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Mesothelioma and Asbestos

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that is found in long, thin fibres. People who are exposed to asbestos are at risk of developing lung diseases such as mesothelioma.

It may take decades for symptoms to appear after asbestos exposure. Different asbestos types may cause different symptoms.

Pleural Mesothelioma

Pleural mesothelioma is a cancer of the lung's outer lining also known as pleura. It is the most prevalent mesothelioma type, accounting for up 70 to 79% of all diagnosed cases. People with this condition experience pain in the chest and breathlessness and may experience a sensation of heaviness in the chest.

This type of cancer is typically caused through exposure to asbestos settlement, which is a cluster of minerals that are made up of microscopic fibres. The fibers, when inhaled, cause irritation and DNA mutations. Pleura is the lining of both the chest cavity as well as the lungs, so irritations can also affect the heart. Mesothelioma symptoms usually don't appear until 30 to 50 years after exposure.

The most commonly reported 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. Construction, manufacturing, and shipbuilding are the most prevalent occupations which put people at risk danger of developing pleural melanoma. Individuals who have served in the military are at a higher risk due to the extensive use asbestos compensation in Navy vessels and bunkers in the Army.

The most popular staging method for pleural mesothelioma is the TNM (tumor lymph nodes, 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. For instance, patients suffering from mesothelioma pleural stage three or four have a poorer prognosis than patients with lower stages. Stage four mesothelioma is often spread to the liver, diaphragm or even the heart of a patient. This can make it more difficult to treat and increases the chance of complications for patients.

Peritoneal Mesothelioma

In contrast to pleural mesothelioma which is a lung-lining cancer, peritoneal mesothelioma develops in the peritoneum, an elongated membrane that covers the abdominal cavity as well as organs such as the liver and intestines. Like pleural mesothelioma, asbestos exposure is the cause of peritoneal msothelioma. The disease is much less prevalent than pleural mesothelioma. There are only about 300-500 cases diagnosed each year.

Like pleural mesothelioma, the symptoms can take a long time to manifest. Patients typically experience abdominal pain, and may have a mass in their abdomen. This kind of mesothelioma can also cause nausea, weight loss and fever. A lot of these symptoms are similar to those experienced by digestive problems, which can lead to incorrect diagnosis.

Generally, doctors can find mesothelioma by conducting an exhaustive medical history and physical exam. Imaging tests like X-rays and CT scans can be used to identify mesothelioma. These tests can reveal tumors and other cancer signs that aren't evident on X-rays.

The results of these tests allow doctors to diagnose mesothelioma, determine the stage and suggest treatment options. The staging is determined by the type of cell and whether or whether the cancer has spread to other areas of the body.

asbestos claim exposure is the main risk factor. People who have worked in professions which require asbestos, such as plumbing manufacturing, electrical work or construction, are at a higher risk of developing the disease. Even if they do not work in these fields, they can still be exposed to asbestos legal through family members or other sources. For this reason, anyone who believes they could be at risk should talk to a doctor. If they have any history of exposure to asbestos or mesothelioma, a specialist can assist them in finding out more about their risk.

Risk Factors

Asbestos exposure is the main mesothelioma risk factor, which accounts for as much as 80 percent of cases. Exposure to asbestos can happen due to work, military service, or living with those who worked with asbestos. Asbestos particles can be breathed in by people who are exposed to it. These particles can cause irritation to the linings and can cause cancerous cells to grow in the mesothelium. Mesothelioma can take anywhere between 15 and 60 years to develop following exposure to asbestos.

Other risk factors include genetics, smoking and age. People in their 40s and 50s are at greater risk of developing mesothelioma compared to those who are younger or older. It takes mesothelioma 20-60 years before it manifests cancer symptoms after the first exposure. It is important to remember that mesothelioma is a possibility in those who were exposed to asbestos but did not engage directly with it. This is referred to as secondary or indirect asbestos exposure, and is as dangerous as direct asbestos exposure.

Smoking increases a person's chances of developing mesothelioma since it causes mesothelium damage and makes it more prone to asbestos. Mesothelioma can also be caused by certain illnesses, including asbestosis and pneumonia. Men are more likely to develop mesothelioma compared to women. This is due to men being more likely to work with asbestos and have a longer period of exposure than women. Also, men are more likely to live with someone who had asbestos exposure and bring asbestos fibers that have escaped home on their clothes. Women tend to be less in contact with asbestos (resource for this article), and they don't usually bring asbestos home on their clothing.

Diagnosis

Mesothelioma is a difficult cancer to identify because the symptoms are often similar to other diseases. This could lead to patients being misdiagnosed.

The first step in diagnosing mesothelioma is for NYU Langone doctors to perform a physical exam and take down a patient's medical history which includes asbestos exposure. Doctors can also order an X-ray of the chest or CT scan to look for lumps and other abnormalities as well as evidence of past asbestos exposure like plaques on the pleura (thickened pleura with calcium deposits) and the buildup of fluid between the lung and chest wall (known as pleural effusion).

Other diagnostic tests include an echocardiogram which examines the blood vessels and the heart 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 another way for doctors to diagnose mesothelioma. In a surgical biopsy doctors remove a small amount of tissue from the pleura or peritoneum to conduct further tests. A pathologist can then examine the tissue under a microscope to see if it has cancerous cells.

Mesothelioma is classified according to the type of mesothelial cells involved, whether these cells are benign or malignant, and the location of the tumor, its type, and the stage of the cancer. Certain types of mesothelioma are more likely to develop metastasis or spread which is why it is crucial to establish a definitive diagnosis so doctors can treat the disease before it becomes out of control.

Doctors may also conduct tests in the laboratory on tumors to determine particular proteins, genes or other elements that help them understand the characteristics of cancer and plan treatment. These results are referred to as staging.

Treatment

A mesothelioma diagnosis can be terrifying. It is crucial to remember that cancer can be treated especially at its early stages. Many people with mesothelioma can be afflicted for many years without it spreading.

Exposure to asbestos can trigger mesothelioma via various mechanisms. Asbestos fibers, which are too small to see or feel by the naked eye can be airborne and cause irritation to the lining of the lungs (pleura). As time passes, the irritation leads to the formation of scar tissue, which eventually lead to tumors.

The pleura covers the lungs and heart and the abdomen. Mesothelium is made up of cells that react when exposed to asbestos. They inflame the tissue and cause it to scar. In time, these changes can lead to the development of malignant mesothelioma tumors.

The signs of pleural mesothelioma can include breathlessness, chest pain or the accumulation of fluid in the lungs (pleural effusion). In rare cases the cancer may grow to the tissues surrounding the heart and reproductive organs.

A doctor may request biopsy if imaging scans show a potential lung tumor or stomach. The procedure involves the removal of some of the fluid or tumor for laboratory testing. The results will confirm a mesothelioma diagnosis, and determine the best treatment plan.

There are many types of mesothelioma treatment, including chemotherapy, surgery and immunotherapy. Most doctors utilize the combination of these methods. Enrolling in clinical trials of new mesothelioma treatment may also be beneficial to patients. To learn more about the trials, patients should speak to a mesothelioma specialist who has experience treating the condition.