Mesothelioma and Asbestos
Asbestos is a mineral that occurs naturally in the form of thin, long fibers. Workers who are exposed
asbestos Legal -
singletail.net - on a regular basis risk developing mesothelioma and other types of lung diseases.
It may take decades for symptoms to appear after exposure to asbestos. Different types of asbestos may cause different symptoms.
Pleural Mesothelioma
Pleural mesothelioma, a form of cancer, that affects the outer lung lining (pleura). It is the most frequent form of mesothelioma and accounts for 70% to 79% all diagnosed cases. Patients with this disease suffer from chest pain and breathlessness and may experience a sensation of heaviness in the chest.
Exposure to asbestos, a family of minerals made of microscopic fibers, typically causes this kind of cancer. When inhaled, these fibers cling to the lung and cause irritation which leads to scarring and DNA mutations. Pleura is the lining of both the chest cavity as well as the lungs, and so irritations can also affect the heart. Mesothelioma is usually not symptomatic until 30 to 50 year after exposure.
Shortness of breath and chest pain are the most frequently reported symptoms. Some patients also experience difficulty breathing, or chest tightness. Patients with this cancer have a history that includes asbestos exposure at work. The most common jobs that expose workers to the risk of pleural mesothelioma include manufacturing, construction and shipbuilding. People who have served in the military may be at a higher risk due to the frequent asbestos use in Navy vessels and army bunkers.
The most popular staging method for pleural mesothelioma is the TNM (tumor, lymph nodes and metastases) staging system. The stage a patient is in at the time of diagnosis can help determine what treatment plan they should follow. Patients who have pleural mesothelioma which is in stage three or stage four will have a worse prognosis compared to those in a less advanced stage. Stage four mesothelioma may be spread to the heart, liver or diaphragm. This can make the cancer more difficult to treat and increase the chance of complications for the patient.
Peritoneal Mesothelioma
In contrast to pleural mesothelioma which develops in the lung lining, peritoneal mesothelioma is found in the peritoneum - a membrane that lines the abdominal cavity as well as organs like the liver and intestines. Similar to pleural mesothelioma, asbestos exposure is the reason for peritoneal msothelioma. Only 300-500 cases are diagnosed annually which is lower than pleural asbestosis.
As with pleural asbestosis symptoms can take several years to manifest. Typically, patients are afflicted with abdominal pain as well as an abdominal mass. The symptoms of this kind of mesothelioma could also include nausea, weight loss and fever. Many of these symptoms are similar to those experienced by digestive issues, which could lead to confusion in diagnosis.
Generally speaking, doctors can detect mesothelioma through a thorough health history and physical examination. They can also utilize imaging tests like X-rays, CT scans and PET/CT scans to help find mesothelioma. These tests can reveal tumors, as well as other indications of cancer that aren't apparent on an X-ray.
These test results allow doctors to diagnose mesothelioma and determine the stage of the disease and suggest treatment options. Staging is determined based on the type of cell and whether or not the cancer has spread to other regions of the body.
Asbestos exposure is the most important risk factor. People who have worked in professions that involve asbestos, such as plumbing electrical work, manufacturing or construction, are at a higher risk of developing the disease. Even if a person does not work in any of these areas, he or she can still be exposed through family members and other sources. Therefore, anyone who suspects they may be at risk should speak to an expert. If they have an history of exposure to asbestos or mesothelioma, a specialist can assist them in finding out more about their risk.
Risk Factors
Asbestos is the primary risk factor in mesothelioma. It accounts for as much as 80% of all cases. Exposure to asbestos can occur as a result of work, military service, or through living with a person who works with asbestos or has previously done such.
asbestos law particles can be breathed in by people who are exposed to asbestos. These particles can cause irritation to the linings and trigger cancerous cells to grow in the mesothelium. Mesothelioma can take anywhere between 15 and 60 years to develop after exposure to asbestos.
Other risk factors include smoking, genetics and the advancing age. People in their 40s or 50s are more at chance of developing mesothelioma to people who are younger or more. This is because mesothelioma typically occurs between 20 and 60 years after the initial exposure to asbestos before symptoms of cancer begin to manifest. It is also important to know that mesothelioma may develop in people who have been exposed to asbestos, but did not work with it directly. This is referred to as secondary or indirect exposure to asbestos, and it can be just as dangerous as direct exposure.
Smoking increases the chance of mesothelioma developing, since it damages mesothelium. It also makes it more prone to. In addition, mesothelioma may be caused by certain illnesses, such as pneumonia and asbestosis. It is also important to remember that mesothelioma is more prevalent for men than women. This is due to men being more likely to be exposed to asbestos and endure a more exposure than women. Men are also more likely to have lived with someone who been exposed to asbestos, and to carry asbestos fibers on their clothing. Women tend to be less exposed to asbestos and they are less likely to bring asbestos home on their clothes.
Diagnosis
Mesothelioma is a difficult disease to diagnose because the symptoms can be similar to other diseases. Because of this, victims are often mistakenly diagnosed.
The first step in identifying mesothelioma is for NYU Langone doctors to perform an examination and write note of the medical history of the patient, including
asbestos attorney exposure. Doctors will also order an CT scan or chest X-ray to check for lumps, abnormalities, and evidence of exposure to asbestos. These include plaques in the pleura, thickened pleura and calcium deposits.
Other diagnostic tests include a magnetic resonance scan, or MRI test, that uses radio waves and magnets in order to produce a series of precise images of inside the body. Another way doctors can diagnose mesothelioma is through a surgical biopsy. In a surgical biopsy doctors take a tiny piece of tissue from pleura or the peritoneum to be examined further. A pathologist can then examine the tissue with a magnifying glass to determine if it contains cancerous cells.
Mesothelioma is classified based on the type of mesothelial cell involved, whether those cells are malignant or benign, and the location of the tumor, the type, and the stage of the tumor. Certain types of mesothelioma may be more likely to spread or metastasize which is why it is crucial to have a clear diagnosis to ensure that doctors are able to treat the disease before it goes out of control.
Doctors can also perform tests in the laboratory on tumors in order to determine specific proteins, genes, or other factors which can help them describe the characteristics of cancer and plan treatment. These results are referred to as staging.
Treatment
A mesothelioma diagnose can be frightening. It is important to keep in mind that cancer can be treated especially at its early stages. Many patients with mesothelioma endure the disease for a long time without spreading.
Asbestos exposure can cause mesothelioma through many mechanisms. Asbestos fibers, which are too small to see or feel with the naked eye, can be airborne and cause irritation to the lining of the lungs (pleura). Over time, the irritation leads to the formation of scar tissue that eventually result in tumors.
The pleura is the area that surrounds the heart and lungs, as well as the abdomen. Mesothelium is made up of cells that react when exposed to asbestos. They cause inflammation to the tissue and cause it to scar. In time, these changes can result in the growth of malignant mesothelioma cancers.
Symptoms of pleural mesothelioma include breathlessness and chest pain, or an accumulation of fluid on the lung (pleural effusion). In rare cases, the cancer can be spread to the tissues around the heart and reproductive organs.
A doctor may request biopsy if scans reveal a possible tumor in the lungs or stomach. In the course of the procedure, doctors remove a small amount of fluid or tumor to allow for lab tests. The results will confirm the diagnosis of mesothelioma and determine the best treatment option.
There are a variety of treatment for mesothelioma, such as chemotherapy and surgery. Most doctors utilize a combination of these methods. Patients may also benefit from participating in a clinical study of new mesothelioma treatments. To learn more, patients should speak to mesothelioma specialists who have had experience treating the disease.
