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. The symptoms can include chest pain, abdominal distress and a shortness of breath.

Risk Factors

Asbestos fibres can cause mesothelioma. Pleural mesothelioma is a form of cancer that develops in linings of the chest cavity or the lungs. Less commonly, mesothelioma develops in the peritoneum or in the membrane around the heart (pericardium). The cancer can take up to 50 years to develop and manifest symptoms. The symptoms are often misinterpreted as flu-like illnesses. Mesothelioma is most often found in older people, and is more common in men than women.

The biggest risk factor for mesothelioma involves exposure to asbestos (redirected here). Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral composed of tiny fibres, was employed in the construction of buildings, like in ceilings and walls. It is abrasive to fire and heat. It was also extensively used in the manufacturing of products like pipes, insulation, shingles and cement. People who worked in industries where asbestos was a common ingredient such as mining, construction or shipbuilding are at risk of developing mesothelioma. However even those who experienced secondary exposure, such as relatives who brought home asbestos-contaminated clothes and skin, are at risk.

A small proportion (less than 5%) of mesothelioma can be traced to an alteration in the BAP1 gene. This genetic change increases the likelihood of developing mesothelioma in those who have been exposed to asbestos.

Age is another significant risk factor for mesothelioma. Mesothelioma most commonly affects those over 45, and two-thirds of those diagnosed are aged 65 or older. This is due to the long latency associated with asbestos lawyer exposure. However, it could also be that older people are more likely to develop the disease due to the prolonged exposure to asbestos.

White males are more likely to develop mesothelioma than any other race or gender. This is due to the fact that historically, more white men have been employed in occupations that put them at a higher risk of asbestos than other groups. Mesothelioma typically affects those who were exposed asbestos attorney before the 1980s, a time when better regulations were in place.

Symptoms

Mesothelioma, a type of cancer caused by asbestos, develops in the protective linings of many organs. The cancerous tumors can cause extreme discomfort and cause damage to the tissue. The malignancy can extend to other areas of the body through the bloodstream or lymphatic system.

Mesothelioma symptoms can be similar to 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 diagnose the disease early and symptoms can be misinterpreted as a sign of other illnesses.

In most cases, the malignant tumors start in the lungs and chest cavity (pleura). Mesothelioma can also form in the linings surrounding the abdomen and the heart. In rare cases the disease can affect the testes' lining or the sac that surrounds the heart (pericardium).

Asbestos is minerals in a grouping that form long, thin fibres. These fibers are strong enough that they can't be broken down by water, chemicals or bacteria. They were widely used in many construction and household products for a long time before scientists realized how dangerous they were to people's health.

Most mesothelioma patients were exposed to the substance in the workplace or at home and the majority of those exposed worked in the US Navy and air force, shipbuilding industry or construction. It is more common in women than men, and veterans make up about 30 percent of mesothelioma cases.

Imaging scans and medical tests can aid in diagnosing mesothelioma. This includes X-rays, CT scans, MRIs and PET scans. The doctor may also send a tissue sample to a lab for testing.

The results will aid in determining the type and stage of mesothelioma which affects the prognosis and treatment options. The majority of mesothelioma forms are epithelioid and sarcomatoid. Between 10% and 15 percent of cases are biphasic or mixed. Epithelioid cancer is less aggressive and typically has the highest rate of survival. Sarcomatoid mesothelioma can be more difficult to diagnose and has a less favorable prognosis.

Diagnosis

It is difficult to recognize mesothelioma, particularly in the early stages. Patients should consult their primary care physician if they experience any symptoms like chest pain or coughing. The doctor will use a stethoscope listen to the patient's breathing and then record their health history and work history. This includes any asbestos exposure information, which is crucial in determining mesothelioma's diagnosis.

Because mesothelioma's symptoms resemble other illnesses, doctors must be able to rule out other conditions prior to concluding a diagnosis. Cancer can infect the lung of a patient from other organs such as the chest or abdomen. Asbestos-related lung diseases, like pneumonia, are common in asbestos sufferers. Pleural mesothelioma may 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 find the cancerous site which is usually located in the lungs, but could also be in the stomach or testicles. The tests can help doctors determine how far the cancer has spread within the body.

A CT scan or MRI may reveal mesothelioma-related signs like calcium deposits in the pleura (known as plaque) and a buildup of fluid between the lungs and chest wall. These tests can also determine whether the lungs of a person are more prominent on one side than on the other.

In many cases, a biopsy is necessary to confirm a diagnosis of mesothelioma. This involves removing small amounts of tissue and testing them in the laboratory for mesothelioma.

Some patients may require additional tests, like FDG-positron emission tomography (PET), which can help doctors see how the tumor is affecting blood supply to the lungs; mediastinoscopy, which enables doctors to examine and sample lymph nodes in the center of the chest; or endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) which makes use of sound waves to look at the lungs and mesothelium. Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer, is still being treated by medical professionals. In the end, patients who are diagnosed with the cancer must be aware of their options and determine the best treatment for them.

Treatment

Mesothelioma may affect the lung linings and abdomen (peritoneal cancer) or the heart (pericardial cancer). The symptoms typically do not appear until several decades after exposure to asbestos. As a result, it's important for people who have been exposed to asbestos to be examined when they experience unusual symptoms.

A doctor will look over your medical history to determine if you're at mesothelioma-related risks. This is based on how long and how frequently you were exposed to asbestos. A doctor can also perform an examination to determine signs of mesothelioma such as fluid accumulation in the chest cavity. Mesothelioma is categorized by the kind of cells that develop in the mesothelium and the site where these cells are. The most common type of mesothelioma is epithelioid. It makes up to 60% to 80% of mesothelioma cases. The other types of mesothelioma are biphasic and sarcomatoid mesothelioma, which both account for around 10 to 15% of mesothelioma cases.

There are a variety of treatment options for mesothelioma. The kind of treatment you choose is based on the stage and type of the mesothelioma.

In some cases, mesothelioma may be treatable through radiation or chemotherapy. During these treatments doctors use powerful cancer-fighting drugs or equipment to eliminate tumors. This lowers the risk of mesothelioma recurring.

Other types of mesothelioma can be treated through surgery that eliminates a part of the lining of the affected organ. This can also ease breathing difficulties and other symptoms.

If someone is diagnosed with mesothelioma of the pleura the doctor can perform VATS, a procedure that involves the use of a camera into the lungs to eliminate part of the pleura and lungs. This can improve breathlessness caused by fluid build-up in the lungs, but does not cure the condition.

Other treatment options include support or pain management. It is important for people suffering from mesothelioma to obtain as much information as they can about the disease and ways to manage it. The more they are aware of the more equipped they are to plan for the best possible and happy future.