9 Things Your Parents Taught You About Asbestos Mesothelioma Cancer > 자유게시판

Mesothelioma Cancer

Mesothelioma is a cancer caused by exposure to asbestos. Inhaling asbestos fibres can cause pleural cancer and swallowing asbestos can cause cancer of the peritoneal region.

Symptoms may mimic symptoms of less serious illnesses and can take anywhere from 10 to 50 years before they appear. Symptoms can include abdominal pain, chest pain and a shortness of breath.

Risk Factors

Mesothelioma occurs when asbestos fibres enter the body. Pleural mesothelioma is a form of cancer that develops in linings of the chest cavity or lungs. Less commonly, mesothelioma develops in the peritoneum or the membrane around the heart (pericardium). It can take between 20 and 50 years for the cancer to develop and manifest symptoms that can be confused with flu-like illnesses. Mesothelioma is most prevalent in older people and is more frequent in males than females.

The biggest risk factor for mesothelioma involves exposure to asbestos. Asbestos is a natural mineral made up of tiny fibres that were used in construction materials, like ceilings and walls because of its resistance heat and fire. It was also widely utilized in the manufacturing of goods such as pipes, insulations shingles, and cement. People who worked in industries where asbestos legal was prevalent like shipbuilding, mining, or construction, are at high risk of developing mesothelioma. However, even those who only had secondary exposure such as family members who brought home asbestos on their clothing and skin, are also at risk.

A small percentage of mesothelioma cases can be traced to a mutation in the gene called BAP1. This genetic change can increase the risk of developing mesothelioma among those who have been exposed asbestos.

Age is a major risk factor for mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is most often found in those who are over 45, and two-thirds of those diagnosed are aged 65 or older. This is due to the prolonged latency associated with asbestos exposure. However, it could also be that older people are more likely to develop the disease due to the prolonged exposure.

Mesothelioma is more common in white males than females or those belonging to any other racial group. This is because historically more white men have worked in occupations that put them at higher risk of asbestos than other groups. Mesothelioma typically affects those who were exposed to asbestos before the 1980s, when more strict regulations were in place.

Symptoms

Mesothelioma is an asbestos-related cancer that develops in the protective linings around many organs of the body. The cancerous tumors that form within the tissue may cause damage and severe pain. The malignancy can expand to other areas through the lymphatic or bloodstream system.

Mesothelioma symptoms can be similar to symptoms of other illnesses, such as pneumonia or the flu. It could take up to 50 years following exposure to asbestos attorney before showing symptoms. The time of latency can make it difficult to diagnose the disease in the early stages and symptoms may be misinterpreted as a sign of other illnesses.

The majority of malignant tumors originate in the lungs or chest cavity (pleura). Mesothelioma is also able to form in the linings surrounding the abdomen and the heart. In rare cases the disease can affect the testes' lining, or the sac that surrounds the heart (pericardium).

Asbestos is a grouping of minerals that forms long, thin fibers. These fibers are so tough that they cannot be broken down by chemicals or water, or even bacteria. They were widely used in a variety of household and construction products for a long time before scientists realized how harmful they were to health.

Most mesothelioma patients were exposed to asbestos in the workplace or at home and the majority of those 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 comprise about 30 percent of mesothelioma patients.

Imaging scans and medical tests can help doctors identify mesothelioma. These include X-rays, CT scans, MRIs and PET scans. The doctor may also collect a sample of the tissue and send it to a lab to be tested.

The results will allow doctors to determine the type of mesothelioma and stage of the disease which influences prognosis and treatment options. The majority of mesothelioma types are epithelioid or sarcomatoid and between 10 and 15% are biphasic or mixed. Epithelioid mesothelioma is usually less aggressive and has the highest survival rates. Sarcomatoid Mesothelioma is harder to diagnose and has a less favorable prognosis.

Diagnosis

It is difficult to recognize mesothelioma in particular at an early stage. Patients should first consult their primary care physician if they notice any signs such as chest pains or coughing. The doctor will utilize a stethoscope to listen to the patient breathing and then record their health and work history. This includes any asbestos exposure history, which is crucial for diagnosing mesothelioma.

Because mesothelioma's symptoms resemble other conditions, doctors need to exclude other conditions prior to confirming a diagnosis. Cancer can develop in the lung of a patient from other body parts such as the abdomen or chest. Asbestos-related lung diseases, like pneumonia, are common among asbestos victims. Pleural mesothelioma could be mistaken for other respiratory diseases.

Mesothelioma can be detected with blood tests, imaging tests and biopsies. These tests can aid in locating the site of the cancer, which is most commonly in the lungs but can also be in the stomach or the testicles. The tests will also help doctors determine the extent of the cancer is spreading in the body.

A CT scan or MRI may reveal signs of mesothelioma, such as calcium deposits in the pleura (known as plaque) and a buildup of fluid between the chest wall and the lungs. These tests can also show whether a person has more lung capacity on one side or the other.

In many cases a biopsy is required to confirm the diagnosis of mesothelioma. This procedure involves removing a small amount of tissue and analyzing it in a lab for mesothelioma-related cells.

Certain patients may require additional tests like FDG-positron emission tomography (PET) which allows doctors to look at the lymph nodes in the middle of the chest, and to take samples of the lymph nodes, or endobronchial ultrasonography (EBUS) which uses sound waves to study the mesothelium and lungs. Mesothelioma is a rare cancer, is currently being treated by medical professionals. Patients who have been diagnosed with cancer should carefully consider their options to determine the best treatment option for them.

Treatment

Mesothelioma can affect the lining of the lungs (pleural mesothelioma) or the abdomen (peritoneal mesothelioma) or heart (pericardial mesothelioma). The symptoms are not usually evident for several decades following exposure to asbestos compensation. It is essential that those who have been exposed to asbestos get checked for any strange symptoms.

A doctor will go over your medical history to determine if you are at risk of mesothelioma risks. This is based on how long and how frequently you were exposed to asbestos litigation. The doctor will also conduct an examination to find mesothelioma-related signs, like the accumulation of fluid in the chest cavity. The type of cells found in the mesothelium and the location of those cells, are used to classify mesothelioma. Epithelioid mesothelioma is the most common type of% to 80% mesothelioma. Other types of mesothelioma are biphasic and sarcomatoid mesothelioma, which both represent around 10 to 15% of mesothelioma patients.

There are a myriad of treatments available to people with mesothelioma. The treatment option depends on the stage and type of mesothelioma.

In some instances, mesothelioma may be treated with chemotherapy or radiation. During these treatments doctors administer powerful chemotherapy drugs or utilize special equipment to destroy cancerous tumors and decrease the chance of mesothelioma returning.

Other types of mesothelioma can be treated through surgery that removes a portion of the lining from the affected organ. It can also alleviate symptoms like breathing problems.

If a person has mesothelioma of the pleura, their doctor may perform VATS, a procedure which involves inserting a camera into the lungs to eliminate part of the pleura and lung. This procedure can alleviate breathlessness due to fluid buildup in the lung. However, it can not treat mesothelioma.

Other treatment options include support or pain management. It is important for people with mesothelioma to get as much information as possible about the disease and ways to cope with it. The more they know the more equipped they are to plan for the best possible and happy future.