Guide To Mesothelioma And Asbestos: The Intermediate Guide In Mesothelioma And Asbestos

Mesothelioma and Asbestos

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

The symptoms of these diseases might not manifest for years after exposure to asbestos. Different asbestos types may cause different symptoms.

Pleural Mesothelioma

Pleural mesothelioma is a cancer of the outer lung lining, also known as pleura. It is the most common mesothelioma type and is responsible for 70 to 79% of all diagnosed cases. People with this condition suffer from chest pain and shortness of breath and may experience a sensation of heaviness in the chest.

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

Shortness of breath and chest pain are the most common symptoms. Some patients may also feel tightness in their chest, coughing or difficulty breathing. People with this cancer have a history of disease that includes asbestos exposure at work. Construction, manufacturing, and shipbuilding are the most frequent occupations that put people at a high danger of developing pleural melanoma. Individuals who have served in the military are at a higher risk due to the extensive use asbestos in Navy vessels and bunkers for the Army.

The most common staging system for pleural mysothelioma has been the TNM (tumor lymph nodes, lymph nodes, and metastases) staging system. The stage the patient is in at the time of diagnosis will help determine the treatment plan they will receive. For example, patients with mesothelioma pleural stage three or four have a poorer prognosis than those in a lower stage. Stage four mesothelioma often spreads to the diaphragm, the liver or even the heart of a patient. This makes the cancer more difficult to treat and increase the chance of complications for the patient.

Peritoneal Mesothelioma

As opposed to pleural mesothelioma that is a lung-lining cancer, peritoneal mesothelioma develops in the peritoneum - a membrane that lines the abdominal cavity and organs like the liver and intestines. Similar to pleural mesothelioma, exposure to asbestos law is the reason for peritoneal msothelioma. Only 300-500 cases are diagnosed each year, which is less than pleural asbestosis.

As with pleural asbestosis, symptoms can take several years to manifest. Patients typically have abdominal pain, and may have a mass in their abdomen. This type of mesothelioma may cause nausea, weight loss, and fever. A lot of these symptoms can be misinterpreted as gastrointestinal issues which can lead to a false diagnosis.

Generally speaking, doctors can detect mesothelioma after an extensive health history and physical examination. Imaging tests like X-rays or CT scans can be used to identify mesothelioma. These tests can detect tumors and other signs of cancer that aren't evident on X-rays.

The results of these tests allow doctors to diagnose mesothelioma and determine the stage and suggest treatment options. The stage is determined by the kind of cell and if the tumor has spread.

Asbestos exposure is the most important risk factor. People who have worked in asbestos legal-containing jobs, such as plumbing or electrical work, or in manufacturing and construction are more likely to contract the disease. However, even if individuals aren't employed in these fields they may be exposed to asbestos through family members or through other sources. For this reason, anyone who suspects they may be at risk should speak to an experienced doctor. A mesothelioma expert can help those who have a experience with asbestos law to understand more about their risk.

Risk Factors

Asbestos exposure is the primary risk factor for mesothelioma which accounts for as much as 80 percent of cases. Exposure to asbestos may occur due to work, military service or through living with a person who works with asbestos or has previously done the same. When exposed to asbestos, small particles can be breathed into the abdomen and lungs. The particles cause irritation to the linings, causing cancerous cells to grow in the mesothelium. Mesothelioma may take between 15 and 60 years to develop following exposure to asbestos.

Other risk factors include smoking, genetics and the advancing age. People in their 40s and 50s are more likely be diagnosed with mesothelioma compared to those who are younger or more senior. It takes mesothelioma between 20 and 60 years before it manifests cancer symptoms after the first exposure. It is also important to know that mesothelioma is a possibility in people who were exposed to asbestos, but did not work with it directly. This is referred to as indirect or secondary exposure to asbestos, and it is just as harmful as direct exposure.

Smoking can increase the likelihood of getting mesothelioma because it causes mesothelium damage and makes it more susceptible to asbestos. In addition, mesothelioma may be caused by certain illnesses, such as asbestosis and pneumonia. Men are more likely to develop mesothelioma than women. Men are more likely than women to have been exposed to asbestos for longer periods of time and to work with it. Additionally, men are more likely to live with someone who has had asbestos law exposure and bring asbestos fibers that have escaped home on their clothing. Women are less likely to come exposed to asbestos, and don't typically bring asbestos home on their clothing.

Diagnosis

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

The first step in identifying mesothelioma is for NYU Langone doctors to perform an examination of the body and take down a patient's medical history including asbestos exposure. Doctors may also request a CT scan or chest X-ray in order to look for lumps, abnormalities, and evidence of asbestos exposure. These include plaques in the pleura, thickened pleura and calcium deposits.

Other diagnostic tests include a magnetic resonance image or MRI test, which makes use of magnets and radio waves to create a series of detailed images of inside the body. Another way for doctors to detect mesothelioma is to perform a surgical biopsy. A surgical biopsy is when doctors remove a small piece of tissue from the peritoneum or pleura for further testing. A pathologist can then look at the tissue under microscopes to determine whether it contains cancerous cells.

The mesothelial type involved, the malignant or benign nature of those cells as well as the location and stage of the tumour, are used to categorize the disease. Certain mesothelioma types have greater chance of metastasizing or spreading therefore it is essential to establish a clear diagnosis to ensure that the doctors can treat it prior to it becoming out of control.

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

Treatment

A mesothelioma diagnosis can be an incredibly frightening prospect. However, it is important to keep in mind that the cancer is treatable, particularly in its initial stages. Many patients with mesothelioma be afflicted for a long time, without spreading.

Asbestos exposure can cause mesothelioma by various mechanisms. Asbestos fibers, too small to see or feel by the naked eye can become airborne and cause irritation to the lung's lining (pleura). As time passes irritation can lead to formation of scar tissue, which can cause changes in the cell structure that can eventually grow into tumors.

The pleura covers the lungs and the heart, as well as the abdomen. Mesothelium is made up of cells that react when exposed to asbestos. They cause inflammation of the tissue and cause it to scar. Overtime, these changes cause the development of malignant mesothelioma tumors.

Breathing problems, chest discomfort or fluid buildup on the lungs are all symptoms of pleural Msothelioma. In rare cases, cancer can spread into the tissues around the reproductive organs and the heart.

A doctor will request a biopsy if imaging scans show a potential lung tumor or stomach. During the procedure, doctors remove small amounts of the fluid or tumor for laboratory tests. The results can confirm the diagnosis of mesothelioma and help determine the best treatment plan.

There are a variety of mesothelioma treatment, including chemotherapy, surgery and immunotherapy. Most doctors utilize an amalgamation of these techniques. Patients could also benefit from taking part in a clinical trial of new mesothelioma treatments. Patients can learn more by speaking with a mesothelioma doctor who has treated mesothelioma.