Mesothelioma Cancer

Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that is caused by exposure to asbestos. Inhaling asbestos fibers can cause pleural tumors, and swallowing asbestos can cause peritoneal cancer.

Symptoms can appear within 10 to 50 years of the initial diagnosis. Symptoms include breathlessness, abdominal pain and chest pain.

Risk Factors

Asbestos fibres can cause mesothelioma. Pleural mesothelioma is a form of cancer that develops in linings of the chest cavity or lungs. The most common form of mesothelioma is in the peritoneum or in the heart's pericardial membrane (pericardium). The cancer may take up to 50 years to develop before it manifests symptoms. The symptoms are often mistaken for flu like illnesses. Mesothelioma is most often found in older people and is more common in men than women.

The most significant risk factor for mesothelioma is exposure to asbestos. Asbestos is a natural mineral that is made up of tiny fibres that were utilized in construction materials, like ceilings and walls, because of its resistance to heat and fire. It was also widely used in the manufacture of goods such as pipes, insulation, shingles and cement. People who worked in industries where asbestos was common, such as shipbuilding, mining, or construction are at risk of developing mesothelioma. However even those who experienced secondary exposure such as family members who brought home asbestos on their clothes and skin, are also at risk.

A small proportion (less than 5%) of mesothelioma is linked to an alteration in the gene BAP1. This genetic change can increase the risk of developing mesothelioma among those who have been exposed asbestos compensation.

The patient's age is also a risk factor. Mesothelioma is most prevalent in those over 45 years old and two thirds of those diagnosed with it are 65 years or older. This is due to the long duration of exposure to asbestos. However, it could also be that older people are more likely to develop the disease because of the long-term exposure.

White males are more likely develop mesothelioma more than any other race or gender. This is because historically more white males have been employed in jobs that put them at higher risk of asbestos than other groups. Mesothelioma most commonly affects those who were exposed to asbestos lawyer before the 1980s, when more strict regulations were in place.

Symptoms

Mesothelioma is an asbestos-related cancer that forms in the linings that protect many organs of the body. The cancerous tumors can cause severe pain and can damage the tissues. The malignancy may extend to other areas of the body through the lymphatic system or bloodstream.

Mesothelioma symptoms may be similar to other diseases, like pneumonia or the flu. They often take 10 - 50 years to show up after exposure to asbestos. The latency period can make it difficult to diagnose the disease early and symptoms can be misinterpreted as other conditions.

Most malignant tumors begin in the chest cavity, or lungs (pleura). Mesothelioma can also form in the linings surrounding the abdomen and heart. In rare instances the disease may affect the testes' lining, or the sac that surrounds the heart (pericardium).

Asbestos is one of the minerals that create long thin fibers. The fibers are so strong that they cannot be broken down by chemicals, water or bacteria. They were widely used in many household and construction materials for decades before scientists understood how harmful they were for health.

Most mesothelioma cases were caused by exposure to asbestos either at work or home. The majority of patients who were exposed were employed in the US Navy or Air Force, Shipbuilding Industry or Construction. It is more prevalent among men than women and veterans account for about 30% of mesothelioma cases.

If mesothelioma begins to develop doctors can detect it by performing medical tests and imaging scans. These include X-rays CT scans, MRIs and PET scans. The doctor can also send a tissue sample to a lab for testing.

The results will help determine the mesothelioma's type and stage which can affect the outlook for treatment and options. Most types of mesothelioma are epithelioid or sarcomatoid, and between 10% and 15 percent are biphasic, or mixed. Epithelioid mesothelioma tends to be less aggressive and has the best survival rates. Sarcomatoid Mesothelioma is harder to detect and has a poorer prognosis.

Diagnosis

Mesothelioma is difficult to identify, especially in its early stages. The first step is for patients to see their primary physician with any symptoms, like coughing or chest pains. The doctor will examine the patient's breathing using an stethoscope, and record their work and health history. This includes any past history of asbestos exposure, which is important in determining mesothelioma's diagnosis.

Doctors must rule out any other diseases before they can confirm a diagnosis because mesothelioma symptoms are similar to other diseases. Cancer can spread to the lung tissue of a patient through other body parts like the chest or abdomen. Asbestos-related victims are more prone to lung diseases, such as mesothelioma, pneumonia, and pleural symptoms can be confused with other respiratory ailments.

Imaging tests, blood tests and biopsy can all be used to detect mesothelioma. These tests can help doctors locate the area of the cancer, which is most typically in the lungs, but may also be located in the stomach or the testicles. These tests can also help doctors find out how much of the cancer is spreading in the body.

A CT scan or MRI may show signs of mesothelioma. These include calcium deposits (also called plaque) in the pleura as well as an accumulation between the lungs and chest wall. These tests can also show whether a person's lungs are more on one side than the other.

In many instances, a biopsy is necessary to confirm the diagnosis of mesothelioma. This procedure involves taking a small amount of tissue and analyzing it in the laboratory for mesothelioma cells.

Some patients might require additional tests, such as FDG-positron emissions tomography (PET) which allows doctors to examine the lymph nodes in the middle of the chest, and to sample them, or endobronchial ultrasonography (EBUS) using sound waves to study the lungs and mesothelium. Mesothelioma, a rare cancer, is currently being treated by doctors. In the end those diagnosed with the cancer must be aware of their options and determine the best treatment for them.

Treatment

Mesothelioma can affect the lining of the lungs (pleural mesothelioma), abdomen (peritoneal mesothelioma) or heart (pericardial mesothelioma). Symptoms usually do not appear for several decades after exposure to asbestos. This is why it's important for people who have worked around asbestos to get checked out when they experience unusual symptoms.

A doctor will take an examination of the medical history to check for mesothelioma risk factors, for example, the length of time and intensity the patient was exposed to asbestos. The doctor will also conduct an exam to look for mesothelioma-related signs, such as fluid build-up in the chest cavity. The type of cells in mesothelium, as well as the location of those cells, are used to categorize mesothelioma. Epithelioid-like mesothelioma comprises 60% to 80% mesothelioma. Other types of mesothelioma are sarcomatoid and biphasic mesothelioma that both represent approximately 10 to 15% of mesothelioma patients.

There are many different treatment options available for people suffering from mesothelioma. The type of treatment depends on the type of mesothelioma as well as the stage of the disease.

In certain cases, mesothelioma is treated using radiation or chemotherapy. In these treatments, doctors employ powerful cancer-fighting medications or special equipment to kill tumors. This lowers the risk of mesothelioma coming back.

Other types of mesothelioma may be treated with surgery, which removes parts of the tissues of the organ that are affected. This can also relieve symptoms such as breathing problems.

A person suffering from pleural asbestosis may undergo a procedure known as VATS. This involves inserting a camera into lung and then removing a portion of the pleura and lung. This can improve breathlessness caused by fluid build-up in the lungs, but does not cure the disease.

Other treatment options may include support and management of pain. It is essential for patients suffering from mesothelioma to obtain as much information as possible about the disease and how to cope with it. The more informed they are and the more they are able to prepare for a future that includes a wide range of wellness and health activities.