Mesothelioma Cancer
Mesothelioma is a cancer caused by exposure to asbestos. Inhaling asbestos fibers can cause pleural tumors, and swallowing asbestos can cause cancer of the peritoneal area.
Symptoms can appear within 10 to 50 years of the initial diagnosis. The symptoms can include chest pain, abdominal distress and shortness of breathe.
Risk Factors
Asbestos fibres can cause mesothelioma. Pleural mesothelioma develops in the linings of the chest cavity or the lungs. Less commonly, mesothelioma develops in the peritoneum or the membrane around the heart (pericardium). The cancer can take up to 50 years to develop before it manifests symptoms. These symptoms are often misinterpreted as flu-like illnesses. Mesothelioma typically affects older people and is more prevalent in men than women.
Asbestos exposure is the main risk factor in mesothelioma. Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral composed of tiny fibres that were utilized in building materials, such as walls and ceilings, due to its resistance to fire and heat. It was also used in the manufacturing of goods such as pipes insulation, shingles, insulation and cement. People who worked in industries where asbestos was a common ingredient like shipbuilding, mining, or construction are at risk of developing mesothelioma. Even those who only been exposed to asbestos for a short period of time, such as family who brought home asbestos-covered clothing and skin are at risk.
A small portion (less than five percent) of mesothelioma is linked to a mutation in the BAP1 gene. This genetic change can increase the risk of developing mesothelioma in people who have been exposed to asbestos.
The age of the patient is also an important risk factor. Mesothelioma is most prevalent in people older than 45 years and two thirds of those diagnosed with it are 65 years or older. This is due to the long duration of exposure to asbestos. However it is also possible that older people are more likely to develop the disease because of the long exposure to asbestos.
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 worked in jobs that put them at a greater risk of exposure to asbestos than other groups. In addition, mesothelioma is typically seen in people who were exposed to asbestos prior to when better regulations were put in during the 1980s.
Signs and symptoms
Mesothelioma, a cancer caused by asbestos, occurs in the protective linings of several organs. The cancerous tumors which form in the tissue could cause damage and severe pain. The malignancy could be spread to other parts of the body via the lymphatic or bloodstream system.
Mesothelioma symptoms may be similar to symptoms of other diseases, such as pneumonia or the flu. It usually takes between 10 and 50 years to appear after exposure to asbestos. The latency period can make it difficult to detect the disease in the early stages and symptoms may be misinterpreted as signs of other diseases.
Most malignant tumors begin in the lungs or chest cavity (pleura). Mesothelioma may also form in the linings surrounding the abdomen and heart. In rare cases, it can affect the lining of the heart or the testes.
Asbestos is a collection of minerals that form long, thin fibres. These fibers are strong enough that they are unable to be broken down by water, chemicals or bacteria. They were commonly used in a range of construction and household products before scientists realized how hazardous they were to people's lives.
The majority of patients with mesothelioma were exposed to asbestos in the workplace or at home and the majority of those exposed worked in the US Navy or air force, shipbuilding or construction. It is more prevalent in males than females and veterans account for about 30 percent of mesothelioma cases.
When mesothelioma develops doctors can spot it through imaging scans and medical tests. This includes X-rays CT scanners, MRIs, and PET scans. The doctor can also send a tissue sample to a laboratory for testing.
The results can help determine the mesothelioma's type and stage which can affect prognosis as well as treatment options. The majority of mesothelioma types are epithelioid and sarcomatoid. Between 10% and 15% of cases are biphasic or mixed. Epithelioid mesothelioma tends to be less aggressive and has the best survival rates. Sarcomatoid Mesothelioma is more difficult to identify and has a lower prognosis.
Diagnosis
It can be difficult to identify mesothelioma, particularly in its early stages. Patients should first visit their primary care physician when they are experiencing any symptoms such as chest pains or coughing. The doctor will utilize a stethoscope to listen to the patient's breathing and record their health and work history. This includes any history of asbestos exposure, which is crucial in determining mesothelioma's diagnosis.
Because mesothelioma's symptoms are similar to those of other illnesses, doctors must rule out other conditions before confirming a diagnosis. For example, the cancer often spreads to the lungs of a patient from a different part of their body, like their chest wall or abdomen. Asbestos-related lung diseases, such as pneumonia, are common among asbestos-related victims. Pleural mesothelioma can also be mistaken for other respiratory illnesses.
Mesothelioma can be detected with blood tests and imaging tests, as well as biopsies. These tests can help doctors identify the cancerous region, which is usually in the lungs but can also be in the stomach or in the testicles. The tests will help doctors determine how far cancer has spread throughout the body.
seattle asbestos attorney or MRI could reveal the mesothelioma signs 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 reveal whether a person's lungs are more on one side than the other.
In many cases a biopsy is required to confirm the diagnosis of mesothelioma. This involves removing small quantities of tissue and testing them in the lab for mesothelioma.
Some patients may require additional tests such as FDG-positron emissions tomography (PET) which allows doctors to examine the lymph nodes in the middle of the chest and to take samples of them, or endobronchial ultrasonography (EBUS) which uses sound waves to examine the lungs and mesothelium. Mesothelioma is a rare cancer, and doctors are still learning how to treat it effectively. Therefore those diagnosed with cancer must weigh their options carefully to decide which treatment is the best for them.
Treatment
Mesothelioma can affect the lung's lining (pleural mesothelioma) or the abdomen (peritoneal mesothelioma) or the heart (pericardial mesothelioma). Symptoms usually do not appear for several decades following asbestos exposure. As a result, it's important for people who have worked around asbestos to get checked out for any unusual symptoms.
A doctor will take an medical history to look for mesothelioma risk factors, including the length of time and intensity the patient was exposed to asbestos. The doctor will also perform an examination to find mesothelioma-related signs, such as fluid build-up in the chest cavity. The type of cells that reside in the mesothelium, and the locations of those cells are used to classify mesothelioma. The most common mesothelioma type is epithelioid. It makes up 60% to 80% of mesothelioma cases. Other mesothelioma types include biphasic mesothelioma and sarcomatoid which make up between 10% and 15% of all mesothelioma cases.
There are a myriad of treatment options available for people with mesothelioma. The type of treatment you choose depends on the type of mesothelioma as well as the stage of the disease.
In certain cases, mesothelioma is treated through radiation or chemotherapy. In these procedures doctors administer powerful chemotherapy drugs or utilize special equipment to kill tumors and reduce the chances of mesothelioma returning.
Other types of mesothelioma may be treated surgically that removes a portion of the tissue lining of the organ affected. This can also ease symptoms like breathing difficulties.
If someone is diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma, their doctor may perform VATS, a procedure which involves inserting a camera into the lungs to eliminate part of the pleura and lung. This procedure can ease breathing problems due to the accumulation of fluid in the lung. However, it can not cure mesothelioma.
Other treatment options could include pain management and support services. It is essential for patients suffering from mesothelioma to obtain as much information as they can about the disease and how to manage 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.