Mesothelioma Cancer
Mesothelioma, a cancerous tumor that is caused by asbestos exposure is a serious condition. Inhaling asbestos fibers can cause pleural cancer and swallowing asbestos can cause cancer of the peritoneal region.
The symptoms may manifest 10 to 50 years after the initial diagnosis. The symptoms could include chest pain, abdominal distress and breathlessness.
Risk Factors
Mesothelioma is a form of asbestos that develops when asbestos fibres enter the body. Pleural mesothelioma forms in the linings of the chest cavity or the lungs. Mesothelioma can also form in the peritoneum (the membrane surrounding the heart) or in the pericardium. The cancer can take up to 50 years to develop and manifest symptoms. The symptoms are often mistaken for flu like illnesses. Mesothelioma is most prevalent in older people and is more common in males than females.
Asbestos exposure is the biggest risk factor for mesothelioma. Asbestos, a naturally occurring mineral that is made up of tiny fibres, was used as a building material such as in ceilings and walls. It is abrasive to heat and fire. It was also used in the manufacture of products like pipes insulation, shingles, insulation and cement. Workers in industries where asbestos was prevalent, such as mining, construction or shipbuilding are at a high risk of developing mesothelioma. 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 can be traced to a mutation in the BAP1 gene. This genetic change increases the risk of developing mesothelioma in those who have been exposed asbestos.
The patient's age is also an indicator of risk. Mesothelioma is most common among people who are older than 45 and two thirds of those who are diagnosed with it are 65 years old or older. This is due to the prolonged latency associated with asbestos exposure. However, it could also be that older people are more likely to develop the disease because of the prolonged exposure.
Mesothelioma is more prevalent in white males than females or people of any other racial group. This is because historically more white males have been employed in jobs that put them at a higher 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, develops in the protective linings of various organs. The cancerous tumors can cause severe discomfort and cause damage to the tissue. The malignancy can extend to other areas of the body via the lymphatic system or bloodstream.
Mesothelioma symptoms may be similar to those of other diseases, like pneumonia or the flu. They can take up to 50 years after asbestos exposure before they show symptoms. This delay in time makes it difficult to recognize mesothelioma early, and the symptoms may be misinterpreted as other diseases.
In most cases, the malignant tumors begin in the chest cavity and lungs (pleura). Mesothelioma may also develop in the linings around the heart and abdomen. In rare instances it can affect the lining of the heart or the testes.
Asbestos is one of the minerals that create long thin fibers. These fibers are strong enough that they can't be broken down by water, chemicals or bacteria. These materials were widely used in a variety construction and household products before scientists realized how hazardous they were to people's lives.
Most mesothelioma patients were exposed to the material 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. It is more prevalent among males than females, and veterans make up about 30 percent of mesothelioma cases.
Imaging scans and medical tests can aid in diagnosing mesothelioma. These include X rays, CT scanners, MRIs, and PET scans. The doctor may also send a tissue sample to a laboratory for analysis.
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, and between 10% and 15 percent are biphasic, or mixed. Epithelioid cancer is less invasive and usually has the highest rate of survival. manteca asbestos lawsuit can be more difficult to detect and has a lower prognosis.
Diagnosis
Mesothelioma is difficult to identify especially in its initial stages. Patients should first visit their primary physician if they are experiencing any symptoms such as chest pains or coughing. The doctor will observe the patient's breathing with a stethoscope and take down their work and health history. This includes any asbestos exposure background, which is essential in determining mesothelioma's diagnosis.
Doctors must rule out any other diseases before they can make the diagnosis, as mesothelioma signs are like those of other diseases. For example mesothelioma is a cancer that usually spreads to the lungs of patients from a different part of the body, such as their chest wall or abdomen. Asbestos victims are prone to lung issues, such as pneumonia, and pleural mesothelioma symptoms may be confused with other respiratory ailments.
Blood tests, imaging tests and biopsy can all be used to identify mesothelioma. These tests will aid doctors in locating the location of the cancer, which is most typically in the lungs, but could also be found in the stomach or testicles. 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 the lungs of a person are more prominent on one side than the other.
In many cases, a biopsied is required to confirm the diagnosis of mesothelioma. This procedure involves taking a small amount of tissue and analyzing it in a lab for mesothelioma-related cells.
Some patients may require additional tests like FDG-positron emission tomography (PET), allowing doctors to examine the lymph nodes that are located in the middle of the chest and take samples of them, or endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) which uses sound waves to examine the lungs and the mesothelium. Mesothelioma is a rare cancer, is being treated by medical professionals. As a result, patients who are diagnosed with the cancer must be aware of their options and decide which treatment is the best for them.
Treatment
Mesothelioma can affect the linings of the lungs and abdomen (peritoneal cancer) or the heart (pericardial cancer). The symptoms generally don't appear until several years after exposure to asbestos. It is crucial that those who have been exposed to asbestos be checked if they experience unusual symptoms.
A doctor will conduct a medical history to check for mesothelioma-related risk factors, for example, the length of time and intensity an individual was exposed to asbestos. The doctor will also conduct an examination to detect signs of mesothelioma, such as fluid build-up in the chest cavity. The type of cells in mesothelium, as well as the location of those cells, are used to classify mesothelioma. The most frequent mesothelioma type is epithelioid, which makes up to 60% to 80% of mesothelioma cases. Other types of mesothelioma are biphasic mesothelioma and sarcomatoid that both make up approximately 10 to 15% of mesothelioma cases.
There are a myriad of treatment options for mesothelioma. The type of treatment you choose depends on the type of mesothelioma and the stage of the disease.
In certain cases, mesothelioma is treated by radiation or chemotherapy. During these treatments doctors use powerful cancer-fighting drugs or equipment to destroy tumors. This lowers the risk of mesothelioma coming back.
Other forms of mesothelioma can be treated surgically which involves the removal of parts of the tissues of the organ that are affected. This can also ease symptoms like breathing difficulties.
If a person is diagnosed with mesothelioma of the pleura and their doctor recommends a procedure called VATS, that involves the use of a camera into the lungs to eliminate part of the pleura and lung. This procedure can alleviate breathing problems due to the accumulation of fluid in the lungs. However, it will not cure mesothelioma.
Other options for treatment include pain management or support services. It is crucial that those who suffer from mesothelioma have as much knowledge about the disease as they can, and how to deal with it. The more educated they are, the better they can plan for a future that includes a full range of health and wellness-related activities.