Who Should Get Screened for Mesothelioma?
Anyone with a history of asbestos exposure should consider getting a mesothelioma screening, according to the Moffitt Cancer Center. Doctors can use tests such as computed tomography (CT) scans, blood tests, and more to screen for this cancer.
Asbestos is the only known cause of mesothelioma. Anyone exposed could go on to develop mesothelioma 10-50 years later. People who were exposed to asbestos regularly, such as at their jobs, are at a higher risk.
Those who should get mesothelioma screenings include:
- People who worked in high-risk asbestos occupations like construction or shipbuilding
- U.S. veterans since asbestos was used by every military branch for decades
- Family members who could have suffered secondary asbestos exposure
- Anyone who used asbestos-containing products such as talcum powder
Additionally, if you’ve been diagnosed with another asbestos-related disease like pleural plaques or asbestosis, ask your doctor if you should get screened for mesothelioma.
If doctors find signs of cancer through a screening, they can use more tests to confirm a mesothelioma diagnosis. From there, patients can get treatments that may allow them to live longer.
Use our Free Doctor Match for help connecting with specialists who can screen you for mesothelioma and recommend treatments.
When Should You Get Screened for Mesothelioma?
You may want to get screened for mesothelioma if you or someone you love worked with or around asbestos years ago. Mesothelioma has a long latency period, forming 10-50 years after asbestos exposure, so most patients are diagnosed around age 70.
Mesothelioma can also develop in younger adults who suffered secondary exposure as children. For example, Julie Gundlach was diagnosed with mesothelioma in her mid-30s after suffering exposure as a child through her father, an electrician.
“My father would come home from work, and I’d run up and hug him. He was covered in dust from a work site. We didn’t know that that included asbestos dust. When my mother washed his clothes in the laundry room that doubled as my playroom, she had no idea she was spreading asbestos fibers throughout our house.”
Staying on top of your health and requesting a screening — even if you don’t have mesothelioma symptoms yet — is key to catching the cancer early. Call (866) 608-8933 now for help finding doctors who can recommend mesothelioma screening tests.
Mesothelioma Screening Tests
Unlike lung cancer, there is no standard mesothelioma screening protocol at this time, according to the Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center. However, doctors can still use tests to look for mesothelioma signs in those at risk due to asbestos exposure. Learn about the different mesothelioma screening tests below.
Low-Dose CT Scans
A computed tomography (CT) scan is the most common way to screen for mesothelioma, according to Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield. CT scans for mesothelioma take pictures of the inside of your body.
Low-dose CT scans are currently the benchmark for lung cancer screening, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Researchers continue to study how low-dose CT scans could help detect asbestos-related diseases such as mesothelioma.
Doctors may also order other imaging scans like magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and positron emission tomography (PET) scans to get a better look inside the body for signs of mesothelioma.
Pulmonary Function Tests
Pulmonary function tests (PFTs) help determine if your lungs are working properly. They may be used to screen for pleural mesothelioma, the most common type of this cancer that develops in the lining of the lungs (pleura).
PFTs measure airflow in and out of the lungs and how much oxygen is getting into your bloodstream. If you are diagnosed with mesothelioma following other screening tests, doctors can use the results of a PFT to determine if you’re eligible for surgery or not.
Liquid Biopsies
Biopsies are the only way to confirm a diagnosis of mesothelioma and involve removing tissue or fluid and analyzing it under a microscope for cancer cells. Doctors typically recommend mesothelioma biopsies if earlier screening tests show possible signs of cancer, such as tumors.
Researchers are also studying ways to use biopsies as part of mesothelioma screening procedures. An Open Access report noted that liquid biopsies could help detect mesothelial precursor cells, which could indicate someone is at risk of mesothelioma following asbestos exposure but doesn’t yet have cancer.
Biomarker Tests
Biomarkers are substances made by cancer cells or the body in response to cancer. The presence of these substances could help doctors detect mesothelioma more quickly.
Biomarker tests for mesothelioma early detection include:
- Blood tests: Doctors examine blood samples for high levels of biomarkers that could mean you have mesothelioma. For example, the MESOMARK® test looks for concentrations of soluble mesothelin-related peptides (SMRPs). Other tests check for osteopontin, a type of protein found in cells exposed to asbestos.
- Breath analysis tests: These look for biomarkers called volatile organic compounds (VOCs). One such test was 97% accurate in distinguishing mesothelioma from other asbestos-related diseases in a Translational Lung Cancer Research report.
Doctors continue to study mesothelioma biomarkers with the hopes of detecting more cases sooner, with the hopes of improving early detection and survival times for patients.
Get our Free Mesothelioma Guide, shipped overnight, for more information about tests that can be used to screen for mesothelioma and treatments that could improve your survival time.
Why Is Mesothelioma Early Detection Important?
Mesothelioma screening is incredibly important in helping to catch cases of this cancer sooner. The vast majority of mesothelioma patients don’t get diagnosed until later stages when symptoms are harder to manage and treatment options are more limited.
