et al, 2009) It is important to note is the authors concluded that given the low rate of mesothelioma in the general population as well as an increased risk of disease on individuals exposed to radiation, including those working in atomic power plants.

Relationship Between Radiation and Mesothelioma

Knowing about the relationship between radiation and mesothelioma is one of the measures for speeding up diagnosis and saved many 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 x-ray or through therapy for other cancers chest, should always tell their doctor about medical history and history of work despite the radiation exposure occurred a few years earlier. Therefore, if the symptoms include chest pain, shortness of breath, and coughing can be determined relationship with a medical history and a history of the patient work can then be made the correct diagnosis and treatment of mesothelioma begin as soon as possible.

Source:
http://annonc.oxfordjournals.org/content/16/5/793.full;
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/mesothelioma/DS00779/DSECTION=risk-factors;
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1440-1843.1997.tb00079.x/abstract;
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19444627

Radiation and Cancer Mesothelioma