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Mesothelioma Cancer Mesothelioma is a tumor that can be cancerous caused by asbestos exposure, is a serious disease. Inhaling asbestos fibers cause mesothelioma of the pleura and swallowing asbestos can lead to peritoneal mesothelioma. Symptoms can appear within 10 to 50 years of the initial diagnosis. The symptoms include breathlessness, abdominal pain, and chest pain. Risk Factors Mesothelioma occurs when asbestos fibers are introduced into the body. Pleural mesothelioma is a form of cancer that develops in linings of the chest cavity or lungs. Mesothelioma can also form in the peritoneum (the membrane that surrounds the heart) or in the pericardium. It can take between 20 and 50 years for the cancer to develop and to show signs that are often mistaken for flu-like illnesses. Mesothelioma is most prevalent in older people and is more frequent in males than females. Asbestos exposure is the main risk factor in mesothelioma. Asbestos is a natural mineral made up of tiny fibres that were utilized in construction materials, like ceilings and walls due to its resistance to heat and fire. It was also widely utilized in the manufacture of goods such as pipes, insulations shingles and cement. Mesothelioma is a deadly disease for those who work in industries that employ asbestos, such as mining, shipbuilding or construction. Even those who have only had a second exposure to asbestos, such as family who brought home asbestos-covered clothing or skin are at risk. A small percentage of mesothelioma patients are linked to a mutation in the gene called BAP1. This genetic change increases the risk of developing mesothelioma among those who have been exposed asbestos. The patient's age is also an indicator of risk. Mesothelioma typically affects people over the age of 45, and two-thirds of those diagnosed are 65 or older. This is due to the lengthy latency associated with asbestos exposure. However it is also possible that older people are more likely to develop the disease because of the long exposure to asbestos. Mesothelioma is more common in white males than women or people of any other racial group. This is due to the fact that historically, more white males worked in jobs which put them at greater risk of asbestos exposure than other groups. Additionally, mesothelioma was most often seen in those who were exposed to asbestos before better regulations were put into place in the 1980s. Symptoms Mesothelioma is an asbestos-related tumor that forms in the protective linings of several body organs. The cancerous tumors can cause extreme pain and damage the tissue. The malignancy could be spread to other parts of the body via the bloodstream or lymphatic system. The symptoms of mesothelioma may be similar to other diseases such as influenza or pneumonia. They often take 10 – 50 years to show up after exposure to asbestos. The time of latency can make it difficult to diagnose the disease early, and symptoms may be misinterpreted as signs of other diseases. Most malignant tumors begin in the lungs or chest cavity (pleura). Mesothelioma is also able to develop in the linings around the abdomen and the heart. In rare instances it can affect the lining around the heart or the testes. Asbestos is a collection of minerals which form long, thin fibres. The fibers are so strong that they cannot be broken down by chemicals, water or bacteria. These materials were used widely in a variety of household and construction products for a long time before researchers realized how harmful they were to people's health. The majority of mesothelioma patients were exposed to the substance in the workplace or at home, and the majority of those who were exposed worked in the US Navy, air force, construction or shipbuilding industries. It is more prevalent in males than females and veterans account for around 30% of mesothelioma cases. Medical tests and imaging scans can aid doctors in identifying mesothelioma. These include X-rays, CT scans, MRIs and PET scans. The doctor can also collect a small sample of the tissue and send it to a laboratory for testing. The results can help doctors determine the mesothelioma type and stage of the disease, which affects the prognosis and treatment options. The majority of mesothelioma types are epithelioid and sarcomatoid. Between 10 percent and 15 percent of cases are biphasic, or mixed. Epithelioid mesothelioma tends to be less aggressive and has the highest survival rates. Sarcomatoid Mesothelioma is harder to diagnose and has a less favorable prognosis. Diagnosis Mesothelioma is difficult to diagnose especially in its initial stages. Patients should first consult their primary care physician when they notice any signs such as chest pain or coughing. The doctor will examine the patient's breathing through an stethoscope, and record their health history and work. This includes any asbestos exposure information, which is crucial to determine mesothelioma's presence. Because mesothelioma's symptoms are similar to those of other illnesses, doctors must be able to rule out other conditions prior to making the diagnosis. Cancer can spread to the lung of a patient from other parts of the body like the abdomen or chest. Asbestos-related lung diseases, such as pneumonia, are common in asbestos sufferers. Pleural mesothelioma could be confused with other respiratory diseases. Blood tests, imaging tests and biopsy can all be used to detect mesothelioma. These tests can aid doctors in identifying the cancerous area, which is usually in the lungs, but could also be found in the stomach or in the testicles. The tests will also help doctors determine the extent of the cancer is spreading throughout the body. A CT scan or MRI could show signs of mesothelioma. This includes calcium deposits (also known as plaque) in the pleura, and a buildup between the lungs and chest wall. These tests can also determine whether a person has lungs on one side or the other. In many cases, a biopsy is necessary to confirm the diagnosis of mesothelioma. This procedure involves taking some of the tissue and analyzing it in the laboratory for mesothelioma cells. Some patients may need additional tests, like FDG-positron emission tomography (PET), which can help doctors see how the tumor is affecting the lungs' blood supply; mediastinoscopy, which permits doctors to examine and collect lymph nodes that are located in the center of the chest; or endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) which makes use of sound waves to study the mesothelium and lungs. Mesothelioma is a rare disease, and doctors are still learning to treat it effectively. As a result patients diagnosed with the cancer must weigh their options carefully to decide what treatment is best for them. Treatment Mesothelioma can affect the linings of the lungs or abdomen (peritoneal cancer), or heart (pericardial cancer). The symptoms usually don't show up for a long time after asbestos exposure. Because of this, it's important for people who have been exposed to asbestos to be examined for any unusual symptoms. A doctor will collect an examination of the medical history to check for mesothelioma risk factors, including the length of time and intensity the patient was exposed to asbestos. The doctor will also conduct an examination to detect mesothelioma-related signs, for example, fluid accumulation in the chest cavity. The type of cells that reside in the mesothelium, and the locations of those cells are used to classify mesothelioma. Epithelioid mesothelioma is the most common type of percent to 80% mesothelioma. Other types of mesothelioma include biphasic and sarcomatoid mesothelioma which account for 10% to 15% of mesothelioma cases. There are little rock asbestos attorneys of treatment options available for people with mesothelioma. The treatment option is dependent on the stage and type of mesothelioma. In certain cases, mesothelioma is treated using chemotherapy or radiation. In these procedures, doctors inject powerful cancer-fighting drugs or utilize special equipment to kill cancerous cells and reduce the risk of mesothelioma coming back. Other mesothelioma types can be treated through surgery that removes a portion of the tissues of the organ that are affected. This can also ease symptoms like breathing difficulties. If a person is diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma, their doctor may perform VATS, a procedure which involves inserting a camera into the lungs to eliminate part of the pleura and lungs. This procedure can ease breathlessness caused by the accumulation of fluid in the lung. However, it can not cure mesothelioma. Other options for treatment include pain management or support services. It is crucial for those who suffer from mesothelioma, to gather the most information they can about the disease and ways to deal with it. The more informed they are and the more they are able to plan for a future which includes a wide range of wellness and health activities.