Asbestos is a general term for a group of fibrous materials which were historically used to insulate and construct buildings due to its durability, heat resistance, and how useful it is as an insulator. However, research found a link between asbestos and cancer in the mid-20th century, and it is now officially classified as a carcinogen by the World Health Oerganisation, and banned in many countries worldwide.
How does asbestos cause cancer?
Asbestos used to be thought of as a 'wonder material' and it was used for thousands of years, becoming particularly popular as a building and construction material during the Industrial Revolution in the 18th and 19th centuries. But now we know that exposure to asbestos fibres increase the risk of developing cancers, particularly a rare and deadly cancer called mesothelioma.
Materials containing asbestos pose very little risk when they are intact, but when it is moved or disturbed asbestos releases tiny fibres which may be accidentally swallowed or inhaled since they are too small to see.
These fibres can get stuck in your lungs and stay there for years, unable to be broken down by your body. Over time, sometimes even decades after asbestos exposure, these fibres cause inflammation and irritation to your tissues that can lead to cancer.
Which cancers does asbestos cause?
Asbestos is most strongly related to mesothelioma, a rare but aggressive cancer that develops in the lining of organs including the lungs. About 9 out of 10 mesothelioma cases are caused by asbestos.
Exposure to asbestos can also increase your risk of lung cancer, ovarian cancer and laryngeal cancer.
Is it true that "asbestos was banned, so it's no longer a risk"?
Different countries have different policies about asbestos use. In the UK it was fully banned in 1999, meaning it cannot be used in new building projects. However, lots of buildings that were created before 1999 still contain asbestos since the ban does not require existing asbestos to be removed. Plus, because it can take decades for asbestos exposure to cause cancer, there are people who were exposed before the ban who are still being diagnosed today.
Who is most at risk from asbestos exposure?
People working in construction, building maintenance, repair, demolition or in shipyards are at particular risk of asbestos exposure. Legislation exists to help prevent or reduce exposure to asbestos fibres but if you are concerned at all about asbestos exposure please contact your doctor.
Sadly, people exposed to asbestos fibres can also spread the fibres to loved ones. This is called secondary asbestos exposure and can also cause cancer.
People who smoke and are exposed to asbestos fibres are at a much higher risk. Individually both these factors increase your risk of cancer, but together they have an accumulative impact, making the risk much higher.
Is it true that a small amount of asbestos can't hurt you?
No level of exposure to asbestos fibres is considered safe. However, the longer exposure lasts, the greater the risk of developing diseases including cancer.
Not everybody who is exposed will develop cancer, and most cases of mesothelioma come about because of long-term exposure.
What are the symptoms of mesothelioma?
Symptoms of mesothelioma vary in different people. Most mesothelioma starts in the lining of the lungs, this is called pleural mesothelioma. Peritoneal mesothelioma is a different type which develops in the stomach lining.
Symptoms of pleural mesothelioma
Symptoms of pleural mesothelioma include:
Chest pain
Shortness of breath
A persistent cough
Difficulty swallowing
Hoarse voice
High temperature
Loss of appetite
Symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma
Symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma include:
Stomach pain
Sickness
Abdomen swelling
Poor appetite
Unexplained weight loss
Diarrhoea or constipation
Why does research into mesothelioma matter?
Worldwide over 30,000 people are diagnosed with mesothelioma every year. People like Tamron are defying the odds and surviving their diagnosis, but too many lives are being cut short by this devastating disease.
There is not currently a cure for mesothelioma. Often patients are not diagnosed until the cancer has already spread to other parts of the body, making it harder to treat. More international cancer research is urgently needed to find new ways to diagnose it earlier and treat it more effectively so that patients have more precious time.
I'm thankful that 15 years after my diagnosis there has been more research into mesothelioma, as well as advances in surgery, making it available to more people because, believe it or not, people are still getting diagnosed with this type of cancer.
How can I make a difference for people with mesothelioma?
Thanks to our Curestarters, researchers are busy investigating how mesothelioma grows and spreads to uncover new ways to stop it. Dr Carsten Hansen in Edinburgh has discovered a way to separate patients with mesothelioma based on differences between their cells, a breakthrough which could lead to improved treatment options for patients.
In Liverpool Dr Niall Kenneth is exploring a potential new targeted therapy for mesothelioma and lung cancer, while in Australia, Professor Kieran Harvey and his team (pictured) are researching a way to make drugs more effective for mesothelioma patients and stop the disease becoming resistant to therapy.
Discovery research like this could transform the lives of patients diagnosed with mesothelioma. With your help we can keep backing the best cancer research ideas around the world.
Your asbestos and cancer FAQs:
How long after asbestos exposure does cancer develop?
Not everyone exposed to asbestos fibres will go on to develop cancer, but it does increase your risk of developing certain cancers particularly mesothelioma. It can take a very long time, sometimes several decades, between asbestos exposure and cancer developing.
Is asbestos still used in the UK?
Asbestos was fully banned in the UK in 1999. This means that since then it has not been allowed to be used in any new construction or building work. However, it still remains in old buildings that were constructed before the ban.
Different countries have different rules around asbestos use and it is not fully banned worldwide.
Does asbestos only cause mesothelioma?
No, sadly asbestos is linked to several diseases. It increases your risk of a few different cancer types (mesothelioma, lung cancer, ovarian cancer and laryngeal cancer) and can also cause asbestosis and pleural disease.
Is mesothelioma curable?
There is not yet a cure for mesothelioma, although some patients like Curestarter Tamron have been able to survive for many years after a diagnosis. International cancer research is vital to discover ways to help more patients live for longer.
What research is being done into mesothelioma?
Thanks to you, researchers are discovering more about mesothelioma and unlocking potential new cures. In Edinburgh Carsten Hansen has discovered a new way to group mesothelioma patients which could lead to better, targeted therapies.
In Melbourne, Australia, Professor Kieran Harvey is exploring an innovative class of drugs and whether they could work for mesothelioma patients. Discovery research like this could be game-changing for the thousands of people diagnosed with mesothelioma every year.
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