A recent study aimed at determining the incidence of contracting specific second primary cancers (SPCs) after a diagnosis of malignant mesothelioma (MM) and, in reverse, developing MM after acquiring another SPC. The most discovered cancer either before or after mesothelioma was kidney cancer. These findings included both pleural and peritoneal MMs.
While the incidence of these cancers before or after a malignant mesothelioma diagnosis was low, it is a further indication of the necessity of informing your doctor of possible exposure to asbestos when diagnosed with other cancers and to check for additional cancers involving germline BAP1 mutations when diagnosed with MM. In either case, when there is a cancer diagnosis in combination with asbestos exposure, it is wise to insist on increased medical surveillance.
