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Mesothelioma
Exposure to asbestos is the primary cause of malignant mesothelioma. Exposure can occur decades before symptoms are noticed.
Asbestos fibers may enter the body through the lung linings as well as the abdomen. They irritate healthy cells of the mesothelial lining and cause them to grow rapidly and uncontrollably. Most mesothelioma cases occur caused by asbestos exposure.
What is mesothelioma?
Mesothelioma is a rare cancer that is found in the lining of specific organs, mainly the lungs (pleura) and abdomen and chest wall. It's almost always caused by exposure to asbestos. mesothelioma compensation claims , a mineral that is fibrous was once used as an insulation and as a building material. It was a very popular material between the 1930s and the 1980s due to the fact that it was impervious to fire, water and sound. Millions of people were exposed to asbestos. The asbestos producers knew of the risks, but they kept the dangers from the general population.
If exposed to asbestos, the fibers could be absorbed by air and then ingested. They can enter the lungs or stomach via tiny airways, where they may be trapped in the tissue lining. The asbestos fibers cause irritation that can cause cancerous tumors to grow. In general, the disease can take 30 to 50 years after exposure to asbestos to begin to manifest.
The most popular mesothelioma type is malignant pleural sarcoma. The other types are mesothelioma peritoneal, pericardial meso and testicular mesothelioma.
Most patients with mesothelioma are males, and they usually have abdominal or lung mesothelioma. It can cause breathing problems or coughing, as well as discomfort in the abdomen or chest. Patients should visit a doctor to describe their symptoms. The doctors can perform tests to diagnose and rule out any other ailments. These tests can include X radiations, computer scans or CT scans, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or PET scans, positron emission tomography (PET) or PET scans.
There are several types of mesothelioma, and each one has a different impact on the various areas of the body. Malignant pleural mesothelioma develops in the membrane that covers the lungs and the chest cavity (pleura) and peritoneal mesothelioma develops in the lining of the stomach or abdomen. Pericardial mesothelioma that affects the heart, as well as testicular mesothelioma, developed in the lining of the testicles are not as common. Mesothelioma can also expand to other organs of the body, like the brain or liver. This is known as metastasis. If possible, it is important to determine the form of mesothelioma because the treatment options are different.
How do I know if I am diagnosed with mesothelioma?
Mesothelioma diagnosis is based on a patient's symptoms, asbestos exposure history and a physical examination. Doctors can also order diagnostic tests to rule-out mesothelioma or determine if cancer has been spreading.
Asbestos exposure can be a risk factor for several different types of cancer, including mesothelioma, lung cancer and asbestosis. Asbestos is a fibrous substance that produces dust and powder that can be inhaled or swallowed. The tiny fibers get stuck in the lining of the organs and tissues in the body. Mesothelioma symptoms typically take between 10 to 50 years to appear after asbestos exposure, and they can mimic symptoms of other diseases like the flu or pneumonia.
Doctors diagnose mesothelioma using a combination lab tests and imaging methods. They may use computed tomography scans or Xrays to look at the lung tissue of a patient. They can also perform the needle biopsy to collect parts of a tumor.
The most common mesothelioma type is mesothelioma pleural which affects the lung lining and chest cavity. Other types include peritoneal mesothelioma testicular mesothelioma and pericardial mesothelioma. Each type affects a specific part of the body, and the cells that comprise mesothelioma are different based on the tissue affected.
Mesothelioma can be described as a type of cancer. As with all cancers mesothelioma causes uncontrolled cell growth that expands to surrounding tissues and organs. The cancer cells can be introduced into bloodstreams and then travel to distant parts of the body, where they may cause further damage and metastasize.
It is difficult to diagnose mesothelioma due to the fact that it can take so long between exposure and the first signs of illness. Patients should tell their doctors whether they've been exposed to asbestos and their symptoms. This is especially important in the event of breathing problems, unprovoked loss of weight or chest pain. Early detection of mesothelioma may enhance the outcome of treatment. It is essential to be diagnosed by a specialist such as an oncologist, pulmonologist, or any other. Specialists in mesothelioma are able to offer the most comprehensive and up-to current treatment plans for patients.
