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Dr. David R. Sanderson
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Mesothelioma, What Is This? - Dr. Sanderson (VIDEO)

Dr. Sanderson describes mesothelioma and explains how asbestos contributes to lung cancer.

Dr. Sanderson:
Mesothelioma is another variety of very serious and devastating malignancy that can occur in the chest. It starts from the line, not in the lung itself but from the lining, the pleural surface that lines the chest cavity.

It tends to be associated with both cigarette smoking and exposure to asbestos and it has been particularly a problem in individuals who are exposed to asbestos in the workplace, but it’s a highly malignant condition which usually is not responsive to any of the surgical or other modalities of therapy.

The exact mechanism by which asbestos causes malignancy is not clearly understood. The crystals that are inhaled or adjusted from the asbestos particles seems to be an irritant and in conjunction with the cigarette smoking, can contribute to lung cancer but mesothelioma can be a result of asbestos exposure in the pleura of individuals even who have not smoked.

About Dr. Sanderson, M.D.:
Dr. David R. Sanderson, M.D., practices at Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, Arizona, specializing in pulmonary care. Dr. Sanderson attended the Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University. He completed his residency and fellowship at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.

Visit Dr. Sanderson at Mayo Clinic

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