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Mesothelioma Latency Period

The aggressive nature of mesothelioma cancer may be a surprise to patients when they learn they have the disease. This is because the illness only develops after a long dormant-like state, one that can last decades prior to the onset of symptoms. Such a delayed onset, which is longer in mesothelioma than other cancers, can also pose some complications in the diagnostic and treatment process.

To best understand the diagnosis of pleural mesothelioma, someone diagnosed with it should grasp the distinction between the latency period of cancer development and the latency period of symptoms. The latency period of pleural mesothelioma cancer development is the time period between initial exposure to asbestos and the manifestation of cancerous cells. The latency period of symptoms refers to the time between exposure and the first demonstrations of the symptoms of the cancer.

Cancer development occurs before symptoms show, which eventually affect of the patients actions and options. By the time symptoms become apparent, the cancer is normally in later stages.

If you or someone you know has a mesothelioma diagnosis and needs more information about treatments about the disease, take advantage of our free informational packet. All you have to do is fill out this form to participate.

Mesothelioma Latency

For pleural mesothelioma, the latency period of cancer development is normally between 30 to 50 years. Symptoms are demonstrated after this time period for this specific form of cancer.

When asbestos exposure occurs, fibers of the mineral enter the body and get lodged in the lining of the lungs. Because the human body has great difficulty eliminating these fibers, they remain embedded in the lining for decades, continuously scarring this area. This slow, incremental damage causes the latency period of the symptoms and development of the cancer to be so long.  

For a realistic example of latency, consider a shipyard worker who was employed in the 1970s and was exposed to asbestos during their career. Symptoms will become apparent as early as the 1990s or as late as around 2010 . Every patient will be different. The cancer cells will develop before the actual symptoms become apparent. The shipyard worker may not notice these symptoms until 40 years after their initial exposure.  

Because of the late onset and dormant state, a patient may not associate symptoms with asbestos exposure. For example, the earliest symptoms and warning signs of mesothelioma may be a nagging cough or chest pain. Patients may dismiss these symptoms as being minor and not see a doctor as a result. And because exposure occurred decades before symptoms showed up, many people don't even think that their symptoms are at all related to their exposure – assuming they even remember the exposure.

Medical researchers documented some rare cases of the latency period of a pleural mesothelioma development and the onset of symptoms each occurring less than 30 years after exposure. Such cases pose additional complications.

In the case of Debbie Reeve, an EMS worker and first responder to Ground Zero after the 9/11 attacks, her latency period was exceedingly rapid . Reeve was diagnosed with mesothelioma in 2004, less than three years after initial asbestos exposure from the toxic asbestos fibers used in the construction of the World Trade Center buildings.

This speedy development of mesothelioma made her situation unique. As a result, her family had a difficult time proving the connection between the asbestos exposure from the World Trade Center buildings and her diagnosis of mesothelioma. When considering legal action, proving this connection is very important and can be extremely challenging. This is one of the many difficulties for patients and their families that result from the latency period of mesothelioma.

Latency, Diagnosis and Prognosis

The latency aspect of pleural mesothelioma directly affects a patient's diagnosis and prognosis. Many people are not even aware that they were exposed to asbestos and therefore do not get the early screenings that are recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and other health groups.

Early symptoms are often similar to other health conditions unrelated to mesothelioma. Late-stage symptoms begin to resemble more pleural mesothelioma-specific symptoms. Therefore, the patient rarely knows that mesothelioma is present until these later symptoms become apparent. This leads to a late diagnosis.

In some cases, a patient will visit a physician and complain about breathing problems or coughing. The doctor will likely perform a variety of tests for diseases other than mesothelioma.

It is uncommon for mesothelioma to be assessed at this point because the disease is rare and is normally investigated only if patients mention asbestos exposure or demonstrate very specific mesothelioma patterns through X-rays or similar diagnostic tests. For doctors to make an accurate pleural mesothelioma diagnosis, they must look at a patient's medical history, confirm prior asbestos exposure and perform a biopsy.

A pleural mesothelioma diagnosis can be made after a doctor performs a blood test, documents tumor markers and takes immunohistochemistry, pathology or imaging scans like CT scans, MRIs and X-rays. Results of these tests shed light on any cancer diagnosis and also about the stage of the cancer.

Regardless of which test method is used to make a diagnosis, it is important that a patient fully understand their condition and learn about all the treatment options that are available for their cancer.

If a person's symptoms are severe before diagnostic testing, it's a potential sign of later stage development of the cancer. A diagnosis of Stage 3 or Stage 4 means likely limitations of treatment options.

• Fast Facts: Between 5 and 10 percent of mesothelioma patients will survive at least 5 years after diagnosis.

Latency and Treatment

The  latency period of a patient's cancer symptoms dramatically affect their treatment options. Symptoms don't become apparent until after the cancerous cells develop. Patients typically visit the doctor and receive a diagnosis as a result of the symptoms that they exude. By the time a patient presents mesothelioma-specific symptoms and gets diagnosed, their cancer has likely developed into later stages.

If a patient is proactive in getting screened for mesothelioma prior to symptoms being present, they are more likely to have more effective treatment options available to them. Because symptoms become noticeable after the cancer has already developed into later states, the treatment options that are available after the symptoms are present are limited.  

In some cases, a patient will visit a physician and complain about breathing problems or coughing. The doctor will likely perform a variety of tests for diseases other than mesothelioma

The variety of treatment options that are usually available to pleural mesothelioma patients include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, multimodal therapy, along with forms of alternative therapy.

Surgery is a curative treatment option that is often used during stage 1 and 2 of mesothelioma. However, tumor size, location and cell growth can dictate if surgery is the best option for a specific patient. Chemotherapy is often available to patients of all stages but is rarely used in later stages.

Patients with Stage 4 mesothelioma have limited curative treatment options. Surgery is generally not performed on Stage 4 patients. Chemotherapy and surgery are less effective in this stage and therefore may be less recommended because of the side effects relative to the probability of improved condition.

Clinical trials may offer new and unproven treatment options for mesothelioma patients in various stages, but the efficacy of these options is uncertain. Some drugs and treatments that began in clinical trials have become a standard treatment for cancers that include mesothelioma.

Beneficiaries of these positive treatments and clinical trials have gone on to have increased qualities of life and some have survived the cancer entirely. Within the process of treatments, some doctors will encourage patients to have a positive outlook in hope of becoming one of these survivors.

Outlook

Despite what stage of mesothelioma you were diagnosed at, it is important to maintain a hopeful outlook on your prognosis. Some survivors attribute their extended life to positive thinking, in addition to receiving the proper treatment and living a healthy lifestyle. Cancer is a difficult disease to battle but there are a variety of treatment options and things that you can do to increase your quality of life as well as increase chance of survival.

If you would like to learn more about mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases, complete the form on this page to receive a free information packet from the Mesothelioma Center.

Sources

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3. City of Flagstaff - Asbestos In Your Home. Retrieved from: http://flagstaff.az.gov/DocumentView.aspx?DID=6864
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7. American Cancer Society – Malignant Mesothelioma Overview. (2011). Retrieved from http://www.cancer.org/acs/groups/cid/documents/webcontent/003062-pdf.pdf