Asbestosis : Lung Fibrosis Caused by Asbestos Exposure
When lung fibrosis is caused by exposure to asbestos it is called asbestosis. This disease should not be confused with pleural mesothelioma (malignant mesothelioma in the lining of the lungs), although some asbestosis victims do later develop mesothelioma. Like mesothelioma, asbestosis is caused by inhalation of asbestos fibers so tiny that the lungs are unable to filter them; these fibers become lodged in the tissue of the lungs, often with deadly consequences. Treatment of Lung Fibrosis
Treatment for asbestos-related lung fibrosis may include medication for inflammation and oxygen to help with breathing. Excessive fluid buildup (pleural effusion) may be treated through a procedure called thoracentesis. Your physician can provide you with treatment information more specific to your condition.Lung Fibrosis vs. Mesothelioma
Though pulmonary fibrosis and mesothelioma are both caused by inhalation of asbestos fibers, the diseases are very different in nature. Lung fibrosis can be deadly but it is not a form of cancer, whereas mesothelioma is cancer in the lining of a bodily organ.
As a result, lung fibrosis symptoms and mesothelioma symptoms are similar but not necessarily the same, and treatment for the two diseases often varies. Because mesothelioma is a type of cancer, mesothelioma treatment may involve radiation and chemotherapy. This is not the case for lung fibrosis.
The prognosis for patients with pulmonary fibrosis varies, but the prognosis for mesothelioma is always bleak; most mesothelioma patients succumb to the disease within a year.
How to Recognize Symptoms
Symptoms of asbestosis generally consist of respiratory problems. The two most common symptoms are coughing and shortness of breath, followed by chest pain and clubbing of the fingers. In the early stages of the disease, people experience shortness of breath and fatigue during physical activity. As the condition progresses, being short of breath even while doing very little becomes an issue. This is usually enough to encourage someone with asbestosis to take the first step in the diagnostic process and schedule an appointment with their primary care physician.