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Mesothelioma and Asbestos

Asbestos is a mineral that naturally forms in the form of long, thin fibers. People who are regularly exposed to asbestos may develop lung diseases such as mesothelioma.

Symptoms of these diseases may not be evident for a long time after exposure to asbestos. Different asbestos types may cause different symptoms.

Pleural Mesothelioma

Pleural mesothelioma is a type of cancer that affects the outer lung lining (pleura). It is the most common mesothelioma that accounts for up 70 to 79% of all diagnosed cases. This condition causes chest pain, breath shortness and a feeling of heaviness.

This type of cancer typically caused by exposure to asbestos, which is a grouping of minerals that are composed of microscopic fibers. Once inhaled, the fibers are absorbed into the lungs and cause irritation that results in scarring and DNA mutations. Pleura covers both the chest cavity as well as the lungs, and so irritations can also affect the heart. Mesothelioma symptoms usually don't appear until 30 to 50 years after exposure.

Shortness of breath and chest pain are the most frequently reported symptoms. Patients may also feel tightness in their chest or coughing. They may also experience difficulty breathing. People with this cancer have a past that includes asbestos exposure at work. Construction, manufacturing and shipbuilding are among the most prevalent jobs that put people at high chance of developing pleural mesothelioma. Individuals who have been in the military could be at an especially high risk due to the frequent asbestos usage in Navy vessels and army bunkers.

The TNM (tumors lymph nodes, tumors, and metastases staging system) is the most commonly used staging system used for the pleural adenocarcinoma. The stage that a patient is in at the time of diagnosis will help determine what treatment plan they will receive. For example, patients with a pleural mesothelioma in stage three or four have a poorer prognosis than those in lower stages. Mesothelioma in stage four can spread to the liver, heart or diaphragm. This can make it more difficult to treat and increase the likelihood of complications for patients.

Peritoneal Mesothelioma

In contrast to pleural cancer, which forms in the lung's lining, peritoneal cancer develops in the membrane that covers the abdominal cavity, including organs like the liver and intestines. Similar to pleural mesothelioma mesothelioma can be caused by asbestos exposure. The disease is less prevalent than pleural mesothelioma, and around 300-500 cases being diagnosed each year.

As with pleural asbestosis symptoms can take years to show. The majority of patients experience abdominal pain and a mass in the abdomen. The symptoms of this kind of mesothelioma could also include nausea or weight loss, as well as fever. A lot of these symptoms can be misinterpreted as gastrointestinal issues and can lead to a mistaken diagnosis.

The doctors can detect mesothelioma through reviewing the medical history of the patient and performing a physical exam. They can also utilize imaging tests such as X-rays, CT scans and PET/CT scans to identify mesothelioma. These tests can show tumors, as well as other indications of cancer that aren't visible on X-rays.

These tests enable doctors to diagnose mesothelioma, identify the stage and suggest treatment options. The staging is determined by the type of cell and whether or not the cancer has spread to other regions of the body.

The most significant mesothelioma risk factor is exposure to asbestos. People who have worked in professions which require asbestos, such as plumbing or manufacturing, electrical work, or construction, are at a higher risk of developing the disease. Even if they do not work in these areas they may be exposed to asbestos through family members or other sources. For this reason, anyone who suspects they may be at risk should speak to a doctor. If they have a history of asbestos Case exposure and mesothelioma is a concern, a specialist will assist them in learning more about their risk.

Risk Factors

Asbestos is the primary mesothelioma-related risk factor. It accounts for as much as 80% of all cases. Exposure to asbestos may occur due to military service, work or living with people who have worked with asbestos legal. Asbestos particles can be inhaled by people who are exposed to it. They can cause irritation to the linings of the abdomen and cause cancerous cells to grow in the mesothelium. Mesothelioma may take between 15 and 60 years to develop following exposure to asbestos attorney.

Other risk factors include smoking, genetics and the advancing age. People in their 40s and 50s are more likely to develop mesothelioma than those who are younger or more senior. It takes mesothelioma 20-60 years before it manifests cancer symptoms after the first exposure. It is also important to know that mesothelioma is a possibility in people who have been exposed to asbestos but didn't work with it directly. This is known as indirect or secondary asbestos exposure and can be just as harmful as direct asbestos compensation exposure.

Smoking increases the risk of getting mesothelioma because it damages the mesothelium, which makes it more susceptible to asbestos. Mesothelioma is also aggravated by certain diseases, such as asbestosis and pneumonia. It is also important to know that mesothelioma occurs more frequently for men than women. This is because men are more likely to work with asbestos and have a longer period of exposure than women. Men are also more likely to live with someone who has was exposed to asbestos and bring asbestos fibers that have escaped home on their clothing. Women tend to be less exposed to asbestos and they don't usually bring asbestos home on their clothes.

Diagnosis

It is difficult to diagnose mesothelioma since its symptoms are often similar to other diseases. This is why patients are often misdiagnosed.

NYU Langone doctors will perform an examination of the body and document the patient's medical background, 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 previous asbestos exposure like plaques in the pleura (thickened pleura with calcium deposits) and the buildup of fluid between the lung and chest wall (known as the pleural effusion).

Other diagnostic tests include an echocardiogram, which examines the heart and blood vessels and magnetic resonance imaging, or MRI test, which uses magnets and radio waves to make a series of detailed images of the interior of the body. Another way for doctors to detect mesothelioma is by performing a surgical biopsy. When a biopsy is performed, doctors remove a tiny piece of tissue from the pleura or the peritoneum, to be tested further. A pathologist is then able to examine the tissue with microscopes to determine if it is contaminated with cancerous cells.

Mesothelioma is classified based on the type of mesothelial cells involved, whether these cells are benign or malignant and also the location, type, and stage of the tumor. Certain types of mesothelioma are at greater risk of spreading or metastasizing therefore it is essential to establish a clear diagnosis so doctors can treat it before it gets out of control.

Doctors can also perform laboratory tests on tumors to identify specific genes, proteins or other factors that can help them describe cancer characteristics and determine the best treatment. These results are referred to as staging.

Treatment

A diagnosis of mesothelioma may be frightening. It is important to remember, however, that cancer can be treated particularly in its early stages. Many patients with mesothelioma live with the disease for a long time, without expanding.

Exposure to asbestos can cause mesothelioma through various mechanisms. Asbestos fibers, which are too small to see or feel through the naked eye, can be airborne and cause irritation to the lining of the lungs (pleura). As time passes, the irritation causes the formation of scar tissue, which leads to changes in the cell structure that eventually develop into tumors.

The pleura is the area that surrounds the heart and lungs and the abdomen. Mesothelium is composed of cells that respond when exposed to asbestos. They cause inflammation to the tissue and cause it to scar. In time, these changes can result in the growth of malignant mesothelioma tumors.

The signs of pleural mesothelioma can include shortness of breath and chest pain, or the accumulation of fluid on the lung (pleural effusion). In rare instances, cancer can spread into the tissues that surround the reproductive organs and the heart.

A doctor may request biopsy if scans reveal a possible lung tumor or stomach. During the procedure, doctors will remove small amounts of the tumor or fluid for lab tests. The results can confirm a mesothelioma diagnosis, and determine the best treatment option.

There are several types of mesothelioma treatment options, including chemotherapy, surgery and immunotherapy. Most doctors utilize an amalgamation of these techniques. Participating in clinical trials for mesothelioma treatments that are new could be beneficial to patients. To learn more, patients should speak to a mesothelioma specialist who has had experience treating the disease.