Mesothelioma and Asbestos
Asbestos is a natural mineral that comes in long, thin fibres. People who are regularly exposed to asbestos risk developing lung diseases, such as mesothelioma.
The symptoms of these diseases might not be evident for a long time after exposure to asbestos. Different types of asbestos may cause different symptoms.
Pleural Mesothelioma
Pleural mesothelioma occurs in the outer lung lining, or the pleura. It is the most frequent mesothelioma form and is responsible for 70 to 79% all diagnosed cases. Patients with this disease feel chest pain and breath shortness and may experience an ache or heaviness in the chest.
Exposure to asbestos, a group of minerals comprised of microscopic fibers causes this type of cancer. When inhaled, these fibers stick inside the lung and cause irritation which causes scarring and DNA mutations. The pleura is the area that surrounds the chest cavity and lungs This means that these irritations can affect both the lungs as well as a person's heart. Mesothelioma symptoms are usually not apparent until 30 to 50 years after exposure.
Chest pain and shortness breath are the most common symptoms. Patients may also experience difficulty breathing, or chest tightness. People who suffer from this cancer usually have previous exposure to asbestos in the workplace. Manufacturing, construction, and shipbuilding are the most common jobs that put people at high danger of developing pleural melanoma. People who served in the military are at greater risk due the extensive use asbestos in Navy vessels and bunkers in the Army.
The most popular staging system for pleural mysothelioma has been the TNM (tumor, lymph nodes and metastases) staging system. The stage a patient is in at the time of diagnosis can help determine the treatment plan they should receive. Patients who have pleural mesothelioma which is in stage three or four will have a worse prognosis compared to those in a lower stage. Stage four mesothelioma can spread to the liver, heart or diaphragm. This can make it more difficult to treat and raises the chance of complications for the patient.
Peritoneal Mesothelioma
Unlike pleural mesothelioma, which develops in the lung lining, peritoneal mesothelioma is found in the peritoneum - a membrane that lines the abdominal cavity and organs like the liver and intestines. As with pleural mesothelioma asbestos exposure is the primary cause of peritoneal msothelioma. new rochelle asbestos attorneys is less prevalent than pleural mesothelioma, with around 300-500 cases being diagnosed each year.
As with pleural mesothelioma symptoms may take years to appear. Most patients are afflicted with abdominal pain as well as a mass in the abdomen. This mesothelioma type can also cause nausea, weight loss, and fever. Many of these symptoms can be misinterpreted as gastrointestinal issues, leading to a mistaken diagnosis.
Doctors can detect mesothelioma by looking over the medical history of the patient and performing a physical examination. They can also utilize imaging tests like Xrays, CT scans and PET/CT scans to detect mesothelioma. These tests can reveal tumors, as well as other symptoms of cancer that aren't visible on an X-ray.
The results of these tests allow doctors to diagnose mesothelioma and establish the stage. They also offer treatment options. The stage is determined by the type of cell as well as whether the tumor has spread.
The most important mesothelioma risk factor is asbestos exposure. People who have worked in asbestos-related professions, such as electrical or plumbing work, or in construction and manufacturing are more likely to develop the disease. However, even if people do not work in these fields, they can still be exposed to asbestos through family members or through other sources. Therefore, anyone who believes they could be at risk should talk to an experienced doctor. If they have any history of exposure to asbestos or mesothelioma, a specialist can help them find out more about the risk.
Risk Factors
Asbestos exposure is the primary risk factor for mesothelioma, accounting for up to 80 percent of all cases. Exposure to asbestos may occur through work, military service, or through living with a person who is exposed to asbestos or was previously exposed to doing such. Asbestos particles can be inhaled by those who are exposed to asbestos. These particles can cause irritation to the linings and cause cancerous cells to form in the mesothelium. After exposure to asbestos mesothelioma is likely to occur between 15 and 60 years old.
Other risk factors include smoking, genetics and the advancing age. People in their 40s and 50s are more at chance of developing mesothelioma to those who are younger or older. It takes mesothelioma 20-60 years to manifest cancer symptoms after the first exposure. It is also important to know that mesothelioma may develop in people who have been exposed to asbestos, but did not work with it directly. This is referred to as secondary or indirect asbestos exposure, and is just as harmful as direct asbestos exposure.
Smoking increases the chance of mesothelioma developing, because it damages the mesothelium. It can also make it more vulnerable. In addition, mesothelioma may be caused by certain illnesses, such as asbestosis and pneumonia. Men are more likely to develop mesothelioma than females. Men are more likely than women to have been exposed to asbestos for a longer period of time and to have worked with it. Additionally, men are more likely to live with someone who worked with asbestos and carry stray asbestos fibers home on their clothes. Women are less likely to be in contact with asbestos, and they are less likely to carry asbestos on their clothes.
Diagnosis
Mesothelioma is difficult to recognize because the symptoms can be similar to other diseases. This is why patients are sometimes misdiagnosed.
The first step in diagnosing mesothelioma is for NYU Langone doctors to perform a physical exam and take note of the medical history of the patient including asbestos exposure. Doctors can also order an X-ray of the chest or CT scan to look for lumps and other abnormalities and also to look for evidence of asbestos exposure in the past such as plaques in the pleura (thickened pleura with calcium deposits) and the formation of fluid between the lung and chest wall (known as pleural effusion).
Other diagnostic tests include an echocardiogram, which examines the heart and blood vessels as well as a magnetic resonance imaging, also known as MRI test, which uses radio waves and magnets to make a series of precise images of the inside of the body. Another way for doctors to detect mesothelioma is to perform the procedure of a surgical biopsy. A surgical biopsy is when doctors remove a small piece of tissue from the peritoneum or pleura for further analysis. A pathologist is then able to examine the tissue with microscopes to determine if it has cancerous cells.
The type of mesothelial cells involved as well as the benign or malignant nature of those cells and the location, type and stage of the tumor, are used to classify the disease. Certain types of mesothelioma may be more likely to grow or spread, so it is important to have a clear diagnosis so doctors can treat the disease before it goes out of control.
Doctors can also run tests in the laboratory on a tumor to identify particular proteins, genes or other elements that can help them describe the cancer's characteristics and plan treatment. These results are referred to as staging.
Treatment
A mesothelioma diagnose can be terrifying. However, it is important to remember that the cancer is treatable, particularly in its initial stages. Many mesothelioma patients live for many years with the disease without it spreading to other organs of their body.
Asbestos exposure can trigger mesothelioma via many mechanisms. Asbestos particles, which are too small to be able to see or feel through the naked eye, can become airborne and cause irritation to the lining of the lungs (pleura). As time passes the irritation can lead to the formation of scar tissues that eventually result in tumors.
The pleura is a protective covering that surrounds the abdomen, heart, and lungs. Mesothelium is composed of cells that react when exposed to asbestos. They cause inflammation of the tissue and cause it to scar. These changes can eventually lead to malignant mesothelioma tumours.
The signs of pleural mesothelioma can include shortness of breath and chest pain, or an accumulation of fluid in the lung (pleural effusion). In rare cases, the cancer can spread to the tissues surrounding the heart and reproductive organs.
A doctor will request a biopsy if imaging scans show a potential lung tumor or stomach. In the course of the procedure, doctors remove some of the liquid or tumor for laboratory testing. The results will confirm the diagnosis of mesothelioma and provide the most effective treatment plan.
There are a variety of treatment for mesothelioma, including chemotherapy and surgery. Most doctors utilize the combination of these treatments. Enrolling in clinical trials of new mesothelioma treatment may also be beneficial to patients. Patients can learn more by consulting a mesothelioma expert who has treated mesothelioma.