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Mesothelioma Cancer Mesothelioma, a cancerous tumor that is caused by asbestos exposure is a serious illness. Inhaling asbestos fibers can cause pleural tumors, and swallowing asbestos can cause peritoneal cancer. The symptoms may be similar to those of less serious diseases and can take anywhere from 10 to 50 years before they appear. Symptoms include shortness of breath, abdominal pain and chest pain. Risk Factors Mesothelioma develops when asbestos fibres enter the body. Pleural mesothelioma develops in the linings of the chest cavity or the lungs. Mesothelioma may also grow in the peritoneum (the membrane that surrounds the heart) or the pericardium. The cancer can take up to 50 years to develop before it manifests symptoms. The symptoms are often misinterpreted as flu-like illnesses. Mesothelioma most often affects older people, and it is more common in men than women. The biggest risk factor for mesothelioma is exposure to asbestos. Asbestos, a naturally occurring mineral made up of tiny fibres, was used as a building material, like in ceilings and walls. It is abrasive to heat and fire. It was also widely employed in the production of goods such as pipes insulation, shingles, insulation and cement. People who worked in industries where asbestos was common like mining, construction or shipbuilding are at a high risk of developing mesothelioma. However even those who had a secondary exposure to asbestos such as relatives who brought home asbestos on their clothing and skin, are at risk. A small percentage (less than 5%) of mesothelioma is linked to mutations in the gene BAP1. This genetic change increases the chance of developing mesothelioma among people who have been exposed asbestos. Age is a major risk factor for mesothelioma. Mesothelioma most commonly affects those over 45, and two-thirds of those diagnosed are aged 65 or older. This is due to the long time between exposure to asbestos. 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 prevalent in white males than women or members of any other race. This is due to the fact that historically white men were more likely to work in jobs which put them at a higher risk of asbestos exposure than other groups. Additionally, mesothelioma was usually seen in people who were exposed to asbestos before better regulations were put into the 1980s. Signs and symptoms Mesothelioma is an asbestos-related tumor that forms in the protective linings around various organs in the body. The cancerous tumors that form in the tissue could cause irreparable damage and pain. The malignancy can spread to other parts of the body through the lymphatic system or the bloodstream. Mesothelioma symptoms may be similar to those of other diseases, like pneumonia or the flu. They typically take between 10 and 50 years to show up after exposure to asbestos. The latency period can make it difficult to detect the disease early, and symptoms can be misinterpreted as a sign of other illnesses. The majority of malignant tumors start in the chest cavity, or lungs (pleura). Mesothelioma can also form in the linings surrounding the abdomen and the heart. In rare cases, 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 chemical and water, or by bacteria. They were commonly used in a variety construction and household products before scientists realized how hazardous they were to the lives of people. The majority of mesothelioma cases were triggered by exposure to asbestos at workplace or at home. The majority of patients who were exposed worked for the US Navy, Air Force, Shipbuilding Industry or Construction. It is more prevalent in women than men, and veterans make up about 30% of mesothelioma cases. Imaging scans and medical tests can aid doctors in identifying mesothelioma. albany asbestos law firm includes 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 analysis. The results can help doctors determine the mesothelioma type and stage of the disease, which influences prognosis and treatment options. The majority of mesothelioma types are epithelioid or sarcomatoid. Between 10 percent and 15% of cases are biphasic, or mixed. Epithelioid mesothelioma is generally less aggressive and has the highest survival rates. Sarcomatoid mesothelioma has a worse prognosis and is more difficult to treat. Diagnosis It is difficult to diagnose mesothelioma in particular in the early stages. Patients should first visit their primary physician if they notice any signs such as chest pains or coughing. The doctor will use a stethoscope listen to the patient's breathing and then record their health history and work history. This includes any asbestos exposure history, which is crucial to determine mesothelioma's presence. Doctors must rule out other diseases before they can make the diagnosis since mesothelioma symptoms are like those of other diseases. For example mesothelioma is a cancer that usually spreads to the lungs of patients from another part of the body, such as the chest wall or abdomen. Asbestos sufferers are at risk of lung diseases, such as mesothelioma, pneumonia, and pleural symptoms can be confused with other respiratory illnesses. Mesothelioma can be diagnosed with blood tests and imaging tests, as well as biopsies. These tests will aid in locating the site of the cancer, which is often found in the lungs, but can also be in the stomach or the testicles. These tests can also help doctors find out how much of the cancer is spreading throughout the body. A CT scan or MRI could show signs of mesothelioma. These include calcium deposits (also known as plaque) in the pleura as well as a buildup between the lungs' and chest wall's walls. These tests can also determine whether the lungs of a person are more pronounced on one side or the other. In many cases, a biopsied is necessary to confirm the diagnosis of mesothelioma. This procedure involves removing small amounts of tissue and testing them in the lab for mesothelioma. Some patients may require additional tests, such as FDG-positron emission tomography (PET) which allows doctors to see how the tumor is affecting the blood supply to the lungs; mediastinoscopy, which enables doctors to examine and sample lymph nodes in the center of the chest as well as endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) which makes use of sound waves to study mesothelium and the lungs. Mesothelioma is a rare disease and doctors are still learning to treat it effectively. In the end, patients who are diagnosed with cancer need to be aware of their options and decide which treatment is the best for them. Treatment Mesothelioma can affect the lung's lining (pleural mesothelioma) and abdomen (peritoneal mesothelioma) or the heart (pericardial mesothelioma). The symptoms usually don't appear until several decades after exposure to asbestos. Because of this, it is important for those who have been exposed to asbestos to be examined when they experience unusual symptoms. A doctor will collect an examination of the medical history to check for mesothelioma risk factors such as how long and how intensely an individual was exposed to asbestos. A doctor can also perform an examination to determine signs of mesothelioma such as the accumulation of fluids in the chest cavity. Mesothelioma is classified by the type of cells that form in the mesothelium and the site where these cells are. Epithelioid mesothelioma is the most common type of to 80% of mesothelioma. Other mesothelioma types include sarcomatoid mesothelioma and biphasic which represent between 10% and 15% of all mesothelioma cases. There are many 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 through radiation or chemotherapy. In these procedures, doctors administer powerful chemotherapy drugs or utilize special equipment to destroy cancerous cells and reduce the risk of mesothelioma coming back. Other forms of mesothelioma can be treated surgically, which removes parts of the tissues of the organ that are affected. This can also ease symptoms such as breathing difficulties. If someone is diagnosed with mesothelioma of the pleura the doctor can perform the procedure known as VATS, that involves the use of a camera into the lungs to remove part of the pleura and lung. This can improve breathing problems caused by the build-up of fluid in the lungs, but does not cure the disease. Other treatment options could include support and pain management. It is vital that people suffering from mesothelioma receive as much knowledge about the disease as possible and how to deal with it. The more they know, the better equipped they will be to plan for a a healthy and happy future.