Mesothelioma Cancer
Mesothelioma is a form of cancer that is triggered by exposure to asbestos. Inhaling asbestos fibers causes mesothelioma of the pleura and swallowing asbestos can lead to peritoneal mesothelioma.
Symptoms may mimic symptoms of less serious diseases and can take 10 - 50 years to appear. Symptoms can include abdominal pain, chest pain and breathlessness.
Risk Factors
Mesothelioma is a form of asbestos that develops when asbestos fibres enter the body. Pleural mesothelioma develops in the linings of the chest cavity or the lungs. In less cases, mesothelioma can develop in the peritoneum, or the heart's pericardial membrane (pericardium). The cancer may take up to 50 years to develop and manifest symptoms. These symptoms are often mistaken for flu like illnesses. Mesothelioma most often affects older people, and it is more prevalent in men than women.
The exposure to asbestos is the biggest risk factor in mesothelioma. Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral composed of tiny fibres which were employed in construction materials, like ceilings and walls because of its resistance fire and heat. It was also extensively used in the manufacture of goods such as pipes insulation, shingles, and cement. Mesothelioma is a deadly disease for those who work in industries that employ asbestos, like mining, shipbuilding or construction. Even those who have had a second exposure to asbestos like family members who brought home asbestos-covered clothing or skin are at risk.
A small proportion of mesothelioma cases are linked to a genetic mutation known as BAP1. This genetic change can increase the risk of developing mesothelioma in those who have been exposed to asbestos.
Age is another important risk factor for mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is most often found in those over 45 and two-thirds of those diagnosed are 65 or older. This is due to the long time between exposure to asbestos. However, it could also be that older people are more likely to develop the disease because of the long-term exposure to asbestos.
White males are more likely develop mesothelioma than any other race or gender. This is because historically, more white men worked in occupations that put them at a higher risk of exposure to asbestos than other groups. Additionally, mesothelioma was usually seen in people who were exposed to asbestos prior to when better regulations were put into place in the 1980s.
Signs and symptoms
Mesothelioma, a type of cancer caused by asbestos, occurs in the protective linings of several organs. The cancerous tumors can cause extreme discomfort and cause damage to the tissue. The malignancy may spread to other parts through the bloodstream or lymphatic system.
The symptoms of mesothelioma can be similar to those of other illnesses such as influenza or pneumonia. It usually takes between 10 and 50 years to manifest after exposure to asbestos. The latency period can make it difficult to diagnose the disease early, and symptoms may be misinterpreted as signs of other diseases.
Most malignant tumors begin in the lungs or chest cavity (pleura). Mesothelioma is also able to develop in the linings that surround the abdomen and the heart. In rare cases it can affect the lining around the heart or the testes.
Asbestos is a collection of minerals which form long, thin fibres. These fibers are so strong that they are unable to be broken down by water, chemicals or bacteria. They were commonly used in a variety construction and household products before scientists discovered the dangers they posed to the lives of people.
Most mesothelioma cases were caused by exposure to asbestos either at work or home. The majority of patients exposed were employed by the US Navy or Air Force, Shipbuilding Industry, or Construction. It is more prevalent among women than men and veterans account for about 30 percent of mesothelioma cases.
Imaging scans and medical tests can help doctors identify mesothelioma. These include X-rays, CT scanners, MRIs, and PET scans. duluth asbestos law firm may also send a sample of tissue to a laboratory for testing.
The results can help determine the mesothelioma's type and stage, which impacts the outlook for treatment and options. The majority of mesothelioma types are epithelioid or sarcomatoid, and between 10% and 15 percent are biphasic or mixed. Epithelioid cancers are less aggressive and typically has the highest survival rates. Sarcomatoid mesothelioma can be more difficult to identify and has a less favorable prognosis.
Diagnosis
Mesothelioma is a difficult cancer to detect, especially in its early stages. Patients should first visit their primary care physician if they experience any symptoms such as chest pains or coughing. The doctor will utilize a stethoscope to listen to the patient's breathing and record their health and work history. This includes any previous asbestos exposure, which is important in determining mesothelioma's diagnosis.
Because mesothelioma's symptoms resemble other conditions, doctors need to be able to rule out other conditions prior to confirming a diagnosis. For example the cancer is often spread to the lungs of a patient from another part of the body, like their chest wall or abdomen. Asbestos victims are prone to lung issues, such as pneumonia, and pleural mesothelioma symptoms may be confused with other respiratory ailments.
Mesothelioma is diagnosed through blood tests and imaging tests, as well as biopsies. These tests can help doctors identify the cancerous site that is typically located in the lungs, but could also be found in the testicles or stomach. The tests will also assist doctors determine how much of the cancer is growing throughout the body.
A CT scan or MRI may reveal 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 a patient has more lung capacity on one side or the other.
In many cases a biopsy is required to confirm the diagnosis of mesothelioma. This procedure involves removing small quantities of tissue and testing them in the lab for mesothelioma.
Certain patients might require additional tests, such as FDG-positron emissions tomography (PET), allowing doctors to examine the lymph nodes that are located in the middle of the chest and take samples of them, or endobronchial ultrasonography (EBUS), using sound waves to look at the lungs and the mesothelium. Mesothelioma is a rare cancer, is being treated by medical professionals. In the end patients diagnosed with the cancer must be aware of their options and determine the best treatment for them.
Treatment
Mesothelioma may affect the linings of the lungs or abdomen (peritoneal cancer) or the heart (pericardial cancer). The symptoms typically do not show up until a few years after exposure to asbestos. It is essential that those who have been exposed to asbestos should be checked if they experience any strange symptoms.
A doctor will conduct an examination of the medical history to check for mesothelioma risk factors such as the length of time and intensity someone was exposed to asbestos. A doctor will also perform an examination to look for mesothelioma signs, such as fluid accumulation in the chest cavity. The type of cells found in the mesothelium, and the locations of those cells are used to identify mesothelioma. The most frequent mesothelioma type is epithelioid, and accounts for up to 60% to 80% of mesothelioma cases. Other types of mesothelioma include biphasic and sarcomatoid mesothelioma that make up between 10% and 15% of mesothelioma cases.
There are a myriad of treatment options available for people with mesothelioma. The treatment option depends on the stage and type of mesothelioma.
In certain cases, mesothelioma is treated with chemotherapy or radiation. In these procedures doctors administer powerful cancer-fighting drugs or use special equipment to kill cancerous tumors and decrease the chance of mesothelioma returning.
Other forms of mesothelioma are treated by surgery that removes a portion of the lining from the affected organ. This can also relieve symptoms such as breathing problems.
A person suffering from asbestosis pleural may undergo a procedure known as VATS. This involves placing a camera in the lung and then removing a piece of the lung and pleura. This procedure can ease breathlessness caused by the accumulation of fluid in the lungs. However, it does not cure mesothelioma.
Other treatment options could include support and management of pain. It is important for people with mesothelioma to get as much information as they can about the disease and how to cope with it. The more informed they are more prepared they will be to plan for a future that includes a variety of health and wellness activities.