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Mesothelioma and Asbestos

Asbestos is a natural mineral that is found in long, thin fibres. People who are exposed to asbestos may develop 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 occurs in the outer lung lining, also known as the pleura. It is the most frequent mesothelioma that accounts for up between 70 and 79% of all diagnosed cases. The condition can cause chest pain, shortness of breathe and a feeling weightiness.

Exposure to asbestos, a family of minerals composed of microscopic fibers causes this kind of cancer. When inhaled, these fibers cause irritation and DNA mutations. Pleura covers both the chest cavity and the lungs, and so irritations can also affect the heart. Mesothelioma typically doesn't manifest until 30 to 50 year after exposure.

The most frequent symptoms of pleural mesothelioma are chest pain and shortness of breath. Patients may also suffer from chest tightness or coughing. They may also experience difficulty breathing. People who suffer from this cancer usually have an history of exposure to Asbestos Case in the workplace. Manufacturing, construction and shipbuilding are the most common jobs which put people at risk risk of developing pleural mesothelioma. People who were in the military are at a greater risk due the widespread use of asbestos in Navy vessels and bunkers for the Army.

The most commonly used staging system for pleural mysothelioma has been the TNM (tumor lymph nodes, lymph nodes and metastases) staging system. The stage that a patient is at when they are diagnosed will help their doctor determine the best treatment plan for them. For example, patients with mesothelioma pleural stage three or four have a worse prognosis than those in a lower stage. Stage four mesothelioma may spread to the liver, heart or diaphragm. This can make it more difficult to treat and increase the likelihood of complications for the patient.

Peritoneal Mesothelioma

Unlike pleural mesothelioma, which is a lung-lining cancer, peritoneal mesothelioma is found in the peritoneum - it is a membrane that lines the abdominal cavity and organs such as the liver and intestines. Like pleural mesothelioma, peritoneal mesothelioma can be caused by asbestos litigation exposure. The disease is much less prevalent than pleural mesothelioma, with only about 300-500 cases diagnosed each year.

As with pleural asbestosis, symptoms can take years to show. Patients usually suffer from abdominal pain and may also have a lump in their abdomen. This type of mesothelioma may cause nausea, weight loss and fever. A lot of these symptoms can be misinterpreted as gastrointestinal issues which can lead to a mistaken diagnosis.

Generally, doctors can find mesothelioma through an extensive medical history and physical exam. Imaging tests such as X-rays or CT scans can be used to identify mesothelioma. These tests can show cancerous tumors or other signs of cancer that aren't apparent on an X-ray.

These tests enable doctors to diagnose mesothelioma and establish the stage. They also offer treatment options. The staging is determined by the type of cells and whether or the tumor has spread to other parts of the body.

Asbestos exposure is the biggest risk factor. People who have worked in professions that require asbestos, like plumbing manufacturing, electrical work, or construction, are at a higher risk of developing the disease. Even if they aren't employed in these areas, they can still be exposed to asbestos through family members or other sources. Anyone who thinks they're at risk should talk to an expert. A mesothelioma expert can help those who have had a experience with asbestos to understand more about their risk.

Risk Factors

Asbestos is the most significant risk factor for mesothelioma. It is responsible for as much as 80% of all cases. Exposure to asbestos can happen through work, military service, or by living with a person who works with asbestos or used to do so. When exposed to asbestos, the particles can be inhaled into the lungs and abdomen. These particles irritate the linings of the abdomen, which causes cancerous cells to grow in the mesothelium. Following exposure to asbestos mesothelioma can be diagnosed between 15 and 60 years old.

Other risk factors include smoking, genetics and the advancing age. People in their 40s and 50s are more likely get mesothelioma than people younger or more senior. It takes mesothelioma between 20 and 60 years to manifest cancer symptoms after the first exposure. It is important to note, too, that mesothelioma can occur in those who have been exposed to asbestos, but without having been directly exposed to it. This is known as indirect or secondary asbestos lawyer exposure, and is as dangerous as direct asbestos exposure.

Smoking increases the risk of mesothelioma, as it damages the mesothelium. It also makes it more susceptible. Mesothelioma can also be aggravated by certain illnesses, including asbestosis and pneumonia. Men are more likely to develop mesothelioma than females. This is due to the fact that men are more likely to be exposed to asbestos and endure a an extended period of exposure than women. Men are also more likely to live with someone who has worked with asbestos case and carry stray asbestos fibers home on their clothes. Women are less likely to come into contact with asbestos and do not typically carry asbestos law home on their clothes.

Diagnosis

Mesothelioma is a difficult disease to recognize because the symptoms often resemble other conditions. Due to this, patients are sometimes wrongly diagnosed.

The first step in identifying 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 may also order a chest X-ray or CT scan to detect lumps or other abnormalities, as well as evidence of past asbestos exposure such as pleural plaques (thickened pleura with calcium deposits) and the accumulation of fluid between the lung and the chest wall (known as pleural effusion).

Other diagnostic tests include a magnetic resonance imaging or MRI test, which makes use of magnets and radio waves in order to create a series detailed images of the inside of the body. Another method doctors use to diagnose mesothelioma is to perform the procedure of a surgical biopsy. During a surgery biopsy doctors take a tiny part of tissue from the pleura or the peritoneum to be further examined. A pathologist can examine the tissue under a microscope to see if it contains cancerous cells.

The type of mesothelial cell involved, the malignant or benign nature of those cells and the location the cancer, its type and the stage of the cancer are used to classify the disease. Some types of mesothelioma have a higher risk of metastasizing or spreading, so it's important to get a definitive diagnosis so doctors can treat it before it gets out of control.

Doctors may also conduct tests in the laboratory on tumors in order to determine specific proteins, genes or other elements that will help them identify cancer characteristics and plan treatment. These results are referred to as staging.

Treatment

A diagnosis of mesothelioma can be a frightening prospect. It is important to keep in mind, however, that cancer can be treated especially at its early stages. A lot of people suffering from mesothelioma be afflicted for many years without it expanding.

Exposure to asbestos can cause mesothelioma through a variety of ways. Asbestos fibers, too small to be able to see or feel by the naked eye can be airborne and cause irritation to the lining of the lungs (pleura). Over time, the irritation causes the formation of scar tissue, which can cause changes in the cell structure that eventually develop into tumors.

The pleura is the area that surrounds the lungs and the heart and also the abdomen. Mesothelium is made up of cells that react to exposure to asbestos and cause it to enflame and develop scar tissue. As time passes, 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 symptoms of pleural mesothelioma. In rare instances, cancer can spread into the tissues that surround the reproductive organs and heart.

If imaging scans show an area of concern in the stomach or lungs, a doctor will order biopsies. During the procedure, doctors will remove a small sample of the fluid or tumor for laboratory testing. The results will confirm the diagnosis of mesothelioma and help determine the best treatment option.

There are many types of treatment for mesothelioma including surgery and chemotherapy. Most doctors utilize a combination of these treatments. Enrolling in clinical trials of mesothelioma treatments that are new could be beneficial to patients. To find out more, patients should speak with mesothelioma experts who have expertise in treating the condition.