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Mesothelioma and Asbestos

Asbestos is a natural mineral that is made up of thin, long fibres. People who are exposed to asbestos on a regular basis risk developing mesothelioma and other lung diseases of different types.

The symptoms of these diseases may not be evident for a long time after exposure to asbestos. Different asbestos types can cause different symptoms.

Pleural Mesothelioma

Pleural mesothelioma occurs in the lung's outer lining, or pleura. It is the most common form of mesothelioma and is responsible for 70 to 79% of diagnosed cases. People with this condition experience pain in the chest and shortness of breath and may experience an ache or heaviness in the chest.

This type of cancer is often caused by exposure to asbestos, which is a grouping of minerals made up of microscopic fibres. When inhaled, these fibers, cause irritation and DNA mutations. Pleura surrounds both the chest cavity as well as the lungs, and so irritations can also affect the heart. Mesothelioma symptoms usually don't appear until 30 to 50 years after exposure.

Shortness of breath and chest pain are the most frequently reported symptoms. Patients may also feel tightness in their chest and coughing, or breathing difficulties. Patients with this type of cancer typically have an history of exposure to asbestos in the workplace. Manufacturing, construction and shipbuilding are among the most frequent jobs that put people at high chance of developing pleural mesothelioma. People who have worked in the military are at an especially high risk because of the extensive asbestos use in Navy ships and army bunkers.

The most commonly used staging system for pleural mesothelioma is the TNM (tumor lymph nodes, lymph nodes, and metastases) staging system. The stage a patient has upon diagnosis will help their doctor determine the most effective treatment plan for them. Patients with pleural mesothelioma that is in stage three or four will have a less favorable prognosis than those who are in a less advanced stage. Stage four mesothelioma often spreads to the liver, diaphragm and/or a person's heart. This makes the cancer more difficult to treat and increase the chances of complications for the patient.

Peritoneal Mesothelioma

Unlike pleural cancer, which forms in the lung's lining the peritoneal cancer is a result of a membrane that covers the abdominal cavity, including organs like the liver and intestines. Similar to pleural mesothelioma, exposure to asbestos is the cause of peritoneal msothelioma. Only 300-500 cases are diagnosed annually this is less than the pleural asbestosis.

Like pleural mesothelioma, symptoms may take years to appear. Most patients experience abdominal pain and an abdominal mass. The symptoms of this kind of mesothelioma can also include nausea or weight loss, as well as fever. A lot of these symptoms can be mistaken for gastrointestinal problems and can lead to a false diagnosis.

Doctors can detect mesothelioma by reviewing the medical history of the patient and performing a physical exam. Imaging tests such as X-rays or CT scans can be used to identify mesothelioma. These tests can show tumors, as well as other indications of cancer that aren't visible on X-rays.

The results of these tests allow doctors to diagnose mesothelioma, identify the stage and recommend treatment options. The stage of the disease is determined based on the cell type and whether or not the tumor has spread to other regions of the body.

asbestos case exposure is the main risk factor. People who have worked in jobs that require asbestos, like plumbing manufacturing, electrical work, or construction, are at a higher risk of developing the disease. Even if someone isn't employed in one of these fields they could still be exposed through family members or other sources. For this reason, anyone who believes they could be at risk should speak to an expert. If they have an history of exposure to asbestos, a mesothelioma specialist can assist them in learning more about their risk.

Risk Factors

Asbestos exposure is the primary mesothelioma risk factor, which accounts for as much as 80 percent of all cases. Exposure to asbestos may occur as a result of military service, work or living with those who worked with asbestos claim. Asbestos particles can be inhaled by people who are exposed to it. They can cause irritation to the linings of the abdomen and cause cancerous cells to grow in the mesothelium. Mesothelioma can take anywhere between 15 and 60 years to develop following exposure to asbestos.

Other risk factors include smoking, genetics and aging. People in their 40s and 50s are more likely get mesothelioma than people younger or more senior. This is because mesothelioma typically takes 20 to 60 years after the initial exposure to asbestos before cancer symptoms appear. It is also important to note that mesothelioma is a possibility in people who were exposed to asbestos case, but did not engage directly with it. This is called secondary or indirect exposure to asbestos, and it is just as harmful as direct exposure.

Smoking increases a person's chances of developing mesothelioma due to the fact that it damages the mesothelium and makes it more vulnerable to asbestos. Mesothelioma can also be aggravated by certain illnesses, including 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 a longer time and work with asbestos for longer periods of time. Also, men are more likely to live with someone who was exposed to asbestos and bring stray asbestos fibers home on their clothes. Women are less likely to come exposed to asbestos and they are less likely to carry asbestos on their clothes.

Diagnosis

It is difficult to identify mesothelioma because its symptoms are often similar to other diseases. Due to this, patients are sometimes wrongly diagnosed.

The first step in diagnosing mesothelioma is for NYU Langone doctors to perform an examination of the body and take notes on the medical history of a patient which includes asbestos exposure. Doctors can also request a chest X-ray or CT scan to check for lumps and other abnormalities, and also to look for evidence of past asbestos exposure such as plaques on the pleura (thickened pleura with calcium deposits) and the buildup of fluid between the lung and the chest wall (known as the pleural effusion).

Other diagnostic tests include a magnetic resonance imaging or MRI test, that uses magnets and radio waves in order to create a series of detailed images of inside the body. A surgical biopsy is yet another method for doctors to identify mesothelioma. When a biopsy is performed doctors take a tiny piece of tissue from the pleura or the peritoneum, to be examined further. A pathologist can then examine the tissue using an magnifying glass to determine if it is a cancerous cell.

Mesothelioma can be classified based on the type of mesothelial cell involved, whether these cells are benign or malignant and also the location of the tumor, its type, and the stage of the tumor. Some types of mesothelioma have an increased risk of spreading or metastasizing therefore it is essential to determine the type of mesothelioma to ensure that the doctors can treat it prior to it becoming out of control.

Doctors can also perform laboratory tests on tumors to determine specific proteins, genes or other factors that can aid in describing cancer characteristics and plan treatment. These results are known as staging.

Treatment

A diagnosis of mesothelioma may be frightening. However, it's important to remember that the disease is treatable, particularly in its early stages. Many patients with mesothelioma survive for a long time with the disease, without spreading to other areas of their body.

Exposure to asbestos (click through the up coming article) may cause mesothelioma through a variety of ways. Asbestos fibers, too small to be able to see or feel with the naked eye, can become airborne and cause irritation to the lining of the lungs (pleura). Over time, the irritation leads to the formation of scar tissue and eventually 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 of the tissue and cause it to scar. In time, these changes can result in the growth of malignant mesothelioma tumors.

Shortness of breath, chest discomfort or fluid buildup on the lungs are all symptoms of pleural mesothelioma. In rare instances, cancer can spread into the tissues that surround the reproductive organs as well as the heart.

A doctor may request biopsy if scans reveal a possible tumor in the lungs or stomach. In the course of the procedure, doctors remove small amounts of fluid or tumor to allow for laboratory testing. The results will confirm a mesothelioma diagnosis, and determine the most effective treatment plan.

There are several types of mesothelioma treatment, including surgery, chemotherapy and immunotherapy. The majority of doctors use an amalgamation of these techniques. Enrolling in clinical trials of new mesothelioma treatment may also be beneficial to patients. Patients can learn more about the trials by consulting a mesothelioma expert who has treated the condition.