Mesothelioma Cancer
Mesothelioma is a form of cancer that is triggered by exposure to asbestos. Inhaling asbestos fibers can cause pleural cancer and swallowing asbestos can cause peritoneal cancer.
The symptoms may manifest within 10 to 50 years of the initial diagnosis. The symptoms can include abdominal pain, chest pain and shortness of breathe.
Risk Factors
Mesothelioma develops when asbestos fibres enter the body. Pleural mesothelioma forms in the linings of the chest cavity or the lungs. The most common form of mesothelioma is in the peritoneum or in the heart's pericardial membrane (pericardium). It can take between 20 and 50 years for the cancer to develop and show symptoms that are often confused with flu-like illnesses. Mesothelioma most often affects older people and is more prevalent in men than women.
The exposure to asbestos is the main risk factor for mesothelioma. Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that is made up of tiny fibres that were employed in construction materials, including ceilings and walls, due to its resistance to heat and fire. It was also extensively used in the manufacturing of products like pipes insulation, shingles, and cement. Mesothelioma is a deadly disease for those who work in industries that employ asbestos, like shipbuilding, mining or construction. However even those who had secondary exposure like family members who brought home asbestos on their clothes and skin, are at risk.
A small portion of mesothelioma patients are linked to a gene mutation called BAP1. This genetic change increases the risk of developing mesothelioma among those who have been exposed to asbestos.
The age of the patient is also a risk factor. Mesothelioma is most prevalent in people who are older than 45, and two thirds of those who are diagnosed with the disease are 65 years old or older. This is due to the long duration of exposure to asbestos. However it is also possible that older people are more likely to develop the disease due to the long-term exposure to asbestos.
White males are more likely develop mesothelioma than anyone else of any race or gender. This is due to the fact that historically, white men were more likely to work in jobs that put them at a greater risk of exposure to asbestos than other groups. Mesothelioma typically affects those who were exposed to asbestos before the 1980s, when better regulations were in place.
Signs and symptoms
Mesothelioma, a type of cancer caused by asbestos, occurs in the linings that protect various organs. The cancerous tumors can cause severe pain and can damage the tissues. The malignancy can be spread to other parts of the body via the lymphatic system or bloodstream.
The symptoms of mesothelioma can be similar to other illnesses such as influenza or pneumonia. It usually takes between 10 and 50 years to show up after exposure to asbestos. The latency period can make it difficult to identify the disease early and symptoms could be misinterpreted as signs of other diseases.
In the majority of cases, malignant tumors start in the lungs and chest cavity (pleura). Mesothelioma is also able to form in the linings surrounding the abdomen and the heart. In rare instances it may affect the lining of the heart or the testes.
Asbestos is one of the minerals that form long thin fibers. The fibers are so strong that they can't be broken down by chemical, water or bacteria. They were used extensively in a variety of construction and household products before scientists discovered how harmful they were to people's lives.
The majority of mesothelioma cases are caused by exposure to asbestos at work or at home. The majority of patients who were exposed were employed in the US Navy or Air Force, Shipbuilding Industry or Construction. Men are more likely to develop mesothelioma than females. Veterans account for around 30 percent of all cases.
When mesothelioma develops doctors can detect it with imaging scans and medical tests. These include X-rays CT scans, MRIs and PET scans. The doctor can also send a tissue sample to a lab for testing.
The results will help determine the mesothelioma's stage and type which can affect the prognosis and treatment options. The majority of mesothelioma types are epithelioid and sarcomatoid and between 10% and 15% are biphasic or mixed. Epithelioid mesothelioma is generally less aggressive and has the best survival rates. Sarcomatoid mesothelioma has a poorer prognosis and is more difficult to treat.
Diagnosis
Mesothelioma is a difficult cancer to detect especially in its initial stages. Patients should consult their primary care physician if they are experiencing any symptoms such as chest pain 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 history of asbestos exposure, which is crucial to determine if mesothelioma is present.
Doctors must rule out other diseases before they can make a diagnosis because mesothelioma symptoms are like those of other diseases. For instance the cancer is often spread to the lungs of a patient from other parts of their body, like their chest wall or abdomen. Asbestos sufferers are at risk of lung diseases, such as mesothelioma, pneumonia, and pleural symptoms may be confused with other respiratory ailments.
Tests for blood, imaging and biopsy are all used to detect mesothelioma. These tests can help doctors identify the cancerous area which is usually located in the lungs, but may also be found in the stomach or in the testicles. The tests will help doctors determine how far the cancer has spread within the body.
A CT scan or MRI could reveal the signs of mesothelioma including calcium deposits in the pleura (known as plaque) and an accumulation of fluid between the chest wall and the lungs. These tests can also reveal whether a patient has more lung capacity on one side or the other.
In many instances, a biopsy is required to confirm a diagnosis of mesothelioma. This involves removing small portions of tissue and analyzing them in the laboratory for mesothelioma.
Certain patients may require additional tests, such as FDG-positron emission tomography (PET) which helps doctors understand how the tumor is affecting the lungs' blood supply; mediastinoscopy, which enables doctors to look at and sample lymph nodes that are located in the center of the chest as well as endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) which uses sound waves to examine mesothelium and the lungs. Mesothelioma is a rare disease and doctors are still learning how to treat it effectively. Patients who have been diagnosed with cancer need to carefully weigh their options to determine the best treatment for them.
Treatment
Mesothelioma can affect the lung's lining (pleural mesothelioma) and abdomen (peritoneal mesothelioma) or heart (pericardial mesothelioma). Symptoms usually do not appear for several decades following asbestos exposure. Because of this, it's crucial for those who have had to work with asbestos to be examined if they develop any strange symptoms.
A doctor will conduct an examination of the medical history to check for mesothelioma risk factors including how long and how often an individual was exposed to asbestos. The doctor will also perform an examination to detect signs of mesothelioma, for example, fluid accumulation in the chest cavity. Mesothelioma can be classified based on the type of cells that form in the mesothelium as well as where those cells are located. Epithelioid mesothelioma accounts for 60 to 80% of mesothelioma. Other types of mesothelioma include biphasic and sarcomatoid mesothelioma that represent between 10% and 15% of all mesothelioma cases.
There are a variety of treatment options for mesothelioma. concord asbestos lawyer depends on the stage and type of the mesothelioma.
In certain cases, mesothelioma is treatable through radiation or chemotherapy. During these treatments doctors use powerful chemotherapy drugs or equipment to kill tumors. This lowers the risk of mesothelioma recurring.
Other types of mesothelioma can be treated through surgery that removes a portion of the lining of the affected organ. This may also help alleviate breathing difficulties and other symptoms.
A person suffering from asbestosis pleural can undergo a procedure called VATS. This involves inserting a camera into the lungs and removing a part of the lung and pleura. This procedure can help improve breathlessness caused by fluid build-up in the lungs, however it does not cure the disease.
Other treatment options include support or pain management. It is important for people suffering from mesothelioma to obtain as much information as possible about the disease and how to cope with it. The more they are aware of, the better equipped they will be to plan for a the best possible and happy future.