Mesothelioma Cancer
Mesothelioma is a cancer caused by exposure to asbestos. Inhaling asbestos fibers can cause pleural cancer, and swallowing asbestos can cause cancer of the peritoneal region.
The symptoms may manifest 10 to 50 years after the initial diagnosis. Symptoms include shortness of breath, abdominal pain and chest pain.
Risk Factors
Asbestos fibers can cause mesothelioma. Pleural mesothelioma develops in the linings of the chest cavity or the lungs. Mesothelioma can also develop in the peritoneum (the membrane that surrounds the heart) or in the pericardium. The cancer can take up to 50 years to develop before it manifests symptoms. These symptoms are often mistaken for flu like illnesses. Mesothelioma is more common in older people and more frequent in males than females.
The most significant risk factor for mesothelioma is exposure to asbestos. Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral made up of tiny fibres which were employed in construction materials, including walls and ceilings, due to its resistance to heat and fire. It was also used extensively in the production of products like insulations, pipes, shingles and cement. Workers in industries where asbestos was prevalent such as mining, construction or shipbuilding, are at high risk of developing mesothelioma. However, even those who only had a secondary exposure to asbestos like relatives who brought home asbestos on their clothing and skin, are at risk.
A small portion (less than 5percent) of mesothelioma is linked to a mutation in the BAP1 gene. This genetic mutation increases the risk of developing mesothelioma in those who have been exposed to asbestos.
The patient's age is also a risk factor. Mesothelioma is most common in those who are over 45 years old, and two thirds of those diagnosed with the disease are 65 years old or older. This is partly due to the long latency time associated with asbestos exposure, however, it could also be because the disease tends to affect older people who have had more extensive and prolonged exposure to asbestos-related material.
White males are more likely develop mesothelioma than anyone else of any race or gender. This is because historically, more white males worked in jobs that put them at greater risk of exposure to asbestos than other groups. Additionally, mesothelioma is typically seen in people who were exposed to asbestos before better regulations were put into the 1980s.
Symptoms
Mesothelioma, a type of cancer caused by asbestos, is found in the linings that protect several organs. The cancerous tumors which form in the tissue can cause damage and severe pain. The malignancy may spread to other parts of the body through the bloodstream or lymphatic system.
Mesothelioma symptoms are similar to other illnesses, such as pneumonia or the flu. They often take 10 - 50 years to show up after exposure to asbestos. This delay in time makes it difficult to identify mesothelioma early, and the symptoms may be misinterpreted as a sign of other illnesses.
The majority of malignant tumors originate in the chest cavity, or lungs (pleura). But mesothelioma can also form in the linings of the abdomen and the heart. In rare instances, it can affect the lining around the heart or the testes.
Asbestos is one of the minerals that make long, thin fibers. These fibers are so tough that they cannot be broken down by chemical or water, or even bacteria. They were widely used in many household and construction products for a long time before scientists realized how harmful they were to people's health.
The majority of patients with mesothelioma were exposed to the substance in the workplace or at home and the majority of those exposed worked in the US Navy, the air force, the shipbuilding or construction. Men are more likely to develop mesothelioma compared to women. Veterans make up around 30 percent of all cases.
Imaging scans and medical tests can help doctors identify mesothelioma. These include X-rays CT scans, MRIs and PET scans. The doctor may also send a tissue sample to a laboratory for testing.
The results will allow doctors to determine the type of mesothelioma and stage of the disease which affects the prognosis and treatment options. Most types of mesothelioma are epithelioid and sarcomatoid and between 10 and 15 percent are biphasic, or mixed. Epithelioid cancers are less aggressive and usually has the highest survival rates. Sarcomatoid mesothelioma has a worse prognosis and is more difficult to treat.
Diagnosis
Mesothelioma is a difficult cancer to detect particularly in its early stages. The first step is to see their primary care physician if they experience any symptoms, such as chest pains or coughing. The doctor will utilize a stethoscope to listen to the patient's breathing and then record their health history and work history. This includes any asbestos exposure background, which is essential for diagnosing mesothelioma.
Because mesothelioma's symptoms are similar to those of other conditions, doctors need to be able to rule out other conditions prior to concluding a diagnosis. For example mesothelioma is a cancer that usually spreads to the lungs of a patient from other parts of their body, for instance, their chest wall or abdomen. Asbestos sufferers are at risk of lung problems, including mesothelioma and pneumonia. symptoms can be confused with other respiratory ailments.
Blood tests, imaging tests and biopsy are all used to identify mesothelioma. These tests will aid in locating the site of the cancer, which is most typically in the lungs, but could also be found in the stomach or the testicles. The tests can help doctors determine how far cancer has spread in the body.
A CT scan or MRI can reveal signs of mesothelioma including calcium deposits in the pleura (known as plaque) and the accumulation of fluid between the lungs and chest wall. These tests can also determine whether the lungs of a person are more pronounced on one side or the other.
In many cases, a biopsied is required to confirm the diagnosis of mesothelioma. This involves removing a small amount of tissue and testing it in the lab for mesothelioma-related cells.
Certain patients may require 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 collect lymph nodes in the center of the chest; or endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) which uses sound waves to study the mesothelium and lungs. Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer, is being treated by medical professionals. As a result those diagnosed with cancer must be aware of their options and determine the best treatment for them.
Treatment
Mesothelioma can affect the linings of the lungs and abdomen (peritoneal mesothelioma asbestos claim cancer) or the heart (pericardial cancer). The symptoms generally don't appear until several decades after exposure to asbestos. It is important that people who have been exposed to asbestos get checked if they experience unusual symptoms.
A doctor will review your medical history in order to determine if you have mesothelioma-related risks. This is based on how long and how frequently you were exposed to asbestos. The doctor will also perform an examination to find symptoms of mesothelioma such as fluid build-up in the chest cavity. The type of cells that reside in mesothelium, as well as the location of those cells, are used to categorize mesothelioma. The most common mesothelioma type is epithelioid, and accounts for up to 60% to 80% of mesothelioma cases. Other types of mesothelioma are biphasic and sarcomatoid mesothelioma, which both represent around 10 to 15% of mesothelioma patients.
There are a variety of treatment options for mesothelioma. The type of treatment depends on the type of mesothelioma as well as the stage of the disease.
In some instances, mesothelioma can be treated with radiation or chemotherapy. In these procedures, doctors inject powerful cancer-fighting drugs or use special equipment to destroy cancerous cells and reduce the risk of mesothelioma coming back.
Other types of mesothelioma can be treated by surgery that removes a portion of the lining of the affected organ. It can also alleviate symptoms like breathing problems.
If someone is diagnosed with mesothelioma of the pleura the doctor can perform VATS, a procedure that involves the use of a camera into the lungs to eliminate part of the pleura and lungs. This procedure can alleviate breathlessness caused by fluid build-up in the lungs, but does not cure the disease.
Other options for treatment include support services or pain management. It is crucial that those who suffer from mesothelioma have as much information on the disease as they can and how to deal with it. The more informed they are, the better they can plan for a future that includes a full range of health and wellness activities.