Is Mesothelioma Only Caused by Asbestos?
Mesothelioma, a deadly cancer can affect the thin layer lining various organs. It is most prevalent in the lung (pleural sarcoidosis), intestines, and the heart. People exposed to asbestos are more at risk.
Asbestos is a group of minerals that make long, thin fibers. It was used in commercial, military and residential products throughout the 20th century, when manufacturers knew of the dangers, but kept it to make the most profit.
Causes
Asbestos is an naturally occurring mineral that is impervious to chemical wear and heat. It was used in manufacturing various household and commercial products in the past, including flooring tiles, insulation, and brake linings. Asbestos is a risk, however, because it breaks into tiny, needle-like fibers, which can irritate tissue around organs and may lead to cancerous cells.
Workers who are exposed to asbestos or are exposed to asbestos at workplace or at home are more likely to develop mesothelioma than people who have not. 70% to 80% of patients diagnosed with mesothelioma have prior exposure to asbestos. The symptoms typically manifest between 20 and fifty years after the initial asbestos exposure. A higher risk is associated with those who have mesothelioma-affected relatives.
When exposed to asbestos, fibers may be breathed into the lung. The fibers then move to the pleura, which is the lining surrounding the lungs, and can irritate it. This can lead to the development of pleural disease as well as fluid accumulation in the lung. This can cause breathing difficulties.
Mesothelioma may also occur in tissues that line the heart, abdomen or intestines. In most instances, a person suffering from mesothelioma has had exposure to asbestos in the workplace. This type of asbestos exposure is different from that of someone who is exposed at home to asbestos, such as when family members remove asbestos-containing insulation from their walls and ceilings.
Researchers are studying whether certain genes can increase your risk of developing mesothelioma. Even with these asbestos-related genes, exposure is still required to develop mesothelioma. Rare mesothelioma cases are linked to minerals such as silica and Erionite that are associated with asbestos. Some people may be more prone to mesothelioma due to the way they break down asbestos. This isn't a recognized risk factor however, and doesn't explain why one person might get the illness while another may not.
Symptoms
Exposure to asbestos can cause mesothelioma cancer to develop in any of the body's linings. It may also grow in the lung (pleural mesothelioma) or in the abdomen, as well as the heart. In some instances it may develop in the testicles (peritoneal mesothelioma).
Mesothelioma symptoms usually appear in small ways over a long time. The first signs of mesothelioma can be misinterpreted as signs of other diseases. The symptoms can take up to 50 years before they appear and, therefore, a person may have been exposed for years before forming mesothelioma. The cancer spreads to different parts of the human body at the same time.
The symptoms of pleural mesothelioma are difficulty breathing, coughing and chest pain. Patients can experience other symptoms, too, including fatigue, abdominal pain, and weight loss. Fluid in the lungs is the most frequently reported manifestation (pleural effusion). Pleural mesothelioma affects the lung's lining as well as the chest cavity known as the pleura. The cancer causes the lining to thicken, which makes it difficult for the lungs to expand during breathing.
A biopsy and other tests can help doctors diagnose the presence of pleural mesothelioma. A biopsy can be used to determine the type of mesothelioma that a patient is suffering from, the extent to which it has spread and whether it is benign or malignant.
If doctors suspect that a patient has mesothelioma they can refer them to a specialist who will perform more tests. The specialist can do the biopsy in an outpatient setting. This means the patient can be in and out of the hospital on the same day, without needing much recovery time.
Mesothelioma is not a common occurrence however it is important to get it diagnosed as soon possible. There is no cure for mesothelioma, however, treatment can help control symptoms and slow down the progression of the disease.
Treatment
Mesothelioma is caused by exposure to asbestos, a class of minerals that have thin flexible fibers. Asbestos was utilized in various industrial applications, such as building materials brakes, insulation, and ships. It is also fire-resistant and doesn't conduct electricity. Exposure can occur when these products become dusty and break down. Asbestos fibers can cause irritation when inhaled or consumed which could lead to mesothelioma. Mesothelioma symptoms are usually not apparent up until decades after the initial exposure. It can affect the lung linings, the stomach and the heart.
The only way to diagnose mesothelioma is to test it with medical tests. The doctor will examine the patient and ask about their work history. The doctor may also perform imaging tests to check for abnormalities in the chest or abdomen. These tests could include X-rays, CT scans, MRI or PET scans.
If a diagnosis of mesothelioma is possible, the doctors will collect an organ or a fluid sample to conduct further tests. They will search for cancerous cells under a microscope in order to determine what kind of mesothelioma patient has. There are three types of mesothelioma namely epithelioid (most common) and the sarcomatoid (second most prevalent) and biphasic. 70% of cases of mesothelioma are epithelioid. The sarcomatoid is the less common type. The biphasic form is a mix of the two types above and can be harder to treat than either one separately.
Mesothelioma treatment options vary based on the mesothelioma type, the stage of the disease, and other factors. Some types of mesothelioma are more aggressive than others, and the outlook is generally less favorable for patients who have mesothelioma that is in the late stages.
Mesothelioma patients may also undergo surgery, chemotherapy or radiation therapy to help to treat the disease. These treatments can be painful for certain patients, and they can cause side effects like nausea fatigue, vomiting, nausea and difficulty breathing. However, these side effects are often temporary and can be managed by medication or other methods. Certain patients also undergo radiation treatments following surgery to kill any cancerous cells that surgeons missed.
Prognosis
Despite its use in a variety of industries and its reputation for being an extremely durable and economical material, asbestos is known to cause a variety of types of serious medical issues. One of these conditions is mesothelioma. It is a condition that affects the linings of specific organs and structures, such as the lungs, heart, stomach and testicles. The symptoms of mesothelioma can take decades to appear but treatment can to manage the disease and decrease symptoms.
Asbestos is made up of microscopic fibers that may be introduced into the body and get trapped in the lining of certain tissues. Asbestos is a mineral that occurs naturally is utilized in everything from insulation to textiles for centuries.
When asbestos mesothelioma other causes is disturbed, it turns airborne and is able to be breathed in or inhaled. Inhaled asbestos fibers irritate the cells in the lungs damaging DNA and causing malignancy. After ingestion, the asbestos fibers are digested and then travel through the digestive tract to the outer abdomen's lining (peritoneum) where they may also cause inflammation and cause mesothelioma.
Asbestos exposure may also occur through contact with secondhand sources, such as living in a place where someone has been exposed to asbestos. Family members could be exposed when workers bring home stray asbestos fibers on their clothing or hair, skin or. The risk of developing mesothelioma is also increased if you have a family history of the illness.
There are two types of mesothelioma: pleural and the peritoneal. Pleural mesothelioma is found in the linings of the chest and lungs. It is the most common mesothelioma. Peritoneal Mesothelioma is caused asbestos fibers that penetrate the outer linings of the abdominal cavity or organs. This mesothelioma type affects the lining of the stomach (abdomen) and is less common than mesothelioma pleural.
Asbestos, which is a highly toxic mineral, is a cause of cancers of various types as well as other diseases like mesothelioma or lung cancer. Unfortunately, asbestos' dangers were not widely recognized until the early 1980s when companies began to recognize the dangers. Up until then asbestos was being used by blue-collar industry as well as the military in items like flooring, roofing and brake linings.