With early detection through mesothelioma screening, patients may be able to access more mesothelioma treatments, have an improved mesothelioma prognosis, and live with a better overall quality of life.
“For mesothelioma, I’m not going to say the word ‘curable,’ but if you catch it early, you can have patients who are living 10-15 years later.”
Steps to Take After Mesothelioma Screening
Your medical team will walk you through next steps that may be taken depending on the results of your mesothelioma screenings. While going through screening can feel uncertain, remember that it is in your best interest.
If your mesothelioma screening results are abnormal:
- Your health care provider may order a tissue biopsy.
- You’ll get a formal diagnosis if mesothelioma cancer is found.
- An oncologist (cancer doctor) will build a treatment plan that best suits your needs.
- You’ll receive ongoing follow-up care to monitor your condition.
If doctors can detect mesothelioma before it causes any symptoms, your projected life expectancy could be much better. Some patients have become mesothelioma survivors, living decades longer than average, due to early diagnosis and aggressive treatments.
Use our Free Doctor Match for help finding mesothelioma specialists that can help properly diagnose and treat you or someone you love.
Get Screened for Mesothelioma
Working with a specialist is the best way to get screened for mesothelioma. Top doctors can recommend options like a low-dose CT scan, biomarker tests, and more that can help catch mesothelioma before it causes symptoms.
Mesothelioma Hope is ready to assist you and your family if you’re worried about this cancer.
Our team can:
- Connect you to local doctors for screening
- Help you access treatments if the screening leads to a diagnosis
- Offer support to you and your loved ones
- Pursue compensation to cover mesothelioma-related expenses
Don’t wait: Get our Free Mesothelioma Guide shipped overnight or call (866) 608-8933 now to explore all the resources available to you.
Mesothelioma Early Detection & Screening FAQs
What are the mesothelioma screening guidelines?
There are no standard mesothelioma screening guidelines, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS). The cancer is incredibly rare, with only around 3,000 new cases per year. However, doctors can recommend different tests to screen patients who are concerned, such as CT scans.
It’s also important to talk to your doctor about your risk if you or a loved one was ever exposed to asbestos. Asbestos is the only known cause of this cancer, so they may recommend getting screening tests even if you aren’t yet experiencing any symptoms.
“The index for suspicion for mesothelioma is somebody who has been exposed to asbestos, and it needs to be very high on the clinician’s part,” says mesothelioma specialist Dr. Andrea Wolf. “And so it’s not to instill fear in the patient, but it’s more to get clinicians to really do a careful history of exposures.”
How do you screen for mesothelioma?
Doctors can use several different screening tests, allowing them to look inside the body for signs of mesothelioma and hopefully catch this cancer before it has spread and worsened.
Here are tests often used to screen for this cancer:
- CT scans (the most common test)
- Blood tests
- Pulmonary function tests
- Other imaging scans
- Biopsies
A biopsy is the only way to confirm a diagnosis. However, doctors must use the earlier tests (most notably imaging) to rule out more common health issues that share symptoms, such as pneumonia. Contact us now for help finding doctors who can help detect mesothelioma and recommend treatments.
How long does it take for mesothelioma to be detected?
It takes about 9 months to detect mesothelioma from the time patients start experiencing symptoms. Because mesothelioma is very rare and the symptoms are vague at first, many patients and doctors may not think they have this cancer.
“The majority of patients end up getting misdiagnosed or treated for a number of other things before it gets figured out,” says mesothelioma specialist Dr. Joseph Friedberg.
This is why mesothelioma screening is so important for those who could be at risk. Screening tests like a low-dose CT scan can potentially help diagnose the cancer in an earlier stage before it causes symptoms, giving patients more life-extending treatment options.
Can mesothelioma be detected early?
Yes, it’s possible to detect mesothelioma early in some cases through screening tests. The majority of mesothelioma cases aren’t diagnosed until patients start experiencing symptoms.
However, if you or someone you love worked with or around asbestos materials decades ago, make sure to see a doctor if you start feeling like something is off. Tell your doctor about any potential asbestos exposure history and ask if they should order mesothelioma screening tests.
What is childhood malignant mesothelioma screening?
There aren’t any recommended guidelines for screening children for mesothelioma at this time. It is incredibly rare for children to develop mesothelioma. In the vast majority of cases, the cancer takes 10 to 50 years to develop, so it typically affects older adults.
However, children could be at risk of mesothelioma as a result of secondary asbestos exposure (for example, if a parent worked with asbestos). You can ask a doctor to see if you or your child should be screened for mesothelioma.
What is the gold standard for diagnosing mesothelioma?
A biopsy is considered the gold standard in confirming a mesothelioma diagnosis. Other diagnostic and screening tests, such as imaging scans, cannot completely confirm if you have mesothelioma. A biopsy allows doctors to examine fluid or tissue samples to see if mesothelioma cells are present.
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