July 17, 2025 • 14 mins
Mesothelioma: I am sure you have seen those ads stating that if you or a loved one have mesothelioma you may be entitled to compensation. But what actually is mesothelioma? What causes it? And what symptoms might you experience if you had it? In this episode, we will explore the history of mesothelioma, how we diagnose it, and the current treatment options. Tune in to learn more!
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Or pick up some stylish merch: https://merchanatomy.com/
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Resources:
Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation (US): https://www.curemeso.org/
Mesothelioma UK: https://www.mesothelioma.uk.com/
Asbestos Diseases Foundation of Australia: https://adfa.org.au/
References:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/mesothelioma/symptoms-causes/syc-20375022
https://www.asbestos.com/asbestos/
https://www.asbestos.com/mesothelioma/history/
https://www.mesothelioma.com/mesothelioma/history/
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/mesothelioma/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20375028
https://www.mesothelioma.com/blog/celebrities-who-battled-mesothelioma/
https://www.asbestos.com/blog/2023/04/03/movies-used-toxic-asbestos/
https://www.asbestos.com/mesothelioma-lawyer/legislation/
https://www.asbestos.com/news/2018/12/19/mesothelioma-documentary-streaming/
*This podcast is for entertainment purposes only. If you suspect you have a medical condition, please seek out an opinion of a medical professional.*
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
Lately, you have been feeling exhausted,
(00:02):
struggling to get your day-to-day tasks done,
even struggling to stay awake.
You have been coughing a lot lately.
This cough is painful
and you feel as if it is difficult to breathe.
In the past few weeks, you have had worsening chest pain.
With the insistence of your wife,
you get up and get ready for a busy day,
heading out to see your grandchildren.
As you get dressed in the bathroom,
you notice your clothes fit a lot more loosely than normal
(00:24):
and there are some strange lumps in your chest.
You tell your wife and she encourages you
to make a doctor's appointment.
Hello and Welcome to Anatomy Of Illness.
(00:47):
Today's episode is about mesothelioma.
Before we get into the condition,
we are going to start with the history.
So why do we know mesothelioma exists?
To start, we need to jump back to the year 1797.
This is when the founder of pathologic anatomy in France,
Joseph Lieutaud, would first describe a tumour
in the pleural mesothelium,
which is the tissue that surrounds the lungs.
(01:08):
He would note the first cases of pleural mesothelioma.
Moving on to 1817.
This is when the first lecture would be given
about both pleural and peritoneal mesothelioma.
So this is the mesotheliomas in both the stomach area
and surrounding the lungs.
This lecture was given by another French physician,
Pierre Fouquier.
Stepping forward by another two years to 1819.
(01:29):
This is when René-Théophile-Hyacinthe Laennec
would invent the stethoscope,
which would be important for physical exams on the lungs.
But he would also make the radical suggestion
that cancer could develop in the pleura.
So these cancers in the tissues surrounding the lungs
started there, they did not spread there.
Moving on to 1843 and over to Vienna University.
(01:50):
We meet with Karl Freiheer von Rokitansky.
He, like many others, would argue against Laennec's thinking
suggesting that cancers found in the pleura
were always linked to primary cancers
that were found in other parts of the body.
In 1854, he would identify primary tumours in the peritoneum.
This is the protective lining around the abdominal area.
(02:11):
This would be one of the earliest documented cases
of peritoneal mesothelioma.
Now we move into 1867.
This is when we would have F.A. Zenker,
who would publish about what he called dust diseases
during an increase in the concern
over diseases linked to occupations.
However, there would be no official link in this mentioned
to the material known as asbestos.
(02:33):
This would take some time.
Stepping into 1870, this is when we would encounter
the German pathologist by the name of E. Wagner,
who would provide the earliest detailed description
of tumours in the pleura.
In his description, he would call these tumours
endotheliomas.
These were used in the cases of tumours arising
from the lining of the body cavities,
(02:53):
which of course includes the pleura.
Now we move into the early 1900s.
This is when the scientific and medical community
finally would start to believe
that the cancers growing in the pleura
could actually originate there.
In 1906, this is where J.G. Adami,
who was a British pathologist,
would describe the case of a pleural tumour
found on an autopsy.
(03:14):
And in 1909, Adami would coin the term mesothelioma
to describe this kind of rare cancer.
