9 Things Your Parents Taught You About Asbestos Mesothelioma Cancer
Mesothelioma Cancer
Mesothelioma is a cancer caused by exposure to asbestos. Inhaling asbestos fibers can cause pleural cancer, and swallowing asbestos can cause peritoneal cancer.
The symptoms may be similar to those of less serious illnesses and can take 10 - 50 years to show. The symptoms include breathlessness, abdominal pain, and chest pain.
Risk Factors
Mesothelioma develops when asbestos fibres enter the body. Pleural mesothelioma forms in the linings of the chest cavity or lungs. The most common form of mesothelioma is in the peritoneum or the membrane around the heart (pericardium). It can take between 20 and 50 years for the cancer to grow and show symptoms that can be mistaken for flu-like illnesses. Mesothelioma is most often found in older people, and is more prevalent in males than women.
The most significant risk factor for mesothelioma involves exposure to asbestos. Asbestos, a natural mineral made up of tiny fibres, was utilized as a building material, such as in ceilings and walls. It is impervious to heat and fire. It was also extensively used in the manufacture of products like pipes, insulation, shingles and cement. Workers in industries where asbestos was common like construction, mining or shipbuilding are at a high risk of developing mesothelioma. Even those who have been exposed to asbestos for a short period of time such as relatives who brought home asbestos-covered clothing or skin are at risk.
A small percentage (less than five percent) of mesothelioma is due to a mutation in the BAP1 gene. This genetic mutation increases the likelihood of developing mesothelioma in those who have been exposed to asbestos.
Age is a major risk factor for mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is most often found in those over 45, and two-thirds of those diagnosed are aged 65 or older. This is due to the long time between exposure to asbestos. However, it could also be that older people are more likely to develop the disease due to the long exposure to asbestos.
Mesothelioma is more prevalent among white males than in women or people of any other racial group. This is due to the fact that historically, more white men have been employed in jobs that put them at higher risk of asbestos than other groups. Mesothelioma is most often afflicted by those who were exposed to asbestos before the 1980s, a time when more strict regulations were in place.
Signs and symptoms
Mesothelioma is an asbestos-related tumor that forms in the protective linings of several body organs. The cancerous tumors which form in the tissue can cause irreparable damage and pain. The malignancy may be spread to other parts of the body via the lymphatic system or the bloodstream.
The symptoms of mesothelioma may be similar to other illnesses like pneumonia or influenza. It could take up to 50 years following exposure to asbestos before showing symptoms. The time of latency can make it difficult to diagnose the disease early and symptoms can be misinterpreted as other conditions.
The majority of malignant tumors originate in the chest cavity, or lungs (pleura). Mesothelioma can also develop in the linings around the abdomen and the heart. In rare instances it can affect the lining around the heart or the testes.
Asbestos is made up of a collection of minerals that forms long, thin fibres. These fibers are so strong that they aren't broken down by chemicals, water or bacteria. These materials were widely used in a variety construction and household products before scientists discovered how hazardous they were to the lives of people.
The majority of mesothelioma cases are caused due to exposure to asbestos legal at workplace or at home. The majority of patients who were exposed were employed by the US Navy Air Force, Shipbuilding Industry or Construction. Men are more likely to develop mesothelioma than women. Veterans comprise about 30 percent of all cases.
When mesothelioma develops doctors can spot it through 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 can help determine the mesothelioma's type and stage which affects the prognosis and treatment options. The majority of mesothelioma forms are epithelioid and sarcomatoid. Between 10% and 15 percent of cases are biphasic or mixed. Epithelioid cancers are less aggressive and typically has the highest rate of survival. Sarcomatoid mesothelioma is a less favorable prognosis and is more difficult to treat.
Diagnosis
It can be difficult to identify mesothelioma in particular in the early stages. Patients should first consult their primary care physician if they notice any signs such as chest pain or coughing. The doctor will use a stethoscope to listen to the patient's breathing and take note of their health history and work history. This includes any history of asbestos lawyer exposure, which is important in determining mesothelioma's diagnosis.
Doctors must rule out any other diseases before they can confirm the diagnosis, as mesothelioma signs are like those of other diseases. For instance, the cancer often spreads to the lungs of a patient from a different part of the body, like the chest wall or abdomen. Asbestos-related lung diseases, like pneumonia, are common among asbestos litigation victims. Pleural mesothelioma may also be mistaken for other respiratory diseases.
Tests for blood, imaging and biopsy can all be used to identify mesothelioma. These tests aid in locating the site of the cancer, which is most often found in the lungs, but may also be located in the stomach or the testicles. The tests can help doctors determine how far the cancer has spread throughout the body.
A CT scan or MRI may reveal mesothelioma-related signs, such as calcium deposits in the pleura (known as plaque) and an accumulation of fluid between the chest wall and the lungs. These tests can also show whether the lungs of a person are more prominent on one side than the other.
In many instances, a biopsy is necessary to confirm a diagnosis of mesothelioma. This procedure involves taking small portions of tissue and analyzing them in the laboratory for mesothelioma.
Certain patients might require additional tests, such as FDG-positron emissions tomography (PET) which allows doctors to look at the lymph nodes located in the middle of the chest and test them, or endobronchial ultrasonography (EBUS), using sound waves to study the lungs and the mesothelium. Mesothelioma is a rare cancer, is still being treated by medical professionals. As a result those diagnosed with cancer must weigh their options carefully to determine the best treatment for them.
Treatment
Mesothelioma can affect the lining of the lungs (pleural mesothelioma) or the abdomen (peritoneal mesothelioma) or the heart (pericardial mesothelioma). Symptoms usually do not appear for several decades after exposure to asbestos. This is why it's crucial for those who have had to work with asbestos to be examined if they develop any strange symptoms.
A doctor will review your medical history to determine if you're at mesothelioma risk. This includes how long and how often you were exposed to asbestos. The doctor will also perform an exam to look for symptoms of mesothelioma like the accumulation of fluid in the chest cavity. The type of cells found in mesothelium, as well as the location of these cells, are used to classify mesothelioma. Epithelioid mesothelioma is the most common type of to 80% of mesothelioma. Other types of mesothelioma are sarcomatoid and biphasic mesothelioma that both represent about 10% to 15% of mesothelioma cases.
There are a myriad of treatment options for mesothelioma. The type of treatment is dependent on the type and stage of mesothelioma.
In some instances, mesothelioma can be treatable through radiation or chemotherapy. In these treatments, doctors inject powerful cancer-fighting drugs or utilize special equipment to destroy tumors and reduce the chances of mesothelioma coming back.
Other types of mesothelioma can be treated through surgery that removes part of the lining from the affected organ. It can also alleviate symptoms like breathing problems.
A person with asbestosis pleural can undergo a procedure called VATS. This involves placing a camera in the lungs and removing a part of the pleura and lung. This can improve breathing problems caused by the build-up of fluid in the lungs, however it does not cure the disease.
Other options for treatment include support and pain management. It is crucial that those suffering from mesothelioma receive as much information about the disease as they can, and the best way to manage it. The more educated they are, the better they can plan for a future that includes a wide range of health and wellness activities.