Mesothelioma Cancer
Mesothelioma which is a cancerous tumor that is caused by asbestos exposure is a serious illness. Inhaling asbestos fibers cause mesothelioma of the pleura and swallowing asbestos can cause peritoneal mesothelioma.
These symptoms can be a sign of less serious diseases and may take between 10 and 50 years to appear. The symptoms can include abdominal pain, chest pain and shortness of breathe.
Risk Factors
Mesothelioma occurs when asbestos fibres get into the body. Pleural mesothelioma develops in the linings of the chest cavity or the lungs. Mesothelioma can also form in the peritoneum (the membrane that surrounds the heart) or the pericardium. It can take between 20 and 50 years for the cancer to form and manifest symptoms, which can often be confused with flu-like illnesses. Mesothelioma typically affects older people, and is more common in men than women.
The biggest risk factor for mesothelioma involves exposure to asbestos. Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral made up of tiny fibres, was employed as a building material such as in ceilings and walls. It is impervious to heat and fire. It was also used in the manufacturing of products like pipes, insulation, shingles and cement. Mesothelioma is a serious disease for those who work in industries that make use of asbestos, such as mining, shipbuilding or construction. However, even those who only experienced secondary exposure such as family members who brought home asbestos on their clothing and skin, are at risk.
A small percentage of mesothelioma cases are linked to a gene mutation called BAP1. This genetic change increases the risk of developing mesothelioma in those who have been exposed to asbestos.
Age is another important risk factor for mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is most common in people older than 45 years and two thirds of those who are diagnosed with it are 65 years old or older. This is largely due to the lengthy latency period that is associated with asbestos exposure but it could be due to the fact that the condition tends to impact older people who have had longer-term and more intense exposure to asbestos-related material.
Mesothelioma is more common in white males than females or people of any other race. This is because historically, more white males worked in jobs that put them at a higher risk of exposure to asbestos than other groups. Mesothelioma is most often afflicted by those who were exposed asbestos before the 1980s, when better regulations were in place.
Signs and symptoms
Mesothelioma is a form of cancer that is caused by asbestos, is found in the linings that protect various organs. The cancerous tumors can cause extreme pain and damage the tissue. The malignancy can spread to other parts through the lymphatic or bloodstream system.
The symptoms of mesothelioma can be similar to those of other illnesses such as influenza or pneumonia. They often take 10 - 50 years to manifest after exposure to asbestos. The time of latency can make it difficult to detect the disease in the early stages and symptoms may be misinterpreted as signs of other diseases.
In the majority of cases, malignant tumors begin in the lungs and chest cavity (pleura). Mesothelioma may also develop in the linings around the abdomen and the heart. In rare instances the disease may affect the testes' lining or the sac that surrounds the heart (pericardium).
Asbestos is made up of a collection of minerals which form long, thin fibers. These fibers are so durable that they cannot be broken down by chemicals, water or bacteria. These materials were used widely in various construction and household products for a long time before scientists realized how harmful they were for health.
Most mesothelioma patients were exposed to the material in the workplace or at home and the majority of those exposed worked in the US Navy and air force, construction or shipbuilding industries. It is more prevalent in men than women, and veterans make up about 30% of mesothelioma cases.
If mesothelioma begins to develop doctors can detect it through imaging scans and medical tests. These include X-rays, CT scanners, MRIs, and PET scans. The doctor could also collect a small sample of the tissue and send it to a lab to be tested.
The results will help determine the mesothelioma's type and stage, which impacts the outlook for treatment and options. The majority of mesothelioma types are epithelioid and sarcomatoid. Between 10 percent and 15% of cases are biphasic, or mixed. Epithelioid cancer is less aggressive and generally has the highest rate of survival. Sarcomatoid mesothelioma has a worse prognosis and is more difficult to treat.
Diagnosis
It is difficult to diagnose mesothelioma in particular in the early stages. Patients should consult their primary care physician if they experience any symptoms such as chest pains or coughing. The doctor will use a stethoscope listen to the patient breathing and record their health history and work history. This includes any history of asbestos exposure, which is crucial for diagnosing mesothelioma.
Doctors must rule out other diseases before they can confirm a diagnosis because mesothelioma symptoms are like those of other diseases. Cancer can spread to the lungs of a patient from other parts of the body such as the abdomen or chest. Asbestos-related lung diseases, like pneumonia, are common in asbestos-related victims. Pleural mesothelioma can also be mistaken for other respiratory diseases.
Mesothelioma is diagnosed through blood tests and imaging tests, as well as biopsies. These tests can aid doctors in identifying the cancerous area, which is usually in the lungs but can also be located in the testicles or stomach. The tests will also assist doctors find out how much of the cancer is growing within the body.
A CT scan or MRI could reveal the 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 reveal whether a person has lungs on one side or the other.
In many instances, a biopsy is necessary to confirm the diagnosis of mesothelioma. This involves removing small amounts of tissue and testing them in the lab for mesothelioma.
Some patients may need additional tests, for example FDG-positron emission tomography (PET), which can help doctors see how the tumor is affecting the blood supply to the lungs; mediastinoscopy, which allows doctors to examine and collect lymph nodes that are located in the center of the chest as well as endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) which uses sound waves to examine mesothelium and the lungs. Mesothelioma is a rare cancer, and doctors are still learning to treat it effectively. In the end those diagnosed with the cancer must consider their options carefully and decide what treatment is best for them.
Treatment
Mesothelioma can affect the lung's lining (pleural mesothelioma), abdomen (peritoneal mesothelioma) or the heart (pericardial mesothelioma). The symptoms are not usually evident for a long time after exposure to asbestos. As a result, it is important for those who have been exposed to asbestos to have their health checked when they experience unusual symptoms.
A doctor will conduct a medical history to check for mesothelioma risk factors for example, the length of time and intensity someone was exposed to asbestos. A doctor may also conduct an exam to check for mesothelioma signs, such as an accumulation of fluid in the chest cavity. Mesothelioma is categorized by the type of cells that grow in the mesothelium and the site where these cells are. The most common type of mesothelioma is epithelioid, and accounts for up between 60 and 80% of mesothelioma cases. Other types of mesothelioma are biphasic mesothelioma and sarcomatoid that both make up about 10% to 15% of mesothelioma patients.
There are many different treatment options for patients with mesothelioma. The type of treatment depends on the type of mesothelioma as well as the stage of the disease.
In some instances, mesothelioma can be treated with chemotherapy or radiation. During these treatments, doctors administer powerful cancer-fighting medications or use special equipment to kill cancerous cells and reduce the risk of mesothelioma returning.
Other forms of mesothelioma are treated through surgery that removes part of the lining from the affected organ. This may also help alleviate symptoms like breathing difficulties.
If a person is diagnosed with mesothelioma pleural, their doctor may perform a procedure called VATS, that involves the use of a camera into the lungs to remove part of the pleura and lung. This procedure can help improve the breathlessness that is caused by the accumulation of fluid in the lungs, but does not cure the condition.
Other options for treatment include support and management of pain. It is vital that people suffering from mesothelioma receive as much information on the disease as they can and how to deal with it. san marcos asbestos lawsuit are aware of the more equipped they are to plan a the best possible and happy future.