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 can cause peritoneal cancer.

Symptoms may mimic symptoms of less serious illnesses and may take between 10 and 50 years before they appear. The symptoms could include abdominal pain, chest pain and shortness of breathe.

Risk Factors

Mesothelioma occurs when asbestos compensation fibers are introduced into the body. Pleural mesothelioma forms in the linings of the chest cavity or the lungs. Less commonly, mesothelioma develops in the peritoneum or in the heart's pericardial membrane (pericardium). It takes between 20-50 years for the cancer to develop and to show signs, which can often be mistaken for flu-like illness. Mesothelioma is most common in older people and is more common in males than females.

Exposure to asbestos attorney is the biggest risk factor in mesothelioma. Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that is made up of tiny fibres that were employed in construction materials, like ceilings and walls, because of its resistance to heat and fire. It was also used extensively in the manufacturing of goods such as pipes, insulations shingles and cement. People who worked in industries where asbestos was prevalent like construction, mining or shipbuilding, are at high risk of developing mesothelioma. Even those who only had secondary exposure to asbestos case such as relatives who brought home asbestos-covered clothing and skin are at risk.

A small portion of mesothelioma cases are linked to a mutation in the gene called BAP1. This genetic change increases the risk of developing mesothelioma among people who have been exposed asbestos.

Age is a major risk factor for mesothelioma. Mesothelioma typically affects people over the age of 45, and two-thirds of those diagnosed are 65 or older. This is due to the prolonged latency associated with asbestos exposure. However, it could also be that older people are more likely to develop the disease because of the long exposure.

White males are more likely to develop mesothelioma than any other race or gender. This is because historically more white men have worked in occupations which put them at higher risk of asbestos than other groups. Mesothelioma most commonly affects those who were exposed asbestos before the 1980s, a time when better regulations were in place.

Symptoms

Mesothelioma is an asbestos-related cancer that forms in the linings that protect various organs in the body. The cancerous tumors that form in the tissue can damage them and cause severe pain. The malignancy can expand to other areas through the bloodstream or lymphatic system.

The symptoms of mesothelioma can be similar to those of other illnesses like pneumonia or influenza. They often take 10 - 50 years to appear after exposure to asbestos. This time of latency makes it difficult to identify mesothelioma early, and the symptoms may be mistaken for other conditions.

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

Asbestos is a grouping of minerals that form long, thin fibres. The fibers are so strong that they cannot be broken down by chemicals, water or bacteria. They were used extensively in a variety of construction and household products before scientists realised the dangers they posed to people's lives.

Most mesothelioma patients were exposed to asbestos in the workplace or at home, and the majority of those exposed worked in the US Navy or the air force, the shipbuilding industry or construction. Men are more likely to develop mesothelioma than females. Veterans comprise around 30 percent of all cases.

When mesothelioma is diagnosed doctors can spot it by performing imaging scans and medical tests. These include X-rays CT scans, MRIs and PET scans. The doctor can also collect a small sample of the tissue and send it to a lab for testing.

The results will help doctors determine the mesothelioma type and stage of the disease which affects the prognosis and treatment options. The majority of mesothelioma types are epithelioid and sarcomatoid and between 10% and 15 percent are biphasic or mixed. Epithelioid cancer is less invasive and usually has the highest survival rates. Sarcomatoid mesothelioma can be more difficult to identify and has a poorer prognosis.

Diagnosis

Mesothelioma is a difficult cancer to detect particularly in its early stages. The first step is to see their primary physician with any symptoms, like coughing or chest pains. The doctor will utilize a stethoscope to listen to the patient's breathing and take note of their health and work history. This includes any asbestos exposure background, which is essential for diagnosing mesothelioma.

Doctors must rule out any other diseases before they can confirm the diagnosis since mesothelioma symptoms are similar to other diseases. For instance, the cancer often spreads to the lungs of patients from a different part of the body, for instance, the chest wall or abdomen. Asbestos-related lung diseases, like pneumonia, are common in asbestos sufferers. Pleural mesothelioma may also be mistaken for other respiratory diseases.

Mesothelioma can be detected with blood tests as well as imaging tests and biopsies. These tests will aid doctors in locating the location of the cancer, which is most typically in the lungs, but may also be located in the stomach or testicles. These tests can also help doctors determine how much of the cancer is spreading throughout the body.

A CT scan or MRI could reveal signs of mesothelioma. This includes calcium deposits (also known as plaque) in the pleura as well as a buildup between the lungs' and chest wall's walls. These tests can also determine whether a person's lungs are more pronounced on one side than on the other.

In many cases a biopsy is required to confirm the diagnosis of mesothelioma. This procedure involves taking a small amount of tissue and analyzing it in a laboratory for mesothelioma cells.

Certain patients might require additional tests, like FDG-positron emission tomography (PET), allowing doctors to examine the lymph nodes located in the middle of the chest, and to test the lymph nodes, or endobronchial ultrasonography (EBUS), using sound waves to examine 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 cancer need to be aware of their options and determine the best treatment for them.

Treatment

Mesothelioma can affect the lining of the lungs (pleural mesothelioma), abdomen (peritoneal mesothelioma) or the heart (pericardial mesothelioma). Symptoms usually do not appear for a long time after asbestos exposure. It is important that people who have been exposed to asbestos should be checked for unusual symptoms.

A doctor will collect an medical history to look for mesothelioma-related risk factors, such as the length of time and intensity someone was exposed to asbestos. The doctor will also do an exam to look for mesothelioma-related signs, for example, fluid accumulation in the chest cavity. Mesothelioma is categorized by the type of cells that grow in the mesothelium, and where those cells are located. Epithelioid mesothelioma accounts for 60% to 80% mesothelioma. The other types of mesothelioma are biphasic mesothelioma and sarcomatoid, which both represent around 10 to 15% of mesothelioma patients.

There are a myriad of treatment options for mesothelioma. The treatment option is dependent on the type and stage of mesothelioma.

In some cases, the mesothelioma is treated using radiation or chemotherapy. During these treatments doctors use powerful cancer-fighting drugs or equipment to eliminate tumors. This lowers the risk of mesothelioma returning.

Other mesothelioma types can be treated through surgery which involves the removal of parts of the lining of the affected organ. This can also relieve symptoms like breathing problems.

If a person is diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma and their doctor recommends a procedure called VATS, that involves the use of a camera into the lungs to eliminate part of the pleura and lungs. This procedure can ease breathlessness caused by the accumulation of fluid in the lungs. However, it will not cure mesothelioma.

Other treatment options include support or pain management. It is vital that people with mesothelioma get as much information about the disease as they can and how to deal with it. The more they are aware of the more prepared they are to plan a the best possible and happy future.