Thursday, 12 January 2017

Books for Mesothelioma Patients and their Loved Ones [Guest Post]

Morning everyone!

A few weeks ago I was approached about a guest post position on my blog. It's been a very long time since my last guest post, and because I usually don't accept them, I said no. But then thinking back, I realised I was going to change my mind. Because although this guest post is about books, more importantly, it is about raising awareness about an illness. I hope you'll find the blog post as informative and helpful as I did! Handing things over to Ashley now :) Olivia x

Books for Mesothelioma Patients and their Loved Ones

What is mesothelioma? Mesothelioma is a form of cancer where malignant cancer cells form and develop on the thin layer of the tissue that lines the abdomen, lungs or chest wall. These cells can also form on the tissue that covers the testicles and the heart.
The type of mesothelioma that a patient has depends on where in the body the cancer forms.  There are three types of mesothelioma:  

  • Pleural mesothelioma:  This is the most common type of mesothelioma where the cancer cells form on the lining of the lungs. This type accounts for nearly 75% of all mesothelioma cases.
  • Peritoneal mesothelioma: This is the 2nd most common type, which affects the protiective tissue lining of the abdomen.  This type accounts for 20-25% of all mesothelioma diagnoses.
  • Lastly, pericardial mesothelioma:  This type is very rare which affects the tissue lining that covers the heart. The reason this is very rare is because asbestos fibers are either swallowed or inhaled.  In order for the asbestos fibers to reach the lining of the heart, they need to first miss being lodged onto the lungs or the abdomen and then they need to travel to attach itself to the lining of the heart.  This only occurs when mesothelioma is in it’s worst stage and has already metastasized throughout the body. 

As briefly mentioned earlier, mesothelioma is caused by the exposure to asbestos. The only way to develop it is if a person either inhales or ingests micro asbestos fibers that are hanging in the air.  After initial asbestos exposure, it takes 20+ years for a person to start showing mesothelioma symptoms.  Here is a great video that talks about the symptoms of mesothelioma.

What is asbestos? Asbestos refers to six fibrous minerals that occur naturally. These are: crocidolite, chrysotile, amosite, tremolite, anthophyllite and actinolite. Asbestos has microscopic fibers that are extremely resistant to breakdowns, chemical reactions and fire. These properties made it very popular in the past and it was used in different industrial and commercial applications. It was a preferred material for the manufacture of products like roofing shingles, ceiling materials, floor tiles, textile products, automotive parts and textile products among others.

Today, asbestos is strictly regulated following the discovery that exposure to it is scientifically and directly linked to mesothelioma and asbestosis.  

Books about mesothelioma and asbestos

Whether you or a person close to you has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, you might want to learn more about this disease, asbestos, as well as your options on how to fight/treat this rare form of cancer.

Here are some of the books that have been written about mesothelioma and asbestos:

      Defending the Indefensible
This book is authored by historians Jock McCulloch and Geoffrey Tweedale. The duo has written other books on mining and health topics. This particular book cites different journals, official documents, letters and studies. It provides details of how companies that used asbestos defended themselves and how the media, mesothelioma victims and medical practitioners challenged the industry.

ü  Malignant Mesothelioma
This mesothelioma and asbestos book is authored by Harvey I. Pass, Michele Carbone and Nicholas Vogelzang. It provides information about innovative treatment options for mesothelioma. It also gives an account of pathology and science behind this disease while discussing clinical and latest medical advances about treatment and diagnosis of mesothelioma. The book touches on multimodality mesothelioma treatments.


      Lung Cancer and Mesothelioma
This book by Howard Gutman provides guidance and insights into issues facing mesothelioma patients and their loved ones. It covers a wide range of topics including development of different cancers, clinical trials, medications, treatment options and management of grief and strong emotions that are associated with mesothelioma.

ü  100 Questions and Answers about Mesothelioma
This book by Havey I. Pass is a detailed guide on issues that relate to mesothelioma. It provides practical and authoritative answers from patients and doctors.

ü  The Official Patient’s Sourcebook on Malignant Mesothelioma
This book by Philip Parker, M.D and James Parker, M.D is a detailed sourcebook for patients. It is a researched reference manual that provides important information about mesothelioma. The book cites different clinical trials and studies.

These books provide information that enables patients and their loved ones to understand what they might go through, what they need and how to prepare themselves after a mesothelioma diagnosis.

Thanks Ashley!

Olivia's Question: What's one disease you think more people should know about?

Olivia-Savannah x


  1. Interesting and informative post - def. worth the read :)

    1. I really learned a lot from this one.

  2. This is a really interesting post that I hope everyone takes a chance to read.

    1. Thanks for taking the time to read it, Ethan :)

  3. Thanks for sharing, Olivia. Very informative.

  4. I think more people could benefit from autism awareness. Patients who are clinically diagnose has a small window (usually to the age of 5) where they can greatly benefit from social modification. If we can teach parents to recognize the symptoms early, then children can acclimate to society better.

    1. It really is beneficial for more people to know, and therefore it can only benefit those affected all the more. I agree with you, Lonna!

  5. I've heard so much about this disease. It's good to know that there are available books for awareness. Thanks for sharing them here. :)

    1. I am glad you've been able to learn about it on so many different occasions! As a reader myself, I was curious to learn more about the books about it.

  6. Thanks for having the guest post here, it's very informative! Great to know which books are good to get more info.
    We need awareness of all the disease that can be life threatening.

    1. I agree. Awareness is so important and can even save lives :D

  7. Very informative post Olivia. Thank you for sharing!

  8. Awesome guest post! I really learned a lot from it.