Mesothelioma Cancer
Mesothelioma is a cancer caused by exposure to asbestos. Inhaling asbestos fibres can cause pleural cancer and swallowing asbestos can cause cancer of the peritoneal area.
The symptoms can manifest between 10 and 50 years after the initial diagnosis. The symptoms can include chest pain, abdominal distress and shortness of breathe.
Risk Factors
Asbestos fibres can cause mesothelioma. The most commonly encountered mesothelioma type is mesothelioma pleural, which develops in the chest cavity's lining and the lungs. In less cases, mesothelioma can develop in the peritoneum or in the membrane around the heart (pericardium). It takes between 20-50 years for the cancer to grow and manifest symptoms, which can often be mistaken for flu-like illnesses. Mesothelioma is more common in older people and is more frequent in males than females.
The biggest risk factor for mesothelioma is exposure to asbestos. Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that is made up of tiny fibres which were utilized in building materials, such as ceilings and walls, because of its resistance fire and heat. It was also used in the manufacture of goods such as pipes, insulation, shingles and cement. People who worked in industries where asbestos was common such as construction, mining or shipbuilding, are at high risk of developing mesothelioma. Even those who have had a second exposure to asbestos like family members who brought home asbestos-covered clothing and skin are at risk.
A small portion (less than 5%) of mesothelioma can be traced to mutations in the gene BAP1. This genetic change can increase the likelihood of developing mesothelioma among those who have been exposed to asbestos.
The age of the patient is also an indicator of risk. Mesothelioma typically affects people over the age of 45, and two-thirds of those diagnosed are 65 or older. This is largely due to the long latency period due to asbestos exposure, but it may be due to the fact that the disease tends to affect older people who have had more prolonged and heavy exposure to the cancer-causing material.
Mesothelioma is more prevalent in white males than women or those belonging to any other race. This is due to the fact that historically, more white men have been employed in jobs that put them at a higher risk of asbestos than other groups. Mesothelioma typically affects those who were exposed asbestos before the 1980s, a time when more strict regulations were in place.
Symptoms
Mesothelioma, a type of cancer caused by asbestos, occurs in the linings that protect various organs. The cancerous tumors that develop within the tissue may damage them and cause severe pain. The malignancy could spread to other parts through the lymphatic or bloodstream system.
Mesothelioma symptoms may be similar to other diseases, such as pneumonia or the flu. It usually takes between 10 and 50 years to show up after exposure to asbestos. This latency period makes it difficult to recognize mesothelioma early. Additionally, the symptoms could be misinterpreted as a sign of other illnesses.
Most malignant tumors begin in the lungs or chest cavity (pleura). Mesothelioma can also develop in the linings around the heart and abdomen. In rare instances, it can affect the lining around the heart or the testes.
Asbestos is a group of minerals that make long thin fibers. The fibers are so strong that they can't be broken down by chemical, water or bacteria. These materials were used widely in a variety of household and construction materials for a long time before researchers realized how harmful they were for health.
The majority of patients with mesothelioma were exposed to the material in the workplace or at home and the majority of those who were exposed worked in the US Navy, the air force, the shipbuilding or construction. Men are more likely to develop mesothelioma than females. Veterans comprise around 30% of all cases.
When mesothelioma is diagnosed doctors can spot it through imaging scans and medical tests. This includes X-rays, CT scans, MRIs and PET scans. The doctor may also send a tissue sample to a laboratory for analysis.
The results can help determine the mesothelioma's type and stage which can affect the outlook for treatment and options. The majority of mesothelioma types are epithelioid and sarcomatoid and between 10 and 15 percent are biphasic or mixed. Epithelioid mesothelioma is generally less aggressive and has the best survival rates. Sarcomatoid Mesothelioma is harder to diagnose and has a lower prognosis.
Diagnosis
It can be difficult to identify mesothelioma, especially at an early stage. Patients should first consult their primary care physician when they are experiencing any symptoms such as chest pain or coughing. The doctor will observe the patient's breathing with an stethoscope, and record their health history and work. This includes any asbestos exposure information, which is crucial to determine mesothelioma's presence.
Because mesothelioma's symptoms are similar to those of other conditions, doctors need to rule out other conditions before confirming a diagnosis. For example the cancer is often spread to the lungs of patients from other parts of the body, like their chest wall or abdomen. Asbestos-related lung diseases, including pneumonia, are common in asbestos sufferers. Pleural mesothelioma can be confused with other respiratory illnesses.
Imaging tests, blood tests and biopsy can all be used to diagnose mesothelioma. These tests will help doctors locate the area of the cancer, which is most often found in the lungs, but could also be found in the stomach or the testicles. The tests will also assist doctors determine the extent of the cancer is spreading in the body.
A CT scan or MRI could show signs of mesothelioma. These include calcium deposits (also called plaque) in the pleura and an accumulation between the lungs and chest wall. These tests can also show whether a patient has more lungs on one side or the other.
In pompano beach asbestos law firm is necessary to confirm the diagnosis of mesothelioma. This involves removing small quantities of tissue and testing them in the lab for mesothelioma.
Certain patients might require additional tests, like FDG-positron emission tomography (PET), allowing doctors to check the lymph nodes located in the middle of the chest and to sample them, or endobronchial ultrasonography (EBUS) using sound waves to study the mesothelium and lungs. Mesothelioma is a rare cancer and doctors are still learning to treat it effectively. In the end patients diagnosed with the cancer must weigh their options carefully to decide which treatment is the best for them.
Treatment
Mesothelioma can affect the lining of the lungs (pleural mesothelioma), abdomen (peritoneal mesothelioma) or heart (pericardial mesothelioma). The symptoms usually don't show up for several decades after asbestos exposure. It is important that people who have been exposed to asbestos be checked for any strange symptoms.
A doctor will take an examination of the medical history to check for mesothelioma risk factors, including how long and how often the patient was exposed to asbestos. The doctor will also perform an exam to look for symptoms of mesothelioma like the accumulation of fluid in the chest cavity. The type of cells found in mesothelium, as well as the location of those cells, are used to identify mesothelioma. Epithelioid mesothelioma accounts for 60 to 80% of mesothelioma. Other types of mesothelioma are biphasic mesothelioma and sarcomatoid that both account for about 10% to 15% of mesothelioma patients.
There are a variety of treatment options available for people suffering from mesothelioma. The kind of treatment you choose depends on the type and stage of the mesothelioma.
In some cases, the mesothelioma may be treated with chemotherapy or radiation. During these treatments doctors use powerful cancer-fighting medications or special equipment to eliminate tumors. This lowers the risk of mesothelioma coming back.
Other forms of mesothelioma can be treated with surgery that removes a portion of the tissue lining of the organ affected. It can also alleviate symptoms like breathing problems.
If a person is diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma, their doctor may perform a procedure called VATS, that involves the use of a camera into the lungs to remove part of the lung and pleura. This can improve breathing problems caused by the build-up of fluid in the lungs, but is not a cure for the disease.
Other options for treatment include support and management of pain. It is essential that patients who suffer from mesothelioma have as much knowledge about the disease as they can, and the best way to manage it. The more informed they are, the better they can plan for a future which includes a wide range of health and wellness activities.