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Mesothelioma and Asbestos
Asbestos, a mineral that naturally occurs in the form of long, thin fibers. People who are exposed to asbestos regularly risk developing mesothelioma and other lung diseases of different types.
Symptoms of these diseases may not show up for decades after exposure to asbestos. Different types of asbestos may cause different symptoms.
Pleural Mesothelioma
Pleural mesothelioma is a cancer that affects the lung's outer lining (pleura). It is the most frequent mesothelioma type, accounting for up between 70 and 79% of diagnosed cases. This condition causes chest pain, breath shortness and a feeling heaviness.
Exposure to asbestos, a group of minerals composed of microscopic fibers, typically causes this type of cancer. These fibers, when inhaled cause irritation and DNA mutations. The pleura is the area that surrounds the chest cavity and lungs and therefore, these irritations could affect both the lungs and the heart of a person. Mesothelioma symptoms usually don't appear until 30 to 50 years after exposure.
The most common symptoms of pleural mesothelioma are chest pain and shortness of breath. Some patients may also suffer from chest tightness or coughing. They may also experience difficulty breathing. Patients with this cancer have a past that includes asbestos exposure at work. The most frequent jobs that expose people to the risk of pleural mesothelioma include manufacturing, construction and shipbuilding. Individuals who have served in the military are at greater risk due the frequent use of asbestos in Navy vessels and bunkers in the Army.
The most popular staging system for pleural mysothelioma has been the TNM (tumor, lymph nodes and metastases) staging system. The stage that a patient is in at the time of diagnosis can help determine what treatment plan they should receive. Patients with pleural mesothelioma that is in stage three or four will have a worse outlook than those who are in a lower stage. Mesothelioma in stage four is usually spread to the diaphragm, the liver or even a person's heart. This can make the cancer more difficult to treat and increase the chances of complications for the patient.
Peritoneal Mesothelioma
In contrast to pleural mesothelioma which develops in the lung lining, peritoneal mesothelioma forms in the peritoneum -- an elongated membrane that covers the abdominal cavity and organs such as the intestines and the liver. As with pleural mesothelioma asbestos exposure is the cause of peritoneal mesothelioma. Only 300-500 cases are diagnosed annually, which is less than the pleural asbestosis.
As with pleural mesothelioma symptoms can take a long time to manifest. Most patients suffer from abdominal pain and an abdominal mass. This type of mesothelioma may cause nausea, weight loss, and fever. A lot of these symptoms can be misinterpreted as digestive issues, leading to a mistaken diagnosis.
Generally, doctors can find mesothelioma by conducting a thorough medical history and physical exam. Imaging tests such as X-rays or CT scans can be used to identify 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 suggest treatment options. The stage is determined by the type of cell as well as whether the tumor has spread.
The most significant risk factor for mesothelioma is exposure to asbestos. People who have worked in professions which require asbestos, such as plumbing manufacturing, electrical work, or construction, are at greater risk of developing the disease. However, even if people do not work in these fields they could be exposed to asbestos through relatives or other sources. Therefore, anyone who suspects they may be at risk should talk to an expert. A mesothelioma specialist can assist those who have had a history with asbestos to learn more about their risk.
Risk Factors
Asbestos exposure is the main risk factor for mesothelioma, which accounts for as much as 80 percent of all cases. jackson asbestos lawsuit to asbestos may occur as a result of work, military service or by living with someone who is exposed to asbestos or has previously done so. When exposed to asbestos, particles are able to be inhaled into abdomen and lungs. They can cause irritation to the linings of the abdomen and can cause cancerous cells to develop in the mesothelium. Mesothelioma can take anywhere between 15 and 60 years to develop after exposure to asbestos.
Other risk factors include smoking, genetics and age. People in their 40s and 50s are at greater risk of developing mesothelioma as compared to those younger or older. It takes mesothelioma 20-60 years to manifest cancer symptoms after the first exposure. It is also important to note that mesothelioma can develop in people who have been exposed to asbestos but did not deal with it directly. This is called indirect or secondary exposure to asbestos and it is just as harmful as direct exposure.
Smoking increases the risk of getting mesothelioma because it damages the mesothelium, which makes it more vulnerable to asbestos. Mesothelioma is also aggravated by certain illnesses such as asbestosis and pneumonia. Men are more likely to develop mesothelioma than females. This is because men are more likely to work with asbestos and have an extended period of exposure than women. Men are also more likely to live with someone who has worked with asbestos and carry asbestos fibers from their workplace on their clothing. Women are less likely to come into exposure to asbestos and don't typically carry asbestos home on their clothes.
Diagnosis
It is difficult to diagnose mesothelioma due to its symptoms being often similar to other conditions. This could lead to patients being wrongly diagnosed.
NYU Langone doctors will perform physical examinations and document the patient's medical history including asbestos exposure. Doctors may also request an CT scan or chest X-ray in order to look for abnormalities, lumps and evidence of exposure to asbestos. 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 magnetic resonance imaging, or MRI, test, which uses radio waves and magnets to make a series of precise images of the inside of the body. A surgical biopsy is a different method for doctors to identify mesothelioma. In a surgical biopsy doctors remove a small amount of tissue from the pleura or peritoneum to conduct further tests. A pathologist can examine the tissue under microscopes to determine if it is contaminated with cancerous cells.
The type of mesothelial cell involved and the benign or malignant nature of the cells and the location the cancer, its type and the stage of the tumor, are used to classify the disease. Certain types of mesothelioma are more likely to grow or spread, so it is important to establish a definitive diagnosis so that doctors can treat the disease before it becomes out of control.
Doctors may also conduct laboratory tests on a tumor to identify specific proteins, genes and other factors that can help them describe the characteristics of the cancer and determine a treatment. These results are known as staging.
Treatment
A diagnosis of mesothelioma may be terrifying. It is important to remember that cancer can be treated, particularly in its early stages. Many people with mesothelioma live for many years with the disease without it spreading to other parts of their body.
Exposure to asbestos can trigger mesothelioma through a variety of ways. Asbestos fibers, which are too small to be felt or observed by naked eyes, can become airborne, causing irritation to the lining of the lung (pleura). In time irritation leads to formation of scar tissue, which causes changes in the cell structure which eventually lead to tumors.
The pleura covers the lungs and heart and the abdomen. Mesothelium is made up of cells that react to asbestos which causes it to become inflamed and create scar tissue. As time passes, these changes result in the growth of malignant mesothelioma tumors.
Breathing problems, chest pain or fluid accumulation on the lungs are all indications of the pleural msothelioma. In rare instances cancer can spread to the tissues surrounding the reproductive organs and heart.
If imaging scans reveal a possible mass in the lungs or stomach doctors will recommend biopsies. During the procedure doctors remove small amounts of fluid or tumor to allow for lab tests. The results will confirm a mesothelioma diagnosis and indicate the most effective treatment plan.
There are several types of mesothelioma treatments, including chemotherapy, surgery and immunotherapy. The majority of doctors use the combination of these methods. Patients may also benefit from enrolling in a clinical trial of new mesothelioma treatment. To learn more about the trials, patients should consult mesothelioma specialists who have expertise in treating the condition.