Moving on to 1924.
This is when we would have the first official link
between a death and asbestos.
This is from the coroner, Dr. W.E. Cooke.
And in 1927, he would come up with the term
for the lung disease he encountered, pulmonary asbestosis,
(03:37):
as a way of describing the condition
caused by asbestos exposure.
In 1931, a paper titled "Primary Neoplasms of the Pleura:
a report of five cases:, written by Paul Klemperer
and Coleman B. Rabin, would differentiate mesothelioma
from other cancers found in the pleura.
Moving to 1943, connection between asbestosis
(03:57):
and pleural cancer would be reported by H.W. Welder.
In 1964, Dr. Irving J. Selikoff would report his findings
on mesothelioma and lung cancer.
This included data from a group of asbestos workers
in New York and New Jersey.
They found that among the workers,
there were numerous deaths from both pleural mesothelioma
and peritoneal mesothelioma.
(04:19):
If you've been enjoying this episode
and think someone else might,
don't forget to share it with them, as it helps us grow.
You can also leave us a five-star review.
What is the cause of mesothelioma?
Mesothelioma is a type of cancer
that grows in the cells of the mesothelium.
In the body, this is a thin layer of tissue
that covers the organs.
So mesotheliomas can be found in several places due to this.
However, they are most often found
(04:40):
in the tissue surrounding the lungs.
This is known as the pleura.
This form of mesothelioma is known as pleural mesothelioma.
Mesothelioma can also be found in the testicles,
the abdomen, and around the heart.
Mesothelioma is also known as malignant mesothelioma
due to this being a fast-growing and very deadly cancer.
But what causes mesothelioma?
(05:01):
Well, in many cases, it is believed to be caused by asbestos.
However, not everyone who has mesothelioma
has been exposed to asbestos,
and not everyone who has been exposed to asbestos
will get mesothelioma.
What actually is asbestos?
Asbestos is a natural mineral.
This mineral is resistant to heat and corrosion.
There are actually six types of asbestos.
(05:23):
With this, some are more carcinogenic than others,
so more likely to cause cancer
and mesothelioma specifically than others.
However, asbestos can cause other forms of cancer
and other medical conditions.
Other cancers it can cause include lung cancer,
laryngeal cancer, and even ovarian cancer.
Asbestos was mined and used in various construction
and industry purposes from the late 1800s
(05:44):
all the way into the 1980s.
In some cases, it is still used today in America.
However, that is currently working on being banned.
What are the risk factors for developing mesothelioma?
There are several risk factors that may increase the risk
of developing mesothelioma.
These include being around asbestos.
So this is being directly exposed to asbestos fibres.
This can be at work or within your own home.
(06:06):
Living with someone who works with asbestos,
so people that work with asbestos
can unknowingly bring asbestos fibres home on their skin
and in their clothing.
As the years pass by, this can increase the risk of others
in the household getting mesothelioma
with constant secondhand exposure.
A family history of mesothelioma.
Having a sibling or a parent with mesothelioma
(06:26):
increases your risk of developing the disease.
Radiation therapy to the chest.
If you have a previous history of radiation therapy
for cancer in your chest,
this can increase your risk of mesothelioma.
How do we diagnose mesothelioma?
When it comes to mesothelioma,
a doctor will initially start with a physical examination,
asking you about your symptoms
and looking for any lumps or any other signs
(06:47):
you may have of the condition.
After this, a doctor may order an x-ray
or a CT scan of your chest or abdomen
to check for any potential tumours.
After this, if any potential tumours have been found,
they will do a biopsy.
Depending on where it is being affected
will depend on the type of biopsy being done
to find out whether or not it is mesothelioma.
There are two biopsy methods most often used.
(07:08):
They can either biopsy the suspicious tissue
through the skin.
This is where a needle is simply put through the skin
and a small piece of tissue or some fluid is taken out.
This is then sent to a lab to be looked at.
Or they could take a sample of the tissue during surgery.
This could be a surgery that is made through a small incision
and it uses a camera along with the tools needed
for the biopsy to visualise the suspicious tissue
(07:29):
and take it out.
We'll get right into the symptoms and presentation
right after this little break.
(upbeat music)
This podcast is supported by listeners like you
on Buy Me A Coffee.
(07:49):
What symptoms might you have if you had mesothelioma?
