Mesothelioma: A Rare and Deadly Cancer

By Jeffrey Mandel, M.D., M.P.H.
March 10, 2008

Mesothelioma is a form of lung cancer typically linked to asbestos exposure. It is relatively rare, with only 2,000 to 3,000 new cases diagnosed in the U.S. each year (compared with over 150,000 new cases of lung cancer diagnosed each year). Mesothelioma has been in the news locally because of the Minnesota Department of Health’s  release of historical data identifying 58 cases of mesothelioma in northeastern Minnesota taconite miners, a much higher number than would be expected in that group.

The risk for developing mesothelioma after exposure to asbestos fibers is very small, but it is real. Workers in a number of industries, including mining and construction, may be exposed to asbestos on the job. Although asbestos was once widely used in a number of industrial and household applications, including insulation, flooring, and ceiling tiles, the use of asbestos has now been significantly reduced in the U.S., and laws have been enacted to protect workers who may be exposed to asbestos. Mesothelioma can be prevented by wearing protective equipment and following other safety precautions, reducing exposure to asbestos.

Mesothelioma is usually diagnosed 30 or more years after a person’s initial exposure to asbestos. It is more common in adults 65 years of age and older and is diagnosed in men more often than women. Symptoms of mesothelioma can include shortness of breath, painful or difficult breathing, persistent cough, chest or abdominal pain, and lumps under the skin on the chest. A biopsy to obtain lung tissue for examination is used to confirm a diagnosis of mesothelioma.

Treatment options for mesothelioma depend on a patient’s health and the stage and location of the cancer, and can include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, or a combination of these approaches. However, because mesothelioma is usually diagnosed at an advanced stage and is an aggressive disease, survival times following the diagnosis average one year. Therapy following diagnosis frequently focuses on controlling symptoms to make a patient comfortable. Because of the limited treatment options currently available, a number of clinical trials are underway nationally to evaluate new mesothelioma treatment approaches. 

At the request of several state legislators, the University of Minnesota recently began leading a multi-year investigation of the mesothelioma cases that have occurred in the taconite miners in northeastern Minnesota. Through a series of studies, the researchers hope to identify the specific types of exposures that mine workers have and then determine if more exposure to a specific dust type increases the risk for mesothelioma and other diseases (both respiratory and nonrespiratory). The research will provide the most complete view to date of the health of mine workers in northeastern Minnesota. Updates on the research studies are being posted to the Minnesota Taconite Workers Lung Health Partnership Web site . In addition, our research study team is offering a toll-free phone number (888-840-7590) that citizens can use to ask questions about exposures and screening.

Jeffrey Mandel, M.D., M.P.H., is associate professor of environmental health sciences in the School of Public Health at the University of Minnesota and principal investigator of the research team studying the increased rate of mesothelioma in taconite miners in northeastern Minnesota.

Health Talk & You is an educational service of the University of Minnesota. Advice presented should not take the place of an examination by a health-care professional. For more health-related information, go to http://www.healthtalk.umn.edu/.  For comments or questions about Health Talk & You e-mail buss@umn.edu.