Mesothelioma and Asbestos
Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that comes in long, thin fibres. Workers who are exposed to asbestos on a regular basis are at risk of developing mesothelioma or other lung diseases of different types.
Symptoms of these diseases may not manifest for years after exposure to asbestos. Different asbestos types can cause different symptoms.
Pleural Mesothelioma
Pleural mesothelioma is a cancer of the outer lung lining, also known as pleura. It is the most common mesothelioma type and is responsible for 70 to 79% of diagnosed cases. The condition can cause chest pain, breath shortness, and a feeling of weightiness.
This type of cancer often caused through exposure to asbestos, which is a collection of minerals comprised of microscopic fibres. Once inhaled, these fibers cling to the lung and cause irritation that results in scarring and DNA mutations. Pleura is the lining of both the chest cavity as well as the lungs, and so irritations can also affect the heart. Mesothelioma symptoms are usually not apparent until 30 to 50 years after exposure.
Chest pain and shortness breath are the most common symptoms. Some patients may also experience chest tightness or coughing. They may also experience difficulty breathing. People who suffer from this cancer usually have an history of exposure to asbestos in the workplace. The most prevalent jobs that expose workers to the risk of developing pleural cancer are manufacturing, construction, and shipbuilding. People who served in the military are at greater risk due the widespread use of asbestos in Navy vessels and Army bunkers.
The TNM (tumors lymph nodes and metastases staging system) is the most common staging system used for pleural adenocarcinoma. The stage a patient is in at the time of diagnosis will help determine what treatment plan they will receive. Patients suffering from pleural mesothelioma who is in stage three or stage four will have a worse outlook than those in a less advanced stage. Mesothelioma in stage four can spread to the heart, liver or diaphragm. This makes the cancer more difficult to treat, and increase the chances of complications for the patient.
Peritoneal Mesothelioma
Unlike pleural cancer, which forms in the lung's lining the peritoneal cancer is a result of a membrane that covers the abdominal cavity, which includes organs like the intestines and liver. Like pleural mesothelioma, asbestos exposure is the cause of peritoneal mesothelioma. The disease is less prevalent than pleural mesothelioma. There are around redwood city asbestos lawsuit -500 cases being diagnosed each year.
As with pleural asbestosis, symptoms can take several years to manifest. Patients generally have abdominal pain, and could also experience a mass in their abdomen. The symptoms of this type of mesothelioma can also include nausea as well as weight loss and fever. A lot of these symptoms can be misinterpreted as digestive issues, leading to a false diagnosis.
Generally, doctors can find mesothelioma after an exhaustive health history and physical examination. Imaging tests like X-rays and CT scans can be used to identify mesothelioma. These tests can reveal cancerous tumors or other indications of cancer that aren't visible on X-rays.
These tests enable doctors to diagnose mesothelioma, identify the stage and recommend treatment options. Staging is determined based on the type of cell and whether or not the cancer has spread to other areas of the body.
Asbestos exposure is the main risk factor. People who have been exposed to asbestos in occupations, like electrical or plumbing work, or in construction and manufacturing are more likely to contract the disease. Even if they do not work in these fields they may be exposed to asbestos through relatives or other sources. This is why anyone who believes they could be at risk should speak to a doctor. If they have any history of exposure to asbestos or mesothelioma, a specialist can help them find out more about the risk.
Risk Factors
Asbestos is the most significant mesothelioma-related risk factor. It accounts for as much as 80percent of cases. Exposure to asbestos can occur due to military service, work or living with people who have worked with asbestos. When exposed to asbestos, the particles are able to be inhaled into lungs and abdomen. They can cause irritation to the linings of the abdomen and cause cancerous cells to form in the mesothelium. Following exposure to asbestos mesothelioma can be diagnosed between 15 and 60 years old.
Other risk factors include genetics, smoking and aging. People in their 40s and 50s are at greater risk of developing mesothelioma as compared to those younger or older. Mesothelioma can take between 20 and 60 years to manifest cancer symptoms after the first exposure. It is important to keep in mind that mesothelioma may be present in people who have been exposed to asbestos without having directly worked with it. This is known as indirect or secondary asbestos exposure and can be as dangerous as direct asbestos exposure.
Smoking increases a person's chances of developing mesothelioma due to the fact that it damages the mesothelium and makes it more vulnerable to asbestos. Furthermore, mesothelioma is exacerbated by certain illnesses like asbestosis and pneumonia. It is also important to note that mesothelioma is more common in males than females. Men are more likely than women to have been exposed to asbestos for a longer period of time and to have worked with it. Men are also more likely to have lived with someone who had been exposed to asbestos, and to have asbestos-containing fibers on their clothing. Women are less likely to come exposed to asbestos, and they are less likely to bring asbestos home on their clothing.
Diagnosis
Mesothelioma is a difficult cancer to recognize because the symptoms often resemble other conditions. This is why patients are sometimes wrongly diagnosed.
The first step to diagnose mesothelioma is for NYU Langone doctors to perform a physical exam and take notes on the medical history of a patient which includes asbestos exposure. Doctors will also order a CT scan or chest X-ray in order to look for lumps, abnormalities, and evidence of exposure to asbestos. These include pleural plaques, thickened pleura and calcium deposits.
Other diagnostic tests include a magnetic resonance scan or MRI test, that uses magnets and radio waves to create a series of detailed images of the insides of the body. Another way doctors can diagnose mesothelioma is through the procedure of a surgical biopsy. During a surgery biopsy doctors take a tiny piece of tissue from the pleura or the peritoneum, to be tested further. A pathologist can look at the tissue under microscopes to determine if it contains cancerous cells.
Mesothelioma is classified according to the type of mesothelial cell involved, whether the cells are benign or malignant, and the location of the tumor, the type, and the stage of the tumor. Some types of mesothelioma are more likely to grow or spread, so it is important to have a clear diagnosis so that doctors can treat the disease before it goes out of control.
Doctors can also perform tests in the laboratory on tumors in order to determine specific genes, proteins or other elements that will help them identify the characteristics of cancer and plan treatment. These results are known as staging.
Treatment
A mesothelioma diagnosis can be an incredibly frightening prospect. It is important to keep in mind that cancer can be treated, particularly in its initial stages. Many people with mesothelioma can live with the disease for a long time without spreading.
Exposure to asbestos can cause mesothelioma by a variety of mechanisms. Asbestos fibers, which are tiny enough to be felt or observed by naked eyes can be airborne, causing irritation to the lung's lining (pleura). Over time, the irritation causes the formation of scar tissue, which can cause changes in the cell structure that eventually develop into tumors.
The pleura is the area that surrounds the heart and lungs and also the abdomen. Mesothelium is made up of cells that react to exposure to asbestos which causes it to become inflamed and develop scar tissue. Overtime, these changes lead to the development of malignant mesothelioma tumors.
The symptoms of pleural mesothelioma are breathlessness and chest pain as well as an accumulation of fluid on the lungs (pleural effusion). In rare instances cancer can spread to the tissues surrounding the reproductive organs and the heart.
A doctor may request biopsy if imaging scans show a potential tumor in the lungs or stomach. During the procedure, doctors take tiny amounts of fluid or tumor for lab testing. The results can confirm the diagnosis of mesothelioma and help determine the best treatment option.
There are several types of mesothelioma treatment, which include 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 consult mesothelioma experts who have expertise in treating the condition.