The symptoms of mesothelioma will depend
on where the cancer originates.
So breaking this down into the types of mesothelioma.
Those who have pleural mesothelioma,
which is the kind that affects the tissue
surrounding the lungs may experience chest pain,
lumps under the skin of the chest,
painful coughing and shortness of breath,
tiredness and weight loss without trying.
(08:10):
Moving on to peritoneal mesothelioma.
This is the kind that affects the abdomen.
This can cause pain in your abdominal area
as well as swelling.
You may also experience nausea from this
as well as tiredness and weight loss without trying.
When it comes to other forms of mesothelioma,
this is rare and not much is known about them.
So with pericardial mesothelioma,
which is mesothelioma that affects the tissue
(08:32):
surrounding the heart,
this form could cause trouble breathing and chest pain.
Mesothelioma of the tunica vaginalis.
This is another form of mesothelioma
that actually affects the testicles or testes.
The first signs you may actually see
are swelling in the testicles
or even a mass in the testicle.
What should a doctor be aware of
when it comes to mesothelioma?
When it comes to the most common form of mesothelioma,
(08:54):
which is pleural mesothelioma,
it can cause several concerning symptoms.
These include trouble breathing,
trouble swallowing and chest pain.
You may experience pain due to pressure
being on the nerves and the spinal cord.
Pleural mesothelioma can also cause
a buildup of fluid in the chest known as pleural effusion.
This fluid can make it even harder to breathe
due to it pressing on the nearby lung or lungs.
(09:16):
When it comes to mesothelioma,
generally doctors should be aware of how fast it spreads.
Mesothelioma is a very fast growing
and very fast spreading cancer.
Often when it is diagnosed,
it is past the point where surgery
would actually be able to remove the tumour.
How do we treat mesothelioma?
For mesothelioma treatment,
this will depend on several things,
such as how is your health currently?
(09:37):
Where is the mesothelioma located?
And at what stage was it diagnosed?
And what stage is it now?
In some cases, surgery and medicine can be used
to treat and potentially cure mesothelioma.
And in others, it can be used to help
with the symptoms of this condition.
Some of the surgeries that can be used
in the case of mesothelioma include
surgery to remove the mesothelioma.
If the cancer is caught early,
(09:58):
surgeons may be able to remove the tumour
and potentially cure the cancer.
Surgery to reduce fluid buildup.
When it comes to pleural mesothelioma,
fluid can build up in the chest.
This in turn can result in difficulty breathing.
So as a way of helping with this,
surgeons can insert a chest tube in the chest
to drain some of that fluid off.
Pleurectomy.
So this surgery removes the tissue
(10:19):
that lines the ribs and lungs.
It won't cure the mesothelioma,
but it may help with the symptoms.
Surgery to remove a lung
and the affected tissue surrounding it.
This surgery is also for pleural mesothelioma.
This form of surgery can ease the symptoms
as well as allow for higher doses of radiation
with radiation therapy.
As there is of course no lung
to protect from radiation therapy.
(10:39):
You've just taken it out.
Chemotherapy is also an option
when it comes to the management of mesothelioma.
These may be used for various reasons.
Like before surgery,
if the mesothelioma has grown large
or if it has spread.
However, there is also a treatment method
that is used for peritoneal mesothelioma.
This is HIPEC.
Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy.
(11:00):
This is where the chemotherapy is heated up,
hyperthermic and put in the abdominal area.
So peritoneal because it affects the peritoneum.
This is the belly,
which is where the peritoneum is
and chemotherapy because you're using chemotherapy.
Radiation.
This may be used as part of treatment for mesothelioma.
It can be used in several cases and stages of treatment.
This can be used before surgery to shrink the tumour,
(11:21):
after surgery to get rid of any remaining cancer cells
and also in those who have mesothelioma
that is not treatable by surgery.
This may help to ease the symptoms that the cancer causes.
Also for those who have mesothelioma
that may not be treated by surgery,
immunotherapy may be an option.
This treatment helps the immune system
to attack and kill the cancer cells.
Targeted Therapy.
This is another form of treatment that may be used.
(11:43):
This form of therapy blocks specific chemicals
that a cancer cell may be making
to help kill the cancer cells.
This can either be used alongside chemotherapy
or if the chemotherapy has not been working.
Are there any famous people who have
or have had mesothelioma?
