Mesothelioma and Asbestos
Asbestos, a natural mineral, naturally occurs in the form of thin, long fibers. People who are exposed to asbestos case (on front page) are at risk of developing lung diseases like mesothelioma.
Symptoms of these diseases may not show up for decades after exposure to asbestos. Different asbestos types may cause different symptoms.
Pleural Mesothelioma
Pleural mesothelioma is a cancer that occurs in the outer lung liner (pleura). It is the most frequent mesothelioma form and accounts for 70% to 79% all diagnosed cases. People with this condition suffer from chest pain and shortness of breath and may also feel a sensation of heaviness in the chest.
Exposure to asbestos, a family of minerals made of microscopic fibers, typically causes this type of cancer. These fibers, when inhaled, cause irritation and DNA mutations. The pleura is the area that surrounds the chest cavity and lungs, so these irritations can affect both the lungs as well as a person's heart. Mesothelioma symptoms usually don't appear until 30 to 50 years after exposure.
The most frequent symptoms of pleural mesothelioma include chest discomfort and shortness of breath. Some patients have coughing problems, trouble breathing, or chest tightness. People with this cancer have a history that includes asbestos exposure at work. Construction, manufacturing, and shipbuilding are the most frequent jobs that put people at high danger of developing pleural melanoma. People who were in the military are at greater risk due the frequent use of asbestos in Navy vessels and Army bunkers.
The TNM (tumors lymph nodes, tumors, and metastases staging system) is the most popular staging system used for the pleural cancer. The stage a patient is in at the time of diagnosis will help determine what treatment plan they will receive. For instance, patients who have mesothelioma that is pleural in stage three or four have a poorer prognosis than those in lower stages. Stage four mesothelioma often spreads to the diaphragm, liver or even a person's heart. This can make the cancer more difficult to treat, and increase the chance of complications for patients.
Peritoneal Mesothelioma
Unlike pleural cancer, which forms in the lung's lining it develops in a membrane that covers the abdominal cavity, including organs like the intestines and liver. Similar to pleural mesothelioma and peritoneal mesothelioma is caused by asbestos exposure. The disease is less prevalent than pleural mesothelioma, with around 300-500 cases being diagnosed each year.
Like pleural mesothelioma, symptoms can take a long time to manifest. Patients usually suffer from abdominal pain and could also experience a mass in their abdomen. This mesothelioma type can also cause nausea, weight loss, and fever. A lot of these symptoms can be mistaken for gastrointestinal problems and can lead to a misdiagnosis.
Doctors can identify mesothelioma by looking over the medical history of the patient and performing a physical exam. They may also employ imaging tests like Xrays, CT scans and PET/CT scans to help find mesothelioma. These tests can reveal tumors and other cancer signs which aren't evident on X-rays.
The results of these tests allow doctors to diagnose mesothelioma, determine the stage and suggest treatment options. The stage is determined by the type of cell as well as whether the tumor has spread.
Asbestos exposure is the main risk factor. People who have worked in asbestos-related professions, such as plumbing or electrical work, or in manufacturing and construction are more likely to develop the disease. However, even if people aren't employed in these fields, they can still be exposed to asbestos through relatives or other sources. This is why anyone who is concerned that they might be at risk should talk to an experienced doctor. A mesothelioma expert can help those with a previous history of asbestos to find out more about their risk.
Risk Factors
Asbestos is the most significant risk factor for mesothelioma. It accounts for up to 80percent of cases. Exposure to asbestos can occur due to military service, work, or living with those who worked with asbestos. asbestos attorney particles are inhaled by those who are exposed to asbestos. These particles can cause irritation to the linings and can cause cancerous cells to grow in the mesothelium. Following exposure to asbestos, mesothelioma may occur between 15 and 60 year.
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 older. It takes mesothelioma 20-60 years to show signs of cancer after the first exposure. It is important to remember, too, that mesothelioma could develop in those who have been exposed to asbestos, but without having been directly exposed to it. This is known as secondary or indirect asbestos claim exposure. It can be just as harmful as direct asbestos legal exposure.
Smoking can increase the likelihood of getting mesothelioma because it causes mesothelium damage and makes it more vulnerable to asbestos. Additionally, mesothelioma can be caused by certain illnesses, such as asbestosis and pneumonia. It is also important to know that mesothelioma is more common for men than women. Men are more likely than women to have been exposed to asbestos for longer periods of time and to work with asbestos for longer durations and to work with it. Men are also more likely to have lived with someone who had worked with asbestos, and to have asbestos fibers on their clothing. Women are less likely to come exposed to asbestos, and don't typically carry asbestos on their clothes.
Diagnosis
Mesothelioma is a difficult cancer to identify because the symptoms often resemble other diseases. Due to this, patients are often wrongly diagnosed.
NYU Langone doctors will perform a physical examination and record the patient's medical history, including asbestos exposure. Doctors may also order an X-ray chest or CT scan to check for lumps and other abnormalities as well as evidence of past asbestos exposure like plaques on the pleura (thickened pleura with calcium deposits) and the accumulation of fluid between the lung and chest wall (known as the pleural effusion).
Other diagnostic tests include an echocardiogram which examines the blood vessels and the heart, and a magnetic resonance imaging, also known as MRI test that uses radio waves and magnets to create precise images of the inside of the body. Another way doctors can diagnose mesothelioma is through the procedure of a surgical biopsy. A surgical biopsy is when doctors take a small amount of tissue from the peritoneum or pleura for further analysis. A pathologist can examine the tissue under microscopes to determine if it is contaminated with cancerous cells.
Mesothelioma is classified based on the type of mesothelial cell involved, whether those cells are malignant or benign and the location of the tumor, its type, and the stage of the cancer. Some types of mesothelioma have a higher chance of metastasizing or spreading therefore it is essential to establish a clear diagnosis so doctors can treat it before it gets out-of-control.
Doctors can also run laboratory tests on a tumor to find specific genes, proteins and other factors which can help them identify the characteristics of cancer and plan treatment. These results are known as staging.
Treatment
A diagnosis of mesothelioma can be a frightening prospect. It is important to remember, however, that cancer can be treated particularly in its initial stages. Many people with mesothelioma can be afflicted for a long time without expanding.
Asbestos exposure can trigger mesothelioma via various mechanisms. Asbestos fibers, which are too small to be able to see or feel through the naked eye, can be airborne and cause irritation to the lung's lining (pleura). Over time, the irritation causes the formation of scar tissue which leads to changes in the cell structure which eventually lead to tumors.
The pleura surrounds the lungs and heart and the abdomen. Mesothelium is composed of cells that react when exposed to asbestos. They cause inflammation to the tissue and cause it to scar. Overtime, these changes result in the growth of malignant mesothelioma cancers.
A shortness of breath, chest discomfort, or the accumulation of fluid on the lungs are all signs of the pleural Msothelioma. In rare cases, cancer can spread into the tissues surrounding the reproductive organs and heart.
If imaging scans reveal a possible mass in the stomach or lungs, a doctor will order biopsies. During the procedure, doctors remove small amounts of the fluid or tumor for laboratory tests. The results will confirm the diagnosis of mesothelioma and help determine the most effective treatment plan.
There are a variety of mesothelioma treatment options, which include chemotherapy, surgery, and immunotherapy. The majority of doctors employ the combination of these treatments. Patients may also benefit from enrolling in a clinical trial of new mesothelioma treatments. Patients can learn more about the trials by consulting a mesothelioma expert who has treated the disease.