What are the symptoms?
The symptoms of mesothelioma can vary depending on the stage and type of the cancer. Patients may notice signs of the disease in their chest, like a persistent cough or difficulty breathing. Patients may also experience fatigue, fever and loss of appetite. As the disease progresses, symptoms can get worse. In the later stages, pleural cancer may cause severe pain and swelling in the chest or abdomen.
Many people with pleural cancer do not show any symptoms initially. This is due to asbestos fibers can be found in the lining of the organs such as the lungs and remain dormant for a long time until they grow into an actual tumor.
Once a tumor has been formed it releases cancerous cells into the surrounding tissue. These cells can spread throughout your body as they continue to grow and expanding. This process is called metastasis.
The cancerous cells can grow to lymph nodes as well as the bloodstream. The cancer cells eventually will enter the lungs and wreak havoc with lung function.
Asbestos exposure could cause numerous health problems including mesothelioma. In the United States, about 3,300 people receive mesothelioma diagnoses each year. Of those the pleural mesothelioma type is the most common mesothelioma.
The majority of cases of pleural mysothelioma result from the inhalation of asbestos particles. People who are exposed to asbestos in the workplace include construction workers, ship manufacturers, and builders who worked in asbestos factories. Even those who haven't dealt directly with asbestos but were exposed to it, are also at risk. These include those who worked or lived alongside those who worked in asbestos factories, those who handled materials that contained asbestos, and those who received regular exposure to asbestos dust that was borne by the air in the form of insulation and asbestos siding.
The first symptoms of mesothelioma might not manifest for 10 to 50 years after asbestos exposure. This time period is known as the latency period. The length of this latency time frame varies for every person based on the particular circumstances of the individual including the degree of exposure and where the cancer is located.
Because of the long latency period, mesothelioma is often mistakenly diagnosed. It can be mistaken for other illnesses that present with similar symptoms, like the common cold or heart attack. As such, people who have a history of asbestos exposure should be aware of any unusual or new symptoms and talk to their physician about them.
What are the treatment options available for mesothelioma?
Mesothelioma can be found in the chest's lining (pleural mesothelioma) or in the abdomen (peritoneal mesothelioma) or testicles (pericardial mesothelioma). It can be diagnosed by the use of blood, fluid or even tissue samples taken from the site in which the cancer is present. The samples are then examined by a medical team for evidence of asbestos-related cells.
The medical team will determine the mesothelioma type you have, based on the kinds of cells are identified. This will help your doctor determine the best treatment option for you.
Stage I (the initial stage of cancer) is usually divided into four stages. The treatment of mesothelioma is contingent on your overall health, stage, and the area in which the cancer is located.
It is important to visit a doctor when you begin experiencing any symptoms even if they're not serious. The doctor will take the tissues or fluids from the affected area and then perform an CT scan to look for any abnormalities. If mesothelioma has been confirmed the further tests will be carried out to determine the extent of cancer's spread. These tests can include a positron-emission tomography/CT scanner and ultrasound of the chest or heart cavity, EBUS and mediastinoscopy.
In addition to these tests it is also necessary to perform a biopsy for a mesothelioma diagnoses. The biopsy will involve removing tiny amounts of tissue to be examined under a microscope in order to establish the definitive diagnosis of mesothelioma.
Chemotherapy, surgery, or radiation therapy are the treatment options that are available for pleural mesothelioma. Chemotherapy involves taking anti cancer drugs that circulate in the bloodstream to destroy cancer cells. Radiotherapy is a cancer-targeting therapy which makes use of high-energy radiation to kill cancerous cells and shrink tumors. In some cases, the doctor may recommend both radiotherapy and chemotherapy. They may also suggest that patients participate in a clinical trial on mesothelioma that tests new methods to improve the outcomes of patients.