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Mesothelioma Cancer Mesothelioma which is a cancerous tumor caused by asbestos exposure, is a serious condition. Inhaling asbestos fibers can cause pleural tumors, and swallowing asbestos can cause cancer of the peritoneal area. The symptoms may manifest between 10 and 50 years after the initial diagnosis. Symptoms can include abdominal pain, chest pain and a shortness of breath. Risk Factors Mesothelioma develops when asbestos fibres get into the body. Pleural mesothelioma is a form of cancer that develops in linings of the chest cavity or lungs. Less commonly, mesothelioma develops in the peritoneum, or the heart's pericardial membrane (pericardium). The cancer may take up to 50 years to manifest symptoms. These symptoms are frequently mistaken for flu like illnesses. Mesothelioma typically affects older people, and is more prevalent in males than women. Exposure to asbestos is the main risk factor for mesothelioma. Asbestos is a natural mineral composed of tiny fibres that were employed in building materials, such as walls and ceilings, due to its resistance to fire and heat. It was also extensively used in the manufacture of goods like pipes, insulations, shingles and cement. Workers in industries where asbestos was prevalent like mining, construction or shipbuilding, are at high risk of developing mesothelioma. However even those who had a secondary exposure to asbestos, such as relatives who brought home asbestos on their clothing and skin, are at risk. A small portion (less than five percent) of mesothelioma is linked to mutations in the gene BAP1. This genetic mutation increases the risk of developing mesothelioma in people who have been exposed to asbestos. The age of the patient is also an important risk factor. Mesothelioma is most common in those who are who are older than 45 and two-thirds of those who are diagnosed with the disease are 65 years old or older. This is partly due to the long latency period due to asbestos exposure, but it may also be because the disease tends to impact older people who have had more extensive and prolonged exposure to the cancer-causing material. White males are more likely develop mesothelioma than anyone else of any race or gender. This is due to the fact that historically, more white men have worked in occupations that expose them to greater risk of asbestos than other groups. Additionally, mesothelioma was most often seen in those who were exposed to asbestos before better regulations were put into the 1980s. Symptoms Mesothelioma is an asbestos-related cancer that forms in the protective linings of various organs in the body. The cancerous tumors can cause extreme discomfort and cause damage to the tissue. The malignancy can expand to other areas through the lymphatic or bloodstream system. Mesothelioma symptoms may be similar to those of other diseases, like pneumonia or the flu. It could take up to 50 years after asbestos exposure before they show symptoms. This time of latency makes it difficult to recognize mesothelioma early, and the symptoms can be misinterpreted as other diseases. In the majority of cases, malignant tumors start in the lungs and chest cavity (pleura). Mesothelioma may also develop in the linings around the abdomen and heart. In rare cases the disease can affect the lining of the testes or the sac that surrounds the heart (pericardium). Asbestos is minerals in a grouping that forms long, thin fibres. These fibers are so tough that they can't be broken down by chemicals or water, or even bacteria. These materials were widely used in a variety construction and household products before scientists realized how hazardous they were to people's lives. Most mesothelioma cases were caused by exposure to asbestos either at workplace or at home. The majority of patients exposed were employed by the US Navy or Air Force, Shipbuilding Industry or Construction. It is more prevalent in women than men and veterans comprise about 30 percent of mesothelioma cases. When mesothelioma develops doctors can spot it through imaging scans and medical tests. These include X-rays CT scans, MRIs and PET scans. The doctor may also take a sample of the tissue and send it to a laboratory for analysis. The results will aid in determining the type and stage of mesothelioma, which impacts the prognosis and treatment options. The majority of mesothelioma forms are epithelioid and sarcomatoid. Between 10 percent and 15% of cases are biphasic or mixed. Epithelioid cancer is less invasive and usually has the highest survival rates. Sarcomatoid mesothelioma is a less favorable prognosis and is more difficult to treat. Diagnosis Mesothelioma is difficult to diagnose especially in its initial stages. The first step is to visit their primary care doctor with any signs, like coughing or chest pains. The doctor will use a stethoscope listen to the patient breathing and record their health and work history. This includes any asbestos exposure history, which is crucial in determining mesothelioma's diagnosis. Because mesothelioma's symptoms resemble other diseases, doctors must exclude other conditions prior to confirming a diagnosis. Cancer can infect the lung tissue of a patient through other body parts such as the chest or abdomen. Asbestos sufferers are at risk of lung issues, such as mesothelioma, pneumonia, and pleural symptoms may be confused with other respiratory illnesses. Imaging tests, blood tests and biopsy are all used to diagnose mesothelioma. These tests can help doctors find the cancerous site, which is usually in the lungs but can also be found in the stomach or testicles. These tests can also help doctors determine the extent of the cancer is spreading in the body. A CT scan or MRI could reveal mesothelioma-related signs. These include calcium deposits (also called plaque) in the pleura and an accumulation of lung tissue and chest wall. These tests can also reveal whether the lungs of a person are more on one side than the other. In many instances biopsy is necessary to confirm the diagnosis of mesothelioma. This procedure involves taking small amounts of tissue and testing them in the laboratory for mesothelioma. Some patients may need additional tests, like FDG-positron emission tomography (PET) which allows doctors to see how the tumor is affecting blood supply to the lungs. mediastinoscopy, which allows doctors to look at and sample lymph nodes located in the middle of the chest as well as endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) which uses sound waves to study the mesothelium and lungs. Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer, is currently being treated by doctors. As a result patients diagnosed with cancer must consider their options carefully and decide what treatment is best for them. Treatment Mesothelioma may affect the lung linings or abdomen (peritoneal cancer), or heart (pericardial cancer). The symptoms usually don't show up for several decades after exposure to asbestos. It is essential that those who have been exposed to asbestos be examined if they exhibit any strange symptoms. A doctor will take a medical history to check for mesothelioma risk factors such as the length of time and intensity someone was exposed to asbestos. The doctor will also perform an examination to find mesothelioma-related signs, like the accumulation of fluid in the chest cavity. The type of cells found in the mesothelium and the locations of those cells are used to identify mesothelioma. The most popular mesothelioma type is epithelioid, and accounts for up between 60 and the majority of mesothelioma patients. Other types of mesothelioma are sarcomatoid and biphasic mesothelioma which represent approximately 10 to 15% of mesothelioma patients. There are a myriad of treatment options for patients suffering from mesothelioma. The kind of treatment you choose is based on the stage and type of mesothelioma. In some instances, mesothelioma is treated using radiation or chemotherapy. During these treatments doctors use powerful cancer-fighting drugs or equipment to kill tumors. This lowers the risk of mesothelioma recurring. Other forms of mesothelioma can be treated surgically which involves the removal of parts of the tissue lining of the organ affected. This can also help relieve symptoms such as breathing problems. chicago asbestos lawyer suffering from asbestosis pleural may undergo a procedure called VATS. This involves inserting a camera into the lung and then removing a portion of the pleura and lung. This can improve breathing problems caused by the build-up of fluid in the lungs, however it does not cure the disease. Other treatment options include support services or pain management. It is crucial that those with mesothelioma get as much information about the disease as possible and the best way to manage it. The more they know the more prepared they are to plan a a healthy and happy future.