There are several famous people
who have had mesothelioma.
These include Steve McQueen, the American actor,
who you may know from various films
(12:04):
like "The Great Escape" or "The Magnificent Seven".
McQueen was initially diagnosed with mesothelioma
in the US and was told it was inoperable.
He went on a search for a cure,
leading to many strange treatments, fake doctors,
and also his death.
He would pass away from a heart attack
whilst having surgery on his lungs in Mexico.
If you would like to check out a documentary,
there is "Dirty Laundry".
(12:25):
It follows cousins who, after the surprise passing
of their grandmother from, of course,
mesothelioma, travel to New York,
meeting with various other people
who have been affected by mesothelioma,
including the surviving family members
of people who have passed from this form of cancer
and doctors, as well as visiting two towns
who have had massive asbestos cleanups.
On this trip, they learn more about asbestos,
including the effects of secondhand exposure
(12:47):
like their grandma experienced,
as she was never actually a worker
in one of these factories or anything like that.
It was their grandfather who was.
Speaking of film and asbestos,
there were many occurrences where actors were exposed
to asbestos prior to the understanding
of how dangerous asbestos really is.
For example, in "The Wizard of Oz",
the fake snow in the scene in the poppy field
where Dorothy and the others are trying to fall asleep,
(13:08):
that was actually a mixture of asbestos and foam.
If you would like to check out a foundation
for those in the US,
there is the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation.
They aim to eradicate mesothelioma.
They fund research into mesothelioma,
provide education into the condition
for those experiencing mesothelioma and their families,
as well as raise awareness of the condition.
For those in the UK, there is Mesothelioma UK.
(13:30):
Their goal is to support people with mesothelioma
by providing expert care and information,
as well as attempting to prevent cases
of mesothelioma in the future.
For those in Australia,
there is the Asbestos Diseases Foundation of Australia.
This foundation provides support
to those experiencing mesothelioma,
along with other asbestos-related diseases
and their families.
If you want to check out the sources,
(13:51):
social media links or any other links,
you can head to anatomyofillness.com.
If you enjoyed this episode
and would like to hear more,
subscribe to be notified about our latest episodes.
If you'd like to join our community,
you can join us on Discord or Instagram.
Otherwise, stick around for the next episode.
(upbeat music)
Did you know there are four locations
(14:20):
where the mesothelium is found in the body?
These are the pleural mesothelium,
which you will find covering the chest wall
and the lungs,
the peritoneal mesothelium,
this one you will find protecting the abdominal organs
and abdominal wall,
the pericardial mesothelium,
this type you will find surrounding the heart,
and finally, the tunica vaginalis,
which you will find covering the testes.
These help to protect the organs,
(14:40):
respond to injury and disease,
as well as manage inflammation.
This is why we find mesothelioma
in all these different areas,
however, mostly in the pleura.
Lately, you have been feeling exhausted,
(00:02):
struggling to get your day-to-day tasks done,
even struggling to stay awake.
You have been coughing a lot lately.
This cough is painful
and you feel as if it is difficult to breathe.
In the past few weeks, you have had worsening chest pain.
With the insistence of your wife,
you get up and get ready for a busy day,
heading out to see your grandchildren.
As you get dressed in the bathroom,
you notice your clothes fit a lot more loosely than normal
(00:24):
and there are some strange lumps in your chest.
You tell your wife and she encourages you
to make a doctor's appointment.
Hello and Welcome to Anatomy Of Illness.
(00:47):
Today's episode is about mesothelioma.
Before we get into the condition,
we are going to start with the history.
So why do we know mesothelioma exists?
To start, we need to jump back to the year 1797.
This is when the founder of pathologic anatomy in France,
Joseph Lieutaud, would first describe a tumour
in the pleural mesothelium,
which is the tissue that surrounds the lungs.
(01:08):
He would note the first cases of pleural mesothelioma.
Moving on to 1817.
This is when the first lecture would be given
about both pleural and peritoneal mesothelioma.
So this is the mesotheliomas in both the stomach area
and surrounding the lungs.
This lecture was given by another French physician,
Pierre Fouquier.
Stepping forward by another two years to 1819.
(01:29):
This is when René-Théophile-Hyacinthe Laennec
would invent the stethoscope,
which would be important for physical exams on the lungs.
