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Mesothelioma and Asbestos

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

Symptoms of these diseases may not manifest for years after exposure to asbestos. Different asbestos types can cause different symptoms.

Pleural Mesothelioma

Pleural mesothelioma, a form of cancer, that develops in the outer lung liner (pleura). It is the most common mesothelioma type and is responsible for 70 to 79% of all diagnosed cases. Patients with this disease suffer from chest pain and breathlessness and may also feel an ache or heaviness in the chest.

Exposure to asbestos, a group of minerals composed of microscopic fibers causes this type of cancer. When inhaled, these fibers cling to the lungs and cause irritation that results in scarring and DNA mutations. The pleura surrounds the lungs and chest cavity, so these irritations can affect both the lungs and a person's heart. Mesothelioma usually doesn't show symptoms until 30 to 50 year after exposure.

Chest pain and shortness breath are the most common symptoms. Some patients may also feel tightness in their chest or coughing. They may also experience difficulty breathing. People with this cancer often have a history of exposure to asbestos case in the workplace. The most frequent jobs that put people at risk of pleural mesothelioma include construction, manufacturing and shipbuilding. Individuals who have been in the military could be at risk because of the extensive asbestos usage in Navy ships and army bunkers.

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

Peritoneal Mesothelioma

Unlike pleural mesothelioma, which is a lung-lining cancer, peritoneal mesothelioma is found in the peritoneum, it is a membrane that lines the abdominal cavity and organs such as the intestines and the liver. As with pleural mesothelioma exposure to asbestos is the cause of peritoneal mesothelioma. The disease is less common than pleural mesothelioma, with just 300-500 cases being diagnosed each year.

Like pleural mesothelioma, symptoms can take years to show. Patients generally experience abdominal pain, and could also experience a mass in their abdomen. This type of mesothelioma may also cause nausea, weight loss, and fever. Many of these symptoms can be misinterpreted as gastrointestinal issues and can lead to a misdiagnosis.

Typically, doctors can identify mesothelioma after an exhaustive health history and physical exam. They may also employ imaging tests like Xrays, CT scans and PET/CT scans to detect mesothelioma. These tests can show cancerous tumors or other indications of cancer that aren't apparent on an X-ray.

These test results enable doctors to identify mesothelioma, and determine the stage. They can also recommend treatments. The stage is determined by the type of cell and whether the cancer has spread.

Asbestos exposure is the biggest risk factor. People who have been exposed to asbestos in jobs, such as plumbing or electrical work, or in manufacturing and construction are more likely to contract the disease. However, even if individuals aren't employed in these fields they may be exposed to asbestos lawsuit through family members or through other sources. For this reason, anyone who is concerned that they might be at risk should speak to an expert. If they have an history of exposure to asbestos, a mesothelioma specialist can help them find out more about their risk.

Risk Factors

Asbestos is the primary risk factor in mesothelioma. It is responsible for up to the 80% of cases. Exposure to asbestos can occur due to military service, work, or living with people who have worked with asbestos. Asbestos particles can be inhaled by those who are exposed to it. These particles can cause irritation to the linings, causing cancerous cells to grow in the mesothelium. Following exposure to asbestos mesothelioma can be diagnosed between 15 and 60 year.

Other risk factors include smoking, genetics and age. People in their 40s and 50s are more likely develop mesothelioma than those who are younger or more senior. Mesothelioma can take between 20 and 60 years to manifest cancer symptoms after the first exposure. It is also important to know that mesothelioma can develop in people who were exposed to asbestos but didn't work with it directly. This is known as indirect or secondary exposure to asbestos, and it can be just as dangerous as direct exposure.

Smoking increases the risk of getting mesothelioma because it damages the mesothelium, which makes it more vulnerable to asbestos settlement. Furthermore, mesothelioma is caused by certain illnesses, such as 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 have worked with asbestos for longer periods of time. Also, men are more likely to live with someone who was exposed to asbestos and bring asbestos fibers from their workplace on their clothes. Women are less likely to come exposed to asbestos and they don't usually carry asbestos on their clothes.

Diagnosis

Mesothelioma is a difficult disease to identify because the symptoms are often similar to other diseases. This is why patients are sometimes mistakenly diagnosed.

The first step in diagnosing mesothelioma is for NYU Langone doctors to perform a physical exam and take notes on the medical history of a patient, including asbestos exposure. Doctors will also recommend an CT scan or chest X-ray to check for lumps, abnormalities, 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, and a magnetic resonance imaging, also known as MRI, test that uses radio waves and magnets to create precise images of the inside of the body. Another way for doctors to detect mesothelioma is by performing an operation called a biopsy. During a surgery biopsy doctors take a tiny part of tissue from the pleura or the peritoneum, to be further examined. A pathologist will then look at the tissue with a magnifying glass to determine whether it contains cancerous cells.

Mesothelioma is classified according to the type of mesothelial cell involved, whether the cells are benign or malignant and also the location of the tumor, its type, and the stage of the tumor. Certain types of mesothelioma may be more likely to develop metastasis or spread, so it is important to get a definite diagnosis to ensure that doctors are able to treat the disease before it goes out of control.

Doctors may also conduct laboratory tests on a tumor to find specific genes, proteins and other factors that help them understand the characteristics of cancer and plan treatment. These results are known as staging.

Treatment

A diagnosis of mesothelioma can be terrifying. However, it is important to keep in mind that the cancer can be treated, particularly in its early stages. Many patients with mesothelioma survive for years with the disease, without spreading to other parts of their body.

Exposure to asbestos can cause mesothelioma in a number of ways. Asbestos fibers, which are too small to detect or feel with the naked eye, can be airborne and cause irritation to the lining of the lungs (pleura). As time passes the irritation causes the formation of scar tissues and eventually tumors.

The Pleura is a protective layer that surrounds the lungs, heart and abdomen. Mesothelium is made up of cells that respond when exposed to Asbestos Case. They cause inflammation to the tissue and cause it to become scarred. These changes can eventually result in malignant mesothelioma tumors.

The signs of pleural mesothelioma can include breathlessness and chest pain as well as an accumulation of fluid on the lungs (pleural effusion). In rare cases, cancer can spread into the tissues surrounding the reproductive organs and heart.

If imaging scans show a possible mass in the stomach or lungs, a doctor will order a biopsies. During the procedure, doctors will remove a small sample of the fluid or tumor for laboratory analysis. The results will confirm a mesothelioma diagnosis, and determine the best treatment plan.

There are many types of treatment for mesothelioma, including chemotherapy and surgery. Most doctors use a combination of these treatments. Patients could also benefit from taking part in a clinical trial of new mesothelioma therapies. Patients can find out more by consulting a mesothelioma expert who has treated mesothelioma.