Mesothelioma Cancer

Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that is caused by exposure to asbestos claim. Inhaling asbestos claim fibers causes pleural mesothelioma and swallowed asbestos can lead to mesothelioma peritoneal.

The symptoms can manifest within 10 to 50 years of the initial diagnosis. The symptoms can include chest pain, abdominal distress and breathlessness.

Risk Factors

Asbestos fibres can cause mesothelioma. The most common mesothelioma type is mesothelioma that is found in the lining of the chest cavity and lungs. The most common form of mesothelioma is in the peritoneum or in the heart's membrane (pericardium). The cancer can take up to 50 years to develop and manifest symptoms. These symptoms are frequently misinterpreted as flu-like symptoms. Mesothelioma is more common in older people and more common in males than females.

The biggest risk factor for mesothelioma involves exposure to asbestos. Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral composed of tiny fibres, was used as a building material like in walls and ceilings. It is impervious to heat and fire. It was also used in the manufacturing of goods like pipes insulation, shingles, and cement. People who worked in industries where asbestos was prevalent such as shipbuilding, mining, or construction are at a high risk of developing mesothelioma. Even those who have only had a second exposure to asbestos such as relatives who brought home asbestos case-covered clothing or skin are at risk.

A small proportion of mesothelioma cases are linked to a mutation in the gene called BAP1. This genetic change increases the chance of developing mesothelioma in those who have been exposed asbestos.

Age is a major risk factor for mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is most common in those who are over 45 years old and two-thirds of those who are diagnosed with the disease are 65 years old or older. This is partly due to the long latency time that is associated with asbestos exposure however, it could be due to the fact that the condition tends to affect older people who have had longer-term and more intense exposure to asbestos-related material.

Mesothelioma is more common in white males than women or members of any other racial group. This is due to the fact that historically, more white males worked in jobs which put them at a greater risk of exposure to asbestos litigation than other groups. Additionally, mesothelioma is usually seen in people who were exposed to asbestos compensation prior to when better regulations were put in the 1980s.

Symptoms

Mesothelioma is a form of cancer that is caused by asbestos, is found in the protective linings of many organs. The cancerous tumors that develop in the tissue can damage them and cause severe pain. The malignancy could be spread to other parts of the body through the bloodstream or lymphatic system.

Mesothelioma symptoms may be similar to other diseases, such as pneumonia or the flu. They often take 10 - 50 years to show up after exposure to asbestos. The latency period can make it difficult to diagnose the disease in the early stages and symptoms could be misinterpreted as a sign of other illnesses.

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

Asbestos is a group of minerals that make long thin fibers. The fibers are so strong that they are unable to be broken down by chemical or water, or even bacteria. They were extensively used in many household and construction products for a long time before researchers realized how dangerous they were for health.

Most mesothelioma cases were caused by exposure to asbestos either at work or home. The majority of patients who were exposed were employed by the US Navy, Air Force, Shipbuilding Industry or Construction. Men are more likely to develop mesothelioma than females. Veterans comprise about 30 percent of all cases.

Medical tests and imaging scans can aid in diagnosing mesothelioma. These include X rays, CT scanners, MRIs, and PET scans. The doctor may also collect a small sample of the tissue and send it to a lab to be tested.

The results will help doctors determine the mesothelioma type and stage of the disease, which affects the prognosis and treatment options. Most types of mesothelioma are epithelioid or 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 has a poorer prognosis and is more difficult to treat.

Diagnosis

It can be difficult to identify mesothelioma, particularly in its early stages. The first step is to visit their primary care doctor with any symptoms, like coughing or chest pains. The doctor will listen to the patient's breathing through a stethoscope and take down their medical history and work. This includes any asbestos exposure information, which is crucial to determine mesothelioma's presence.

Because mesothelioma's symptoms resemble other diseases, doctors must be able to rule out other conditions prior to making the diagnosis. For instance the cancer is often spread to the lungs of patients from another part of their body, like their chest wall or abdomen. Asbestos-related lung diseases, such as pneumonia, are very common among asbestos sufferers. Pleural mesothelioma could be confused with other respiratory illnesses.

Blood tests, imaging tests and biopsy can all be used to diagnose mesothelioma. These tests can help doctors find the cancerous site that is typically located in the lungs, but could also be in the testicles or stomach. These tests can also help doctors determine how much of the cancer is spreading throughout the body.

A CT scan or MRI could reveal mesothelioma-related signs. These include calcium deposits (also known as plaque) in the pleura, and an accumulation of lung tissue and chest wall. These tests can also determine whether a person's lungs are more pronounced on one side than on the other.

In many instances a biopsy is required to confirm the diagnosis of mesothelioma. This involves removing small portions of tissue and analyzing them in the laboratory for mesothelioma.

Some patients may need additional tests, like FDG-positron emission tomography (PET), which allows doctors to see how the tumor is affecting the blood supply to the lungs; mediastinoscopy, which allows doctors to examine and sample lymph nodes that are located in the center of the chest as well as endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) which makes use of sound waves to study mesothelium and the lungs. Mesothelioma is a rare cancer and doctors are still learning how to treat it effectively. Patients who have been diagnosed with cancer should carefully weigh their options to determine the best treatment option for them.

Treatment

Mesothelioma can affect the lung linings and abdomen (peritoneal cancer), or heart (pericardial cancer). The symptoms generally don't appear until several decades after exposure to asbestos. As a result, it's important for people who have been exposed to asbestos to get checked out if they develop any strange symptoms.

A doctor will collect an examination of the medical history to check for mesothelioma risk factors for example, the length of time and intensity an individual was exposed to asbestos. A doctor can also perform an exam to check for signs of mesothelioma such as fluid accumulation in the chest cavity. The type of cells found in the mesothelium and the locations of those cells are used to identify mesothelioma. The most popular mesothelioma type is epithelioid, and accounts for up to 60% to 80percent of mesothelioma cases. Other types of mesothelioma include biphasic and sarcomatoid mesothelioma, which account for 10% to 15% of all mesothelioma cases.

There are many different treatments available to people with mesothelioma. The treatment option depends on the type and stage of the mesothelioma.

In some cases, mesothelioma may be treatable by radiation or chemotherapy. In these treatments, doctors employ powerful chemotherapy drugs or equipment to kill tumors. This reduces the chance of mesothelioma returning.

Other forms of mesothelioma can be treated surgically that removes a portion of the tissues of the organ that are affected. It can also alleviate symptoms like breathing problems.

A person suffering from pleural asbestosis may undergo a procedure known as VATS. This involves inserting a camera into lungs and removing a part of the pleura and lung. This can improve the breathlessness that is caused by the accumulation of fluid in the lungs, however it does not cure the condition.

Other options for treatment include support or pain management. It is crucial that those with mesothelioma get as much information on the disease as they can, and the best ways to treat it. The more they are aware of, the better equipped they are to plan for a healthy and happy future.