Mesothelioma Cancer
Mesothelioma, a cancerous tumor caused by asbestos exposure is a serious disease. Inhaling asbestos fibers cause mesothelioma of the pleura and swallowing asbestos can cause mesothelioma of the peritoneal region.
These symptoms can be a sign of less serious illnesses and can take anywhere from 10 to 50 years to show. Symptoms include shortness of breath, chest pain and abdominal distress.
Risk Factors
Mesothelioma is a form of asbestos that develops when asbestos fibers are introduced into the body. Pleural mesothelioma forms 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 before it manifests symptoms. The symptoms are often misinterpreted as flu-like illnesses. Mesothelioma typically affects older people, and is more prevalent in males than women.
The exposure to asbestos is the most significant risk factor in mesothelioma. Asbestos, a naturally occurring mineral composed of tiny fibres, was utilized as a building material, such as in ceilings and walls. It is resistant to fire and heat. It was also extensively used in the manufacturing of goods like pipes insulation, shingles, insulation and cement. Mesothelioma is a serious disease for those working in industries that use asbestos, such as mining, shipbuilding or construction. However, even those who only had a secondary exposure to asbestos such as relatives who brought home asbestos on their clothing and skin, are also at risk.
A small percentage (less than five percent) of mesothelioma is due to a mutation in the BAP1 gene. This genetic change can increase the chance of developing mesothelioma in those who have been exposed to asbestos.
The age of the patient is also an important risk factor. Mesothelioma is most common among those over 45 years old and two-thirds of those diagnosed with the disease are 65 years old or older. This is due to the lengthy time between exposure to asbestos. However it is also possible that older people are more likely to develop the disease because of the long exposure to asbestos.
Mesothelioma is more prevalent among white males than in women or those belonging to any other race. This is due to the fact that historically, more white males worked in occupations that put them at a greater risk of asbestos exposure than other groups. Additionally, mesothelioma is usually seen in people who were exposed to asbestos before more stringent regulations were put in place in the 1980s.
Symptoms
Mesothelioma is an asbestos-related tumor that forms in the linings that protect many organs of the body. The cancerous tumors can cause severe discomfort and cause damage to the tissue. The malignancy can be spread to other parts of the body via the lymphatic or bloodstream system.
The symptoms of mesothelioma may be similar to other illnesses such as influenza or pneumonia. It can take up to 50 years after asbestos exposure before showing symptoms. The latency period can make it difficult to detect the disease early, and symptoms may be misinterpreted as other conditions.
In the majority of cases, malignant tumors start in the lungs and chest cavity (pleura). However, mesothelioma may also develop in the tissues surrounding the heart and abdomen. In rare cases it may affect the lining of the heart or the testes.
Asbestos is a class of minerals that create long thin fibers. These fibers are strong enough that they can't be broken by chemicals, water or bacteria. They were used extensively in a range of construction and household products before scientists realized how harmful they were to the lives of people.
Most mesothelioma patients were exposed to the substance in the workplace or at home and the majority of those who were exposed worked in the US Navy and air force, construction or shipbuilding industries. Men are more likely to develop mesothelioma than women. Veterans make up around 30 percent of all cases.
When mesothelioma is diagnosed doctors can detect it by performing imaging scans and medical tests. This includes X-rays, CT scans, MRIs and PET scans. The doctor can also collect a sample of the tissue and send it to a laboratory for testing.
The results can help determine the mesothelioma's stage and type which can affect the outlook for treatment and options. The majority of mesothelioma types are epithelioid or sarcomatoid. Between 10% and 15 percent of cases 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 difficult to identify particularly in its early stages. Patients should consult their primary care physician if they are experiencing any symptoms such as chest pains or coughing. The doctor will listen to the patient's breathing through a stethoscope and take down their work and health history. This includes any past history of asbestos exposure, which is crucial in determining mesothelioma's diagnosis.
Because mesothelioma's symptoms are similar to those of other illnesses, doctors must rule out other conditions before confirming a diagnosis. For instance mesothelioma is a cancer that usually spreads to a person's lungs from other parts of their body, such as the chest wall or abdomen. Asbestos victims are prone to lung issues, such as pneumonia, and pleural mesothelioma symptoms can be confused with other respiratory illnesses.
Tests for blood, imaging and biopsy can all be used to identify mesothelioma. These tests will aid doctors in locating the location of the cancer, which is most commonly in the lungs but could also be found in the stomach or testicles. The tests will assist doctors determine the extent to which the cancer has spread within the body.
A CT scan or MRI can reveal mesothelioma signs including calcium deposits in the pleura (known as plaque) and an accumulation of fluid between the lungs and the chest wall. These tests can also determine whether a patient has more lungs on one side or the other.
In many cases, a biopsied is necessary to confirm a diagnosis of mesothelioma. pasadena asbestos lawyer involves taking some of the tissue and analyzing it in the lab for mesothelioma-related cells.
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 to test them, or endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) which uses sound waves to study the mesothelium and lungs. Mesothelioma is a rare cancer, and doctors are still learning to treat it effectively. Patients who have been diagnosed with cancer need to carefully weigh their options to find the best treatment for them.
Treatment
Mesothelioma may affect the lung linings, abdomen (peritoneal cancer) or the heart (pericardial cancer). The symptoms usually don't show up for several decades after asbestos exposure. It is important that people who have been exposed to asbestos be checked for any strange symptoms.
A doctor will take an examination of the medical history to check for mesothelioma-related risk factors, for example, how long and how often an individual was exposed to asbestos. The doctor will also do an examination to find mesothelioma-related signs, such as fluid build-up in the chest cavity. The type of cells that reside in the mesothelium, and the location of these cells, are used to categorize mesothelioma. Epithelioid-like mesothelioma comprises 60 percent to 80% mesothelioma. Other types of mesothelioma are biphasic mesothelioma and sarcomatoid that represent between 10% and 15% of mesothelioma cases.
There are many different treatment options for patients with mesothelioma. The type of treatment you choose depends on the type of mesothelioma and the stage of the disease.
In some cases, mesothelioma may be treated with chemotherapy or radiation. During these treatments doctors use powerful cancer-fighting drugs or equipment to eliminate tumors. This reduces the chance of mesothelioma returning.
Other forms of mesothelioma are treated through surgery that eliminates a part of the lining of the affected organ. This can also relieve symptoms such as breathing problems.
If someone is diagnosed with mesothelioma pleural and their doctor recommends VATS, a procedure which uses a camera inserted into the lungs to remove part of the pleura and lungs. This procedure can alleviate the breathlessness that is caused by the accumulation of fluid in the lungs, but is not a cure for the disease.
Other options for treatment include pain management and support services. It is crucial for those who suffer from mesothelioma, to gather as much information as they can about the disease and ways to deal with it. The more they know the more prepared they are to plan for the best possible and happy future.