Guide To Mesothelioma And Asbestos: The Intermediate Guide To Mesothelioma And Asbestos

Mesothelioma and Asbestos

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that is found in long, thin fibres. Workers who are exposed asbestos on a regular basis are at risk of developing mesothelioma as well as other types of lung diseases.

Symptoms of these diseases may not show up for decades after exposure to asbestos. Different asbestos types can cause different symptoms.

Pleural Mesothelioma

Pleural mesothelioma can be found in the lung's outer lining, or pleura. It is the most common mesothelioma type and accounts for 70% to 79% of all diagnosed cases. People with this condition experience pain in the chest and breath shortness, and they may feel the sensation of weight in the chest.

Exposure to asbestos, a group of minerals composed of microscopic fibers, usually causes this type of cancer. The fibers, when inhaled, cause irritation and DNA mutations. Pleura surrounds both the chest cavity as well as the lungs, which means that irritations can also affect the heart. Mesothelioma symptoms usually don't appear until 30 to 50 years after exposure.

Chest pain and shortness breath are the most frequently reported symptoms. Some patients may also experience chest tightness and coughing, or breathing difficulties. Patients with this type of cancer typically have an history of exposure to asbestos in the workplace. Construction, manufacturing, and shipbuilding are the most common jobs that put people at high chance of developing pleural mesothelioma. Individuals who have served in the military are at a higher risk due to the widespread use of asbestos in Navy vessels and Army bunkers.

The most commonly used staging system for pleural mesothelioma is the TNM (tumor lymph nodes, lymph nodes, and metastases) staging system. The stage that a patient is at at diagnosis will aid their doctor in determining the most effective treatment plan for them. Patients who have pleural mesothelioma which is in stage three or four will have a worse prognosis compared to those who are in a lower stage. Stage four mesothelioma is often spread to the diaphragm, the liver or even a person's heart. This makes it more difficult to treat and increases the chance of complications for the patient.

Peritoneal Mesothelioma

As opposed to pleural mesothelioma that develops in the lung lining, peritoneal mesothelioma is found in the peritoneum - an elongated membrane that covers the abdominal cavity as well as organs like the liver and intestines. Similar to pleural mesothelioma mesothelioma can be caused by asbestos exposure. It is estimated that only 300-500 cases are diagnosed annually this is less than pleural asbestosis.

Like pleural mesothelioma, the symptoms can take a long time to manifest. Typically, patients are afflicted with abdominal pain as well as abdominal swelling. This type of mesothelioma may also cause nausea, weight loss, and fever. Many of these symptoms can be misinterpreted as gastrointestinal issues which can lead to a mistaken diagnosis.

Doctors can detect mesothelioma by reviewing the medical history of the patient and performing a physical examination. They can also utilize imaging tests like 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, identify the stage of the disease and suggest treatment options. Staging is determined based on the type of cell and whether or the cancer has spread to other regions of the body.

Asbestos exposure is the most important risk factor. People who have been in occupations which require asbestos, like plumbing or manufacturing, electrical work, or construction, are at increased risk of developing the disease. Even if an individual is not employed in one of these fields, he or she can be exposed to asbestos through family members or other sources. Anyone who believes they may be at risk should speak with an expert. If they have a history of asbestos claim exposure, a mesothelioma specialist can help them find out more about their risk.

Risk Factors

Asbestos exposure is the primary risk factor for mesothelioma, making up as much as 80 percent of all cases. Exposure to asbestos may occur through military service, work or living with someone who used to work with asbestos. When exposed to asbestos, particles can be inhaled into the abdomen and lungs. These particles can cause irritation to the linings of the abdomen, which causes cancerous cells to grow in the mesothelium. Mesothelioma can take anywhere between 15 and 60 years to develop following exposure to asbestos.

Other risk factors include smoking, genetics, and the advancing age. People in their 40s and 50s are more at risk of developing mesothelioma compared to those who are younger or older. This is because mesothelioma typically occurs between 20 and 60 years from the first exposure before cancer symptoms appear. It is also important to know that mesothelioma may develop in those who were exposed to asbestos, but did not deal with it directly. This is known as indirect or secondary asbestos exposure, and is as dangerous as direct asbestos exposure.

Smoking increases the chance of mesothelioma since it damages mesothelium. It also makes it more susceptible. Mesothelioma can also be caused by certain illnesses such as asbestosis and pneumonia. It is also important to know that mesothelioma is more common in males than females. Men are more likely than women to have been exposed to asbestos for a longer time and work with asbestos for longer periods of time. Additionally, men are more likely to live with someone who was exposed to asbestos and bring asbestos settlement fibers that have escaped home on their clothes. Women are less likely to come exposed to asbestos lawsuit and they don't usually bring asbestos home on their clothing.

Diagnosis

It is difficult to diagnose mesothelioma since its symptoms are often similar to other conditions. Due to this, patients are often misdiagnosed.

The first step to diagnose mesothelioma is for NYU Langone doctors to perform a physical exam and take down a patient's medical history which includes asbestos exposure. Doctors will also order a CT scan or chest X-ray in order to look for lumps, abnormalities, and evidence of asbestos exposure. These include plaques on the pleura, pleura that are thickened and calcium deposits.

Other diagnostic tests include an echocardiogram which examines the blood vessels and the heart and magnetic resonance imaging, or MRI test, which uses radio waves and magnets to create detailed images of the inside of the body. Another way for doctors to detect mesothelioma is to perform a surgical biopsy. In a surgical biopsy doctors remove a small amount of tissue from the pleura or peritoneum for further analysis. A pathologist can look at the tissue under microscopes to determine if it contains cancerous cells.

The mesothelial type involved, the malignant or benign nature of the cells, as well as the location, type and stage of the cancer are used to categorize the disease. Certain types of mesothelioma are at an increased chance of metastasizing or spreading therefore it is essential to determine the type of mesothelioma so doctors can treat it prior to it becoming out of control.

Doctors may also conduct tests in the laboratory on tumors in order to determine specific genes, proteins or other elements that can aid in describing cancer characteristics and plan treatment. These results are called staging.

Treatment

A mesothelioma diagnosis is a frightening prospect. However, it's important to remember that the cancer is treatable, particularly in its initial stages. Many patients with mesothelioma live with the disease for many years without it spreading.

Exposure to asbestos can cause mesothelioma through a variety of ways. Asbestos fibers, which are too small to see or feel through the naked eye, can become airborne and cause irritation to the lung's lining (pleura). As time passes the irritation can lead to the formation of scar tissue, which eventually lead to tumors.

The pleura is the area that surrounds the lungs and heart, as well as the abdomen. Mesothelium consists of cells that react to exposure to asbestos and cause it to enflame and develop scar tissue. Overtime, these changes lead to the development of malignant mesothelioma tumors.

Symptoms of pleural mesothelioma include breathlessness and chest pain, or a buildup of fluid on the lungs (pleural effusion). In rare cases cancer may spread to the tissues around the reproductive organs and heart.

If scans of imaging reveal a possible mass in the stomach or lungs doctors will recommend a biopsies. During the procedure, doctors remove a small sample of the fluid or tumor for laboratory testing. The results can confirm the diagnosis of mesothelioma, and also determine the most effective treatment plan.

There are many types of mesothelioma treatment options, which include chemotherapy, surgery, and immunotherapy. The majority of doctors use an amalgamation of these techniques. Patients may also benefit from enrolling in a clinical trial of new mesothelioma therapies. Patients can learn more by consulting a mesothelioma specialist who has treated the disease.