It's The Mesothelioma And Asbestos Case Study You'll Never Forget

Mesothelioma and Asbestos

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

It may take decades before symptoms begin to manifest after exposure to asbestos. Different asbestos types can cause different symptoms.

Pleural Mesothelioma

Pleural mesothelioma occurs in the lung's outer lining, also known as pleura. It is the most common type of mesothelioma, making up 70 to 79% of diagnosed cases. People with this condition experience pain in the chest and breathlessness, and they may feel an ache or heaviness in the chest.

Exposure to asbestos, a class of minerals composed of microscopic fibers, usually causes this kind of cancer. Once inhaled, the fibers stick inside the lungs and cause irritation that causes scarring and DNA mutations. Pleura is the lining of both the chest cavity as well as the lungs, which means that irritations can also affect the heart. Mesothelioma is usually not symptomatic until 30 to 50 year after exposure.

The most commonly reported symptoms of pleural mesothelioma are chest pain and breath shortness. Some patients have coughing problems, trouble breathing, or chest tightness. People with this cancer have a history that includes asbestos exposure at work. The most prevalent jobs that expose people to the risk of pleural mesothelioma include manufacturing, construction and shipbuilding. Individuals who have served in the military are at a higher risk due to the frequent use of asbestos claim in Navy vessels and bunkers for the Army.

The most common staging system for pleural mysothelioma has been the TNM (tumor lymph nodes, lymph nodes and metastases) staging system. The stage a patient is in upon diagnosis will aid their doctor in determining the most effective treatment plan for them. For instance, patients suffering from mesothelioma that is pleural in stage three or four have a less favorable prognosis than patients with a lower stage. Mesothelioma in stage four can spread to the liver, heart, or diaphragm. This makes the cancer more difficult to treat, and increase the risk of complications for patients.

Peritoneal Mesothelioma

As opposed to pleural mesothelioma that develops in the lung lining, peritoneal mesothelioma is found in the peritoneum - a membrane that lines the abdominal cavity and organs such as the intestines and the liver. Like pleural mesothelioma, peritoneal mesothelioma is triggered by asbestos exposure. The disease is much less prevalent than pleural mesothelioma. There are only about 300-500 cases diagnosed each year.

Like pleural mesothelioma, the symptoms can take a long time to manifest. Patients generally suffer from abdominal pain and could also experience a mass in their abdomen. The symptoms of this kind of mesothelioma may also include nausea as well as weight loss and fever. A lot of these symptoms can be misinterpreted as digestive issues, leading to a false diagnosis.

The doctors can detect mesothelioma through looking over the medical history of the patient and conducting a physical exam. Imaging tests like X-rays and CT scans can be used to identify mesothelioma. These tests can show cancerous tumors or other symptoms of cancer that aren't apparent on an X-ray.

The results of these tests allow doctors to diagnose mesothelioma and determine the stage and recommend treatment options. The stage is determined by the type of cell and whether the cancer has spread.

The most important risk factor for mesothelioma is asbestos exposure. People who have worked in professions that require asbestos, such as plumbing electrical work, manufacturing or construction, are at greater risk of developing the disease. Even if an individual does not work in any of these areas however, they may still be exposed to asbestos compensation through family members and other sources. Anyone who suspects that they may be at risk should consult an expert. A mesothelioma specialist can assist those with a history with asbestos to learn more about their risk.

Risk Factors

Asbestos is the main risk factor in mesothelioma. It accounts for as much as 80% of all cases. Exposure to asbestos can occur due to work, military service, or by living with someone who is exposed to asbestos or was previously exposed to doing so. When exposed to asbestos, small particles can be breathed into the lungs and abdomen. The particles cause irritation to the linings of the abdomen, which causes cancerous cells to grow in the mesothelium. Mesothelioma may take between 15 and 60 years to develop following exposure to asbestos.

Other risk factors include smoking, genetics, and the advancing age. People in their 40s or 50s are at greater risk of developing mesothelioma as compared to those younger or older. This is because mesothelioma typically occurs between 20 and 60 years from the initial time of exposure before the first signs of cancer appear. It is important to keep in mind, too, that mesothelioma could be present in people who have been exposed to asbestos without having been directly exposed to it. This is known as secondary or indirect asbestos exposure. It can be as hazardous as direct asbestos exposure.

Smoking increases the chance of mesothelioma as it damages the mesothelium. It can also make it more vulnerable. Mesothelioma is also aggravated by certain illnesses, including asbestosis and pneumonia. Men are more likely to develop mesothelioma compared to women. Men are more likely than women to have been exposed to asbestos for a longer time and to work with asbestos for longer periods of time. Men are also more likely to have lived with someone who had worked with asbestos and to have asbestos case - Read Even more - fibers on their clothing. Women tend to have less contact with asbestos and rarely carry asbestos home on their clothes.

Diagnosis

Mesothelioma is difficult to identify because the symptoms can be similar to other diseases. Because of this, victims are sometimes misdiagnosed.

The first step in identifying mesothelioma is for NYU Langone doctors to perform an examination and write note of the medical history of the patient including asbestos exposure. Doctors can also order an X-ray chest or CT scan to look for lumps and other abnormalities and also to look for evidence of asbestos exposure in the past such as pleural plaques (thickened pleura with calcium deposits) and the formation of fluid between the lung and the chest wall (known as pleural effusion).

Other diagnostic tests include an echocardiogram, which examines the heart and blood vessels as well as a magnetic resonance imaging, also known as MRI test that uses radio waves and magnets to make a series of detailed images of the inside of the body. A surgical biopsy is a different way for doctors to diagnose mesothelioma. When a biopsy is performed doctors will remove a small piece of tissue from the pleura or the peritoneum, to be further examined. A pathologist will then look at the tissue using a magnifying glass to determine whether it contains cancerous cells.

Mesothelioma is classified according to the type of mesothelial cells involved, whether those cells are benign or malignant, and the location of the tumor, the type, and the stage of the cancer. Certain types of mesothelioma are at a higher chance of metastasizing or spreading, so it's important to establish a clear diagnosis so that doctors can treat it before it becomes out-of-control.

Doctors can also perform tests in the laboratory on tumors to identify specific proteins, genes or other factors that can aid in describing cancer characteristics and plan treatment. These results are referred to as staging.

Treatment

A diagnosis of mesothelioma can be frightening. However, it's important to remember that the disease is treatable, particularly in its initial stages. A lot of people suffering from mesothelioma live with the disease for a long time, without spreading.

Exposure to asbestos can trigger mesothelioma through a variety of ways. Asbestos fibers that are tiny enough to be felt or viewed by naked eyes, can become airborne, irritating the lining of the lung (pleura). In time, the irritation causes the formation of scar tissue which can cause changes in the structure of cells which eventually lead to tumors.

The pleura is the area that surrounds the heart and lungs and also the abdomen. Mesothelium is composed of cells that react to asbestos, causing it to inflame and form scar tissue. Overtime, these changes result in the growth of malignant mesothelioma cancers.

The signs of pleural mesothelioma can include breathlessness and chest pain, or an accumulation of fluid on the lungs (pleural effusion). In rare cases the cancer may be spread to the tissues around the heart and reproductive organs.

If scans of imaging reveal a possible mass in the lungs or stomach doctors will recommend a 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 most effective treatment plan.

There are a variety of mesothelioma treatment, including chemotherapy, surgery and immunotherapy. Most doctors use a combination of these treatments. Participating in clinical trials of mesothelioma treatments that are new could be beneficial to patients. Patients can learn more about the trials by speaking with a mesothelioma doctor who has treated mesothelioma.