Mesothelioma and Asbestos

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that comes in long, thin fibres. People who are exposed to asbestos may develop lung diseases such as mesothelioma.

It can take years before symptoms begin to manifest after asbestos exposure. Different types of asbestos may cause different symptoms.

Pleural Mesothelioma

Pleural mesothelioma is a cancer that develops in the lung's outer lining (pleura). It is the most prevalent mesothelioma type, accounting for up 70 to 79% of diagnosed cases. People with this condition feel chest pain and breathlessness, and they may feel an ache or heaviness in the chest.

Exposure to asbestos, a group of minerals composed of microscopic fibers, usually causes this kind of cancer. These fibers, when inhaled cause irritation and DNA mutations. The pleura is the area that surrounds the chest cavity and lungs This means that these irritations can affect both the lungs as well as a person's heart. Mesothelioma symptoms typically don't show until 30 to 50 years after exposure.

Chest pain and shortness breath are the most common symptoms. Some patients also experience coughing, difficulty breathing or chest tightness. People with this cancer often have previous exposure to asbestos in the workplace. The most prevalent jobs that put people at risk of developing pleural mesothelioma are construction, manufacturing and shipbuilding. People who have worked in the military are at an especially high risk due to the frequent asbestos use in Navy ships and army bunkers.

The most common staging system for pleural mysothelioma has been the TNM (tumor, lymph nodes and metastases) staging system. The stage a patient is in upon diagnosis will aid their doctor in determining the most appropriate treatment plan for them. For example, patients with a pleural mesothelioma in stage three or four have a worse prognosis than patients with a lower stage. Stage four mesothelioma is often spread to the diaphragm, the liver or even the heart of a patient. This could make the cancer more difficult to treat and increase the chance of complications for the patient.

Peritoneal Mesothelioma

Contrary to pleural cancer which is found in the lung's lining, peritoneal cancer develops in a membrane that covers the abdominal cavity, which includes organs such as the intestines and liver. Similar to pleural mesothelioma and peritoneal mesothelioma is caused by asbestos exposure. The disease is less prevalent than pleural mesothelioma. There are just 300-500 cases being diagnosed each year.

As with pleural mesothelioma symptoms can take years to show. Typically, patients experience abdominal pain and a mass in the abdomen. This mesothelioma type can cause nausea, weight loss, and fever. Many of these symptoms are similar to symptoms of gastrointestinal issues, which can lead to misdiagnosis.

Doctors can detect mesothelioma by looking over the medical history of the patient and conducting a physical exam. They may also employ imaging tests like Xrays, CT scans and PET/CT scans to help find mesothelioma. These tests can reveal tumors as well as other signs of cancer which aren't evident on X-rays.

The results of these tests allow doctors to diagnose mesothelioma, identify the stage and recommend treatment options. The stage is determined by the type of cell and whether the tumor has spread.

The most significant mesothelioma-related risk factor is exposure to asbestos claim. People who have been exposed to asbestos in professions, such as electrical or plumbing work or in construction, manufacturing and manufacturing, are more likely to contract the disease. Even if a person isn't employed in one of these areas, he or she can be exposed to asbestos to asbestos through family members and other sources. Therefore, anyone who suspects they may be at risk should talk to an experienced doctor. A mesothelioma specialist can assist those who have had a previous history of asbestos to find out more about their risk.

Risk Factors

Asbestos exposure is the main risk factor for mesothelioma, accounting for up to 80 percent of cases. Exposure to asbestos may occur due to military service, work, or living with those who worked with asbestos. asbestos legal particles can be breathed in by those who are exposed to asbestos. These irritate the linings and cause cancerous cells to develop in the mesothelium. Mesothelioma can take anywhere between 15 and 60 years to develop following exposure to asbestos.

Other risk factors include genetics, smoking and age. People in their 40s and 50s are more likely be diagnosed with mesothelioma compared to those who are younger or older. Mesothelioma can take between 20 and 60 years to show signs of cancer after the first exposure. It is important to remember that mesothelioma can occur in people who have been exposed to asbestos, but without having directly worked with it. This is known as indirect or secondary asbestos exposure, and is just as harmful as direct asbestos exposure.

Smoking increases the risk of developing mesothelioma since it damages the mesothelium and makes it more vulnerable to asbestos. Furthermore, mesothelioma is caused by certain illnesses, such as pneumonia and asbestosis. Men are more likely to develop mesothelioma than women. This is due to men being more likely to work with asbestos and have more exposure than women. Men are also more likely to have lived with someone who worked with asbestos and to have asbestos-containing fibers on their clothing. Women tend to be less exposed to asbestos and they don't usually bring asbestos home on their clothing.

Diagnosis

Mesothelioma is a difficult disease to recognize because the symptoms are often similar to other diseases. This can lead to victims being incorrectly diagnosed.

NYU Langone doctors will perform physical examinations and document the patient's medical background including asbestos exposure. Doctors may also order an X-ray of the chest or CT scan to check for lumps and other abnormalities, and also to look for evidence of asbestos exposure in the past such as pleural plaques (thickened pleura with calcium deposits) and the accumulation of fluid between the lung and chest wall (known as the pleural effusion).

Other diagnostic tests include an echocardiogram, which examines the heart and blood vessels, and a magnetic resonance imaging, also known as MRI, test that uses magnets and radio waves to make a series of detailed images of the interior of the body. A surgical biopsy is another method for doctors to identify mesothelioma. In a surgical biopsy doctors will remove a small piece of tissue from pleura or the peritoneum, to be further examined. A pathologist can then examine the tissue with an magnifying glass to determine if it is a cancerous cells.

The type of mesothelial cell involved as well as the benign or malignant nature of the cells as well as the location the cancer, its type and the stage of the tumour, are used to categorize the disease. Certain mesothelioma types have an increased risk of spreading or metastasizing therefore it is essential to determine the type of mesothelioma so doctors can treat it prior to it becoming out of control.

Doctors can also run tests in the laboratory on a tumor to identify specific genes, proteins or other elements that can help them describe the characteristics of the cancer and determine a treatment. These results are called staging.

Treatment

A diagnosis of mesothelioma may be terrifying. It is important to keep in mind that cancer can be treated, particularly in its initial stages. Many patients with mesothelioma be afflicted for a long time without expanding.

Asbestos exposure can cause mesothelioma by various mechanisms. Asbestos particles, which are too small to detect or feel through the naked eye, can be airborne and cause irritation to the lung's lining (pleura). Over time the irritation can lead to the formation of scar tissues, which eventually lead to tumors.

The pleura covers the lungs and the heart and the abdomen. Mesothelium consists of cells that react when exposed to asbestos. They cause inflammation to the tissue and cause it to become scarred. In time, these changes can lead to the development of malignant mesothelioma cancers.

The symptoms of pleural mesothelioma are breathing problems and chest pain as well as an accumulation of fluid on the lung (pleural effusion). In rare cases the cancer may be spread to the tissues around the heart and reproductive organs.

A doctor will order biopsy if imaging scans show a potential tumor in the lungs or stomach. The procedure involves the removal of some of the fluid or tumor for tests in the laboratory. The results will confirm a mesothelioma diagnosis and indicate the best treatment option.

There are several types of mesothelioma treatment options, including surgery, chemotherapy and immunotherapy. Most doctors use combinations of these treatments. Patients could also benefit from taking part in a clinical trial of new mesothelioma therapies. To learn more, patients should speak to mesothelioma experts who have had experience treating the disease.