Mesothelioma and Asbestos

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that is made up of thin, long fibres. Workers who are regularly exposed to asbestos may develop lung diseases like mesothelioma.

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

Pleural Mesothelioma

Pleural mesothelioma can be found in the lung's outer lining, also known as the pleura. It is the most frequent type of mesothelioma, making up 70 to 79% of diagnosed cases. People with this condition feel chest pain and breathlessness, and they may feel a sensation of heaviness in the chest.

This type of cancer is often caused through exposure to asbestos, which is a grouping of minerals comprised of microscopic fibres. When inhaled, these fibers are absorbed into the lung and cause irritation that causes scarring and DNA mutations. The pleura surrounds the lungs and chest cavity This means that these irritations can affect both the lungs as well as a person's heart. Mesothelioma symptoms usually don't appear until 30 to 50 years after exposure.

Shortness of breath and chest pain are the most frequent symptoms. Patients may also experience difficulty breathing or chest tightness. People with this cancer have a history that includes asbestos exposure at work. The most prevalent jobs that expose workers to the risk of developing pleural cancer are construction, manufacturing and shipbuilding. People who have served in the military could be at a higher risk due to the frequent asbestos use in Navy ships and army bunkers.

The most common staging method for pleural mesothelioma is the TNM (tumor lymph nodes, lymph nodes and metastases) staging system. The stage a patient is in upon diagnosis will aid their doctor in determining the best treatment plan for them. For example, patients with a pleural mesothelioma in stage three or four have a poorer prognosis than those with a lower stage. Stage four mesothelioma may develop into the liver, heart or diaphragm. This makes the cancer more difficult to treat and increase the chances of complications for the patient.

Peritoneal Mesothelioma

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

As with pleural asbestosis symptoms can take a long time to manifest. Patients usually have abdominal pain, and may have a mass in their abdomen. The symptoms of this type of mesothelioma could also include nausea or weight loss, as well as fever. Many of these symptoms could be misinterpreted as digestive issues, leading to a mistaken diagnosis.

Generally, doctors can find mesothelioma by conducting a thorough medical history and physical exam. Imaging tests such as X-rays or CT scans can be used to detect mesothelioma. These tests can detect tumors and other cancer signs which aren't evident on X-rays.

The results of these tests allow doctors to diagnose mesothelioma, identify the stage and suggest treatment options. The stage is determined by the type of cell as well as whether the cancer has spread.

The most important mesothelioma-related risk factor is asbestos exposure. People who have been exposed to asbestos in professions, such as electrical or plumbing work or in manufacturing and construction are more likely to contract the disease. However, even if people do not work in these fields they could be exposed to asbestos through relatives or other sources. Therefore, anyone who believes they could be at risk should speak to an experienced doctor. A mesothelioma specialist can help those with a experience with asbestos to understand more about their risk.

Risk Factors

Asbestos is the primary risk factor for mesothelioma. It accounts for as much as 80percent of cases. Exposure to asbestos can happen through work, military service or by living with a person who works with asbestos or was previously exposed to doing the same. asbestos attorney particles can be inhaled by people who are exposed to asbestos. These irritate the linings and trigger cancerous cells to grow in the mesothelium. Following exposure to asbestos mesothelioma is likely to develop between 15 and 60 years.

Other risk factors include smoking, genetics and aging. People in their 40s or 50s are at greater risk of developing mesothelioma compared to those younger or older. This is because mesothelioma usually occurs between 20 and 60 years from the first exposure before cancer symptoms appear. It is also important to know that mesothelioma can develop in people who have been exposed to asbestos but didn't work with it directly. This is known as secondary or indirect asbestos exposure, and is as hazardous as direct asbestos exposure.

Smoking increases the risk of mesothelioma, because it damages the mesothelium. It also makes it more susceptible. In addition, mesothelioma may be caused by certain illnesses, such as asbestosis and pneumonia. It is also important to remember that mesothelioma is more common for men than women. This is because men are more likely to work with asbestos and have more exposure than women. Additionally, men are more likely to live with someone who worked with asbestos and carry stray asbestos fibers home on their clothing. Women are less likely to come in contact with asbestos, and don't typically carry asbestos case on their clothes.

Diagnosis

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

NYU Langone doctors will perform physical examinations and document the patient's medical background including Asbestos Legal exposure. Doctors can also request an X-ray of the chest or CT scan to check for lumps and other abnormalities, as well as evidence of past asbestos exposure such as plaques on the pleura (thickened pleura with calcium deposits) and the formation 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 as well as a magnetic resonance imaging, or MRI test, which uses magnets and radio waves to create detailed images of the inside of the body. Another method doctors use to diagnose mesothelioma is to perform a surgical biopsy. During a surgery biopsy doctors will remove a small part of tissue from the pleura or the peritoneum, to be examined further. A pathologist then examines the tissue using a magnifying lens to determine whether it contains cancerous cell.

The type of mesothelial cell involved as well as the benign or malignant nature of those cells as well as the location and stage of the cancer are used to categorize the disease. Some types of mesothelioma have a higher chance of metastasizing or spreading therefore it is essential to get a definitive diagnosis so that doctors can treat it prior to it becoming out-of-control.

Doctors may also conduct laboratory tests on tumors 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 is an incredibly frightening prospect. It is important to remember, however, that cancer can be treated particularly in its early stages. Many people with mesothelioma live for many years with the disease without it spreading to other areas of their body.

Exposure to asbestos can cause mesothelioma by a variety of mechanisms. Asbestos fibres, tiny enough to be felt or observed through the naked eye can be airborne, irritating the lung's lining (pleura). In time the irritation causes the formation of scar tissues, which eventually lead to tumors.

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

Symptoms of pleural mesothelioma include shortness of breath and chest pain, or a buildup of fluid on the lungs (pleural effusion). In rare cases the cancer may be spread to the tissues around the heart and reproductive organs.

A doctor may request biopsy if imaging scans show a potential tumor in the lungs or stomach. In the course of the procedure, doctors remove some of the liquid or tumor for tests in the laboratory. The results can confirm a mesothelioma diagnosis and provide the most effective treatment plan.

There are a variety of treatment for mesothelioma including chemotherapy and surgery. Most doctors rely on an amalgamation of these techniques. Patients may also benefit from taking part in a clinical trial of new mesothelioma treatment. Patients can find out more by speaking with a mesothelioma doctor who has treated mesothelioma.