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Mesothelioma and Asbestos

Asbestos is a natural mineral that is made up of long, thin fibres. Workers who are exposed to asbestos case on a regular basis risk developing mesothelioma and other lung diseases of different types.

Symptoms of these diseases may not show up for decades after exposure to asbestos. Different types of asbestos can cause different symptoms.

Pleural Mesothelioma

Pleural mesothelioma is a cancer that occurs in the lung's outer liner (pleura). It is the most common mesothelioma type and is responsible for 70 to 79% of all diagnosed cases. This condition causes chest pain, breath shortness and a feeling heaviness.

Exposure to asbestos, a family of minerals made of microscopic fibers, usually causes this kind of cancer. The 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 as well as the heart of a person. Mesothelioma symptoms usually don't appear until 30 to 50 years after exposure.

Shortness of breath and chest pain are the most common symptoms. Some patients also experience coughing, difficulty breathing, or chest tightness. Patients with this cancer have a history that includes asbestos exposure at work. The most common jobs that expose people to the risk of pleural mesothelioma include construction, manufacturing and shipbuilding. People who served in the military are at greater risk due to the frequent use of asbestos in Navy vessels and Army bunkers.

The TNM (tumors lymph nodes and metastases staging system) is the most commonly used staging system used for the pleural cancer. The stage that a patient is in at the time of diagnosis can help determine the treatment plan they should follow. For instance, patients who have a pleural mesothelioma in stage three or four have a less favorable prognosis than patients with lower stages. Stage four mesothelioma may spread to the liver, heart, or diaphragm. This can make the cancer more difficult to treat, and increase the chances of complications for the patient.

Peritoneal Mesothelioma

Contrary to pleural cancer which is found in the lining of the lung the peritoneal cancer is a result of the membrane that covers the abdominal cavity, which includes organs like the intestines and the liver. As with pleural mesothelioma asbestos exposure is the primary cause of peritoneal mesothelioma. Only 300-500 cases are diagnosed each year this is less than pleural asbestosis.

As with pleural asbestosis, symptoms can take a long time to manifest. Patients usually have 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 misinterpreted as digestive issues, leading to a mistaken diagnosis.

Generally speaking, doctors can detect mesothelioma by conducting an extensive health history and physical exam. Imaging tests like X-rays and CT scans are a way to detect mesothelioma. These tests can show cancerous tumors or other symptoms of cancer that aren't visible on an X-ray.

The results of these tests allow doctors to diagnose mesothelioma and determine the stage. They can also suggest treatments. The stage of the disease is determined based on the type of cells and whether or whether the tumor has spread to other parts of the body.

The most important mesothelioma risk factor is exposure to asbestos. People who have been in occupations which require asbestos claim, like plumbing or manufacturing, electrical work or construction, are at increased risk of developing the disease. However, even if individuals aren't employed in these fields they may be exposed to asbestos through family members or other sources. Anyone who suspects that they are at risk should consult an expert. A mesothelioma expert can help those with a previous history of asbestos to find out more about their risk.

Risk Factors

Asbestos is the primary risk factor in mesothelioma. It is responsible for up to 80percent of cases. Exposure to asbestos may occur through work, military service, or by living with a person who is exposed to asbestos or was previously exposed to doing such. When exposed to asbestos, small particles can be inhaled into the lungs and abdomen. These particles irritate the linings of the lungs, causing cancerous cells to develop in the mesothelium. After exposure to asbestos mesothelioma is likely to occur between 15 and 60 years.

Other risk factors include genetics, smoking and aging. People in their 40s and 50s are more likely to develop mesothelioma than those who are younger or older. Mesothelioma can take between 20 and 60 years to show signs of cancer after the first exposure. It is important to remember that mesothelioma may develop in those who were exposed to asbestos, but did not deal with it directly. This is referred to as secondary or indirect exposure to asbestos, and it could be as hazardous as direct exposure.

Smoking increases the chance of mesothelioma since it damages mesothelium. It can also make it more vulnerable. Mesothelioma can also be aggravated by certain diseases, such as asbestosis and pneumonia. It is also important to note that mesothelioma occurs more frequently in men than women. This is due to the fact that men are more likely to work with asbestos and have an extended period of exposure than women. Men are also more likely to have lived with someone who worked with asbestos, and to have asbestos fibers on their clothing. Women tend to be less in contact with asbestos legal; my homepage,, and they are less likely to carry asbestos on their clothing.

Diagnosis

It is difficult to recognize mesothelioma because its symptoms are often similar to other conditions. This can lead to victims being wrongly diagnosed.

The first step to diagnose mesothelioma is for NYU Langone doctors to perform an examination and write down a patient's medical history which includes asbestos exposure. Doctors may also request an CT scan or chest X-ray in order to look for abnormalities, lumps and evidence of exposure to asbestos. These include plaques on the pleura, pleura that are thickened and calcium deposits.

Other diagnostic tests include an echocardiogram which examines the heart and blood vessels as well as a magnetic resonance imaging, or MRI test that uses radio waves and magnets to make a series of detailed images of the interior of the body. A surgical biopsy is yet another way for doctors to diagnose mesothelioma. During a surgery biopsy doctors will remove a small piece of tissue from pleura or the peritoneum, to be tested further. A pathologist then examines the tissue using a magnifying lens to determine if it contains cancerous cell.

Mesothelioma can be classified based on the mesothelial type involved, whether the cells are benign or malignant, and the location of the tumor, its type, and the stage of the cancer. Certain mesothelioma types have a higher risk of spreading or metastasizing, so it's important to establish a clear diagnosis so doctors can treat it before it gets out-of-control.

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

Treatment

A mesothelioma diagnosis can be terrifying. It is important to remember that cancer can be treated, particularly in its initial stages. Many patients with mesothelioma survive for many years with the disease, without spreading to other organs of their body.

Exposure to asbestos can cause mesothelioma by various mechanisms. Asbestos fibres, tiny enough to be felt or seen by naked eyes can be airborne, irritating the lung's lining (pleura). Over time, the irritation leads to the formation of scar tissues and eventually tumors.

The pleura is the area that surrounds the heart and lungs, as well as 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 lead to the development of malignant mesothelioma cancers.

Symptoms of pleural mesothelioma include breathlessness and chest pain as well as the accumulation of fluid on the lungs (pleural effusion). In rare instances the cancer may be spread to the tissues around the heart and reproductive organs.

If imaging scans reveal an underlying mass in the stomach or lungs, a doctor will order a biopsies. The procedure involves the removal of some of the fluid or tumor to allow for laboratory testing. The results will confirm a mesothelioma diagnosis, and determine the best treatment plan.

There are several types of mesothelioma treatments, which include chemotherapy, surgery, and immunotherapy. Most doctors utilize combinations of these treatments. Participating in clinical trials of mesothelioma treatments may be beneficial for patients. To learn more about the trials, patients should speak with mesothelioma experts who have had experience treating the disease.