Mesothelioma and Asbestos
Asbestos is a natural mineral that is found in thin, long fibres. People who are regularly exposed to asbestos are at risk of developing lung diseases like mesothelioma.
baldwin park asbestos attorney of these diseases might not be evident for a long time after exposure to asbestos. Different asbestos types may cause different symptoms.
Pleural Mesothelioma
Pleural mesothelioma is a cancer of the outer lung lining, or pleura. It is the most common form of mesothelioma and is responsible for 70 to 79% of diagnosed cases. Patients with this disease suffer from chest pain and breath shortness and may experience an ache or heaviness in the chest.
This type of cancer usually caused through exposure to asbestos, which is a grouping of minerals that are comprised of microscopic fibres. These fibers, when inhaled, cause irritation and DNA mutations. The pleura covers the chest cavity and lungs and therefore, these irritations could affect both the lungs and a person's heart. Mesothelioma usually doesn't show symptoms until 30 to 50 year after exposure.
The most frequent symptoms of pleural melanoma are chest pain and shortness of breath. Some patients may also experience chest tightness or coughing. They may also experience difficulty breathing. People with this cancer have a past that includes asbestos exposure at work. The most common jobs that expose people to the risk of pleural mesothelioma include manufacturing, construction and shipbuilding. Individuals who have served in the military are at higher risk due to the widespread use of asbestos in Navy vessels and Army bunkers.
The most popular staging method for pleural mesothelioma is the TNM (tumor lymph nodes, lymph nodes and metastases) staging system. The stage a patient is in at the time of diagnosis can help determine what treatment plan they will receive. For instance, patients suffering from mesothelioma that is pleural in stage three or four have a poorer prognosis than patients with lower stages. Mesothelioma in stage four is usually spread to the diaphragm, liver and/or a person's heart. This can make the cancer more difficult to treat and increase the risk of complications for the patient.
Peritoneal Mesothelioma
Contrary to pleural cancer which is found in the lining of the lung, peritoneal cancer develops in the membrane that covers the abdominal cavity, which includes organs such as the liver and intestines. Similar to pleural mesothelioma mesothelioma can be caused by asbestos exposure. There are only 300-500 cases diagnosed annually, which is less than pleural asbestosis.
As with pleural asbestosis symptoms can take several years to manifest. The majority of patients suffer from abdominal pain and a mass in the abdomen. This type of mesothelioma may cause nausea, weight loss and fever. Many of these symptoms could be misinterpreted as digestive issues which can lead to a misdiagnosis.
Doctors can detect mesothelioma by reviewing the medical history of the patient and conducting a physical exam. Imaging tests like X-rays or CT scans can be used to detect mesothelioma. These tests can detect tumors as well as other signs of cancer that aren't visible on X-rays.
The results of these tests allow doctors to diagnose mesothelioma and determine the stage of the disease and suggest treatment options. The staging is determined by the type of cell and whether or whether the cancer has spread to other regions of the body.
Asbestos exposure is the main risk factor. People who have been in occupations which require asbestos, like plumbing, manufacturing, electrical work, or construction, are at increased risk of developing the disease. Even if someone is not employed in one of these areas, he or she can be exposed to asbestos to asbestos through family members and other sources. Anyone who believes they're at risk should speak with an expert. A mesothelioma specialist can help those who have a experience with asbestos to understand more about their risk.
Risk Factors
Asbestos exposure is the primary mesothelioma risk factor, accounting for up to 80 percent of cases. Exposure to asbestos can happen due to work, military service or through living with a person who is exposed to asbestos or used to do so. When exposed to asbestos, the particles can be inhaled into the lungs and abdomen. These particles can cause irritation to the linings of the lungs, causing cancerous cells to form in the mesothelium. Following exposure to asbestos mesothelioma can develop between 15 and 60 years.
Other risk factors include smoking, genetics, and the advancing age. The people in their 40s or 50s are at a higher risk of developing mesothelioma compared to those who are younger or older. It is because mesothelioma generally takes 20 to 60 years from the initial time of exposure before symptoms of cancer begin to manifest. It is important to remember, too, that mesothelioma could develop in those who have been exposed to asbestos, but without having worked with it directly. This is referred to as indirect or secondary exposure to asbestos, and it is just as harmful as direct exposure.
Smoking increases the risk of developing mesothelioma since it damages the mesothelium and makes it more prone to asbestos. Mesothelioma is also aggravated by certain diseases, 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. Additionally, men are more likely to live with someone who has was exposed to asbestos and bring stray asbestos fibers home on their clothes. Women tend to be less exposed to asbestos, and don't typically carry asbestos on their clothes.
Diagnosis
It is difficult to diagnose mesothelioma because its symptoms are frequently similar to other illnesses. 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 notes on the medical history of a patient, including asbestos exposure. Doctors can also request a chest X-ray or CT scan to detect lumps and other abnormalities and also to look for evidence of asbestos exposure in the past such as plaques on the pleura (thickened pleura with calcium deposits) and the formation of fluid between the lung and the chest wall (known as the pleural effusion).
Other diagnostic tests include an echocardiogram which examines the heart and blood vessels, and a magnetic resonance imaging, or MRI test, which uses magnets and radio waves to create detailed images of the interior of the body. Another method doctors use to diagnose mesothelioma is to perform the procedure of a surgical biopsy. A surgical biopsy is when doctors take a small amount of tissue from the peritoneum or pleura to conduct further tests. A pathologist is then able to look at the tissue under a microscope to see if it has cancerous cells.
The mesothelial type involved and the benign or malignant nature of those cells as well as 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 spread or metastasize, so it is important to have a clear diagnosis so that doctors can treat the disease before it gets out of control.
Doctors may also conduct tests in the lab on tumors to determine specific genes, proteins, or other factors which can help them describe cancer characteristics and plan treatment. These results are referred to as staging.
Treatment
A mesothelioma diagnosis is terrifying. It is important to keep in mind, however, that cancer can be treated, particularly in its initial stages. Many patients with mesothelioma survive for a long time with the disease without it spreading to other organs of their body.
Exposure to asbestos can cause mesothelioma through a variety of ways. Asbestos fibers, which are too small to be able to see or feel through 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 surrounds the lungs and the heart and also the abdomen. Mesothelium is made up of cells that react to asbestos and cause it to enflame and form scar tissue. In time, these changes can result in the growth of malignant mesothelioma tumors.
Breathing problems, chest pain or fluid accumulation on the lungs are all indications of the pleural msothelioma. In rare cases the cancer may be spread to the tissues around the heart and reproductive organs.
If imaging scans reveal a possible mass in the stomach or lungs the doctor will request biopsies. During the procedure, doctors will remove small amounts of the tumor or fluid for lab analysis. The results will confirm the diagnosis of mesothelioma and determine the best treatment option.
There are a variety of mesothelioma treatment options, which include chemotherapy, surgery, and immunotherapy. Most doctors utilize the combination of these methods. Participating in clinical trials for mesothelioma treatments that are new could be beneficial for patients. Patients can find out more by consulting a mesothelioma expert who has treated mesothelioma.