Mesothelioma Cancer
Mesothelioma, a cancerous tumor that is caused by asbestos exposure is a serious disease. Inhaling asbestos fibers can cause pleural cancer, and swallowing asbestos can cause cancer of the peritoneal region.
The symptoms may be similar to those of less serious illnesses. They can take 10 - 50 years to appear. The symptoms can include abdominal pain, chest pain and shortness of breathe.
Risk Factors
Asbestos fibres can cause mesothelioma. The most common mesothelioma type is mesothelioma pleural, which develops in the chest cavity's lining and lungs. Mesothelioma may also grow in the peritoneum (the membrane that surrounds the heart) or in the pericardium. The cancer may take up to 50 years to develop before it manifests symptoms. These symptoms are often misinterpreted as flu-like illnesses. Mesothelioma is most common in people over the age of 50 and is more frequent in males than females.
Exposure to asbestos is the biggest risk factor for mesothelioma. Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral made up of tiny fibres, was used as a building material like in walls and ceilings. It is impervious to heat and fire. It was also extensively used in the manufacturing of goods like pipes, insulations, shingles, and cement. People who worked in industries where asbestos was common like mining, construction or shipbuilding are at a high risk of developing mesothelioma. However, even those who only experienced secondary exposure like family members who brought home asbestos on their clothing and skin, are at risk.
A small portion of mesothelioma cases are linked to a genetic mutation known as BAP1. This genetic mutation increases the chance of developing mesothelioma in those who have been exposed to asbestos.
Age is another significant risk factor for mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is most often found in those who are over 45 and two-thirds of those diagnosed are 65 or older. This is due in part to the lengthy latency period due to asbestos exposure, but it could be due to the fact that the disease tends to affect older people who have had more prolonged and heavy exposure to asbestos-related material.
Mesothelioma is more common in white males than females or people of any other racial group. This is because historically more white men have worked in occupations that expose them to greater risk of asbestos than other groups. In addition, mesothelioma is typically seen in people who were exposed to asbestos before more stringent regulations were put in the 1980s.
Symptoms
Mesothelioma, a type of cancer caused by asbestos, occurs in the linings that protect many organs. The cancerous tumors that develop within the tissue may cause irreparable damage and pain. The malignancy can expand to other areas through the bloodstream or lymphatic system.
The symptoms of mesothelioma may be similar to other diseases like pneumonia or influenza. They can take up to 50 years after exposure to asbestos before showing symptoms. This time of latency makes it difficult to identify mesothelioma early, and the symptoms could be mistaken for other conditions.
The majority of malignant tumors start in the lungs or chest cavity (pleura). But asbestos mesothelioma lawsuit can also grow in the tissues surrounding the abdomen and the heart. In rare instances the disease can affect the testes' lining, or the sac that surrounds the heart (pericardium).
Asbestos is a group of minerals that form long thin fibers. The fibers are so strong that they cannot be broken down by chemical, water or bacteria. These materials were widely used in a variety construction and household products before scientists realised how hazardous they were to the lives of people.
The majority of mesothelioma patients were exposed to asbestos in the workplace or at home and the majority of those who were exposed worked in the US Navy or air force, shipbuilding or construction. It is more prevalent among men than women and veterans comprise about 30% of mesothelioma cases.
If mesothelioma begins to develop, doctors can identify it through medical tests and imaging scans. These include X-rays, CT scans, MRIs and PET scans. The doctor may also collect a small sample of the tissue and send it to a laboratory to be tested.
The results can aid in determining the mesothelioma's type and stage, which impacts the outlook for treatment and options. Most types of mesothelioma are epithelioid or sarcomatoid, and between 10% and 15 percent are biphasic or mixed. Epithelioid mesothelioma is usually less aggressive and has the best survival rates. Sarcomatoid Mesothelioma is harder to detect and has a lower prognosis.
Diagnosis
Mesothelioma is difficult to identify especially in its initial stages. Patients should first visit their primary care physician when they notice any signs such as chest pains or coughing. The doctor will utilize a stethoscope to listen to the patient breathing and take note of their health history and work history. This includes any asbestos exposure information, which is crucial in determining mesothelioma's diagnosis.
Doctors must rule out other diseases before they can make a diagnosis because mesothelioma symptoms are similar to other diseases. For example mesothelioma is a cancer that usually spreads to the lungs of a patient from another part of the body, such as their chest wall or abdomen. Asbestos-related lung diseases, such as pneumonia, are common among asbestos sufferers. Pleural mesothelioma can also be mistaken for other respiratory illnesses.
Mesothelioma can be diagnosed with blood tests, imaging tests and biopsies. These tests can help doctors identify the cancerous area which is usually located in the lungs, but could also be in the stomach or testicles. The tests will assist doctors determine the extent to which the cancer has spread in the body.
A CT scan or MRI could reveal the mesothelioma signs, such as calcium deposits in the pleura (known as plaque) and the accumulation of fluid between the chest wall and the lungs. These tests can also show whether the lungs of a person are more on one side than the other.
In many cases, a biopsy is required to confirm the diagnosis of mesothelioma. This involves removing the tissue in a small amount and analyzing it in the lab for mesothelioma-related cells.
Some patients might require additional tests, such as FDG-positron emission tomography (PET) which permits doctors to examine the lymph nodes in the middle of the chest and to test the lymph nodes, or endobronchial ultrasonography (EBUS) using sound waves to examine the mesothelium and lungs. Mesothelioma is a rare condition and doctors are still learning how to treat it effectively. As a result those diagnosed with cancer must be aware of their options and decide which treatment is the best for them.
Treatment
Mesothelioma may affect the lung linings, abdomen (peritoneal cancer), or heart (pericardial cancer). The symptoms are not usually evident for several decades after exposure to asbestos. This is why it's important for people who have worked around asbestos to have their health checked if they develop any strange symptoms.
A doctor will go over your medical history in order to determine if you're at mesothelioma risks. This includes how long and intensely you were exposed to asbestos. The doctor will also perform an exam to look for signs of mesothelioma, like the accumulation of fluid in the chest cavity. Mesothelioma can be classified based on the kind of cells that develop in the mesothelium as well as the site where these cells are. The most common mesothelioma type is epithelioid, which makes up 60% to 80% of mesothelioma cases. Other mesothelioma types include biphasic mesothelioma and sarcomatoid that represent between 10% and 15% of all mesothelioma cases.
There are a myriad of treatment options for mesothelioma. The kind of treatment you choose is dependent on the type and stage of the mesothelioma.
In certain cases, mesothelioma is treated through radiation or chemotherapy. During these treatments doctors use powerful chemotherapy drugs or equipment to kill tumors. This lowers the risk of mesothelioma coming back.
Other mesothelioma types can be treated surgically that removes a portion of the tissue lining of the organ affected. This can also relieve symptoms such as breathing problems.
A person with asbestosis pleural may undergo a procedure referred to as VATS. This involves inserting a camera into the lung and then removing a piece of the lung and pleura. This procedure can help with breathing problems due to the accumulation of fluid in the lung. However, it will not treat mesothelioma.
Other treatment options may include support and management of pain. It is crucial for those with mesothelioma to get as much information as they can about the disease and how to deal with it. The more they are aware of the more prepared they are to plan for a healthy and happy future.