But he would also make the radical suggestion
that cancer could develop in the pleura.
So these cancers in the tissues surrounding the lungs
started there, they did not spread there.
Moving on to 1843 and over to Vienna University.
(01:50):
We meet with Karl Freiheer von Rokitansky.
He, like many others, would argue against Laennec's thinking
suggesting that cancers found in the pleura
were always linked to primary cancers
that were found in other parts of the body.
In 1854, he would identify primary tumours in the peritoneum.
This is the protective lining around the abdominal area.
(02:11):
This would be one of the earliest documented cases
of peritoneal mesothelioma.
Now we move into 1867.
This is when we would have F.A. Zenker,
who would publish about what he called dust diseases
during an increase in the concern
over diseases linked to occupations.
However, there would be no official link in this mentioned
to the material known as asbestos.
(02:33):
This would take some time.
Stepping into 1870, this is when we would encounter
the German pathologist by the name of E. Wagner,
who would provide the earliest detailed description
of tumours in the pleura.
In his description, he would call these tumours
endotheliomas.
These were used in the cases of tumours arising
from the lining of the body cavities,
(02:53):
which of course includes the pleura.
Now we move into the early 1900s.
This is when the scientific and medical community
finally would start to believe
that the cancers growing in the pleura
could actually originate there.
In 1906, this is where J.G. Adami,
who was a British pathologist,
would describe the case of a pleural tumour
found on an autopsy.
(03:14):
And in 1909, Adami would coin the term mesothelioma
to describe this kind of rare cancer.
Moving on to 1924.
This is when we would have the first official link
between a death and asbestos.
This is from the coroner, Dr. W.E. Cooke.
And in 1927, he would come up with the term
for the lung disease he encountered, pulmonary asbestosis,
(03:37):
as a way of describing the condition
caused by asbestos exposure.
In 1931, a paper titled "Primary Neoplasms of the Pleura:
a report of five cases:, written by Paul Klemperer
and Coleman B. Rabin, would differentiate mesothelioma
from other cancers found in the pleura.
Moving to 1943, connection between asbestosis
(03:57):
and pleural cancer would be reported by H.W. Welder.
In 1964, Dr. Irving J. Selikoff would report his findings
on mesothelioma and lung cancer.
This included data from a group of asbestos workers
in New York and New Jersey.
They found that among the workers,
there were numerous deaths from both pleural mesothelioma
and peritoneal mesothelioma.
(04:19):
If you've been enjoying this episode
and think someone else might,
don't forget to share it with them, as it helps us grow.
You can also leave us a five-star review.
What is the cause of mesothelioma?
Mesothelioma is a type of cancer
that grows in the cells of the mesothelium.
In the body, this is a thin layer of tissue
that covers the organs.
So mesotheliomas can be found in several places due to this.
However, they are most often found
(04:40):
in the tissue surrounding the lungs.
This is known as the pleura.
This form of mesothelioma is known as pleural mesothelioma.
Mesothelioma can also be found in the testicles,
the abdomen, and around the heart.
Mesothelioma is also known as malignant mesothelioma
due to this being a fast-growing and very deadly cancer.
But what causes mesothelioma?
(05:01):
Well, in many cases, it is believed to be caused by asbestos.
However, not everyone who has mesothelioma
has been exposed to asbestos,
and not everyone who has been exposed to asbestos
will get mesothelioma.
What actually is asbestos?
Asbestos is a natural mineral.
This mineral is resistant to heat and corrosion.
There are actually six types of asbestos.
(05:23):
With this, some are more carcinogenic than others,
so more likely to cause cancer
and mesothelioma specifically than others.
However, asbestos can cause other forms of cancer
and other medical conditions.
Other cancers it can cause include lung cancer,
laryngeal cancer, and even ovarian cancer.
Asbestos was mined and used in various construction
and industry purposes from the late 1800s
(05:44):
all the way into the 1980s.
In some cases, it is still used today in America.
However, that is currently working on being banned.
What are the risk factors for developing mesothelioma?
There are several risk factors that may increase the risk
of developing mesothelioma.
These include being around asbestos.
So this is being directly exposed to asbestos fibres.
This can be at work or within your own home.
(06:06):
Living with someone who works with asbestos,
so people that work with asbestos
can unknowingly bring asbestos fibres home on their skin
and in their clothing.
