Mesothelioma Cancer
Mesothelioma, a cancerous tumor that is caused by asbestos exposure is a serious condition. The inhalation of asbestos fibers can cause mesothelioma pleural and swallowing asbestos can lead to mesothelioma peritoneal.
The symptoms may be similar to those of less serious illnesses and can take anywhere from 10 to 50 years before they appear. Symptoms can include abdominal pain, chest pain and breathlessness.
Risk Factors
Asbestos fibres can cause mesothelioma. The most common mesothelioma type is pleural mesothelioma, which forms in the lining of the chest cavity and lungs. In less cases, mesothelioma can develop in the peritoneum, or the membrane around the heart (pericardium). The cancer may take up to 50 years to develop before it manifests symptoms. These symptoms are frequently misinterpreted as flu-like symptoms. Mesothelioma is more common in older people and is more prevalent in males than females.
The most significant risk factor for mesothelioma is exposure to asbestos. Asbestos, a naturally occurring mineral made up of tiny fibres, was used as a building material, such as in walls and ceilings. It is resistant to fire and heat. It was also extensively used in the manufacturing of goods like pipes insulation, shingles, insulation and cement. People who worked in industries where asbestos was common like shipbuilding, mining, or construction, are at high risk of developing mesothelioma. Even those who only had secondary exposure to asbestos such as relatives who brought home asbestos-covered clothing and skin are at risk.
A small proportion (less than 5%) of mesothelioma is due to a mutation in the gene BAP1. This genetic change can increase the chance of developing mesothelioma among those who have been exposed asbestos.
The patient's age is also an indicator of risk. Mesothelioma is most common among those 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 long latency time associated with asbestos exposure, but it may be due to the fact that the disease tends to impact older those who have had a more prolonged and heavy exposure to asbestos-related material.
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 worked in occupations that put them at a higher risk of asbestos than other groups. In addition, mesothelioma is typically seen in people who were exposed to asbestos prior to when better regulations were put into place in the 1980s.
Signs and symptoms
Mesothelioma, a type of cancer caused by asbestos, is found in the linings that protect many organs. The cancerous tumors which form in the tissue could cause damage and severe pain. chico asbestos attorneys can spread to other parts through the bloodstream or lymphatic system.
The symptoms of mesothelioma may be similar to those of other illnesses like pneumonia or influenza. It could take up to 50 years after exposure to asbestos before showing symptoms. The time of latency can make it difficult to identify the disease early and symptoms may be misinterpreted as a sign of other illnesses.
In most cases, the malignant tumors begin in the lungs and chest cavity (pleura). But mesothelioma can also form in the tissues of the abdomen and the heart. In rare cases the disease may affect the lining of the testes or the sac that surrounds the heart (pericardium).
Asbestos is minerals in a grouping that forms long, thin fibers. These fibers are strong enough that they are unable to be broken down by water, chemicals or bacteria. They were commonly used in a variety of construction and household products before scientists realized how hazardous they were to people's lives.
The majority of mesothelioma cases are caused by exposure to asbestos either at work or home. The majority of patients exposed were employed by the US Navy Air Force, Shipbuilding Industry or Construction. Men are more likely to develop mesothelioma than females. Veterans account for about 30% of all cases.
Medical tests and imaging scans can help doctors identify mesothelioma. These include X-rays, CT scans, MRIs and PET scans. The doctor can also send a sample of tissue to a laboratory for analysis.
The results will help doctors determine the type of mesothelioma and stage of the disease, which can affect the prognosis as well as treatment options. The majority of mesothelioma forms are epithelioid and sarcomatoid. Between 10 percent and 15 percent of cases are biphasic or mixed. Epithelioid mesothelioma tends to be less aggressive and has the highest survival rates. Sarcomatoid mesothelioma has a poorer prognosis and is more difficult to treat.
Diagnosis
Mesothelioma is difficult to diagnose especially in its initial stages. Patients should first visit their primary care physician when they are experiencing any symptoms such as chest pains or coughing. The doctor will observe the patient's breathing using an stethoscope, and record their medical history and work. This includes any history of asbestos exposure, which is crucial in determining mesothelioma's diagnosis.
Doctors must rule out other diseases before they can make the diagnosis, as mesothelioma signs are like those of other diseases. For example, the cancer often spreads to the lungs of patients from other parts of their body, like their chest wall or abdomen. Asbestos-related lung diseases, like pneumonia, are very common among asbestos sufferers. Pleural mesothelioma may also be mistaken for other respiratory illnesses.
Mesothelioma can be detected with blood tests, imaging tests and biopsies. These tests will aid in locating the site of the cancer, which is commonly in the lungs but can also be in the stomach or testicles. The tests will assist doctors determine how far the cancer has spread in the body.
A CT scan or MRI may reveal mesothelioma signs including calcium deposits in the pleura (known as plaque) and the accumulation of fluid between the lungs and the chest wall. These tests can also show whether the lungs of a person are more on one side than on the other.
In many instances biopsy is necessary to confirm the diagnosis of mesothelioma. This procedure involves removing small amounts of tissue and testing them in the lab for mesothelioma.
Some patients may require additional tests such as FDG-positron emissions tomography (PET) which permits doctors to look at the lymph nodes that are located in the middle of the chest and take samples of them, or endobronchial ultrasonography (EBUS) which uses sound waves to examine the mesothelium and lungs. Mesothelioma is a rare condition and doctors are still learning to treat it effectively. Patients who have been diagnosed with cancer need to carefully consider their options to find the best treatment for them.
Treatment
Mesothelioma may affect the linings of the lungs, abdomen (peritoneal cancer), or heart (pericardial cancer). The symptoms typically do not appear until several years after exposure to asbestos. Because of this, it is important for those who have worked around asbestos to get checked out when they experience unusual symptoms.
A doctor will collect a medical history to check for mesothelioma risk factors, for example, how long and how intensely someone was exposed to asbestos. A doctor will also perform an examination to determine signs of mesothelioma such as the accumulation of fluids in the chest cavity. The type of cells found in the mesothelium and the locations of those cells are used to classify mesothelioma. Epithelioid-like mesothelioma comprises 60 percent to 80% mesothelioma. Other types of mesothelioma are sarcomatoid and biphasic mesothelioma, which both represent approximately 10 to 15% of mesothelioma patients.
There are a myriad of treatment options for mesothelioma. The type of treatment you choose depends on the type of mesothelioma and the stage of the disease.
In some cases, mesothelioma may be treated with chemotherapy or radiation. In these procedures, doctors administer powerful cancer-fighting drugs or utilize special equipment to kill cancerous tumors and decrease the chance of mesothelioma coming back.
Other mesothelioma types can be treated through surgery which involves the removal of parts of the tissue lining of the organ affected. This can also help relieve symptoms like breathing difficulties.
If a person has mesothelioma of the pleura the doctor can perform VATS, a procedure that involves the use of a camera into the lungs in order to remove part of the lung and pleura. This procedure can alleviate breathing problems due to the accumulation of fluid in the lungs. However, it will not treat mesothelioma.
Other options for treatment include support and management of pain. It is essential for patients who suffer from mesothelioma, to gather as much information as possible about the disease and how to manage it. The more informed they are more prepared they will be to plan for a future which includes a variety of wellness and health activities.