Mesothelioma and Asbestos
Asbestos is a natural mineral that is made up of thin, long fibres. People who are regularly exposed to asbestos are at risk of developing lung diseases, such as mesothelioma.
The symptoms of these diseases may not manifest for years after exposure to asbestos legal. Different asbestos types may cause different symptoms.
Pleural Mesothelioma
Pleural mesothelioma is a cancer of the outer lung lining, also known as the pleura. It is the most frequent mesothelioma form and is responsible for 70 to 79% of all diagnosed cases. This condition causes chest pain, breath shortness, and a feeling of weightiness.
This type of cancer typically caused by exposure to asbestos, which is a cluster of minerals that are made up of microscopic fibres. When inhaled, these fibers can cause irritation and DNA mutations. The pleura surrounds the lungs and chest cavity, so these irritations can affect both the lungs and the heart of a person. Mesothelioma typically doesn't manifest until 30 to 50 year after exposure.
The most common symptoms of pleural mesothelioma include chest pain and breath shortness. Patients may also experience difficulty breathing or chest tightness. Patients with this type of cancer typically have an history of exposure to asbestos in the workplace. The most frequent jobs that expose people to the risk of pleural mesothelioma include construction, manufacturing and shipbuilding. People who were in the military are at a higher risk due to the widespread use of asbestos in Navy vessels and Army bunkers.
The TNM (tumors lymph nodes and metastases staging system) is the most popular staging system for pleural adenocarcinoma. The stage a patient is in when they are diagnosed will aid their doctor in determining the best treatment plan for them. For instance, patients suffering from a pleural mesothelioma in stage three or four have a worse prognosis than those with lower stages. Stage four mesothelioma often spreads to the liver, diaphragm or even the heart of a patient. This can make it more difficult to treat and raises the likelihood of complications for patients.
Peritoneal Mesothelioma
In contrast to pleural mesothelioma which develops in the lung lining, peritoneal mesothelioma forms in the peritoneum - it is a membrane that lines the abdominal cavity and organs like the intestines and liver. Like pleural mesothelioma, peritoneal mesothelioma can be caused by asbestos exposure. It is estimated that only 300-500 cases are diagnosed each year, which is less than pleural asbestosis.
As with pleural asbestosis symptoms can take a long time to manifest. Patients usually have abdominal pain, and may also have a lump in their abdomen. The symptoms of this kind of mesothelioma can also include nausea or weight loss, as well as fever. Many of these symptoms could be misinterpreted as gastrointestinal issues which can lead to a misdiagnosis.
Doctors can detect mesothelioma by examining the patient's medical history and performing a physical exam. They can also use imaging tests like Xrays, CT scans and PET/CT scans to detect mesothelioma. These tests can show tumors and other symptoms of cancer that aren't visible on X-rays.
The results of these tests allow doctors to identify mesothelioma, and determine the stage. They can also suggest treatment options. The stage is determined by the type of cell and whether the cancer has spread.
Asbestos exposure is the most important risk factor. People who have been exposed to asbestos in occupations, like electrical or plumbing work or in manufacturing and construction are more likely to develop the disease. However, even if individuals do not work in these fields, they can still be exposed to asbestos through relatives or other sources. Anyone who suspects that they may be at risk should talk to a doctor. A mesothelioma specialist can help those who have a history with asbestos to learn more about their risk.
Risk Factors
Asbestos is the most significant mesothelioma-related risk factor. It is responsible for as much as the 80% of cases. Exposure to asbestos can occur due to work, military service or by living with someone who works with asbestos or was previously exposed to doing such. When exposed to asbestos, the particles can be breathed into the abdomen and lungs. The particles cause irritation to the linings of the lungs, causing 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 age. People in their 40s and 50s are more likely to get mesothelioma than people younger or older. This is because mesothelioma typically lasts between 20 and 60 years from the first time of exposure before cancer symptoms appear. It is important to remember that mesothelioma can develop in people who were exposed to asbestos, but did not work with it directly. This is known as indirect or secondary exposure to asbestos. It is just as harmful as direct exposure.
Smoking increases the risk of mesothelioma, as it damages the mesothelium. It can also make it more vulnerable. In addition, mesothelioma may be worsened by certain diseases like asbestosis and pneumonia. It is also important to note that mesothelioma is more common in men than women. This is due to men being more likely to work with asbestos and experience a a longer period of exposure than women. Men are also more likely to have lived with someone who had worked with asbestos and to have asbestos compensation-containing fibers on their clothing. Women are less likely to come into exposure to asbestos and don't typically carry asbestos case - homepage - home on their clothes.
Diagnosis
Mesothelioma is a difficult disease to recognize because the symptoms are often similar to other conditions. Due to this, patients are sometimes misdiagnosed.
NYU Langone doctors will perform a physical examination and record the patient's medical history including asbestos exposure. Doctors will also recommend an CT scan or chest X-ray in order to look for abnormalities, lumps and evidence of exposure to asbestos. These include pleural plaques, thickened pleura and calcium deposits.
Other diagnostic tests include an echocardiogram which examines the heart and blood vessels, and a magnetic resonance imaging, or MRI test, which uses radio waves and magnets to make a series of precise images of the inside of the body. A surgical biopsy is a different way for doctors to diagnose mesothelioma. During a surgery biopsy doctors will remove a small part of tissue from the pleura or the peritoneum, to be tested further. A pathologist can examine the tissue under a microscope to see if it has cancerous cells.
The mesothelial type involved, the malignant or benign nature of those cells as well as the location the cancer, its type and the stage of the cancer are used to categorize the disease. Certain mesothelioma types have an increased risk of spreading or metastasizing and it's crucial to establish a clear diagnosis to ensure that the doctors can treat it before it gets out-of-control.
Doctors may also conduct tests in the lab on a tumor to find specific genes, proteins, or other factors that help them understand the characteristics of cancer and plan treatment. These results are known as staging.
Treatment
A mesothelioma diagnosis is terrifying. But, it is crucial to keep in mind that the 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 areas of their body.
Exposure to asbestos can cause mesothelioma in a number of ways. Asbestos particles, which are too small to detect or feel through the naked eye, can become airborne and irritate 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 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 when exposed to asbestos. They cause inflammation to the tissue and cause it to become scarred. In time, these changes can lead to the development of malignant mesothelioma tumors.
The symptoms of pleural mesothelioma are shortness of breath, chest pain or the accumulation of fluid in the lungs (pleural effusion). In rare cases, the cancer can be spread to the tissues around the heart and reproductive organs.
If imaging scans show an underlying mass in the lungs or stomach the doctor will request biopsies. During the procedure, doctors take tiny amounts of fluid or tumor for lab testing. The results can confirm the diagnosis of mesothelioma, and also determine the best treatment option.
There are a variety of treatment for mesothelioma such as chemotherapy and surgery. Most doctors utilize an amalgamation of these techniques. Patients may also benefit from enrolling in a clinical trial of new mesothelioma treatments. To learn more about the trials, patients should speak with mesothelioma specialists who have experience treating the condition.