Mesothelioma Cancer
Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that is caused by exposure to asbestos. Inhaling asbestos fibers cause mesothelioma of the pleura and swallowing asbestos can lead to mesothelioma of the peritoneal region.
The symptoms can manifest between 10 and 50 years after the initial diagnosis. Symptoms include shortness of breath, abdominal pain and chest pain.
Risk Factors
Asbestos fibres can cause mesothelioma. The most commonly encountered type of mesothelioma is mesothelioma that is found in the chest cavity's lining and the lungs. Less commonly, mesothelioma develops in the peritoneum or in the heart's pericardial membrane (pericardium). It takes between 20-50 years for the cancer to form and to show signs that can be confused with flu-like illnesses. Mesothelioma most often affects older people, and is more prevalent in men than women.
The biggest risk factor for mesothelioma is exposure asbestos. Asbestos, a natural mineral made up of tiny fibres, was employed as a building material, such as in ceilings and walls. It is resistant to fire and heat. It was also extensively used in the manufacture of goods such as pipes, insulations shingles, and cement. Workers in industries where asbestos was prevalent like shipbuilding, mining, or construction are at risk of developing mesothelioma. Even those who have only had a second exposure to asbestos like family members who brought home asbestos-covered clothing and skin, are at risk.
A small percentage (less than 5%) of mesothelioma is linked to mutations in the gene BAP1. This genetic change increases the risk of developing mesothelioma among those who have been exposed to asbestos.
Age is a major risk factor for mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is most common among those over 45 years old and two thirds of those who are diagnosed with it are 65 years old or older. This is partly due to the long latency time due to asbestos exposure, however, it could also be because the disease tends to affect older people who have had more prolonged and heavy exposure to the cancer-causing substance.
Mesothelioma is more common in white males than females or members of any other racial group. This is because historically more white men have worked in occupations which expose them to greater risk of asbestos than other groups. In addition, mesothelioma is most often seen in those who were exposed to asbestos before better regulations were put into the 1980s.
Signs and symptoms
Mesothelioma, a type of cancer caused by asbestos, is found in the linings that protect several organs. The cancerous tumors that form in the tissue can cause damage and severe pain. The malignancy can spread to other parts of the body via the bloodstream or lymphatic system.
Mesothelioma symptoms can be similar to other illnesses, such as pneumonia or the flu. They typically take between 10 and 50 years to manifest after exposure to asbestos. This delay in time makes it difficult to diagnose mesothelioma in the early stages, and the symptoms could be misinterpreted as other diseases.
In most cases, the malignant tumors start in the chest cavity and lungs (pleura). Mesothelioma can also develop in the linings that surround the abdomen and heart. In rare instances, 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 strong enough that they can't be broken down by chemicals, water or bacteria. They were commonly used in a variety construction and household products before scientists realised the dangers they posed to the lives of people.
The majority of mesothelioma cases were triggered by exposure to asbestos at workplace or at home. The majority of patients who were exposed were employed in the US Navy, Air Force, Shipbuilding Industry or Construction. It is more prevalent among women than men and veterans account for about 30 percent of mesothelioma patients.
When mesothelioma develops doctors can spot it through imaging scans and medical tests. This includes X-rays, CT scans, MRIs and PET scans. The doctor can also send a tissue sample to a laboratory for testing.
The results will allow doctors to determine the type of mesothelioma and stage of the disease which can affect the prognosis as well as treatment options. The majority of mesothelioma types are epithelioid and sarcomatoid. Between 10 percent and 15 percent of cases 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
It can be difficult to identify mesothelioma in particular in its early stages. Patients should first visit their primary care physician when they experience any symptoms like chest pain or coughing. hemet asbestos lawyer will use a stethoscope listen to the patient's breathing and record their health and work history. This includes any asbestos exposure background, which is essential for diagnosing mesothelioma.
Because mesothelioma's symptoms resemble other conditions, doctors need to exclude other conditions prior to making a diagnosis. For example the cancer is often spread to the lungs of patients from other parts of their body, such as their chest wall or abdomen. Asbestos-related victims are more prone to lung problems, including mesothelioma, pneumonia, and pleural symptoms may be confused with other respiratory ailments.
Mesothelioma is diagnosed through blood tests, imaging tests and biopsies. These tests can help doctors find the cancerous region, which is usually in the lungs, but may also be found in the stomach or in the testicles. The tests will assist doctors determine how far the cancer has spread throughout the body.
A CT scan or MRI may reveal mesothelioma signs like calcium deposits in the pleura (known as plaque) and the accumulation of fluid between the chest wall and the lungs. These tests can also reveal whether a person's lungs are more prominent on one side than the other.
In many cases, a biopsy is required to confirm a diagnosis of mesothelioma. This procedure involves removing some of the tissue and analyzing it in the lab for mesothelioma-related cells.
Certain patients may require additional tests like FDG-positron emission tomography (PET), allowing doctors to examine the lymph nodes located in the middle of the chest, and to take samples of the lymph nodes, or endobronchial ultrasonography (EBUS) using sound waves to look at the lungs and the mesothelium. Mesothelioma is a rare disease and doctors are still learning to treat it effectively. As a result patients diagnosed with the cancer must consider their options carefully and decide what treatment is best for them.
Treatment
Mesothelioma can affect the lung's lining (pleural mesothelioma) and abdomen (peritoneal mesothelioma) or heart (pericardial mesothelioma). The symptoms are not usually evident for several decades after exposure to asbestos. It is crucial that those who have been exposed to asbestos should be examined if they exhibit any strange symptoms.
A doctor will conduct an medical history to look for mesothelioma risk factors for example, how long and how intensely the patient was exposed to asbestos. A doctor may also conduct an examination to determine mesothelioma-related symptoms like fluid accumulation in the chest cavity. The type of cells that reside in the mesothelium and the location of those cells, are used to categorize mesothelioma. Epithelioid mesothelioma accounts for 60 to 80% of mesothelioma. The other types of mesothelioma are biphasic and sarcomatoid mesothelioma which account for around 10 to 15% of mesothelioma patients.
There are a variety of treatment options for mesothelioma. The treatment option is based on the type and stage of mesothelioma.
In some cases, mesothelioma is treated through radiation or chemotherapy. In these treatments, doctors employ powerful chemotherapy drugs or equipment to kill tumors. This reduces the chance of mesothelioma returning.
Other forms of mesothelioma can be treated surgically which involves the removal of parts of the tissue lining of the organ affected. This can also ease symptoms like breathing problems.
A person with pleural asbestosis may undergo a procedure referred to as VATS. This involves inserting a camera into the lungs and removing a part of the pleura and lung. This procedure can alleviate breathlessness due to fluid buildup in the lungs. However, it does not cure mesothelioma.
Other treatment options could include pain management and support services. It is vital that people who suffer from mesothelioma have as much information on the disease as possible and the best way to manage it. The more knowledgeable they are, the better they can plan for a future that includes a full range of wellness and health activities.