• 목록
• 답변
• 글쓰기
• 게시판 리스트 옵션
  • 수정
  • 삭제

Mesothelioma and Asbestos

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that is found in thin, long fibres. Workers who are regularly exposed to asbestos may develop lung diseases, such as mesothelioma.

It could take a long time before symptoms begin to manifest after exposure to asbestos. Different asbestos lawyer types can cause different symptoms.

Pleural Mesothelioma

Pleural mesothelioma is a cancer of the lung's outer lining or pleura. It is the most prevalent type of mesothelioma, making up 70 to 79% of all diagnosed cases. The condition can cause chest discomfort, shortness of breath, and a feeling of weightiness.

This kind of cancer is usually caused by exposure to asbestos which is a cluster of minerals that are comprised of microscopic fibres. When inhaled, these fibers, cause irritation and DNA mutations. Pleura is the lining of both the chest cavity as well as the lungs, so irritations can also affect the heart. Mesothelioma typically doesn't manifest until 30 to 50 years after exposure.

The most frequent symptoms of pleural mesothelioma are chest pain and breath shortness. Patients may also experience coughing, difficulty breathing, or chest tightness. Patients with this cancer have a past that includes asbestos exposure at work. Construction, manufacturing, and shipbuilding are the most prevalent jobs that put people at high risk of developing pleural mesothelioma. People who served in the military are at a higher risk due to the widespread use of asbestos in Navy vessels and bunkers in the Army.

The TNM (tumors, lymph nodes, and metastases staging system) is the most popular staging system used for pleural adenocarcinoma. The stage a patient is in at the time of diagnosis can help determine what treatment plan they will receive. For instance, patients suffering from mesothelioma that is pleural in stage three or four have a less favorable prognosis than those with a lower stage. Mesothelioma in stage four is usually spread to the liver, diaphragm and/or a person's heart. This makes it more difficult to treat and raises the risk of complications for the patient.

Peritoneal Mesothelioma

Contrary to pleural cancer which forms in the lining of the lung it develops in a membrane that surrounds the abdominal cavity, including organs such as the liver and intestines. Similar to pleural mesothelioma, asbestos claim exposure is the cause of peritoneal mesothelioma. The disease is less common than pleural mesothelioma, and just 300-500 cases being diagnosed each year.

Like pleural mesothelioma, symptoms can take a long time to manifest. Typically, patients are afflicted with abdominal pain as well as an abdominal mass. The symptoms of this type of mesothelioma could also include nausea, weight loss and fever. A lot of these symptoms can be mistaken for gastrointestinal problems and can lead to a false diagnosis.

Doctors can detect mesothelioma by examining the patient's medical history and performing a physical examination. Imaging tests like X-rays and CT scans are a way to detect mesothelioma. These tests can detect tumors and other cancer signs that aren't visible on X-rays.

These test results allow doctors to diagnose mesothelioma, determine the stage and suggest treatment options. The stage is determined by the type of cell and whether the tumor has spread.

The most important risk factor for mesothelioma is exposure to asbestos. People who have worked in asbestos-containing professions, such as plumbing or electrical work, or in construction, manufacturing and manufacturing, are more likely to contract the disease. However, even if individuals aren't employed in these areas they may be exposed to asbestos through relatives or other sources. Anyone who thinks they're at risk should speak with an expert. If they have a history of asbestos exposure or mesothelioma, a specialist can assist them in finding out more about the risk.

Risk Factors

Asbestos exposure is the primary risk factor for mesothelioma, which accounts for as much as 80 percent of all cases. Exposure to asbestos may occur through work, military service or through living with a person who works with asbestos or was previously exposed to doing the same. Asbestos particles can be breathed in by those who are exposed to it. These irritate the linings and can cause cancerous cells to grow in the mesothelium. After asbestos exposure mesothelioma can develop between 15 and 60 year.

Other risk factors include smoking, genetics, and the advancing age. People in their 40s and 50s are more likely to be diagnosed with mesothelioma compared to those who are younger or more senior. It takes mesothelioma between 20 and 60 years to manifest 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 did not work with it directly. This is referred to as secondary or indirect exposure to Asbestos Case. It is just as harmful as direct exposure.

Smoking increases the risk of developing mesothelioma due to the fact that it damages the mesothelium, which makes it more vulnerable to asbestos. In addition, mesothelioma may be exacerbated by certain illnesses like pneumonia and asbestosis. It is also important to know that mesothelioma is more prevalent for men than women. This is due to men being more likely to work with asbestos and have more exposure than women. Men are also more likely to have lived with someone who has been exposed to asbestos, and to have asbestos fibers on their clothing. Women are less likely to come into exposure to asbestos and do not typically carry asbestos on their clothing.

Diagnosis

Mesothelioma is difficult to identify because the symptoms often resemble other conditions. This could lead to patients being incorrectly diagnosed.

The first step to diagnose mesothelioma is for NYU Langone doctors to perform an examination of the body and take note of the medical history of the patient which includes asbestos exposure. Doctors can also request an X-ray of the chest or CT scan to look for lumps and other abnormalities, as well as evidence of asbestos exposure in the past such as plaques on the pleura (thickened pleura with calcium deposits) and the buildup of fluid between the lung and the chest wall (known as the 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 inside the body. Another way for doctors to detect mesothelioma is through a surgical biopsy. In a surgical biopsy doctors take a tiny part of tissue from the pleura or the peritoneum, to be further examined. A pathologist then examines the tissue with an magnifying glass to determine if it is a cancerous cells.

Mesothelioma is classified according to the mesothelial type involved, whether the cells are malignant or benign and also the location of the tumor, its type, and the stage of the tumor. Certain types of mesothelioma are at greater chance of metastasizing or spreading and it's crucial to determine the type of mesothelioma to ensure that the doctors can treat it prior to it becoming out-of-control.

Doctors may also conduct tests in the lab on tumors to determine specific genes, proteins, or other factors that can help them describe the characteristics of the cancer and determine a treatment. These results are referred to as staging.

Treatment

A mesothelioma diagnosis can be terrifying. However, it's important to remember that the disease is treatable, especially in its early stages. Many patients with mesothelioma survive for a long time with the disease, without spreading to other organs of their body.

Exposure to asbestos may cause mesothelioma in a number of ways. Asbestos fibers, which are too small to be able to see or feel through the naked eye, can become airborne and cause irritation to the lung's lining (pleura). In time irritation leads to formation of scar tissue, which leads to changes in the cell structure which eventually lead to tumors.

The pleura covers the lungs and the heart, as well as the abdomen. Mesothelium consists of cells that react to exposure to asbestos which causes it to become inflamed and form scar tissue. These changes can cause mesothelioma cancers.

Shortness of breath, chest discomfort or fluid buildup on the lungs are all symptoms of pleural msothelioma. In rare cases cancer may spread to the tissues that surround the reproductive organs and heart.

A doctor will request biopsy if scans show a potential lung tumor or stomach. During the procedure, doctors remove tiny amounts of tumor or fluid for lab tests. The results will confirm the diagnosis of mesothelioma, and also determine the best treatment plan.

There are many types of treatment for mesothelioma, including surgery and chemotherapy. Most doctors use combinations of these treatments. Patients could also benefit from enrolling in a clinical trial of new mesothelioma treatments. To learn more, patients should speak to a mesothelioma specialist who has experience treating the condition.