Mesothelioma and Asbestos

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

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

Pleural Mesothelioma

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

This type of cancer is often caused through exposure to asbestos, which is a collection of minerals made up of microscopic fibres. When inhaled, these fibers stick inside the lung and cause irritation which 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 common symptoms. Some patients also experience coughing, difficulty breathing or chest tightness. Patients with this type of cancer have a history of disease that includes asbestos exposure at work. The most common jobs that expose workers to the risk of pleural mesothelioma include manufacturing, construction, and shipbuilding. People who have worked in the military are at a higher risk because of the extensive use of asbestos in Navy ships and army bunkers.

The TNM (tumors lymph nodes, tumors, and metastases staging system) is the most common staging system used for pleural adenocarcinoma. The stage a patient has upon diagnosis will help their doctor determine the most effective treatment plan for them. For instance, patients suffering from mesothelioma pleural stage three or four have a less favorable prognosis than those with lower stages. Stage four mesothelioma can spread to the heart, liver or diaphragm. This makes the cancer more difficult to treat and increase the chance of complications for patients.

Peritoneal Mesothelioma

Unlike pleural cancer, which is found in the lung's lining it develops in the membrane that covers the abdominal cavity, including organs like the intestines and liver. Similar to pleural mesothelioma, asbestos exposure is the cause of peritoneal mesothelioma. There are only 300-500 cases diagnosed each year which is lower than pleural asbestosis.

As with pleural asbestosis symptoms can take several years to manifest. Typically, patients are afflicted with abdominal pain as well as abdominal swelling. The symptoms of this type of mesothelioma could also include nausea, weight loss and fever. Many of these symptoms are similar to symptoms of digestive problems, which can result in incorrect diagnosis.

Doctors can identify mesothelioma by examining the patient's medical history and performing a physical examination. They may also employ imaging tests like Xrays, CT scans and PET/CT scans to help find mesothelioma. These tests can reveal tumors as well as other signs of cancer that aren't visible on X-rays.

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

Asbestos exposure is the main risk factor. People who have worked in professions that require asbestos, like plumbing manufacturing, electrical work or construction, are at greater risk of developing the disease. However, even if individuals do not work in these fields they could be exposed to asbestos through relatives or other sources. Anyone who thinks they are at risk should talk to an expert. If they have an history of exposure to asbestos, a mesothelioma specialist can help them find out more about the risk.

Risk Factors

Asbestos is the main mesothelioma-related risk factor. It accounts for as much as 80percent of cases. Exposure to asbestos can occur through work, military service or through living with a person who works with asbestos case or was previously exposed to doing so. When exposed to asbestos settlement, particles can be breathed into the abdomen and lungs. These particles can cause irritation to the linings, causing cancerous cells to form in the mesothelium. Following exposure to asbestos mesothelioma is likely to develop between 15 and 60 year.

Other risk factors include smoking, genetics and age. The people in their 40s or 50s are at a higher risk of developing mesothelioma as compared to those younger or older. This is because mesothelioma typically lasts between 20 and 60 years from the first exposure to asbestos before symptoms of cancer begin to manifest. It is important to remember that mesothelioma may develop in people who were exposed to asbestos, but did not deal with it directly. This is referred to as indirect or secondary asbestos exposure. It can be as dangerous as direct asbestos exposure.

Smoking increases the risk of developing mesothelioma since it causes mesothelium damage and makes it more susceptible to asbestos. Additionally, mesothelioma can be worsened by certain diseases like asbestosis and pneumonia. It is also important to note that mesothelioma is more common for men than women. Men are more likely than women to have been exposed to asbestos for longer periods of time and work with asbestos for longer periods of time. Additionally, men are more likely to live with someone who worked with asbestos and carry asbestos attorney fibers that have escaped home on their clothes. Women are less likely to be exposed to asbestos, and they are less likely to carry asbestos on their clothes.

Diagnosis

It is difficult to diagnose mesothelioma since its symptoms are frequently similar to other illnesses. This is why patients are often mistakenly diagnosed.

NYU Langone doctors will perform a physical examination and record the patient's medical background including asbestos exposure. Doctors may also request an CT scan or chest X-ray in order to look for lumps, abnormalities, and evidence of asbestos exposure. These include plaques in the pleura, thickened pleura and calcium deposits.

Other diagnostic tests include an echocardiogram, which examines the heart and blood vessels, and a magnetic resonance imaging, also known as MRI, test, which makes use of radio waves and magnets to create detailed images of the inside of the body. Another method doctors use to diagnose mesothelioma is by performing the procedure of a surgical biopsy. In a surgical biopsy doctors remove a small piece of tissue from the pleura or peritoneum to conduct further tests. A pathologist can then examine the tissue under microscopes to determine if it contains cancerous cells.

Mesothelioma can be classified based on the mesothelial type involved, whether the cells are benign or malignant and also the location of the tumor, the type, and the stage of the cancer. Some types of mesothelioma are more likely to develop metastasis or spread, so it is important to have a clear diagnosis so doctors can treat the disease before it goes out of control.

Doctors can also perform laboratory tests on tumors to identify specific genes, proteins, or other factors which will help them identify the characteristics of cancer and plan treatment. These results are known as staging.

Treatment

A mesothelioma diagnosis can be an incredibly frightening prospect. It is important to remember that cancer can be treated especially at its early stages. Many patients with mesothelioma survive for years without the disease spreading to other parts of their body.

Exposure to asbestos may cause mesothelioma through a variety of ways. Asbestos particles, which are too small to be able to see or feel by the naked eye can be airborne and cause irritation to the lung's lining (pleura). In time the irritation can lead to the formation of scar tissues, which eventually lead to tumors.

The pleura is a protective covering that covers the abdomen, heart, and lungs. Mesothelium is composed of cells that react to exposure to asbestos lawyer which causes it to become inflamed and create scar tissue. These changes eventually result in malignant mesothelioma tumors.

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

If imaging scans show an area of concern in the stomach or lungs, a doctor will order a biopsies. During the procedure, doctors remove small amounts of the fluid or tumor for laboratory tests. The results will confirm the diagnosis of mesothelioma and provide the best treatment option.

There are many types of treatment for mesothelioma, including surgery and chemotherapy. The majority of doctors employ the combination of these treatments. Enrolling in clinical trials of mesothelioma treatments that are new could be beneficial to patients. Patients can find out more by consulting a mesothelioma expert who has treated the condition.