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Mesothelioma Cancer Mesothelioma is a cancer caused by exposure to asbestos. Inhaling asbestos fibers causes mesothelioma of the pleura and swallowing asbestos can lead to mesothelioma peritoneal. The symptoms may be similar to those of less serious diseases and can take anywhere from 10 to 50 years to appear. The symptoms include breathlessness, chest pain and abdominal distress. Risk Factors Asbestos fibres can cause mesothelioma. fort smith asbestos lawyer is a form of cancer that develops in linings of the chest cavity or the lungs. Mesothelioma can also develop in the peritoneum (the membrane surrounding the heart) or in the pericardium. It can take between 20 and 50 years for the cancer to develop and show symptoms, which can often be mistaken for flu-like illness. Mesothelioma is most often found in older people, and is more common in men than women. The main risk factor for mesothelioma is exposure asbestos. Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that is made up of tiny fibres that were used in construction materials, including ceilings and walls, because of its resistance fire and heat. It was also widely utilized in the manufacture of goods like pipes, insulations, shingles, and cement. Mesothelioma is an extremely serious illness for those working in industries that use asbestos, like mining, shipbuilding or construction. However even those who had a secondary exposure to asbestos, such as family members who brought home asbestos-contaminated clothing and skin, are also at risk. A small proportion (less than 5%) of mesothelioma is due to mutations in the gene BAP1. This genetic change increases the chance of developing mesothelioma in those who have been exposed to asbestos. The patient's age is also a risk factor. Mesothelioma typically affects those who are over 45 and two-thirds of those diagnosed are aged 65 or older. This is due in part to the lengthy latency period due to asbestos exposure, but it could be due to the fact that the condition is more prevalent in older those who have had a more prolonged and heavy exposure to the cancer-causing material. Mesothelioma is more common in white males than in women or members of any other racial group. This is because historically, more white males worked in jobs which put them at a higher risk of exposure to asbestos than other groups. Additionally, mesothelioma is most often seen in those who were exposed to asbestos prior to when better regulations were put in the 1980s. Signs and symptoms Mesothelioma, a type of cancer caused by asbestos, develops in the protective linings of several organs. The cancerous tumors can cause severe pain and can damage the tissues. The malignancy may be spread to other parts of the body via the lymphatic system or the bloodstream. Mesothelioma symptoms may be similar to other illnesses, such as pneumonia or the flu. They often take 10 – 50 years to show up after exposure to asbestos. This time of latency makes it difficult to diagnose mesothelioma in the early stages, and the symptoms could be misinterpreted as other diseases. The majority of malignant tumors originate in the lungs or chest cavity (pleura). Mesothelioma is also able to develop in the linings around the abdomen and heart. In rare cases it may affect the lining around the heart or the testes. Asbestos is made up of a collection of minerals which form long, thin fibers. These fibers are so durable that they can't be broken down by chemical or water, or even bacteria. They were extensively used in many construction and household products for decades before scientists understood how harmful they were to people's health. Most mesothelioma cases were caused due to exposure to asbestos at work or at home. The majority of patients who were exposed were employed in the US Navy Air Force, Shipbuilding Industry, or Construction. It is more prevalent in men than women and veterans account for about 30% of mesothelioma cases. If mesothelioma begins to develop doctors can detect it by performing medical tests and imaging scans. This includes X-rays, CT scans, MRIs and PET scans. The doctor may also collect a small sample of the tissue and send it to a laboratory for analysis. The results can help doctors determine the type of mesothelioma and stage of the disease which influences prognosis and treatment options. Most types of mesothelioma are epithelioid or sarcomatoid, and between 10 and 15% are biphasic or mixed. Epithelioid cancer is less invasive and generally has the highest survival rate. Sarcomatoid Mesothelioma is harder to diagnose and has a lower prognosis. Diagnosis It is difficult to recognize mesothelioma, especially in the early stages. Patients should consult their primary care physician when they notice any signs such as chest pains or coughing. The doctor will use a stethoscope listen to the patient's breathing and take note of their medical history and work history. This includes any asbestos exposure information, which is crucial to determine mesothelioma's presence. Doctors must rule out any other diseases before they can make the diagnosis, as mesothelioma signs are similar to other diseases. For example mesothelioma is a cancer that usually spreads to the lungs of patients from a different part of their body, for instance, their chest wall or abdomen. Asbestos victims are prone to lung diseases, such as mesothelioma, pneumonia, and pleural symptoms can be confused with other respiratory ailments. Mesothelioma can be diagnosed with blood tests, imaging tests and biopsies. These tests help doctors locate the area of the cancer, which is most often found in the lungs, but may also be located in the stomach or testicles. The tests will help doctors determine how far the cancer has spread in the body. A CT scan or MRI may 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 show whether a person has lungs on one side or the other. In many instances, a biopsy is needed to confirm the diagnosis of mesothelioma. This procedure involves removing a small amount of tissue and analyzing it in the laboratory for mesothelioma cell. Some patients may require additional tests, for example FDG-positron emission tomography (PET) which allows doctors to see how the tumor is affecting the blood supply to the lungs; mediastinoscopy, which permits doctors to examine and collect lymph nodes that are located in the center of the chest as well as endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) which uses sound waves to look at mesothelium and the lungs. Mesothelioma is a rare condition and doctors are still learning to treat it effectively. Therefore, patients who are diagnosed with cancer need to weigh their options carefully to determine the best treatment for them. Treatment Mesothelioma can affect the lung linings or abdomen (peritoneal cancer), or heart (pericardial cancer). The symptoms usually don't show up for several decades after asbestos exposure. Because of this, it's important for people who have worked around asbestos to have their health checked for any unusual symptoms. A doctor will collect a medical history to check for mesothelioma-related risk factors, for example, the length of time and intensity someone was exposed to asbestos. The doctor will also do an examination to detect symptoms of mesothelioma like the accumulation of fluid in the chest cavity. Mesothelioma is categorized by the type of cells that form in the mesothelium, and where those cells are located. Epithelioid mesothelioma is the most common type of percent to 80% mesothelioma. Other types of mesothelioma include biphasic mesothelioma and sarcomatoid which make up between 10% and 15% of all mesothelioma cases. There are a myriad of treatment options for mesothelioma. The type of treatment depends on the type of mesothelioma and the stage of the disease. In certain cases, mesothelioma may be treated with chemotherapy or radiation. When treating mesothelioma, doctors utilize powerful cancer-fighting drugs or equipment to kill tumors. This decreases the likelihood of mesothelioma coming back. Other types of mesothelioma can be treated with surgery that eliminates a part of the lining of the affected organ. This can also help relieve breathing difficulties and other symptoms. A person with pleural asbestosis may undergo a procedure known as VATS. This involves inserting a camera into lung and then removing a piece of the lung and pleura. This can improve breathlessness caused by fluid build-up in the lungs, but is not a cure for the disease. Other treatment options could include support and pain management. It is essential for patients suffering from mesothelioma to obtain as much information as they can about the disease and how to deal with it. The more they know, the better equipped they are to plan a the best possible and happy future.