Name of disease:

ICD-10 diagnosis code:

Causes:

• Mesothelioma is almost always caused by exposure to asbestos. The tiny fibres of asbestos can easily get into the lungs where they get stuck damaging the lungs over time.
• It usually takes a while for this to cause any obvious problems with mesothelioma typically developing more than 20 years after exposure to asbestos.
• The import, transhipment, supply and use of all forms of asbestos and materials containing asbestos has been banned in Hong Kong since 2014.

Mode of inheritance:

Prevalence:

Diagnosis:

• An X-ray of chest or abdomen
• A CT scan
• Fluid drainage
• A thoracoscopy or laparoscopy

Age of onset:

Common signs and symptoms:

• Symptoms of mesothelioma in the lining of the lungs include:
  - Chest pain
  - Shortness of breath
  - Fatigue
  - A high temperature and sweating particularly at night
  - A persistent cough
  - Loss of appetite and unexplained weight loss
  - Clubbed fingertips
• Symptoms of mesothelioma in the lining of the stomach include:
  - Stomach pain or swelling
  - Feeling or being sick
  - Loss of appetite and unexplained weight loss
  - Diarrhoea or constipation

Available treatment (medicinal and non-medicinal):

• Chemotherapy – using medicine to help shrink the cancer
• Radiotherapy – using high-energy radiation to kill cancer cells or slow the cancer down and keep it under control
• Surgery – removing the cancerous area if the mesothelioma is detected at a very early stage
• Immunotherapy – using a combination of two medicines to help stimulate the immune system to attack cancer cells. Immunotherapy cannot cure mesothelioma but it can slow the spread of the disease and prolong the lifespan.
• Tumour treating fields (TTFields) – administered by a portable electronic device. This passes gentle electric fields through the patient’s skin to slow cancer cell growth and help prolong patient survival.

Disease management tips:

• Call a friend or loved one to catch up: Conversations can help you stay connected to the people you care about
• Express your creativity such as in painting, drawing, writing, or anything else that sounds fun
• Have a cup of tea with a favourite snack
• Listen to supportive podcasts
• Practice mindful activities such as gentle yoga, breathwork, or meditation

References:

• https://www.cancerdata.nhs.uk/getdataout/Lung_Grouping
• https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/mesothelioma/
• https://www.epd.gov.hk/epd/english/environmentinhk/air/asbestos/asbestos.html
• https://www.asbestos.com/mesothelioma/genetic-factors/
• https://www.med.cuhk.edu.hk/press-releases/cuhk-study-sees-a-rising-trend-of-mesothelioma-incidence-in-females-and-a-higher-incidence-in-high-income-countries#:~:text=According%20to%20the%20Hospital%20Authoritydecades%20(2001%2D20)
• https://www.mesothelioma.com/treatment/tumor-treating-fields/#:~:text=Tumor%20Treating%20Fields%20(TTFields)%20areTTFields%20may%20improve%20patient%20survival
• https://www.mesothelioma.com/blog/the-best-self-care-practices-for-cancer-patients-and-survivors/

Other useful websites:

• Mesothelioma Institute
• Pneumoconiosis Mutual Aid Association