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Mesothelioma and Asbestos

Asbestos, a natural mineral, naturally occurs in the form of long, thin fibers. Workers who are exposed to asbestos on a regular basis are at risk of developing mesothelioma as well as other lung diseases.

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

Pleural Mesothelioma

Pleural mesothelioma is a cancer that develops in the lung's outer the lining (pleura). It is the most common type of mesothelioma, making up between 70 and 79% of all diagnosed cases. This condition causes chest pain, breath shortness and a feeling weightiness.

This type of cancer is usually caused through exposure to asbestos, which is a cluster of minerals composed of microscopic fibers. When inhaled, these fibers cause irritation and DNA mutations. Pleura surrounds both the chest cavity as well as the lungs, and so irritations can also affect the heart. Mesothelioma symptoms typically don't show until 30 to 50 years after exposure.

Shortness of breath and chest pain are the most frequently reported symptoms. Patients may also feel tightness in their chest and coughing, or breathing difficulties. People who suffer from this cancer usually have a history of exposure to asbestos in the workplace. The most frequent jobs that expose people to the risk of developing pleural cancer are manufacturing, construction, and shipbuilding. Individuals who have served in the military are at a greater risk due the extensive use asbestos in Navy vessels and bunkers for the Army.

The TNM (tumors lymph nodes, tumors, and metastases staging system) is the most popular staging system for the pleural adenocarcinoma. The stage that a patient is in at the time of diagnosis can help determine the treatment plan they should receive. For instance, patients who have a pleural mesothelioma in stage three or four have a poorer prognosis than patients with lower stages. Mesothelioma in stage four is usually spread to the liver, diaphragm or even the heart of a patient. This can make it more difficult to treat and increases the likelihood of complications for the patient.

Peritoneal Mesothelioma

Unlike pleural cancer, which is found in the lung's lining, peritoneal cancer develops in the membrane that covers the abdominal cavity, which includes organs such as the intestines and the liver. As with pleural mesothelioma asbestos exposure is the cause of peritoneal msothelioma. The disease is less prevalent than pleural mesothelioma, with just 300-500 cases being diagnosed each year.

As with pleural asbestosis, symptoms can take several years to manifest. Patients usually suffer from abdominal pain and may have a mass in their abdomen. Symptoms of this type of mesothelioma could also include nausea as well as weight loss and fever. A lot of these symptoms are similar to symptoms of gastrointestinal issues, which can lead to confusion in diagnosis.

Doctors can identify mesothelioma by looking over the medical history of the patient and conducting a physical exam. They can also use imaging tests like Xrays, CT scans and PET/CT scans to help find mesothelioma. These tests can show tumors, as well as other indications of cancer that aren't apparent on an X-ray.

These test results enable doctors to diagnose mesothelioma and establish the stage. They also offer treatment options. The stage is determined by the kind of cell and if the cancer has spread.

The most important mesothelioma-related risk factor is asbestos exposure. People who have worked in jobs that require asbestos, such as plumbing manufacturing, electrical work, or construction, are at increased risk of developing the disease. However, even if people aren't employed in these areas they could be exposed to asbestos through family members or through other sources. For this reason, anyone who suspects they may be at risk should talk to an experienced doctor. If they have an history of exposure to asbestos or mesothelioma, a specialist can help them find out more about their risk.

Risk Factors

Asbestos is the primary mesothelioma-related risk factor. It is responsible for as much as the 80% of cases. Exposure to asbestos can occur through work, military service, or by living with someone who is exposed to asbestos or has previously done so. When exposed to asbestos, small particles can be inhaled into the lungs and abdomen. These particles can cause irritation to the linings and cause cancerous cells to grow in the mesothelium. After exposure to asbestos mesothelioma can occur between 15 and 60 years.

Other risk factors include smoking, genetics and aging. 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 occurs between 20 and 60 years from the first exposure to asbestos before cancer symptoms appear. It is also important to know that mesothelioma is a possibility in those who were exposed to asbestos, but did not engage directly with it. This is called secondary or indirect exposure to asbestos and it is just as harmful as direct exposure.

Smoking increases the risk of getting mesothelioma because it causes mesothelium damage and makes it more vulnerable to asbestos. Furthermore, mesothelioma is caused by certain illnesses, such as pneumonia and asbestosis. Men are more likely to develop mesothelioma than women. This is because men are more likely to work with asbestos and experience a 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, and they don't usually bring asbestos home on their clothing.

Diagnosis

It is difficult to identify mesothelioma because its symptoms are frequently similar to other illnesses. This is why patients are sometimes mistakenly diagnosed.

The first step in identifying mesothelioma is for NYU Langone doctors to perform an examination of the body and take notes on the medical history of a patient which includes asbestos case (head to Annunciogratis) exposure. Doctors can also request an X-ray of the chest or CT scan to detect lumps or other abnormalities, as well as evidence of past asbestos exposure like pleural plaques (thickened pleura with calcium deposits) and the formation of fluid between the lung and the chest wall (known as the pleural effusion).

Other diagnostic tests include an echocardiogram, which examines the blood vessels and the heart, and a magnetic resonance imaging, or MRI test that uses radio waves and magnets to make a series of precise images of the inside of the body. Another way for doctors to detect mesothelioma is to perform a surgical biopsy. In a surgical biopsy doctors remove a small piece of tissue from the peritoneum or pleura for further testing. A pathologist can then examine the tissue with a microscope to see if it is contaminated with cancerous cells.

The type of mesothelial cells involved, the malignant or benign nature of those cells, as well as the location the cancer, its type and the stage of the tumour, are used to classify the disease. Certain types of mesothelioma are at an increased chance of metastasizing or spreading and it's crucial to determine the type of mesothelioma to ensure that the doctors can treat it before it gets out of control.

Doctors can also run laboratory tests on a tumor to identify specific genes, proteins or other elements that help them understand the characteristics of the cancer and determine a treatment. These results are referred to as staging.

Treatment

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

Asbestos exposure can cause mesothelioma by a variety of mechanisms. Asbestos fibers, which are too small to see or feel by the naked eye can become airborne and irritate the lung's lining (pleura). As time passes the irritation causes the formation of scar tissues that eventually result in tumors.

The pleura covers the heart and lungs and the abdomen. Mesothelium is made up of cells that respond when exposed to asbestos. They inflame the tissue and cause it to become scarred. These changes can eventually lead to malignant mesothelioma tumours.

The symptoms of pleural mesothelioma are shortness of breath and chest pain, or an accumulation of fluid in the lung (pleural effusion). In rare cases the cancer may spread to the tissues surrounding the heart and reproductive organs.

If imaging scans reveal an underlying mass in the stomach or lungs, a doctor will order a biopsies. During the procedure, doctors will remove small amounts of the tumor or fluid for lab analysis. The results can confirm a mesothelioma diagnosis and indicate the best treatment plan.

There are many types of treatment for mesothelioma including surgery and chemotherapy. Most doctors use combinations of these treatments. Participating in clinical trials for new mesothelioma treatment may also be beneficial for patients. To find out more, patients should speak with a mesothelioma specialist who has had experience treating the disease.