As the years pass by, this can increase the risk of others
in the household getting mesothelioma
with constant secondhand exposure.
A family history of mesothelioma.
Having a sibling or a parent with mesothelioma
(06:26):
increases your risk of developing the disease.
Radiation therapy to the chest.
If you have a previous history of radiation therapy
for cancer in your chest,
this can increase your risk of mesothelioma.
How do we diagnose mesothelioma?
When it comes to mesothelioma,
a doctor will initially start with a physical examination,
asking you about your symptoms
and looking for any lumps or any other signs
(06:47):
you may have of the condition.
After this, a doctor may order an x-ray
or a CT scan of your chest or abdomen
to check for any potential tumours.
After this, if any potential tumours have been found,
they will do a biopsy.
Depending on where it is being affected
will depend on the type of biopsy being done
to find out whether or not it is mesothelioma.
There are two biopsy methods most often used.
(07:08):
They can either biopsy the suspicious tissue
through the skin.
This is where a needle is simply put through the skin
and a small piece of tissue or some fluid is taken out.
This is then sent to a lab to be looked at.
Or they could take a sample of the tissue during surgery.
This could be a surgery that is made through a small incision
and it uses a camera along with the tools needed
for the biopsy to visualise the suspicious tissue
(07:29):
and take it out.
We'll get right into the symptoms and presentation
right after this little break.
(upbeat music)
This podcast is supported by listeners like you
on Buy Me A Coffee.
(07:49):
What symptoms might you have if you had mesothelioma?
The symptoms of mesothelioma will depend
on where the cancer originates.
So breaking this down into the types of mesothelioma.
Those who have pleural mesothelioma,
which is the kind that affects the tissue
surrounding the lungs may experience chest pain,
lumps under the skin of the chest,
painful coughing and shortness of breath,
tiredness and weight loss without trying.
(08:10):
Moving on to peritoneal mesothelioma.
This is the kind that affects the abdomen.
This can cause pain in your abdominal area
as well as swelling.
You may also experience nausea from this
as well as tiredness and weight loss without trying.
When it comes to other forms of mesothelioma,
this is rare and not much is known about them.
So with pericardial mesothelioma,
which is mesothelioma that affects the tissue
(08:32):
surrounding the heart,
this form could cause trouble breathing and chest pain.
Mesothelioma of the tunica vaginalis.
This is another form of mesothelioma
that actually affects the testicles or testes.
The first signs you may actually see
are swelling in the testicles
or even a mass in the testicle.
What should a doctor be aware of
when it comes to mesothelioma?
When it comes to the most common form of mesothelioma,
(08:54):
which is pleural mesothelioma,
it can cause several concerning symptoms.
These include trouble breathing,
trouble swallowing and chest pain.
You may experience pain due to pressure
being on the nerves and the spinal cord.
Pleural mesothelioma can also cause
a buildup of fluid in the chest known as pleural effusion.
This fluid can make it even harder to breathe
due to it pressing on the nearby lung or lungs.
(09:16):
When it comes to mesothelioma,
generally doctors should be aware of how fast it spreads.
Mesothelioma is a very fast growing
and very fast spreading cancer.
Often when it is diagnosed,
it is past the point where surgery
would actually be able to remove the tumour.
How do we treat mesothelioma?
For mesothelioma treatment,
this will depend on several things,
such as how is your health currently?
(09:37):
Where is the mesothelioma located?
And at what stage was it diagnosed?
And what stage is it now?
In some cases, surgery and medicine can be used
to treat and potentially cure mesothelioma.
And in others, it can be used to help
with the symptoms of this condition.
Some of the surgeries that can be used
in the case of mesothelioma include
surgery to remove the mesothelioma.
If the cancer is caught early,
(09:58):
surgeons may be able to remove the tumour
and potentially cure the cancer.
Surgery to reduce fluid buildup.
When it comes to pleural mesothelioma,
fluid can build up in the chest.
This in turn can result in difficulty breathing.
So as a way of helping with this,
surgeons can insert a chest tube in the chest
to drain some of that fluid off.
Pleurectomy.
So this surgery removes the tissue
(10:19):
that lines the ribs and lungs.
It won't cure the mesothelioma,
but it may help with the symptoms.
Surgery to remove a lung
and the affected tissue surrounding it.
This surgery is also for pleural mesothelioma.
