Mesothelioma Cancer
Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that is caused by exposure to asbestos. Inhaling asbestos fibers can cause pleural cancer and swallowing asbestos can cause cancer of the peritoneal area.
Symptoms can appear 10 to 50 years after the initial diagnosis. Symptoms include shortness of breath, chest pain and abdominal distress.
Risk Factors
Asbestos fibers can cause mesothelioma. The most common mesothelioma type is called mesothelioma pleural, which develops in the lining of the chest cavity and the lungs. Mesothelioma can also develop in the peritoneum (the membrane surrounding the heart) or the pericardium. The cancer may take up to 50 years to develop and manifest symptoms. These symptoms are frequently mistaken for flu like illnesses. Mesothelioma is more common in older people and more common in males than females.
The exposure to asbestos is the most significant risk factor for mesothelioma. Asbestos is a natural mineral that is made up of tiny fibres which were utilized in building materials, such as ceilings and walls, due to its resistance to fire and heat. It was also used extensively in the production of products such as pipes, insulations shingles, and cement. Mesothelioma is an extremely serious illness for those working in industries that use asbestos, such as mining, shipbuilding or construction. Even those who only had a second exposure to asbestos like family members who brought home asbestos-covered clothing and skin are at risk.
A small portion of mesothelioma cases are linked to a genetic mutation known as BAP1. This genetic change increases the risk of developing mesothelioma in those who have been exposed asbestos.
The age of the patient is also an important risk factor. Mesothelioma is most common in people who are older than 45 and two-thirds of those diagnosed with the disease are 65 years old or older. This is due to the lengthy latency associated with asbestos exposure. However it is also possible that older people are more likely to develop the disease because of the long exposure to asbestos.
White males are more likely develop mesothelioma than any other race or gender. This is due to the fact that historically, more white males worked in jobs which put them at a higher risk of exposure to asbestos than other groups. Mesothelioma most commonly affects those who were exposed to asbestos prior to the 1980s, when better regulations were in place.
Symptoms
Mesothelioma is a form of cancer that is caused by asbestos, occurs in the linings that protect many organs. The cancerous tumors can cause extreme pain and can damage the tissues. The malignancy may spread to other parts through the lymphatic or bloodstream system.
Mesothelioma symptoms are similar to other diseases, like pneumonia or the flu. It usually takes between 10 and 50 years to show up after exposure to asbestos. The time of latency can make it difficult to diagnose the disease early and symptoms could be misinterpreted as signs of other diseases.
In most cases, the malignant tumors start in the chest cavity and lungs (pleura). But mesothelioma can also grow in the linings of the heart and abdomen. In rare instances, it can affect the lining around the heart or the testes.
Asbestos is one of the minerals that form long, thin fibers. These fibers are so strong that they are unable to be broken down by water, chemicals or bacteria. They were extensively used in many household and construction products for a long time before scientists realized the dangers they pose to health.
The majority of mesothelioma cases were triggered by exposure to asbestos at workplace or at home. The majority of patients exposed were employed by the US Navy, Air Force, Shipbuilding Industry, or Construction. It is more prevalent among women than men and veterans comprise around 30% of mesothelioma cases.
When mesothelioma is diagnosed, doctors can identify it with imaging scans and medical tests. These include X-rays, CT scans, MRIs and PET scans. The doctor may also send a sample of tissue to a laboratory for analysis.
The results will help determine the mesothelioma's type and stage, which impacts prognosis as well as treatment options. Most types of mesothelioma are epithelioid and sarcomatoid and between 10% and 15% are biphasic or mixed. Epithelioid mesothelioma is generally less aggressive and has the highest survival rates. Sarcomatoid mesothelioma is a less favorable prognosis and is more difficult to treat.
Diagnosis
It is difficult to recognize mesothelioma, especially in its early stages. Patients should first consult their primary care physician if they notice any signs such as chest pain or coughing. The doctor will listen to the patient's breathing with the stethoscope and document their medical history and work. This includes any previous asbestos exposure, which is crucial to determine if mesothelioma is present.
Doctors must rule out any other diseases before they can make a diagnosis because mesothelioma symptoms are similar to other diseases. Cancer can infect the lung of a patient from other parts of the body such as the chest or abdomen. Asbestos-related lung diseases, such as pneumonia, are very common among asbestos-related victims. Pleural mesothelioma could be confused with other respiratory diseases.
Mesothelioma can be detected with blood tests and imaging tests, as well as biopsies. 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 testicles. These tests can also help doctors determine the extent of the cancer is growing in the body.
A CT scan or MRI may show signs of mesothelioma. These include calcium deposits (also known as plaque) in the pleura, and an accumulation of lung tissue' and chest wall's walls. These tests can also determine whether a person's lungs are more prominent on one side than the other.
In many instances 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 may 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 to test them, or endobronchial ultrasonography (EBUS) which uses sound waves to look at the lungs and the mesothelium. Mesothelioma is a rare cancer, and doctors are still learning to treat it effectively. Patients who have been diagnosed with cancer must carefully weigh their options to determine the best treatment option for them.
Treatment
Mesothelioma can affect the lining of the lungs (pleural mesothelioma) or the abdomen (peritoneal mesothelioma) or heart (pericardial mesothelioma). The symptoms generally don't manifest until years after exposure to asbestos. It is important that people who have been exposed to asbestos get examined if they exhibit any strange symptoms.
A doctor will take a medical history to check for mesothelioma risk factors including how long and how often the patient was exposed to asbestos. A doctor can also perform an exam to check for mesothelioma signs, such as an accumulation of fluid in the chest cavity. Mesothelioma can be classified based on the kind of cells that develop in the mesothelium and the site where these cells are. Epithelioid mesothelioma accounts for 60 percent to 80% mesothelioma. santa rosa asbestos lawyer of mesothelioma are sarcomatoid and biphasic mesothelioma which represent around 10 to 15% of mesothelioma patients.
There are a myriad of treatment options for mesothelioma. The kind of treatment is contingent on the type of mesothelioma and the stage of the disease.
In certain instances, mesothelioma can be treatable through radiation or chemotherapy. During these treatments doctors administer powerful chemotherapy drugs or use special equipment to kill cancerous cells and reduce the risk of mesothelioma returning.
Other types of mesothelioma may be treated surgically which involves the removal of parts of the lining of the affected organ. This may also help alleviate symptoms like breathing difficulties.
If someone is diagnosed with mesothelioma of the pleura, their doctor may perform the procedure known as VATS, that involves the use of a camera into the lungs to eliminate part of the lung and pleura. This procedure can help with breathlessness caused by the accumulation of fluid in the lung. However, it can not treat mesothelioma.
Other options for treatment include support and management of pain. It is crucial for those suffering from mesothelioma to obtain the most information they can about the disease and how to cope with it. The more they know, the better equipped they are to plan a an enjoyable and healthy future.