Mesothelioma and Asbestos
Asbestos is a natural mineral that is found in thin, long fibres. People who are regularly exposed to asbestos risk developing lung diseases, such as mesothelioma.
It may take decades for symptoms to show up after asbestos exposure. Different asbestos types may cause different symptoms.
Pleural Mesothelioma
Pleural mesothelioma, a form of cancer, that occurs in the outer lung the lining (pleura). It is the most frequent mesothelioma form and is responsible for 70 to 79% of diagnosed cases. People with this condition feel chest pain and breathlessness and may experience a sensation of heaviness in the chest.
Exposure to asbestos, a group of minerals made of microscopic fibers, typically causes this kind of cancer. These fibers, when inhaled can cause irritation and DNA mutations. Pleura surrounds both the chest cavity as well as the lungs, so irritations can also affect the heart. Mesothelioma symptoms typically don't show until 30 to 50 years after exposure.
Shortness of breath and chest pain are the most frequent symptoms. Some patients also experience coughing, difficulty breathing or chest tightness. People with this cancer often have previous exposure to asbestos in the workplace. Manufacturing, construction and shipbuilding are among the most prevalent jobs that put people at high risk of developing pleural mesothelioma. Individuals who have served in the military are at a greater risk due to the extensive use asbestos in Navy vessels and bunkers for the Army.
The TNM (tumors, lymph nodes, and metastases staging system) is the most commonly used staging system used to treat the pleural cancer. The stage a patient is in at the time of diagnosis can help determine the treatment plan they should follow. For instance, patients suffering from mesothelioma that is pleural in stage three or four have a less favorable prognosis than patients with lower stages. Mesothelioma in stage four is usually spread to the liver, diaphragm and/or a person's heart. This makes the cancer more difficult to treat, and increase the risk of complications for the patient.
Peritoneal Mesothelioma
Unlike pleural cancer, that develops in the lung's lining the peritoneal cancer is a result of the membrane that covers the abdominal cavity, which includes organs such as the intestines and the liver. Like pleural mesothelioma, asbestos exposure is the reason for peritoneal msothelioma. The disease is less common than pleural mesothelioma, and just 300-500 cases being diagnosed each year.
Like pleural mesothelioma, symptoms can take a long time to manifest. The majority of patients experience abdominal pain and an abdominal mass. The symptoms of this type of mesothelioma can also include nausea as well as weight loss and fever. Many of these symptoms could be misinterpreted as gastrointestinal issues which can lead to a misdiagnosis.
Doctors can identify mesothelioma by looking over the medical history of the patient and conducting a physical exam. Imaging tests like X-rays and CT scans are a way to detect mesothelioma. These tests can reveal cancerous tumors or other indications of cancer that aren't visible on an X-ray.
These tests enable doctors to diagnose mesothelioma, identify the stage and recommend treatment options. The stage is determined by the kind of cell and if the cancer has spread.
The most important mesothelioma risk factor is asbestos exposure. People who have worked in professions which require asbestos, such as plumbing, manufacturing, electrical work or construction, are at a higher risk of developing the disease. However, even if people aren't employed in these fields, they can still be exposed to asbestos through family members or through other sources. For this reason, anyone who believes they could be at risk should talk to an expert. If they have any history of exposure to asbestos and mesothelioma is a concern, a specialist will assist them in finding out more about the risk.
Risk Factors
Asbestos exposure is a major mesothelioma risk factor, making up as much as 80 percent of cases. Exposure to asbestos can occur as a result of work, military service, or by living with a person who works with asbestos or used to do the same. When exposed to asbestos, small particles can be inhaled into the abdomen and lungs. The particles cause irritation to the linings of the lungs, causing cancerous cells to grow in the mesothelium. Mesothelioma can take between 15 and 60 years to develop following exposure to asbestos.
Other risk factors include genetics, smoking and age. The people in their 40s or 50s are at greater chance of developing mesothelioma to people who are younger or more. This is because mesothelioma typically takes 20 to 60 years from the initial exposure to asbestos before symptoms of cancer begin to manifest. It is important to note, too, that mesothelioma may develop in people who have been exposed to asbestos without having been directly exposed to it. This is known as indirect or secondary asbestos exposure, and is just as harmful as direct asbestos exposure.
Smoking increases the chance of mesothelioma as it damages the mesothelium. It also makes it more prone to. Furthermore, mesothelioma is exacerbated by certain illnesses like pneumonia and asbestosis. It is also important to remember that mesothelioma is more common for men 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. Men are also more likely to live with someone who has worked with asbestos and carry stray asbestos fibers home on their clothes. Women tend to have less exposure to asbestos and do not typically carry asbestos on their clothes.
Diagnosis
Mesothelioma is a difficult cancer to recognize because the symptoms often resemble other diseases. This is why patients are sometimes misdiagnosed.
NYU Langone doctors will perform a physical examination and record the patient's medical background, including asbestos exposure. Doctors can also order an X-ray chest or CT scan to detect lumps and other abnormalities and also to look for evidence of previous asbestos exposure like plaques in 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 image or MRI test, that uses magnets and radio waves in order to create a series detailed images of inside the body. Another way doctors can diagnose mesothelioma is through a surgical biopsy. During a surgery biopsy doctors take a tiny part of tissue from the pleura or the peritoneum, to be examined further. A pathologist will then look at the tissue under a magnifying lens to determine whether it contains cancerous cell.
The type of mesothelial cells involved, the malignant or benign nature of those cells, as well as the location the cancer, its type and the stage of the tumor, are used to classify the disease. Certain types of mesothelioma are more likely to spread or metastasize which is why it is crucial to get a definite diagnosis so that doctors can treat the disease before it gets out of control.
Doctors can also perform tests in the lab on tumors to determine specific proteins, genes or other elements that can help them describe cancer characteristics and plan treatment. These results are known as staging.
Treatment
A diagnosis of mesothelioma can be frightening. It is crucial to remember that cancer can be treated particularly in its early stages. Many mesothelioma patients live for years with the disease, without spreading to other areas of their body.
Exposure to asbestos can trigger mesothelioma in a number of ways. Asbestos fibres, tiny enough to be felt or viewed by naked eyes are able to become airborne, irritating the lining of the lung (pleura). As time passes the irritation can lead to the formation of scar tissues and eventually tumors.
The pleura is the area that surrounds the lungs and the heart and also the abdomen. new orleans asbestos lawsuit is made up of cells that react when exposed to asbestos. They inflame the tissue and cause it to become scarred. These changes can eventually lead to malignant mesothelioma tumours.
The signs of pleural mesothelioma can include breathing problems, chest pain or a buildup of fluid on the lungs (pleural effusion). 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 reveal a possible mass in the lungs or stomach. During the procedure, doctors take small amounts of the tumor or fluid for lab analysis. The results will confirm the diagnosis of mesothelioma and help determine the best treatment plan.
There are several types of mesothelioma treatment, including surgery, chemotherapy and immunotherapy. The majority of doctors use the combination of these methods. Patients could also benefit from enrolling in a clinical trial of new mesothelioma treatment. Patients can learn more about the trials by consulting a mesothelioma expert who has treated the disease.