Mesothelioma Cancer
Mesothelioma is a cancer caused by exposure to asbestos. The inhalation of asbestos fibers can cause mesothelioma pleural and swallowing asbestos can cause mesothelioma of the peritoneal region.
The symptoms may manifest 10 to 50 years after the initial diagnosis. Symptoms can include chest pain, abdominal distress and shortness of breathe.
Risk Factors
Asbestos fibres can cause mesothelioma. The most common mesothelioma type is called pleural mesothelioma, which forms in the chest cavity's lining and lungs. Less commonly, mesothelioma develops in the peritoneum, or the heart's pericardial membrane (pericardium). The cancer may take up to 50 years to develop before it manifests symptoms. These symptoms are frequently mistaken for flu like illnesses. Mesothelioma is most prevalent in older people and is more frequent in males than females.
The main risk factor for mesothelioma is exposure to asbestos. Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that is made up of tiny fibres that were employed in construction materials, like ceilings and walls, because of its resistance heat and fire. It was also extensively used in the production of products such as pipes, insulations shingles, and cement. Workers in industries where asbestos was common, such as shipbuilding, mining, or construction are at risk of developing mesothelioma. Even those who only had a second exposure to asbestos such as relatives who brought home asbestos-covered clothing or skin are at risk.
A small proportion (less than 5%) of mesothelioma is due to mutations in the BAP1 gene. This genetic change increases the chance of developing mesothelioma in those who have been exposed asbestos.
The patient's age is also an important risk factor. Mesothelioma is most common among those older than 45 years and two thirds of those diagnosed with the disease are 65 years old or older. This is partly due to the long latency time associated with asbestos exposure, but it could also be because the disease is more prevalent in older patients who have experienced longer-term and more intense exposure to asbestos-related material.
White males are more likely develop mesothelioma more than any other race or gender. This is due to the fact that historically, more white men have worked in jobs that expose them to greater risk of asbestos than other groups. Mesothelioma typically affects those who were exposed to asbestos before the 1980s, a time when better regulations were in place.
Signs and symptoms
Mesothelioma is a form of cancer that is caused by asbestos, is found in the protective linings of several organs. The cancerous tumors can cause severe pain and can damage the tissues. The malignancy could extend to other areas of the body via the lymphatic system or the bloodstream.
Mesothelioma symptoms are similar to other diseases, like pneumonia or the flu. They often take 10 - 50 years to manifest after exposure to asbestos. This latency period makes it difficult to recognize mesothelioma in the early stages, and the symptoms can be misinterpreted as other diseases.
In most cases, the malignant tumors begin in the chest cavity and lungs (pleura). hayward asbestos attorneys may also form in the linings surrounding the abdomen and the heart. In rare instances it can affect the lining around the heart or the testes.
Asbestos is one of the minerals that create long thin fibers. The fibers are so strong that they are unable to be broken down by chemicals, water or bacteria. They were extensively used in many household and construction products for decades before scientists understood how harmful they were to health.
Most mesothelioma cases were caused by exposure to asbestos either at work or at home. The majority of patients exposed were employed in the US Navy Air Force, Shipbuilding Industry, or Construction. Men are more likely to develop mesothelioma than women. Veterans account for approximately 30% of all cases.
When mesothelioma is diagnosed, doctors can identify it by performing medical tests and imaging scans. These include X rays, CT scanners, MRIs, and PET scans. The doctor can also send a sample of tissue to a lab for testing.
The results will aid in determining the mesothelioma's type and stage which affects the prognosis and treatment options. Most types of mesothelioma are epithelioid or sarcomatoid and between 10 and 15 percent are biphasic or mixed. Epithelioid mesothelioma tends to be less aggressive and has the highest survival rates. Sarcomatoid mesothelioma can be more difficult to diagnose and has a lower prognosis.
Diagnosis
It is difficult to diagnose mesothelioma, especially in the early stages. Patients should first consult their primary physician if they experience any symptoms like chest pain or coughing. The doctor will observe the patient's breathing with a stethoscope and take down their medical history and work. This includes any asbestos exposure background, which is essential for diagnosing mesothelioma.
Because mesothelioma's symptoms resemble other conditions, doctors need to rule out other conditions before confirming the diagnosis. Cancer can infect the lung tissue of a patient through other organs such as the chest or abdomen. Asbestos sufferers are at risk of lung issues, such as pneumonia, and pleural mesothelioma symptoms may be confused with other respiratory illnesses.
Tests for blood, imaging and biopsy can all be used to detect mesothelioma. These tests can aid doctors in identifying the cancerous area that is typically located in the lungs, but could also be found in the testicles or stomach. The tests will help doctors determine how far cancer has spread within the body.
A CT scan or MRI could reveal signs of mesothelioma. These include calcium deposits (also called plaque) in the pleura and an accumulation of lung tissue and chest wall. These tests can also reveal whether a person's lungs are more on one side than the other.
In many instances, a biopsy is needed to confirm the diagnosis of mesothelioma. This involves removing small quantities of tissue and testing them in the laboratory for mesothelioma.
Certain patients may require additional tests, for example FDG-positron emission tomography (PET), which helps doctors understand how the tumor is affecting the blood supply to the lungs; mediastinoscopy, which allows 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 look at the mesothelium and lungs. Mesothelioma is a rare disease, and doctors are still learning to treat it effectively. As a result those diagnosed with cancer need to weigh their options carefully to decide which treatment is the best for them.
Treatment
Mesothelioma can affect the lung linings and abdomen (peritoneal cancer), or heart (pericardial cancer). The symptoms typically do not appear until several years after exposure to asbestos. It is important that people who have been exposed to asbestos get checked for any strange 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. A doctor can also perform an exam to check for mesothelioma signs, such as the accumulation of fluids in the chest cavity. The type of cells that reside in the mesothelium and the locations of those cells are used to categorize mesothelioma. Epithelioid mesothelioma accounts for 60 percent to 80% mesothelioma. The other types of mesothelioma are biphasic mesothelioma and sarcomatoid that both make up about 10% to 15% of mesothelioma patients.
There are many different treatment options available for people with mesothelioma. The kind of treatment you choose is dependent on the type and stage of the mesothelioma.
In some cases, mesothelioma is treatable by radiation or chemotherapy. In these treatments, doctors inject powerful cancer-fighting medications or use special equipment to kill tumors and reduce the chances of mesothelioma recurring.
Other mesothelioma types are treated with surgery that removes part of the lining of the affected organ. This can also ease symptoms like breathing problems.
If someone is diagnosed with mesothelioma of the pleura, their doctor may perform the procedure known as VATS, which uses a camera inserted into the lungs to remove part of the pleura and lung. This procedure can help with breathlessness due to fluid buildup in the lungs. However, it can not cure mesothelioma.
Other treatment options include pain management or support services. It is important for people with mesothelioma to get as much information as they can about the disease and ways to deal with it. The more knowledgeable they are more prepared they will be to plan for a future which includes a variety of health and wellness-related activities.