9 Lessons Your Parents Taught You About Asbestos Mesothelioma Cancer
Mesothelioma Cancer
Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that is caused by exposure to asbestos. Inhaling asbestos fibres can cause pleural cancer, and swallowing asbestos can cause cancer of the peritoneal area.
These symptoms can be a sign of less serious illnesses. They can take anywhere from 10 to 50 years before they appear. Symptoms include breathlessness, abdominal pain and chest pain.
Risk Factors
Asbestos fibers can cause mesothelioma. The most commonly encountered mesothelioma type is called mesothelioma that is found in the chest cavity's lining and lungs. Less commonly, mesothelioma develops in the peritoneum or in the membrane around the heart (pericardium). It takes between 20-50 years for the cancer to grow and show symptoms, which can often be mistaken for flu-like illnesses. Mesothelioma typically affects older people, and is more prevalent in men than women.
The main risk factor for mesothelioma involves exposure to asbestos lawsuit. Asbestos, a naturally occurring mineral made up of tiny fibres, was utilized as a building material, for example, in ceilings and walls. It is resistant to fire and heat. It was also used extensively in the manufacture of goods such as pipes, insulations shingles and cement. Mesothelioma is a serious disease for those working in industries that use asbestos, for example shipbuilding, mining, or construction. However, even those who only had a secondary exposure to asbestos, such as relatives who brought home asbestos-contaminated clothes and skin, are at risk.
A small percentage (less than five percent) of mesothelioma can be traced to mutations in the gene BAP1. This genetic change can increase the chance of developing mesothelioma in those who have been exposed to asbestos lawsuit.
The patient's age is also a risk factor. Mesothelioma is most prevalent in people who are older than 45 and two-thirds of those diagnosed with the disease are 65 years old or older. This is partly due to the lengthy latency period that is associated with asbestos exposure but it may be due to the fact that the disease tends to impact older those who have had a longer-term and more intense exposure to asbestos-related material.
Mesothelioma is more prevalent in white males than females or members of any other race. This is due to the fact that historically more white men worked in jobs that put them at a greater risk of exposure to asbestos than other groups. Mesothelioma is most often afflicted by those who were exposed asbestos lawyer before the 1980s, a time when more stringent regulations were in place.
Signs and symptoms
Mesothelioma is a form of cancer that is caused by asbestos settlement, is found in the protective linings of various organs. The cancerous tumors can cause extreme pain and can damage the tissues. The malignancy may be spread to other parts of the body through the lymphatic system or bloodstream.
Mesothelioma symptoms are similar to those of other diseases, such as pneumonia or the flu. It usually takes between 10 and 50 years to manifest after exposure to asbestos. This latency period makes it difficult to diagnose mesothelioma early, and the symptoms could be mistaken for other conditions.
The majority of malignant tumors start in the lungs or chest cavity (pleura). Mesothelioma can also form in the linings surrounding the abdomen and the heart. In rare cases the disease can affect the testes' lining or the sac that surrounds the heart (pericardium).
Asbestos is minerals in a grouping that form long, thin fibers. These fibers are strong enough that they are unable to be broken by chemicals, water or bacteria. They were widely used in many household and construction products for decades before scientists understood how harmful they were for health.
The majority of patients with mesothelioma were exposed to the material in the workplace or at home and the majority of those exposed were employed in the US Navy or the air force, the shipbuilding industry or construction. Men are more likely to develop mesothelioma than women. Veterans make up about 30% of all cases.
If mesothelioma begins to develop doctors can detect it by performing imaging scans and medical tests. These include X-rays, CT scanners, MRIs, and PET scans. The doctor may also take a sample of the tissue and send it to a laboratory for testing.
The results will help doctors determine the type of mesothelioma and stage of the disease, which can affect the prognosis as well as treatment options. The majority of mesothelioma types are epithelioid or sarcomatoid. Between 10 percent and 15% of cases are biphasic or mixed. Epithelioid cancer is less aggressive and typically has the highest rate of survival. Sarcomatoid mesothelioma is a less favorable prognosis and is more difficult to treat.
Diagnosis
Mesothelioma is difficult to diagnose especially in its initial stages. The first step is to see their primary care doctor with any symptoms, such as coughing or chest pains. The doctor will listen to the patient's breathing with the stethoscope and document their medical history and work. This includes any asbestos exposure history, which is crucial in determining mesothelioma's diagnosis.
Since mesothelioma's symptoms mirror those of other diseases, doctors must rule out other conditions before concluding a diagnosis. For instance mesothelioma is a cancer that usually spreads to a person's lungs from another part of the body, such as their chest wall or abdomen. Asbestos sufferers are at risk of lung diseases, such as pneumonia, and pleural mesothelioma symptoms may be confused with other respiratory ailments.
Blood tests, imaging tests and biopsy are all used to identify mesothelioma. These tests can help doctors find the cancerous area which is usually located in the lungs, but could also be found in the stomach or in the testicles. The tests can help doctors determine the extent to which the cancer has spread within the body.
A CT scan or MRI could reveal the mesothelioma signs, such as calcium deposits in the pleura (known as plaque) and the accumulation of fluid between the lungs and the chest wall. These tests can also determine whether a person has more lungs on one side or the other.
In many cases a biopsy is required to confirm the diagnosis of mesothelioma. This procedure involves removing small portions of tissue and analyzing them in the laboratory for mesothelioma.
Certain patients may require additional tests such as FDG-positron emissions tomography (PET) which permits doctors to examine the lymph nodes located in the middle of the chest and to test them, or endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) using sound waves to look at the mesothelium and lungs. Mesothelioma, a rare cancer, is currently being treated by doctors. As a result those diagnosed with the cancer must weigh their options carefully to determine the best treatment for them.
Treatment
Mesothelioma can affect the lung's lining (pleural mesothelioma), abdomen (peritoneal mesothelioma) or heart (pericardial mesothelioma). The symptoms are not usually evident for a long time after asbestos exposure. Because of this, it's crucial for those who have been exposed to asbestos to have their health checked if they develop any strange symptoms.
A doctor will look over your medical history in order to determine if you are at risk of mesothelioma risks. This includes how long and how often you were exposed to asbestos. The doctor will also perform an examination to find signs of mesothelioma, like the accumulation of fluid in the chest cavity. The type of cells found in the mesothelium, and the location of these cells, are used to classify mesothelioma. The most common mesothelioma type is epithelioid, and accounts for up 60% to 80% of mesothelioma cases. Other mesothelioma types are biphasic mesothelioma and sarcomatoid that both account for approximately 10 to 15% of mesothelioma patients.
There are a myriad of treatment options for mesothelioma. The treatment option is based on the type and stage of mesothelioma.
In certain cases, mesothelioma is treated through radiation or chemotherapy. In these treatments, doctors inject powerful cancer-fighting medications or use special equipment to destroy cancerous tumors and decrease the chance of mesothelioma recurring.
Other types of mesothelioma can be treated by surgery that removes part of the lining of the affected organ. It can also alleviate symptoms such as breathing difficulties.
If someone is diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma and their doctor recommends VATS, a procedure that involves the use of a camera into the lungs to remove part of the pleura and lung. This procedure can help improve breathlessness caused by fluid build-up in the lungs, but does not cure the condition.
Other options for treatment include pain management or support services. It is vital that people suffering from mesothelioma receive as much information on the disease as they can, and how to deal with it. The more informed they are and the more they are able to prepare for a future that includes a full range of wellness and health activities.