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Mesothelioma and Asbestos

Asbestos is a natural mineral that comes in long, thin fibres. Workers who are exposed asbestos on a regular basis risk developing mesothelioma and other lung diseases of different types.

It could take a long time for symptoms to appear after exposure to asbestos. Different types of asbestos may cause different symptoms.

Pleural Mesothelioma

Pleural mesothelioma is a cancer that occurs in the lung's outer the lining (pleura). It is the most frequent mesothelioma type and is responsible for 70 to 79% of diagnosed cases. Patients suffering from this condition feel chest pain and breathlessness and may also feel an ache or heaviness in the chest.

This type of cancer typically caused by exposure to asbestos which is a collection of minerals that are made up of microscopic fibres. Once inhaled, these fibers cling to the lungs and cause irritation that causes scarring and DNA mutations. The pleura is the area that surrounds the lungs and chest cavity and therefore, these irritations could affect both the lungs as well as a person's heart. Mesothelioma symptoms usually don't appear until 30 to 50 years after exposure.

Shortness of breath and chest pain are the most frequent symptoms. Patients may also experience coughing, difficulty breathing or chest tightness. Patients with this cancer have a history of disease that includes asbestos exposure at work. The most common jobs that put people at risk of developing pleural mesothelioma are manufacturing, construction and shipbuilding. People who have served in the military are at an especially high risk due to the widespread asbestos usage in Navy ships and army bunkers.

The most popular staging system for pleural mesothelioma is the TNM (tumor lymph nodes, lymph nodes and metastases) staging system. The stage that a patient is at when they are diagnosed will assist their doctor in determining the most effective treatment plan for them. For instance, patients who have mesothelioma pleural stage three or four have a poorer prognosis than patients with lower stages. Stage four mesothelioma often spreads to the liver, diaphragm or even a person's heart. This makes the cancer more difficult to treat and increase the risk of complications for patients.

Peritoneal Mesothelioma

In contrast to pleural mesothelioma which develops in the lung lining, peritoneal mesothelioma develops in the peritoneum, an elongated membrane that covers the abdominal cavity as well as organs such as the intestines and the liver. Like pleural mesothelioma, asbestos exposure is the primary cause of peritoneal msothelioma. It is estimated that only 300-500 cases are diagnosed annually, which is less than pleural asbestosis.

As with pleural asbestosis, symptoms can take several years to manifest. Most patients are afflicted with abdominal pain as well as an abdominal mass.  rialto asbestos attorneys  can cause nausea, weight loss, and fever. Many of these symptoms are similar to symptoms of digestive problems, which can lead to incorrect diagnosis.

Doctors can detect mesothelioma by looking over the medical history of the patient and performing a physical examination. They can also use imaging tests like Xrays, CT scans and PET/CT scans to help find mesothelioma. These tests can show tumors and other symptoms of cancer that aren't visible on X-rays.

These tests enable doctors to identify mesothelioma, and determine the stage. They can also recommend treatment options. Staging is determined based on the cell type and whether or whether the cancer has spread to other areas of the body.

The most important mesothelioma risk factor is exposure to asbestos. People who have worked in professions that involve asbestos, such as plumbing manufacturing, electrical work, or construction, are at increased risk of developing the disease. Even if an individual does not work in one of these areas they could still be exposed through family members and other sources. Anyone who thinks they are at risk should consult a doctor. If they have a history of asbestos exposure or mesothelioma, a specialist can help them find out more about their risk.

Risk Factors

Asbestos exposure is the primary risk factor for mesothelioma which accounts for as much as 80 percent of cases. Exposure to asbestos may occur as a result of military service, work or living with those who worked with asbestos. When exposed to asbestos, the particles can be inhaled into the lungs and abdomen. They can cause irritation to the linings of the abdomen and trigger cancerous cells to form in the mesothelium. Mesothelioma can take anywhere between 15 and 60 years to develop following exposure to asbestos.

Other risk factors include genetics, smoking and aging. People in their 40s and 50s are more likely to develop mesothelioma than those who are younger or older. It takes mesothelioma between 20 and 60 years before it manifests cancer symptoms after the first exposure. It is important to note that mesothelioma could be present in those who have been exposed to asbestos without having worked with it directly. This is referred to as indirect or secondary asbestos exposure and can be as hazardous as direct asbestos exposure.

Smoking can increase the likelihood of getting mesothelioma because it causes mesothelium damage and makes it more susceptible to asbestos. Mesothelioma can also be aggravated 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 time and to have worked with it. Men are also more likely to have lived with someone who worked with asbestos, and to have asbestos-containing fibers on their clothing. Women are less likely to be in contact with asbestos, and they don't usually bring asbestos home on their clothes.

Diagnosis

Mesothelioma is a difficult disease to recognize because the symptoms can be similar to other conditions. This could lead to patients being misdiagnosed.

The first step in identifying mesothelioma is for NYU Langone doctors to perform an examination and write note of the medical history of the patient which includes asbestos exposure. Doctors will also recommend a CT scan or chest X-ray to check for abnormalities, lumps and evidence of asbestos exposure. These include pleural plaques, thickened pleura and calcium deposits.

Other diagnostic tests include a magnetic resonance imaging or MRI test, which uses magnets and radio waves in order to create a series of detailed images of inside the body. Another way for doctors to detect mesothelioma is through an operation called a biopsy. During a surgery biopsy doctors will remove a small piece of tissue from the pleura or the peritoneum to be further examined. A pathologist is then able to examine the tissue with microscopes to determine whether it is contaminated with cancerous cells.

The type of mesothelial cells involved and the benign or malignant nature of these cells and the location the cancer, its type and the stage of the cancer are used to classify the disease. Some types of mesothelioma are more likely to grow or spread, so it is important to have a clear diagnosis so doctors can treat the disease before it becomes out of control.

Doctors can also run laboratory tests on a tumor to identify specific proteins, genes, or other factors that help them understand the cancer's characteristics and plan treatment. These results are called staging.

Treatment

A diagnosis of mesothelioma can be terrifying. It is crucial to remember that cancer can be treated especially at its early stages. Many mesothelioma patients live for a long time with the disease, without spreading to other areas of their body.

Exposure to asbestos can trigger mesothelioma via a variety of mechanisms. Asbestos fibers, which are small enough to not be felt or viewed with the naked eyes are able to become airborne, causing irritation to the lung's lining (pleura). In time, the irritation causes the formation of scar tissue, which leads to changes in the structure of cells which eventually lead to tumors.

The pleura covers the lungs and the heart, as well as the abdomen. Mesothelium is made up of cells that react to exposure to asbestos which causes it to become inflamed and develop scar tissue. In time, these changes can cause the development of malignant mesothelioma cancers.

The signs of pleural mesothelioma can include breathlessness, chest pain or the accumulation of fluid in the lung (pleural effusion). In rare cases cancer can spread to the tissues that surround the reproductive organs as well as the heart.

If imaging scans show a possible mass in the lungs or stomach doctors will recommend a biopsies. During the procedure, doctors remove tiny amounts of tumor or fluid for lab analysis. The results will confirm a mesothelioma diagnosis and indicate the most effective treatment plan.

There are a variety of treatment for mesothelioma, including surgery and chemotherapy. The majority of doctors employ the combination of these treatments. Enrolling in clinical trials of new mesothelioma treatment may also be beneficial to patients. Patients can find out more by speaking with a mesothelioma doctor who has treated the disease.