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Mesothelioma Cancer Mesothelioma is a tumor that can be cancerous that is caused by asbestos exposure is a serious condition. Inhaling asbestos fibers can cause pleural cancer and swallowing asbestos can cause cancer of the peritoneal region. The symptoms may be similar to those of less serious illnesses. They can take 10 – 50 years to show. Symptoms include breathlessness, chest pain and abdominal distress. Risk Factors Asbestos fibres can cause mesothelioma. The most well-known type of mesothelioma is pleural mesothelioma, which forms in the lining of the chest cavity and the lungs. Mesothelioma may also grow in the peritoneum (the membrane that surrounds the heart) or the pericardium. It can take between 20 and 50 years for the cancer to develop and manifest symptoms that can be mistaken for flu-like illnesses. Mesothelioma most often affects older people, and it is more prevalent in males than women. The main risk factor for mesothelioma is exposure asbestos. Asbestos, a naturally occurring mineral composed of tiny fibres, was used as a building material for example, in ceilings and walls. It is resistant to fire and heat. It was also extensively used in the manufacturing of goods such as pipes insulation, shingles, insulation and cement. Mesothelioma is a serious disease for people who work in industries that use asbestos, such as shipbuilding, mining or construction. However even those who had a secondary exposure to asbestos like relatives who brought home asbestos-contaminated clothes and skin, are at risk. A small percentage of mesothelioma cases can be traced to a genetic mutation known as BAP1. This genetic mutation increases the chance of developing mesothelioma in people who have been exposed to asbestos. The patient's age is also an important risk factor. Mesothelioma typically affects those over 45 and two-thirds of those diagnosed are 65 or older. This is due in part to the long latency time due to asbestos exposure, but it could also be because the disease tends to impact older people who have had longer-term and more intense exposure to asbestos-related material. Mesothelioma is more prevalent in white males than women or members of any other race. This is due to the fact that historically, more white men have been employed in occupations that expose them to greater risk of asbestos than other groups. Mesothelioma is most often afflicted by those who were exposed to asbestos before the 1980s, when more stringent regulations were in place. Signs and symptoms Mesothelioma is a form of cancer that is caused by asbestos, occurs in the protective linings of several organs. The cancerous tumors can cause severe pain and can damage the tissues. The malignancy may extend to other areas of the body via the lymphatic system or the bloodstream. The symptoms of mesothelioma can be similar to those of other illnesses such as influenza or pneumonia. It usually takes between 10 and 50 years to show up after exposure to asbestos. This latency period makes it difficult to identify mesothelioma early, and the symptoms may be misinterpreted as other diseases. Most malignant tumors begin in the chest cavity or lungs (pleura). Mesothelioma may also form in the linings surrounding the abdomen and the heart. In rare instances the disease can affect the testes' lining, or the sac that surrounds the heart (pericardium). Asbestos is a group of minerals that form long, thin fibers. The fibers are so strong that they aren't broken down by water, chemicals or bacteria. They were extensively used in a variety of household and construction products for a long time before researchers realized how dangerous they were to people's health. The majority of patients with mesothelioma were exposed to asbestos in the workplace or at home, and the majority of those exposed were employed in the US Navy, the air force, the shipbuilding or construction. Men are more likely to develop mesothelioma than females. Veterans comprise approximately 30 percent of all cases. Medical tests and imaging scans can aid in diagnosing mesothelioma. These include X-rays CT scans, MRIs and PET scans. The doctor can also send a tissue sample to a laboratory for testing. The results will help doctors determine the mesothelioma type and stage of the disease which affects the prognosis and treatment options. Most types of mesothelioma are epithelioid or sarcomatoid, and between 10 and 15% are biphasic or mixed. Epithelioid mesothelioma is usually less aggressive and has the best survival rates. Sarcomatoid mesothelioma has a worse prognosis and is more difficult to treat. Diagnosis It is difficult to diagnose mesothelioma, especially in the early stages. The first step is for patients to visit their primary care doctor with any signs, like chest pains or coughing. The doctor will use a stethoscope listen to the patient breathing and then record their health history and work history. This includes any asbestos exposure information, which is crucial for diagnosing mesothelioma. Because mesothelioma's symptoms resemble other diseases, doctors must rule out other conditions before making the diagnosis. Cancer can develop in the lung of a patient from other organs like the chest or abdomen. Asbestos-related lung diseases, like pneumonia, are common in asbestos sufferers. Pleural mesothelioma can be mistaken for other respiratory illnesses. Imaging tests, blood tests and biopsy are all used to diagnose mesothelioma. These tests will aid doctors in locating the location of the cancer, which is most typically in the lungs, but can also be in the stomach or the testicles. These tests can also help doctors find out how much of the cancer is spreading in the body. A CT scan or MRI could reveal the signs of mesothelioma including calcium deposits in the pleura (known as plaque) and a buildup of fluid between the lungs and the chest wall. These tests can also reveal whether a person has more lungs on one side or the other. In many cases, a biopsy is needed to confirm the diagnosis of mesothelioma. This involves removing some of the tissue and analyzing it in the lab for mesothelioma-related cells. Some patients may require additional tests, for example FDG-positron emission tomography (PET) which allows doctors to see how the tumor is affecting blood supply to the lungs. mediastinoscopy, which permits doctors to examine and collect lymph nodes located in the middle of the chest as well as endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) which makes use of sound waves to examine mesothelium and the lungs. Mesothelioma is a rare condition and doctors are still learning how to treat it effectively. Therefore, patients who are diagnosed with cancer must be aware of their options and decide what treatment is best for them. Treatment Mesothelioma can affect the lung's lining (pleural mesothelioma), abdomen (peritoneal mesothelioma) or heart (pericardial mesothelioma). The symptoms are not usually evident for several decades after asbestos exposure. It is important that people who have been exposed to asbestos should be checked for any strange symptoms. A doctor will take an medical history to look for mesothelioma risk factors for example, how long and how intensely an individual was exposed to asbestos. The doctor will also do an examination to detect symptoms of mesothelioma such as fluid build-up in the chest cavity. Mesothelioma can be classified based on the kind of cells that develop in the mesothelium as well as the site where these cells are. The most popular type of mesothelioma is epithelioid. It makes up to 60% to 80percent of mesothelioma cases. Other mesothelioma types include biphasic mesothelioma and sarcomatoid, which represent between 10% and 15% of all mesothelioma cases. There are a myriad of treatment options available for people suffering from mesothelioma. The type of treatment is based on the stage and type of mesothelioma. In certain cases, mesothelioma can be treated with radiation or chemotherapy. During these treatments, doctors inject powerful cancer-fighting drugs or use special equipment to kill cancerous tumors and decrease the chance of mesothelioma recurring. Other mesothelioma types are treated through surgery that removes a portion of the lining from the affected organ. This can also ease breathing difficulties and other symptoms. A person with asbestosis pleural can undergo a procedure known as VATS. This involves inserting a camera into the lung and then removing a piece of the lung and pleura. east orange asbestos lawyer can alleviate breathlessness caused by fluid build-up in the lungs, however it does not cure the disease. Other treatment options could include support and pain management. It is important for people with mesothelioma to get as much information as possible about the disease and ways to cope with it. The more they are aware of, the better equipped they are to plan a a healthy and happy future.