This form of surgery can ease the symptoms
as well as allow for higher doses of radiation
with radiation therapy.
As there is of course no lung
to protect from radiation therapy.
(10:39):
You've just taken it out.
Chemotherapy is also an option
when it comes to the management of mesothelioma.
These may be used for various reasons.
Like before surgery,
if the mesothelioma has grown large
or if it has spread.
However, there is also a treatment method
that is used for peritoneal mesothelioma.
This is HIPEC.
Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy.
(11:00):
This is where the chemotherapy is heated up,
hyperthermic and put in the abdominal area.
So peritoneal because it affects the peritoneum.
This is the belly,
which is where the peritoneum is
and chemotherapy because you're using chemotherapy.
Radiation.
This may be used as part of treatment for mesothelioma.
It can be used in several cases and stages of treatment.
This can be used before surgery to shrink the tumour,
(11:21):
after surgery to get rid of any remaining cancer cells
and also in those who have mesothelioma
that is not treatable by surgery.
This may help to ease the symptoms that the cancer causes.
Also for those who have mesothelioma
that may not be treated by surgery,
immunotherapy may be an option.
This treatment helps the immune system
to attack and kill the cancer cells.
Targeted Therapy.
This is another form of treatment that may be used.
(11:43):
This form of therapy blocks specific chemicals
that a cancer cell may be making
to help kill the cancer cells.
This can either be used alongside chemotherapy
or if the chemotherapy has not been working.
Are there any famous people who have
or have had mesothelioma?
There are several famous people
who have had mesothelioma.
These include Steve McQueen, the American actor,
who you may know from various films
(12:04):
like "The Great Escape" or "The Magnificent Seven".
McQueen was initially diagnosed with mesothelioma
in the US and was told it was inoperable.
He went on a search for a cure,
leading to many strange treatments, fake doctors,
and also his death.
He would pass away from a heart attack
whilst having surgery on his lungs in Mexico.
If you would like to check out a documentary,
there is "Dirty Laundry".
(12:25):
It follows cousins who, after the surprise passing
of their grandmother from, of course,
mesothelioma, travel to New York,
meeting with various other people
who have been affected by mesothelioma,
including the surviving family members
of people who have passed from this form of cancer
and doctors, as well as visiting two towns
who have had massive asbestos cleanups.
On this trip, they learn more about asbestos,
including the effects of secondhand exposure
(12:47):
like their grandma experienced,
as she was never actually a worker
in one of these factories or anything like that.
It was their grandfather who was.
Speaking of film and asbestos,
there were many occurrences where actors were exposed
to asbestos prior to the understanding
of how dangerous asbestos really is.
For example, in "The Wizard of Oz",
the fake snow in the scene in the poppy field
where Dorothy and the others are trying to fall asleep,
(13:08):
that was actually a mixture of asbestos and foam.
If you would like to check out a foundation
for those in the US,
there is the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation.
They aim to eradicate mesothelioma.
They fund research into mesothelioma,
provide education into the condition
for those experiencing mesothelioma and their families,
as well as raise awareness of the condition.
For those in the UK, there is Mesothelioma UK.
(13:30):
Their goal is to support people with mesothelioma
by providing expert care and information,
as well as attempting to prevent cases
of mesothelioma in the future.
For those in Australia,
there is the Asbestos Diseases Foundation of Australia.
This foundation provides support
to those experiencing mesothelioma,
along with other asbestos-related diseases
and their families.
If you want to check out the sources,
(13:51):
social media links or any other links,
you can head to anatomyofillness.com.
If you enjoyed this episode
and would like to hear more,
subscribe to be notified about our latest episodes.
If you'd like to join our community,
you can join us on Discord or Instagram.
Otherwise, stick around for the next episode.
(upbeat music)
Did you know there are four locations
(14:20):
where the mesothelium is found in the body?
These are the pleural mesothelium,
which you will find covering the chest wall
and the lungs,
the peritoneal mesothelium,
this one you will find protecting the abdominal organs
and abdominal wall,
the pericardial mesothelium,
this type you will find surrounding the heart,
and finally, the tunica vaginalis,
which you will find covering the testes.
These help to protect the organs,
(14:40):
respond to injury and disease,
as well as manage inflammation.
This is why we find mesothelioma
in all these different areas,
however, mostly in the pleura.
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