Mesothelioma Cancer
Mesothelioma is a cancer caused by exposure to asbestos. Inhaling asbestos fibers can cause pleural cancer and swallowing asbestos can cause peritoneal cancer.
Symptoms may mimic symptoms of less serious illnesses. They can take 10 - 50 years to show. Symptoms include breathlessness, abdominal pain, and chest pain.
Risk Factors
Mesothelioma occurs when asbestos fibers are introduced into the body. The most commonly encountered mesothelioma type is called mesothelioma that is found in the lining of the chest cavity and the lungs. Mesothelioma can also develop in the peritoneum (the membrane that surrounds the heart) or the pericardium. It can take between 20 and 50 years for the cancer to grow and show symptoms that are often mistaken for flu-like illnesses. Mesothelioma is more common in people over the age of 50 and is more prevalent in males than females.
Exposure to asbestos is the biggest risk factor in mesothelioma. Asbestos is a natural mineral that is made up of tiny fibres that were utilized in construction materials, including walls and ceilings, because of its resistance to heat and fire. It was also widely used in the manufacture of goods such as pipes, insulation, shingles and cement. People who worked in industries where asbestos was common like shipbuilding, mining, or construction are at risk of developing mesothelioma. Even those who have only had secondary exposure to asbestos like family members who brought home asbestos-covered clothing and skin, are at risk.
A small portion of mesothelioma cases can be traced to a genetic mutation known as BAP1. This genetic change increases the risk of developing mesothelioma among those who have been exposed asbestos.
The age of the patient is also an important risk factor. Mesothelioma typically affects those who are over 45, and two-thirds of those diagnosed are aged 65 or older. This is due in part to the long latency period associated with asbestos exposure, but it may also be because the disease is more prevalent in older those who have had a longer-term and more intense exposure to the cancer-causing substance.
White males are more likely to develop mesothelioma than any other race or gender. This is due to the fact that historically more white males have been employed in occupations that put them at higher risk of
asbestos attorney than other groups. Additionally, mesothelioma was typically seen in people who were exposed to
asbestos lawyer prior to when better regulations were put in during the 1980s.
Signs and symptoms
Mesothelioma is an asbestos-related cancer that forms in the linings that protect various organs in the body. The cancerous tumors can cause severe pain and damage the tissue. The malignancy may be spread to other parts of the body via the bloodstream or lymphatic system.
Mesothelioma symptoms can be similar to symptoms of other illnesses, such as pneumonia or the flu. They can take up to 50 years following
Asbestos legal exposure before they show symptoms. The time of latency can make it difficult to identify the disease early, and symptoms can be misinterpreted as a sign of other illnesses.
Most malignant tumors begin in the chest cavity, or lungs (pleura). However, mesothelioma may also develop in the tissues of the abdomen and the heart. In rare cases it may affect the lining around the heart or the testes.
Asbestos is a collection of minerals that forms long, thin fibers. These fibers are so strong that they can't be broken down by chemicals, water or bacteria. They were extensively used in various construction and household products for decades before scientists understood how harmful they were to health.
The majority of patients with mesothelioma 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, shipbuilding or construction. It is more prevalent in men than women, and veterans make up around 30 percent of mesothelioma patients.
Imaging scans and medical tests can help doctors identify mesothelioma. These include X rays, CT scanners, MRIs, and PET scans. The doctor may also send a sample of tissue to a lab for testing.
The results can help doctors determine the mesothelioma type and stage of the disease, which affects the prognosis and treatment options. The majority of mesothelioma types are epithelioid and sarcomatoid and between 10% and 15 percent are biphasic or mixed. Epithelioid cancers are less aggressive and generally has the highest survival rates. Sarcomatoid mesothelioma has a worse prognosis and is more difficult to treat.
Diagnosis
Mesothelioma is a difficult cancer to detect especially in its initial stages. The first step is to visit their primary care doctor with any symptoms, such as coughing or chest pains. The doctor will use a stethoscope listen to the patient's breathing and record their health and work history. 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 the diagnosis, as mesothelioma signs are similar to other diseases. For instance, the cancer often spreads to a person's lungs from other parts of the body, for instance, their chest wall or abdomen. Asbestos-related lung diseases, like pneumonia, are very common among
asbestos attorney victims. Pleural mesothelioma could be mistaken for other respiratory illnesses.
Blood tests, imaging tests and biopsy can all be used to detect mesothelioma. These tests can help doctors find the cancerous site which is usually located in the lungs, but may also be found in the stomach or testicles. The tests will help doctors determine how far the cancer has spread throughout the body.
A CT scan or MRI may reveal signs of mesothelioma including calcium deposits in the pleura (known as plaque) and the accumulation of fluid between the chest wall and the lungs. These tests can also show whether the lungs of a person are more pronounced on one side or the other.
In many cases, a biopsied is required to confirm a diagnosis of mesothelioma. This procedure involves taking small portions of tissue and analyzing them in the laboratory for mesothelioma.
Some patients may require additional tests, like FDG-positron emission tomography (PET), which helps doctors understand how the tumor is affecting blood supply to the lungs; mediastinoscopy, which permits doctors to look at and sample lymph nodes in the center of the chest as well as endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) which makes use of sound waves to examine mesothelium and the lungs. Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer, is currently being treated by medical professionals. Therefore, patients who are diagnosed with cancer need to weigh their options carefully to decide which treatment is the best for them.
Treatment
Mesothelioma may affect the linings of the lungs and abdomen (peritoneal cancer), or heart (pericardial cancer). The symptoms usually don't show up for several decades following asbestos exposure. As a result, it's crucial for those who have been exposed to asbestos to have their health checked when they experience unusual symptoms.
A doctor will look over your medical history to determine if you have mesothelioma risk. This includes how long and how often you were exposed to asbestos. A doctor may also conduct an examination to determine mesothelioma-related symptoms like the accumulation of fluids in the chest cavity. The type of cells in the mesothelium, and the location of those cells, are used to classify mesothelioma. Epithelioid mesothelioma is the most common type of percent to 80% mesothelioma. Other mesothelioma types include biphasic mesothelioma and sarcomatoid, which represent between 10% and 15% of mesothelioma cases.
There are a myriad of treatments available to people with mesothelioma. The type of treatment is dependent on the type and stage of mesothelioma.
In some instances, mesothelioma can be treated with radiation or chemotherapy. When treating mesothelioma, doctors utilize powerful cancer-fighting drugs or equipment to destroy tumors. This reduces the chance of mesothelioma returning.
Other mesothelioma types are treated by surgery that eliminates a part of the lining of the affected organ. This may also help alleviate symptoms like breathing difficulties.
If someone is diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma the doctor can perform a procedure called VATS, which uses a camera inserted into the lungs to eliminate part of the pleura and lungs. This procedure can alleviate breathlessness caused by fluid build-up in the lungs, but does not cure the disease.
Other options for treatment include support and pain management. It is important for people who suffer from mesothelioma, to gather as much information as they can about the disease and how to cope with it. The more informed they are more prepared they will be to prepare for a future that includes a full range of health and wellness-related activities.
