Mesothelioma Cancer
Mesothelioma is a form of cancer that is triggered by exposure to asbestos. Inhaling asbestos fibers can cause pleural tumors, and swallowing asbestos claim can cause peritoneal cancer.
The symptoms may manifest within 10 to 50 years of the initial diagnosis. The symptoms include breathlessness, chest pain and abdominal distress.
Risk Factors
asbestos (a knockout post) fibres can cause mesothelioma. Pleural mesothelioma forms in the linings of the chest cavity or the lungs. Mesothelioma may also grow in the peritoneum (the membrane surrounding the heart) or in the pericardium. It takes between 20-50 years for the cancer to form and manifest symptoms that are often mistaken for flu-like illnesses. Mesothelioma typically affects older people and is more prevalent in men than women.
The biggest risk factor for mesothelioma is exposure to asbestos. asbestos claim is a naturally occurring mineral that is made up of tiny fibres that were employed in construction materials, including ceilings and walls due to its resistance to heat and fire. It was also extensively used in the production of products such as pipes, insulations shingles and cement. Workers in industries where asbestos was common such as construction, mining or shipbuilding, are at high risk of developing mesothelioma. However, even those who only had secondary exposure such as relatives who brought home asbestos on their clothing and skin, are also 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 risk of developing mesothelioma among those who have been exposed asbestos.
The age of the patient is also an indicator of risk. Mesothelioma most commonly affects people over the age of 45, and two-thirds of those diagnosed are 65 or older. This is due to the lengthy latency associated with asbestos case exposure. However it is also possible that older people are more likely to develop the disease because of the long exposure to asbestos.
Mesothelioma is more prevalent in white males than females or those belonging to any other race. This is because historically, more white men worked in jobs that put them at a higher risk of asbestos exposure than other groups. Mesothelioma typically affects those who were exposed asbestos prior to the 1980s, when more stringent regulations were in place.
Symptoms
Mesothelioma is an asbestos-related tumor that forms in the protective linings around various organs in the body. The cancerous tumors can cause severe discomfort and cause damage to the tissue. The malignancy can be spread to other parts of the body through the lymphatic system or the bloodstream.
The symptoms of mesothelioma could be similar to other diseases such as influenza or pneumonia. They typically take between 10 and 50 years to appear after exposure to asbestos. This delay in time makes it difficult to identify mesothelioma in the early stages, and the symptoms can be misinterpreted as other diseases.
In the majority of cases, malignant tumors start in the chest cavity and lungs (pleura). Mesothelioma can also form in the linings surrounding the abdomen and the heart. In rare instances, the disease can even affect the lining of the testes or the sac that surrounds the heart (pericardium).
Asbestos is made up of a grouping of minerals that forms long, thin fibres. These fibers are strong enough that they aren't broken down by water, chemicals or bacteria. They were used extensively in a variety of construction and household products before scientists realized the dangers they posed to the lives of people.
The majority of mesothelioma cases were triggered by exposure to asbestos either at workplace or at home. The majority of patients who were exposed worked for the US Navy or Air Force, Shipbuilding Industry, or Construction. It is more prevalent in women than men and veterans comprise around 30% of mesothelioma cases.
When mesothelioma develops doctors can spot it with imaging scans and medical tests. These include X-rays CT scans, MRIs and PET scans. The doctor may also collect a sample of the tissue and send it to a lab for analysis.
The results can help determine the mesothelioma's stage and type which can affect the outlook for treatment and options. Most types of mesothelioma are epithelioid or sarcomatoid and between 10 and 15 percent are biphasic or mixed. Epithelioid cancers are less aggressive and usually has the highest survival rate. Sarcomatoid mesothelioma is a less favorable prognosis and is more difficult to treat.
Diagnosis
Mesothelioma is difficult to identify particularly in its early stages. The first step is to visit their primary care physician if they experience any symptoms, such as coughing or chest pains. The doctor will listen to the patient's breathing through the stethoscope and document their work and health history. This includes any asbestos exposure information, which is crucial for diagnosing mesothelioma.
Since mesothelioma's symptoms mirror those of other conditions, doctors need to be able to rule out other conditions prior to confirming a diagnosis. For example, the cancer often spreads to the lungs of patients from another part of their body, for instance, their abdomen or chest wall. Asbestos-related lung diseases, such as pneumonia, are very common among asbestos victims. Pleural mesothelioma could be confused with other respiratory diseases.
Imaging tests, blood tests and biopsy are all used to diagnose mesothelioma. These tests will aid doctors in locating the location of the cancer, which is often found in the lungs, but may also be located in the stomach or the testicles. The tests will also assist doctors determine the extent of the cancer is spreading throughout the body.
A CT scan or MRI could reveal the mesothelioma signs including calcium deposits in the pleura (known as plaque) and a buildup of fluid between the chest wall and the lungs. These tests can also show whether a patient has more lung tissue on one side or 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 laboratory for mesothelioma.
Certain patients might require additional tests, such as FDG-positron emission tomography (PET) which allows doctors to examine the lymph nodes that are located in the middle of the chest and to test them, or endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) using sound waves to study the lungs and the mesothelium. Mesothelioma is a rare cancer, and doctors are still learning to treat it effectively. In the end those diagnosed with the cancer must be aware of their options 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 usually don't show up for a long time after exposure to asbestos. Because of this, it's important for people who have had to work with asbestos to get checked out for any unusual symptoms.
A doctor will take a medical history to check for mesothelioma-related risk factors, for example, how long and how intensely someone was exposed to asbestos. The doctor will also conduct an examination to find signs of mesothelioma, like the accumulation of fluid in the chest cavity. Mesothelioma is categorized by the type of cells that form in the mesothelium as well as the site where these cells are. The most popular mesothelioma type is epithelioid. It makes up to 60% to the majority of mesothelioma patients. The other types of mesothelioma are biphasic mesothelioma and sarcomatoid that both represent about 10% to 15% of mesothelioma patients.
There are a myriad of treatment options for mesothelioma. The type of treatment depends on the type and stage of mesothelioma.
In certain cases, mesothelioma may be treated with radiation or chemotherapy. In these treatments, doctors administer powerful cancer-fighting drugs or utilize special equipment to kill cancerous cells and reduce the risk of mesothelioma returning.
Other mesothelioma types are treated through surgery that eliminates a part of the lining of the affected organ. This can also relieve symptoms such as breathing problems.
If a person has mesothelioma pleural the doctor can perform the procedure known as VATS, which uses a camera inserted into the lungs to remove part of the lung and pleura. This procedure can help with breathlessness due to fluid buildup in the lung. However, it does not treat mesothelioma.
Other treatment options may include pain management and support services. It is crucial that those with mesothelioma get as much information about the disease as they can and the best way to manage it. The more educated they are and the more they are able to plan for a future which includes a variety of health and wellness activities.