Mesothelioma Cancer
Mesothelioma which is a cancerous tumor that is caused by asbestos exposure is a serious condition. Inhaling asbestos fibers cause mesothelioma pleural and swallowing asbestos can lead to mesothelioma of the peritoneal region.
Symptoms can appear between 10 and 50 years after the initial diagnosis. The symptoms can include chest pain, abdominal distress and breathlessness.
Risk Factors
Asbestos fibres can cause mesothelioma. Pleural mesothelioma forms in the linings of the chest cavity or lungs. In less cases, mesothelioma can develop in the peritoneum or in the heart's pericardial membrane (pericardium). The cancer can take up to 50 years to manifest symptoms. The symptoms are often mistaken for flu like illnesses. Mesothelioma typically affects older people and is more prevalent in males than women.
Asbestos exposure is the main risk factor for mesothelioma. Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral made up of tiny fibres which were used in construction materials, including ceilings and walls because of its resistance heat and fire. It was also extensively used in the manufacture of goods like pipes, insulations, shingles and cement. People who worked in industries where asbestos was prevalent like mining, construction or shipbuilding are at a high risk of developing mesothelioma. However, even ventura asbestos lawsuit who only had a secondary exposure to asbestos like relatives who brought home asbestos-contaminated clothes and skin, are at risk.
A small proportion of mesothelioma cases are linked to a genetic mutation known as BAP1. This genetic change increases the likelihood of developing mesothelioma in people who have been exposed to asbestos.
Age is a major risk factor for mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is most common in people older than 45 years, and two thirds of those diagnosed with it are 65 years old or older. This is due in part to the lengthy latency period associated with asbestos exposure, but it could be due to the fact that the condition is more prevalent in older those who have had a longer-term and more intense exposure to the cancer-causing material.
Mesothelioma is more prevalent among white males than females or members of any other race. This is because historically, more white men worked in occupations which put them at a higher risk of exposure to asbestos than other groups. Mesothelioma is most often afflicted by those who were exposed to asbestos before the 1980s, a time when more strict regulations were in place.
Signs and symptoms
Mesothelioma is an asbestos-related cancer that develops in the protective linings around many organs of the body. The cancerous tumors that develop in the tissue could damage them and cause severe pain. The malignancy can extend to other areas of the body via the bloodstream or lymphatic system.
Mesothelioma symptoms may be similar to those of other diseases, such as pneumonia or the flu. They can take up to 50 years following asbestos exposure before showing symptoms. The time of latency can make it difficult to detect the disease early, and symptoms may be misinterpreted as signs of other diseases.
In most cases, the malignant tumors begin in the chest cavity and lungs (pleura). But mesothelioma can also form in the linings of the heart and abdomen. In rare instances, it can affect the lining around the heart or the testes.
Asbestos is a group of minerals that make long, thin fibers. These fibers are so durable that they cannot be broken down by chemical, water or bacteria. They were widely used in a variety of household and construction materials for decades before scientists understood the dangers they pose for health.
The majority of patients with mesothelioma were exposed to the material in the workplace or at home and the majority of those who were exposed were employed in the US Navy, the air force, the shipbuilding or construction. It is more prevalent among males than females, and veterans make up about 30 percent of mesothelioma cases.
When mesothelioma is diagnosed doctors can detect it with medical tests and imaging scans. These include X rays, CT scanners, MRIs, and PET scans. The doctor can also collect a small sample of the tissue and send it to a lab to be tested.
The results can help doctors determine the mesothelioma type and stage of the disease which influences prognosis and treatment options. The majority of mesothelioma types are epithelioid or sarcomatoid. Between 10% and 15 percent of cases are biphasic, or mixed. Epithelioid mesothelioma tends to be less aggressive and has the highest survival rates. Sarcomatoid Mesothelioma is more difficult to detect and has a poorer prognosis.
Diagnosis
It can be difficult to identify mesothelioma in particular at an early stage. The first step is to visit their primary care doctor with any symptoms, like coughing or chest pains. The doctor will observe the patient's breathing using an stethoscope, and record their health history and work. This includes any asbestos exposure background, which is essential for diagnosing mesothelioma.
Doctors must rule out any other diseases before they can confirm the diagnosis, as mesothelioma signs are similar to those of other diseases. For instance the cancer is often spread to the lungs of a patient from another part of their body, such as their chest wall or abdomen. Asbestos-related lung diseases, including pneumonia, are common in asbestos-related victims. Pleural mesothelioma could be confused with other respiratory illnesses.
Blood tests, imaging tests and biopsy are all used to identify mesothelioma. These tests can help doctors identify the cancerous area, which is usually in the lungs, but may also be located in the stomach or in the testicles. The tests will also help doctors determine how much of the cancer is growing throughout the body.
A CT scan or MRI may reveal signs of mesothelioma. This includes calcium deposits (also known as plaque) in the pleura as well as an accumulation between the lungs and chest wall. These tests can also reveal whether a person has more lung capacity on one side or the other.
In many cases, a biopsy is necessary to confirm a diagnosis of mesothelioma. This procedure involves taking small quantities of tissue and testing them in the laboratory for mesothelioma.
Certain patients may require additional tests such as FDG-positron emissions tomography (PET), allowing doctors to check the lymph nodes located in the middle of the chest and sample them, or endobronchial ultrasonography (EBUS) which uses sound waves to look at the mesothelium and lungs. Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer, is still being treated by medical professionals. Therefore, patients who are diagnosed with cancer must be aware of their options and decide which treatment is the best for them.
Treatment
Mesothelioma may affect the linings of the lungs and abdomen (peritoneal cancer) or the heart (pericardial cancer). The symptoms generally don't show up until a few decades after exposure to asbestos. It is essential that those who have been exposed to asbestos should be checked if they experience unusual symptoms.
A doctor will review your medical history to determine if you have mesothelioma risk. This is based on how long and how frequently you were exposed to asbestos. The doctor will also perform an examination to find signs of mesothelioma, like the accumulation of fluid in the chest cavity. The type of cells found in the mesothelium, and the location of those cells, are used to identify mesothelioma. Epithelioid mesothelioma is the most common type of to 80% of mesothelioma. Other types of mesothelioma are sarcomatoid mesothelioma and biphasic that make up between 10% and 15% of all mesothelioma cases.
There are many treatment options for mesothelioma. The type of treatment you choose depends on the type of mesothelioma and the stage of the disease.
In some cases, the mesothelioma can be treated with radiation or chemotherapy. When treating mesothelioma, doctors utilize powerful cancer-fighting drugs or equipment to kill tumors. This lowers the risk of mesothelioma recurring.
Other mesothelioma types can be treated with surgery that removes a portion of the tissues of the organ that are affected. It can also alleviate symptoms such as breathing problems.
A person with asbestosis pleural may undergo a procedure referred to as VATS. This involves inserting a camera into lungs and removing a part of the lung and pleura. This can improve breathing problems caused by the build-up of fluid in the lungs, however it does not cure the condition.
Other treatment options include support services or pain management. It is essential that patients with mesothelioma get as much information on the disease as they can and how to deal with it. The more they are aware of, the better equipped they are to plan for the best possible and happy future.