Mesothelioma Asbestos Lung Cancer
Mesothelioma is a cancer that affects the tissue that lines the chest cavity and lungs and, in rare instances the abdomen's lining and the heart. The primary reason for mesothelioma is asbestos exposure.
Asbestos fibers get stuck in tissues and cause DNA damage. This causes cells to transform into mesothelioma cancer cells.
Symptoms
Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that affects tissues that line and protect organs inside the body. Exposure to asbestos fibres could cause these cancerous cells to grow into mesothelioma tumors. The majority of mesothelioma cases occur in the lung (pleura). It can also develop in the linings of the abdomen, the heart and testicles.
The most common mesothelioma symptoms are breathlessness coughing, chest pain and chest pain. Patients also feel abdominal pain, fatigue, and weight loss. These symptoms are often confusing and difficult to diagnose in the beginning stages particularly when mesothelioma still a relatively new disease. It may take years or even decades after exposure to asbestos for mesothelioma-related symptoms to show up.
A physical exam and a health history of the patient are the first step to diagnose mesothelioma. To determine the severity of the symptoms the doctor can order blood tests and imaging scans. These scans comprise CT (computer-tomography) scans as well as MRI and PET scans (positron emission Tomography).
X-rays can show an unusual lump or a fluid that is present in the lung. These scans can help the doctor determine the kind and location of mesothelioma. The two most common mesothelioma types are epithelioid and sarcomatoid. Epithelioid mesothelioma is responsible for about 70% of all mesothelioma cases. Sarcomatoid Mesothelioma has a worse prognosis and is less common than epithelioid.
Most people with pleural cancer have a nonproductive, painful cough and breathing issues. In rare instances, a patient suffering from pleural mesothelioma might have an abnormal heart murmur, which is called pericardial effusion, or a swelling of the scrotum (tunica vaginalis).
The most effective method to identify mesothelioma is through an examination of the tissues. The type of mesothelioma also determines how a doctor will treat the condition. If a patient has pericardial cancer, the doctor will remove excess fluid with the procedure called pleurodesis, or place a pleural catheter in order to decrease inflammation and improve respiration. Other treatments include chemotherapy and surgery.
Diagnosis
Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that occurs in the linings of organs known as the mesothelium. The disease is most prevalent in the lungs, however it can also manifest in the abdomen (peritoneum), or around the testes.
The symptoms of mesothelioma can be noticed between 10 and 50 years after the initial exposure. Because of this time period of latency many patients are incorrectly diagnosed. This disease is often misdiagnosed as other conditions that are less serious like pneumonia or the flu. This can lead to a delay in treatment, which could reduce the chances of survival for a patient.
Anyone who suspects mesothelioma should visit their doctor as soon as they can. At the first visit, doctors review the medical history of the patient to identify any signs or symptoms that could increase the likelihood of developing mesothelioma. This includes past asbestos exposure and the nature and duration of the exposure.
The doctor will then order imaging tests of the chest and abdomen to determine if there are signs of mesothelioma. Chest X-rays, CT scans and MRIs can all show changes in the lungs, such as the thickness of the pleural wall or the accumulation of fluid. They can also show if mesothelioma has spread to other parts of the body.
A doctor can also request an analysis of the blood to determine whether a patient has high levels of certain substances related to mesothelioma. They can also perform an operation called a thoracentesis which involves taking out the lungs of fluid and looking for cancer cells.
If a mesothelioma diagnosis is confirmed, a biopsy will be taken to check a small piece of the tumor to detect cancerous cells. VATS (video assisted thoracoscopic surgery) or a needle guided CT scan is a method to perform this procedure. The results of this will help determine the best mesothelioma treatment option for the patient. This can include chemotherapy, surgery, or radiation therapy. Some patients may also choose to undergo immunotherapy. This newer type of treatment can enhance a patient's prognosis and boost their quality of life.
Treatment
Mesothelioma is a disease that affects the tissues that line and protect organs, such as the lungs (pleural mesothelioma), the stomach (peritoneal mesothelioma) or the testicles or the heart (pericardial mesothelioma). Although mesothelioma cannot be cured however, treatment can reduce symptoms.
Your doctor will inquire about your health history and check for symptoms of mesothelioma. Your doctor will also ask about your asbestos exposure since asbestos is the most significant risk factor for mesothelioma. Asbestos exposure can cause asbestos fibers to get trapped in the linings of the chest cavity (mesothelium) stomach or the heart. This causes inflammation over time, and can transform normal cells into cancerous ones. Mesothelioma can be diagnosed using blood tests and imaging tests.
Your doctor will make use of an X-ray of your chest to detect changes in your lung tissue and determine if you have fluid build-up (pleural effusion). Your provider will order MRI, CT scan or FDG-positron emission tomography (PET) to get detailed images of the affected area. They may also perform an incision using a needle to obtain a sample from the affected tissue.
A pathologist, a mesothelioma expert, will analyze the tissue using a magnifying lens to detect cancerous cells and determine their kind. To establish the diagnosis the pathologist will stain the sample with a dye that shows up when certain types of protein are present. The doctor will then use an instrument to magnify the tissue.
Mesothelioma can be difficult to diagnose as mesothelioma cells appear similar to other kinds of cells within the body. Your healthcare team will try to confirm the diagnosis by performing other tests. These tests involve a blood sample to measure the levels of fibulin-3 or mesothelin related peptide that is soluble.
Your medical team will decide on the mesothelioma treatment plan based on the type of cancer you have and how advanced it is. Radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and surgery are the most commonly used treatment options for mesothelioma. If your mesothelioma is in advanced stages you could also receive palliative care to ease discomfort and other signs.
Prognosis
The prognosis for mesothelioma patients is dependent on the stage and type of cancer and other factors like age and general health. Patients should work with skilled doctors to know more about the treatment options available to them.
Asbestos fibers can damage tissues that line vital organs and safeguard them from harm. These asbestos fibers can be breathed in or ingested, and over time they cause inflammation and genetic changes that transform normal cells into mesothelioma-related tumors. The most common forms of mesothelioma are mesothelioma pleural (which develops on the lung linings as well as the chest cavity and abdomen) mesothelioma.
Doctors diagnose mesothelioma on the basis of symptoms, laboratory tests and X-rays. They may also recommend a biopsied to confirm the diagnosis. A biopsy is the removal the tissue to be tested. Doctors then compare the biopsy samples to a database to identify the most likely mesothelioma-related cell type. This information will help them predict the mesothelioma-related life expectancy of a patient and treatment plan.
The three mesothelioma types are epithelioid and epithelial, epithelial cells, sarcomatoid cells, and biphasic cells. Each mesothelioma develops at a different rate and responds differently to treatment. Epithelioid cancer is responsible for 60 to 80 percent of all cases, and has a higher survival rate than biphasic or sarcomatoid mesothelioma.
It can take up to 50 years for mesothelioma to develop after exposure to asbestos, so many patients do not receive a mesothelioma diagnosis until they show signs of. Asbestos sufferers should report their exposure to a physician and have regular checkups.
In these visits, doctors will check for signs of asbestos-related exposure for example, scarring around the lungs, or other respiratory issues. mesothelioma non asbestos exposure can also conduct simple blood tests to assess the health of a patient's general. If the results show that a patient is at high risk for mesothelioma, they can arrange for additional tests to get an estimate of the prognosis. This will include imaging tests like X-rays, CT scans and ultrasound as well as lung function tests and an chest MRI or PET scan.