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Preventing misdiagnosis through a national mesothelioma registry
Veteran Assistance
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By JONATHAN SHARP

Special To The Times

Some of the gravest health threats faced by veterans do not emerge during active duty, but long after their service has ended. Among the most dangerous is asbestos, a natural mineral once widely used by the US armed forces in constructing and maintaining their ships, barracks, and equipment. Yet while it became a standard component of the military environment, service members were rarely warned of its hazards and even worked around it without sufficient protection. Decades later, that exposure has become a leading cause of mesothelioma, a deadly malignancy that has claimed the lives of 54,905 Americans between 1999 and 2020.

However, because of its rarity and nonspecific symptoms, this disease is frequently misdiagnosed, allowing it to silently advance to a stage where treatment options are limited and the prognosis is poor. A national mesothelioma registry could positively address these challenges. With such a systemic tool, the federal government and healthcare providers would finally have an effective means to identify high-risk individuals earlier and ensure they get prompt diagnosis and specialized care they desperately need.

 

Heavy toll of misdiagnosis

Mesothelioma is an aggressive malignant tumor that develops in the protective tissue surrounding specific internal organs. Its most common form is pleural mesothelioma, which occurs in the lining of the lungs, while other cases affect the heart, abdomen, or testes. Mounting research links this disease to exposure to asbestos, a mineral that naturally grows in the soil and rocks. However, unlike other types of cancer, mesothelioma is incredibly challenging to diagnose as it can remain dormant for 15 to 40 years. Its symptoms—such as chest pain, coughing, fatigue, or shortness of breath—are also vague, which is why they are easily mistaken for other illnesses like pneumonia and thoracic empyema or pus in the chest.

Due to this close resemblance, misdiagnosis remains one of the most critical obstacles in mesothelioma care. Accordingly, most early-stage cases are either overlooked or incorrectly identified. Many patients are also treated for unrelated conditions, overlooking the actual disease until it has already worsened and advanced to a late stage. By then, treatment choices are fewer and less effective, while the survival chances critically drop. Unfortunately, such diagnostic errors tragically result in the deaths of thousands of patients nationwide.

This issue has also been pressing for San Joaquin County, home to 25,676 veterans. Between 1999 and 2017, the Golden State recorded over 27,000 deaths linked to asbestos-related illnesses, including 5,100 from mesothelioma. San Joaquin County alone saw at least 568 asbestos-related fatalities during that period. Although this crisis impacts anyone in society, it disproportionately concerns veterans who may have been exposed to asbestos for a very long time while serving or staying on contaminated facilities. Today, this occupational group accounts for 30 percent of the roughly 3,000 Americans diagnosed with mesothelioma each year. These figures underscore the urgent need for a centralized system that can identify exposed individuals early as well as guide clinical decision-making and ultimately prevent more lives from being lost to delayed diagnoses.

 

Registry is long overdue

Creating a national mesothelioma registry would be a decisive step toward resolving the challenges that have long hindered its early detection and treatment. Such a registry would systematically identify high-risk populations like veterans and also ensure they are monitored through regular screenings and referred to specialists familiar with this complex disease. It would also offer clinicians a practical framework for recognizing potential cases, which is essential given how easily mesothelioma symptoms can be mistaken for other conditions.

In addition, a centralized registry would likewise accelerate more studies delving deeper into the nature of mesothelioma. With a stronger data infrastructure, researchers could better understand how and where mesothelioma occurs, which treatments work, and what gaps still exist in care. More importantly, it would provide federal health agencies with the insight crucial to strategically allocate resources, shape evidence-based policy, and guide future investments in veteran-centered cancer care.

The dangers of asbestos exposure have already been established for generations. The health risks are no longer a matter of debate, and the federal government has the tools and systems to respond. What’s missing now is the commitment to act swiftly. Veterans in San Joaquin County and nationwide served with dedication. As such, they should not be left to bear the burden of this disease alone. Creating a national mesothelioma registry is more than just sound public health policy—it is a responsibility that can no longer be deferred.

 

Jonathan Sharp serves as the CFO of the Environmental Litigation Group P.C., a Birmingham, AL-based firm that extends legal assistance to toxic exposure victims.