Mesothelioma and Asbestos
Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that is found in thin, long fibres. Workers who are regularly exposed to asbestos may develop lung diseases, such as mesothelioma.
It can take years for symptoms to show up after asbestos exposure. Different
asbestos types may cause different symptoms.
Pleural Mesothelioma
Pleural mesothelioma occurs in the outer lung lining, also known as the pleura. It is the most frequent mesothelioma type, accounting for up 70 to 79% of all diagnosed cases. This condition causes chest discomfort, shortness of breath and a feeling heaviness.
This type of cancer is usually caused by exposure to
asbestos legal which is a grouping of minerals comprised 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 and the lungs, which means that irritations can also affect the heart. Mesothelioma typically doesn't manifest until 30 to 50 year after exposure.
Shortness of breath and chest pain are the most frequent symptoms. Patients may also experience difficulty breathing or chest tightness. People with this cancer often have a history of exposure to asbestos in the workplace. The most common jobs that expose workers to the risk of pleural mesothelioma include construction, manufacturing and shipbuilding. People who have worked in the military could be at risk due to the frequent
asbestos claim usage in Navy ships and army bunkers.
The most common staging method for pleural mesothelioma is the TNM (tumor lymph nodes, lymph nodes and metastases) staging system. The stage a patient is in at the time of diagnosis will help determine the treatment plan they should follow. For instance, patients who have mesothelioma pleural stage three or four have a worse prognosis than patients with a lower stage. Stage four mesothelioma may develop into the heart, liver or diaphragm. This makes it more difficult to treat and increases the likelihood of complications for patients.
Peritoneal Mesothelioma
In contrast to pleural cancer, which is found in the lung's lining it develops in a membrane that surrounds the abdominal cavity, which includes organs such as the intestines and liver. Similar to pleural mesothelioma,
asbestos exposure is the cause of peritoneal mesothelioma. The disease is much less prevalent than pleural mesothelioma, with just 300-500 cases being diagnosed each year.
As with pleural asbestosis, symptoms can take years to show. Typically, patients are afflicted with abdominal pain as well as a mass in the abdomen. This kind of mesothelioma can also cause nausea, weight loss, and fever. Many of these symptoms could be misinterpreted as digestive issues and can lead to a false diagnosis.
Doctors can detect mesothelioma by reviewing the medical history of the patient and performing a physical examination. Imaging tests such as X-rays or CT scans can be used to detect mesothelioma. These tests can reveal tumors, as well as other signs of cancer that aren't visible on X-rays.
The results of these tests allow doctors to diagnose mesothelioma, identify the stage and suggest treatment options. The stage is determined by the type of cell as well as whether the tumor has spread.
Asbestos exposure is the biggest risk factor. People who have been exposed to asbestos in professions, such as electrical or plumbing work, or in construction and manufacturing are more likely to contract the disease. However, even if individuals aren't employed in these areas they could be exposed to asbestos through relatives or other sources. Therefore, anyone who is concerned that they might be at risk should talk to a doctor. A mesothelioma specialist can assist those who have a history with
asbestos lawsuit to learn more about their risk.
Risk Factors
Asbestos is the most significant risk factor in mesothelioma. It is responsible for as much as 80% of all cases. Exposure to asbestos can happen as a result of military service, work, or living with someone who used to work with asbestos. Asbestos particles can be breathed in by people who are exposed to it. They can cause irritation to the linings of the abdomen and trigger cancerous cells to develop in the mesothelium. Following exposure to asbestos mesothelioma can be diagnosed between 15 and 60 years old.
Other risk factors include smoking, genetics, and age. People in their 40s and 50s are more likely get mesothelioma than people younger or older. This is because mesothelioma usually takes 20 to 60 years after the initial exposure before the first signs of cancer appear. It is important to remember that mesothelioma may develop in people who were exposed to asbestos but didn't work with it directly. This is referred to as secondary or indirect asbestos exposure. It can be as hazardous as direct asbestos exposure.
Smoking can increase the likelihood of getting mesothelioma because it damages the mesothelium and makes it more susceptible to asbestos. Mesothelioma is also aggravated by certain illnesses, including asbestosis and pneumonia. Men are more likely to develop mesothelioma than women. Men are more likely than women to have been exposed to asbestos for longer periods of time and to work with it. Men are also more likely to have lived with someone who had worked with asbestos and to carry asbestos fibers on their clothing. Women tend to have less exposure to asbestos and rarely carry asbestos around on their clothes.
Diagnosis
Mesothelioma is a difficult cancer to diagnose because the symptoms can be similar to other conditions. Due to this, patients are sometimes mistakenly diagnosed.
The first step to diagnose mesothelioma is for NYU Langone doctors to perform an examination and write note of the medical history of the patient which includes asbestos exposure. Doctors can also request an X-ray chest or CT scan to check for lumps and other abnormalities and also to look for evidence of previous asbestos exposure such as pleural plaques (thickened pleura with calcium deposits) and the formation of fluid between the lung and chest wall (known as pleural effusion).
Other diagnostic tests include a magnetic resonance image or MRI test, which uses radio waves and magnets in order to produce a series of precise images of inside the body. Another method doctors use to diagnose mesothelioma is by performing an operation called a biopsy. A surgical biopsy is when doctors take a small amount of tissue from the pleura or peritoneum to conduct further tests. A pathologist can then examine the tissue with an magnifying glass to determine whether it contains cancerous cells.
The mesothelial type involved, the malignant or benign nature of these cells and the location the cancer, its type and the stage of the tumour, are used to categorize the disease. Certain mesothelioma types have greater risk of metastasizing or spreading, so it's important to determine the type of mesothelioma so doctors can treat it before it gets out-of-control.
Doctors may also conduct tests in the laboratory on tumors to determine specific genes, proteins, or other factors which will help them identify cancer characteristics and plan treatment. These results are called staging.
Treatment
A diagnosis of mesothelioma may be frightening. It is important to keep in mind that cancer can be treated particularly in its early stages. Many patients with mesothelioma be afflicted for a long time, without spreading.
Exposure to asbestos can cause mesothelioma through a variety of ways. Asbestos fibers, which are too small to be able to see or feel through the naked eye, can become airborne and cause irritation to the lining of the lungs (pleura). In time, the irritation leads to the formation of scar tissue, which eventually lead to tumors.