Mesothelioma and Asbestos
Asbestos is a natural mineral that is found in long, thin fibres. Workers who are regularly exposed to asbestos are at risk of developing lung diseases such as mesothelioma.
It may take decades before symptoms begin to manifest after exposure to asbestos. Different asbestos types may cause different symptoms.
Pleural Mesothelioma
Pleural mesothelioma is a cancer of the lung's outer lining, or the pleura. It is the most common mesothelioma that accounts for up 70 to 79% of all diagnosed cases. This condition causes chest pain, shortness of breathe and a feeling heaviness.
This kind of cancer is usually caused through exposure to asbestos, which is a collection of minerals made up of microscopic fibres. When inhaled, these fibers can cause irritation and DNA mutations. The pleura is the area that surrounds the lungs and chest cavity, so these irritations can affect both the lungs as well as the heart of a person. Mesothelioma symptoms usually don't appear until 30 to 50 years after exposure.
The most commonly reported symptoms of pleural mesothelioma are chest pain and breath shortness. Patients may also feel tightness in their chest, coughing or difficulty breathing. Patients with this type of cancer have a past that includes asbestos exposure at work. The most frequent jobs that expose people to the risk of pleural mesothelioma include manufacturing, construction and shipbuilding. Individuals who have been in the military are at risk due to the frequent use of asbestos in Navy ships and bunkers for the army.
The TNM (tumors lymph nodes, tumors, and metastases staging system) is the most popular staging system used to treat the pleural adenocarcinoma. The stage that the patient is in at the time of diagnosis can help determine what treatment plan they will receive. For instance, patients who have a pleural mesothelioma in stage three or four have a worse prognosis than patients with lower stages. Stage four mesothelioma often spreads to the diaphragm, liver or even a person's heart. This makes the cancer more difficult to treat and increase the chance of complications for the patient.
Peritoneal Mesothelioma
In contrast to pleural cancer, which is found in the lung's lining the peritoneal cancer is a result of a membrane that surrounds the abdominal cavity, which includes organs such as the intestines and the liver. Similar to pleural mesothelioma and peritoneal mesothelioma can be caused by asbestos exposure. The disease is less common than pleural mesothelioma. There are around 300-500 cases being diagnosed each year.
As with pleural asbestosis symptoms can take a long time to manifest. Patients usually suffer from abdominal pain and may have a mass in their abdomen. This mesothelioma type can also cause nausea, weight loss and fever. A lot of these symptoms can be misinterpreted as gastrointestinal issues which can lead to a misdiagnosis.
Doctors can detect mesothelioma by looking over the medical history of the patient and performing a physical exam. They can also utilize imaging tests such as X-rays, CT scans and PET/CT scans to help find mesothelioma. These tests can reveal tumors and other cancer signs that are not visible on X-rays.
These tests enable doctors to diagnose mesothelioma, determine the stage and recommend treatment options. Staging is determined based on the type of cells and whether or not the tumor has spread to other parts of the body.
Asbestos exposure is the main risk factor. People who have worked in jobs that require asbestos, like plumbing, manufacturing, electrical work or construction, are at increased risk of developing the disease. Even if an individual is not employed in one of these areas they could still be exposed to asbestos through family members and other sources. Anyone who suspects that they are at risk should speak with a doctor. If they have an history of exposure to asbestos, a mesothelioma specialist can assist them in finding out 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 can happen as a result of work, military service, or by living with a person who works with asbestos or has previously done such. When exposed to asbestos, small particles can be inhaled into the abdomen and lungs. These particles irritate the linings, causing cancerous cells to grow in the mesothelium. Mesothelioma can take between 15 and 60 years to develop after exposure to asbestos.
Other risk factors include smoking, genetics, and age. People in their 40s and 50s are more likely develop mesothelioma than those who are younger or more senior. It takes mesothelioma 20-60 years to manifest cancer symptoms after the first exposure. It is important to note that mesothelioma could be present in people who have been exposed to asbestos, but without having worked with it directly. This is known as indirect or secondary asbestos exposure, and is as dangerous as direct asbestos exposure.
Smoking increases the risk of developing mesothelioma due to the fact that it causes mesothelium damage and makes it more prone to asbestos. Mesothelioma can also be caused by certain diseases, such as asbestosis and pneumonia. Men are more likely to develop mesothelioma than females. This is because men are more likely to work with asbestos and experience a more exposure than women. Men are also more likely to have lived with someone who had been exposed to asbestos, and to have asbestos fibers on their clothing. Women are less likely to come in contact with asbestos, and don't typically carry asbestos on their clothing.
Diagnosis
Mesothelioma is difficult to diagnose because the symptoms are often similar to other conditions. Due to this, patients are often mistakenly diagnosed.
The first step to diagnose mesothelioma is for NYU Langone doctors to perform an examination of the body and take notes on the medical history of a patient including asbestos exposure. Doctors may also request a CT scan or chest X-ray to look for abnormalities, lumps and evidence of asbestos exposure. These include plaques in the pleura, thickened pleura and calcium deposits.
Other diagnostic tests include an echocardiogram which examines the heart and blood vessels, and a magnetic resonance imaging, also known as MRI test, which makes use of radio waves and magnets to make a series of detailed images of the interior of the body. Another method doctors use to diagnose mesothelioma is through the procedure of a surgical biopsy. During a surgical biopsy, doctors remove a small amount of tissue from the peritoneum or pleura for further analysis. A pathologist can then examine the tissue with a magnifying lens to determine whether it contains cancerous cells.
The type of mesothelial cell involved as well as the benign or malignant nature of those cells as well as the location, type and stage of the tumor, are used to classify the disease. Certain types of mesothelioma are more likely to grow or spread, so it is important to have a clear diagnosis so that doctors can treat the disease before it gets out of control.
Doctors can also run tests in the lab on a tumor to identify specific proteins, genes and other factors that help them understand the characteristics of the cancer and determine a treatment. These results are known as staging.
Treatment
A mesothelioma diagnosis can be an incredibly frightening prospect. However, it is important to remember that the cancer is treatable, especially in its initial stages. Many people with mesothelioma can live with the disease for many years without it spreading.
Asbestos exposure can cause mesothelioma by many mechanisms. Asbestos particles, which are too small to see or feel by the naked eye can become airborne and irritate the lung's lining (pleura). As time passes irritation can lead to formation of scar tissue, which causes changes in the cell structure that can eventually grow into tumors.
The pleura is the area that surrounds the lungs and heart and also the abdomen. Mesothelium consists of cells that react when exposed to asbestos. They cause inflammation to the tissue and cause it to scar. springdale asbestos attorney , these changes cause the development of malignant mesothelioma cancers.
The symptoms of pleural mesothelioma are breathing problems, chest pain or an accumulation of fluid on the lung (pleural effusion). In rare instances cancer can spread to the tissues that surround the reproductive organs and the heart.
If imaging scans reveal an area of concern in the stomach or lungs doctors will recommend biopsies. During the procedure, doctors take tiny amounts of fluid or tumor for lab analysis. The results can confirm the diagnosis of mesothelioma, and also determine the most effective treatment plan.
There are several types of mesothelioma treatments, including surgery, chemotherapy and immunotherapy. The majority of doctors employ a combination of these treatments. Participating in clinical trials of new mesothelioma treatment may also be beneficial to patients. To learn more, patients should consult mesothelioma specialists who have had experience treating the disease.