The Ultimate Glossary For Terms Related To Mesothelioma And Asbestos

Mesothelioma and Asbestos

Asbestos, a mineral that naturally forms in the form of long, thin fibers. People who are exposed to asbestos regularly risk developing mesothelioma and other lung diseases of different types.

The symptoms of these diseases may not show up for decades after exposure to asbestos. Different Asbestos legal types can cause different symptoms.

Pleural Mesothelioma

Pleural mesothelioma occurs in the outer lung lining, or pleura. It is the most prevalent mesothelioma type and is responsible for 70 to 79% of all diagnosed cases. This condition causes chest pain, breath shortness and a feeling of weightiness.

This type of cancer is typically caused by exposure to asbestos which is a cluster of minerals that are made up of microscopic fibres. Once inhaled, these fibers stick inside the lung and cause irritation which leads to scarring and DNA mutations. Pleura covers both the chest cavity and the lungs, and so irritations can also affect the heart. Mesothelioma symptoms are usually not apparent until 30 to 50 years after exposure.

The most frequent symptoms of pleural mesothelioma are chest pain and breath shortness. Some patients may also feel tightness in their chest or coughing. They may also experience difficulty breathing. People with this cancer have a history of disease that includes asbestos exposure at work. The most frequent jobs that expose people to the risk of pleural mesothelioma include construction, manufacturing and shipbuilding. People who have served in the military may be at risk due to the frequent asbestos usage in Navy ships and army bunkers.

The TNM (tumors lymph nodes and metastases staging system) is the most commonly used staging system used for the pleural adenocarcinoma. The stage the patient is in at the moment of diagnosis will determine the treatment plan they should receive. Patients suffering from pleural mesothelioma who is in stage three or stage four will suffer a more negative prognosis compared to those who are in a less advanced stage. Mesothelioma in stage four can develop into the heart, liver or diaphragm. This can make it more difficult to treat and raises the chance of complications for patients.

Peritoneal Mesothelioma

Unlike pleural mesothelioma, which develops in the lung lining, peritoneal mesothelioma develops in the peritoneum, it is a membrane that lines the abdominal cavity as well as organs such as the intestines and the liver. Like pleural mesothelioma, peritoneal mesothelioma can be caused by asbestos exposure. There are only 300-500 cases diagnosed annually which is lower than the pleural asbestosis.

As with pleural asbestosis, symptoms can take a long time to manifest. Patients usually experience abdominal pain, and may also have a lump in their abdomen. This kind of mesothelioma can cause nausea, weight loss and fever. A lot of these symptoms are similar to symptoms of digestive problems, which can result in misdiagnosis.

Doctors can detect mesothelioma by looking over the medical history of the patient and performing a physical exam. Imaging tests such as X-rays or CT scans are a way to identify mesothelioma. These tests can detect tumors and other signs of cancer that aren't evident on X-rays.

The results of these tests allow doctors to diagnose mesothelioma, identify the stage and recommend treatment options. The stage is determined by the kind of cell and if the tumor has spread.

The most significant mesothelioma-related risk factor is exposure to asbestos. People who have been in occupations which require asbestos, like plumbing, manufacturing, electrical work, or construction, are at greater risk of developing the disease. However, even if people do not work in these fields they could be exposed to asbestos through family members or through other sources. This is why anyone who believes they could be at risk should speak to an experienced doctor. If they have an history of exposure to asbestos and mesothelioma is a concern, a specialist will help them find out more about their risk.

Risk Factors

Asbestos is the main risk factor in mesothelioma. It is responsible for as much as 80% of all cases. Exposure to asbestos can occur due to work, military service, or by living with a person who works with asbestos or has previously done so. When exposed to asbestos lawsuit, small particles can be breathed into the lungs and abdomen. These particles can cause irritation to the linings and trigger cancerous cells to form in the mesothelium. Mesothelioma can take between 15 and 60 years to develop following exposure to asbestos.

Other risk factors include smoking, genetics and the advancing age. People in their 40s and 50s are more likely be diagnosed with mesothelioma compared to those who are younger or older. Mesothelioma can take between 20 and 60 years to show signs of cancer after the first exposure. It is important to remember that mesothelioma can develop in people who were exposed to asbestos lawsuit but didn't work with it directly. This is known as indirect or secondary asbestos exposure, and is as dangerous as direct asbestos exposure.

Smoking increases the risk of mesothelioma, as it damages the mesothelium. It also makes it more prone to. Mesothelioma can also be caused by certain illnesses such as 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 an extended period of exposure than women. Men are also more likely to live with someone who has had asbestos exposure and bring asbestos fibers from their workplace on their clothes. Women are less likely to come in contact with asbestos, and they don't usually bring asbestos home on their clothes.

Diagnosis

It is difficult to identify mesothelioma due to its symptoms being often similar to other conditions. This is why patients are sometimes wrongly diagnosed.

NYU Langone doctors will perform an examination of the body and document the patient's medical background, including asbestos litigation exposure. Doctors may also request an CT scan or chest X-ray to check for lumps, abnormalities, and evidence of asbestos exposure. These include pleural plaques, thickened pleura and calcium deposits.

Other diagnostic tests include an echocardiogram which examines the heart and blood vessels, and a magnetic resonance imaging, or MRI test, which makes use of radio waves and magnets to make a series of detailed images of the interior of the body. Another way for doctors to detect mesothelioma is by performing the procedure of a surgical biopsy. A surgical biopsy is when doctors remove a small piece of tissue from the peritoneum or pleura to conduct further tests. A pathologist can look at the tissue under microscopes to determine whether it has cancerous cells.

The type of mesothelial cells involved, the malignant or benign nature of these cells as well as the location the cancer, its type and the stage of the tumor, are used to classify the disease. Certain types of mesothelioma are more likely to grow or spread, so it is important to have a clear diagnosis so doctors can treat the disease before it becomes out of control.

Doctors can also run laboratory tests on a tumor to identify specific genes, proteins or other elements which can help them identify the cancer's characteristics and plan treatment. These results are known as staging.

Treatment

A mesothelioma diagnose can be terrifying. It is crucial to remember that cancer can be treated particularly in its early stages. Many mesothelioma patients live for a long time with the disease without it spreading to other areas of their body.

Exposure to asbestos can cause mesothelioma by many mechanisms. Asbestos fibers, which are tiny enough to be felt or viewed with the naked eyes, can become airborne, irritating the lung's lining (pleura). Over time the irritation causes the formation of scar tissue and eventually tumors.

The pleura surrounds the lungs and heart and also the abdomen. Mesothelium is composed of cells that react when exposed to asbestos. They cause inflammation of the tissue and cause it to scar. These changes eventually lead to malignant mesothelioma tumours.

Symptoms of pleural mesothelioma include breathlessness and chest pain, or an accumulation of fluid on the lung (pleural effusion). In rare instances cancer may spread to the tissues surrounding the reproductive organs and heart.

A doctor will request a biopsy if imaging scans reveal a possible lung tumor or stomach. During the procedure doctors remove a small amount of fluid or tumor for tests in the laboratory. The results will confirm the diagnosis of mesothelioma, and also determine the best treatment plan.

There are many types of treatment for mesothelioma, such as chemotherapy and surgery. The majority of doctors use a combination of these methods. Enrolling in clinical trials of mesothelioma treatments that are new could be beneficial for patients. Patients can learn more by consulting a mesothelioma specialist who has treated the condition.