Mesothelioma Cancer
Mesothelioma is a cancer caused by exposure to asbestos. Inhaling asbestos fibres can cause pleural tumors, and swallowing asbestos can cause cancer of the peritoneal area.
The symptoms can manifest within 10 to 50 years of the initial diagnosis. Symptoms can include abdominal pain, chest pain and a shortness of breath.
Risk Factors
Asbestos fibers can cause mesothelioma. The most well-known type of mesothelioma is pleural mesothelioma, which forms in the chest cavity's lining and lungs. Mesothelioma can also develop in the peritoneum (the membrane surrounding the heart) or the pericardium. It can take between 20 and 50 years for the cancer to grow and manifest symptoms, which can often be mistaken for flu-like illness. Mesothelioma is most prevalent in people over the age of 50 and is more prevalent in males than females.
The most significant risk factor for mesothelioma involves exposure to asbestos. Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral composed of tiny fibres, was used as a building material, such as in walls and ceilings. It is resistant to fire and heat. It was also used extensively in the manufacturing of goods like insulations, pipes, shingles and cement. Workers in industries where asbestos was common, such as shipbuilding, mining, or construction, are at high risk of developing mesothelioma. However even those who had secondary exposure, such as relatives who brought home asbestos on their clothes and skin, are also at risk.
A small portion of mesothelioma cases can be traced to a genetic mutation known as BAP1. This genetic mutation increases the risk of developing mesothelioma among those who have been exposed to asbestos.
Age is a major risk factor for mesothelioma. Mesothelioma typically affects people over the age of 45 and two-thirds of those diagnosed are aged 65 or older. This is due to the prolonged time between exposure to asbestos. However it is also possible that older people are more likely to develop the disease because of the prolonged exposure.
White males are more likely develop mesothelioma than any other race or gender. This is due to the fact that historically more white men have worked in occupations that expose them to greater risk of asbestos than other groups. Additionally, mesothelioma is most often seen in those who were exposed to asbestos before more stringent regulations were put in during the 1980s.
Signs and symptoms
Mesothelioma is a form of cancer that is caused by asbestos, occurs in the protective linings of various organs. The cancerous tumors can cause severe discomfort and cause damage to the tissue. The malignancy can spread to other parts of the body via the lymphatic system or the bloodstream.
Mesothelioma symptoms may be similar to those of other diseases, like pneumonia or the flu. It could take up to 50 years following exposure to asbestos before showing symptoms. This delay in time makes it difficult to recognize mesothelioma early. Additionally, the symptoms could be misinterpreted as a sign of other illnesses.
Most malignant tumors begin in the chest cavity or lungs (pleura). Mesothelioma can also develop in the linings that surround the heart and abdomen. In rare instances the disease can affect the testes' lining, or the sac that surrounds the heart (pericardium).
Asbestos is a group of minerals that create long, thin fibers. These fibers are strong enough that they are unable to be broken down by water, chemicals or bacteria. They were used extensively in a variety construction and household products before scientists realized how harmful they were to people's lives.
Most mesothelioma patients were exposed to the substance in the workplace or at home, and the majority of those exposed were employed in the US Navy or the air force, the construction or shipbuilding industries. Men are more likely to develop mesothelioma than women. Veterans account for about 30% of all cases.
Imaging scans and medical tests can aid in diagnosing mesothelioma. This includes X-rays, CT scans, MRIs and PET scans. The doctor can also send a sample of tissue to a laboratory for testing.
The results can aid in determining the mesothelioma's type and stage which affects prognosis as well as treatment options. Most types of mesothelioma are epithelioid and sarcomatoid and between 10% and 15 percent are biphasic or mixed. Epithelioid cancers are less aggressive and generally has the highest rate of survival. Sarcomatoid mesothelioma is a less favorable prognosis and is more difficult to treat.
Diagnosis
Mesothelioma is difficult to identify particularly in its early stages. The first step is to visit their primary physician with any signs, like coughing or chest pains. The doctor will utilize a stethoscope to listen to the patient's breathing and then record their medical history and work history. This includes any asbestos exposure information, which is crucial to determine mesothelioma's presence.
Because mesothelioma's symptoms resemble other conditions, doctors need to exclude other conditions prior to making a diagnosis. Cancer can infect the lung tissue of a patient through other organs such as the abdomen or chest. Asbestos victims are prone to lung diseases, such as pneumonia, and pleural mesothelioma symptoms can be confused with other respiratory ailments.
boca raton asbestos attorney is diagnosed through blood tests, imaging tests and biopsies. These tests can help doctors locate the area of the cancer, which is most often found in the lungs, but could also be found in the stomach or the testicles. The tests will also assist doctors determine the extent of the cancer is spreading within the body.
A CT scan or MRI may reveal mesothelioma-related signs like calcium deposits in the pleura (known as plaque) and an accumulation of fluid between the lungs and chest wall. These tests can also show whether a person has more lungs on one side or the other.
In many instances, a biopsy is required to confirm a diagnosis of mesothelioma. This involves removing small quantities of tissue and testing them in the laboratory for mesothelioma.
Some patients may require additional tests like FDG-positron emission tomography (PET) which allows doctors to examine the lymph nodes located in the middle of the chest, and to test them, or endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) which uses sound waves to look at the lungs and the mesothelium. Mesothelioma is a rare condition and doctors are still learning how to treat it effectively. Therefore, patients who are diagnosed with cancer need to consider their options carefully and decide what treatment is best for them.
Treatment
Mesothelioma can affect the lining of the lungs (pleural mesothelioma), abdomen (peritoneal mesothelioma) or heart (pericardial mesothelioma). The symptoms are not usually evident for a long time after exposure to asbestos. It is essential that those who have been exposed to asbestos be checked for unusual symptoms.
A doctor will conduct an medical history to look for mesothelioma risk factors, including how long and how often an individual was exposed to asbestos. A doctor will also perform an exam to check for signs of mesothelioma such as an accumulation of fluid in the chest cavity. The type of cells that reside in mesothelium, as well as the location of those cells, are used to classify mesothelioma. Epithelioid mesothelioma is the most common type of percent to 80% mesothelioma. Other types of mesothelioma are biphasic and sarcomatoid mesothelioma that account for 10% to 15% of mesothelioma cases.
There are many treatment options for mesothelioma. The treatment option is dependent on the stage and type of the mesothelioma.
In certain cases, mesothelioma may be treatable by radiation or chemotherapy. In these procedures doctors inject powerful cancer-fighting drugs or use special equipment to destroy tumors and reduce the chances of mesothelioma returning.
Other mesothelioma types are treated with surgery that removes part of the lining of the affected organ. This can also relieve symptoms like breathing problems.
A person suffering from asbestosis pleural can undergo a procedure known as VATS. This involves inserting a camera into lung and then removing a piece of the lung and pleura. This can improve breathing problems caused by the build-up of fluid in the lungs, however it is not a cure for the disease.
Other treatment options could include support and pain management. It is essential that patients with mesothelioma get as much knowledge about the disease as they can, and the best way to manage it. The more they know, the better equipped they are to plan for a healthy and happy future.