mesothelioma attorney and Asbestos

Asbestos is a natural mineral that is made up of thin, long fibres. Workers who are regularly exposed to asbestos may develop lung diseases, such as mesothelioma.

It can take years for symptoms to appear after asbestos exposure. Different asbestos types can cause different symptoms.

Pleural Mesothelioma

Pleural mesothelioma is a cancer of the lung's outer lining or the pleura. It is the most prevalent mesothelioma that accounts for up 70% to 79% of diagnosed cases. Patients with this disease feel chest pain and shortness of breath and may experience a sensation of heaviness in the chest.

Exposure to asbestos, a family of minerals composed of microscopic fibers, typically causes this kind of cancer. These fibers, when inhaled, cause irritation and DNA mutations. Pleura surrounds both the chest cavity and the lungs, and so irritations can also affect the heart. Mesothelioma is usually not symptomatic until 30 to 50 years after exposure.

The most common symptoms of pleural melanoma are chest discomfort and shortness of breath. Some patients also experience difficulty breathing or chest tightness. Patients with this type of cancer typically have an history of exposure to asbestos in the workplace. The most frequent jobs that expose workers to the risk of pleural mesothelioma include construction, manufacturing and shipbuilding. Individuals who have served in the military are at greater risk due to the widespread use of asbestos in Navy vessels and bunkers for the Army.

The TNM (tumors lymph nodes and metastases staging system) is the most popular staging system used to treat the pleural cancer. The stage that a patient is in at the time of diagnosis can help determine what treatment plan they will receive. Patients with pleural mesothelioma that is in stage three or stage four will suffer a more negative prognosis compared to those who are in a lower stage. Stage four mesothelioma is often spread to the liver, diaphragm or even the heart of a patient. This can make it 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 develops in the peritoneum - an elongated membrane that covers the abdominal cavity and organs like the intestines and the liver. Similar to pleural mesothelioma and peritoneal mesothelioma is triggered by asbestos exposure. The disease is much less prevalent than pleural mesothelioma, with around 300-500 cases being diagnosed each year.

Like pleural mesothelioma, the symptoms can take a long time to manifest. Patients typically suffer from abdominal pain and may have a mass in their abdomen. This mesothelioma type can also cause nausea, weight loss and fever. Many of these symptoms can be misinterpreted as digestive issues which can lead to a false diagnosis.

Typically, doctors can identify mesothelioma after an extensive health history and physical exam. They may also employ imaging tests like X-rays, CT scans and PET/CT scans to identify mesothelioma. These tests can show tumors, as well as other indications of cancer that aren't apparent on an X-ray.

The results of these tests allow doctors to diagnose mesothelioma and determine the stage of the disease and suggest treatment options. Staging is determined based on the type of cells and whether or not the cancer has spread to other regions of the body.

Asbestos exposure is the main risk factor. People who have worked in asbestos-containing occupations, like electrical or plumbing work or in manufacturing and construction, are more likely to develop the disease. Even if someone isn't employed in any of these areas they could still be exposed to asbestos through family members and other sources. For this reason, anyone who is concerned that they might be at risk should talk to a doctor. If they have any history of exposure to asbestos or mesothelioma, Baytown a specialist can help them find out more about the risk.

Risk Factors

Asbestos is the main risk factor for mesothelioma. It accounts for as much as the 80% of cases. Exposure to asbestos can occur due to military service, work or living with those who worked with asbestos. Asbestos particles are inhaled by people who are exposed to it. These particles can cause irritation to the linings and cause 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 age. People in their 40s or 50s are at greater risk of developing mesothelioma compared to those who are younger or older. It takes mesothelioma 20-60 years to manifest cancer symptoms after the first exposure. It is also important to know that mesothelioma is a possibility in people who have been exposed to asbestos, but did not deal with it directly. This is referred to as secondary or indirect asbestos exposure, and is as dangerous as direct asbestos exposure.

Smoking increases the risk of mesothelioma, since it damages mesothelium. It can also make it more vulnerable. Mesothelioma is also aggravated by certain diseases, such as asbestosis and pneumonia. It is also important to know that mesothelioma is more common for men than women. Men are more likely than women to have been exposed to asbestos for a longer time and to have worked with it. Men are also more likely to live with someone who was exposed to asbestos and bring asbestos fibers from their workplace on their clothing. Women tend to have less exposure to asbestos and do not typically carry asbestos home on their clothing.

Diagnosis

Mesothelioma is a difficult cancer to diagnose because the symptoms often resemble other conditions. This is why patients are often wrongly diagnosed.

NYU Langone doctors will perform an examination of the body and document the patient's medical history including asbestos exposure. Doctors may also request a CT scan or chest X-ray in order to look for abnormalities, lumps and evidence of asbestos exposure. These include plaques in the pleura, thickened pleura and calcium deposits.

Other diagnostic tests include an echocardiogram which examines the heart and blood vessels as well as a magnetic resonance imaging, also known as MRI, test, which makes use of radio waves and magnets to create detailed images of the inside of the body. Another method doctors use to diagnose mesothelioma is through an operation called a biopsy. In a surgical biopsy doctors take a tiny piece of tissue from the pleura or the peritoneum, to be further examined. A pathologist will then look at the tissue with a magnifying glass to determine if it contains cancerous cells.

The type of mesothelial cells involved as well as the benign or malignant nature of the cells and the location the cancer, its type and the stage of the tumour, are used to classify the disease. Some types of mesothelioma are more likely to grow or spread and spread, therefore it is essential to establish a definitive diagnosis so that doctors can treat the disease before it gets out of control.

Doctors can also run tests in the laboratory on a tumor to identify particular proteins, genes, or other factors that can help them describe the characteristics of the cancer and determine a treatment. These results are known as staging.

Treatment

A mesothelioma diagnosis can be terrifying. It is crucial to remember, however, that cancer can be treated particularly in its early stages. Many patients with mesothelioma survive for many years with the disease without it spreading to other organs of their body.

Exposure to asbestos may cause mesothelioma in a number of ways. Asbestos particles, 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). In time the irritation causes the formation of scar tissues that eventually result in tumors.

The pleura covers the heart and lungs and the abdomen. Mesothelium consists of cells that react when exposed to asbestos. They cause inflammation of the tissue and cause it to scar. As time passes, these changes result in the growth of malignant mesothelioma tumors.

Symptoms of pleural mesothelioma include breathing problems and chest pain as well as the accumulation of fluid on the lung (pleural effusion). In rare cases cancer can spread to the tissues surrounding the reproductive organs as well as the heart.

If scans of imaging reveal a possible mass in the lungs or stomach the doctor will request biopsies. During the procedure, doctors will remove a small sample of the fluid or tumor for lab analysis. The results will confirm the diagnosis of mesothelioma, and also determine the best treatment plan.

There are several types of mesothelioma treatment options, including surgery, chemotherapy and immunotherapy. Most doctors utilize combinations of these treatments. Patients may also benefit from enrolling in a clinical trial of new mesothelioma treatment. Patients can find out more by consulting a mesothelioma specialist who has treated the disease.