epoxywinter68
User Name: You need to be a registered (and logged in) user to view username.
Total Articles : 0
Mesothelioma Cancer Mesothelioma which is a cancerous tumor caused by asbestos exposure is a serious condition Inhaling asbestos fibres can cause pleural cancer and swallowing asbestos can cause peritoneal cancer The symptoms can manifest 10 to 50 years after the initial diagnosis Symptoms include breathlessness abdominal pain and chest pain Risk Factors Asbestos fibres can cause mesothelioma The most wellknown type of mesothelioma is mesothelioma that is found in the lining of the chest cavity and the lungs Less commonly mesothelioma develops in the peritoneum or the hearts membrane pericardium The cancer may take up to 50 years to develop before it manifests symptoms The symptoms are often mistaken for flu like illnesses Mesothelioma most often affects older people and is more prevalent in males than women The exposure to asbestos is the biggest risk factor for mesothelioma Asbestos is a natural mineral that is made up of tiny fibres which were employed in construction materials including walls and ceilings because of its resistance to heat and fire It was also widely used in the manufacture of goods like pipes insulation shingles insulation and cement People who worked in industries where asbestos was prevalent like construction mining or shipbuilding are at a high risk of developing mesothelioma Even those who only been exposed to asbestos for a short period of time such as relatives who brought home asbestoscovered clothing and skin are at risk A small proportion of mesothelioma cases are linked to a gene mutation called BAP1 This genetic change increases the chance of developing mesothelioma in people who have been exposed to asbestos The patients age is also an indicator of risk Mesothelioma is most common in people who are older than 45 and twothirds of those who are diagnosed with the disease are 65 years old or older This is due to the long latency associated with asbestos exposure However it could also be that older people are more likely to develop the disease because of the longterm exposure Mesothelioma is more prevalent in white males than females or people of any other race This is due to the fact that historically more white men worked in jobs that put them at a higher risk of exposure to asbestos than other groups Mesothelioma is most often afflicted by those who were exposed asbestos prior to the 1980s when better regulations were in place Signs and symptoms Mesothelioma is an asbestosrelated tumor that forms in the linings that protect various organs in the body The cancerous tumors which form in the tissue could cause irreparable damage and pain The malignancy may be spread to other parts of the body via the lymphatic or bloodstream system The symptoms of mesothelioma may be similar to those of other illnesses such as influenza or pneumonia They typically take between 10 and 50 years to appear after exposure to asbestos This delay in time makes it difficult to identify mesothelioma early Additionally the symptoms can be misinterpreted as other diseases The majority of malignant tumors start in the lungs or chest cavity pleura Mesothelioma may also 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 minerals in a grouping that forms long thin fibers These fibers are strong enough that they cant be broken by chemicals water or bacteria They were commonly used in a range of construction and household products before scientists realised the dangers they posed to peoples lives The majority of mesothelioma cases were triggered by exposure to asbestos at work or at home The majority of patients exposed were employed by the US Navy or Air Force Shipbuilding Industry or Construction It is more common in males than females and veterans make up around 30 percent of mesothelioma cases Medical tests and imaging scans can aid in diagnosing mesothelioma These include X rays CT scanners 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 will aid in determining the mesotheliomas stage and type which impacts the outlook for treatment and options The majority of mesothelioma types are epithelioid and sarcomatoid Between 10 percent and 15 of cases are biphasic or mixed Epithelioid mesothelioma tends to be less aggressive and has the best survival rates Sarcomatoid mesothelioma is a less favorable prognosis and is more difficult to treat Diagnosis Mesothelioma is difficult to identify especially in its early stages Patients should first visit their primary care physician when they notice any signs such as chest pains or coughing The doctor will observe the patients breathing using a stethoscope and take down their health history and work This includes any previous asbestos exposure which is important in determining mesotheliomas diagnosis Since mesotheliomas symptoms mirror those of other illnesses doctors must exclude other conditions prior to making a diagnosis For example mesothelioma is a cancer that usually spreads to a persons lungs from other parts of the body for instance their abdomen or chest wall Asbestosrelated lung diseases such as pneumonia are common among asbestos sufferers Pleural mesothelioma may be confused with other respiratory illnesses Blood tests imaging tests and biopsy can all be used to identify mesothelioma These tests can aid doctors in identifying the cancerous site which is usually located in the lungs but could also be found in the stomach or testicles These tests can also help doctors find out how much of the cancer is growing in the body arvada asbestos attorneys or MRI could reveal signs of mesothelioma This includes calcium deposits also known as plaque in the pleura and a buildup between the lungs and chest wall These tests can also show whether a patient has more lungs on one side or the other In many instances a biopsy is required to confirm a diagnosis of mesothelioma This involves removing small quantities of tissue and testing them in the lab for mesothelioma Certain patients might require additional tests such as FDGpositron emission tomography PET which allows doctors to examine the lymph nodes in the middle of the chest and to take samples of them or endobronchial ultrasonography EBUS using sound waves to look at the lungs and the mesothelium Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer is currently being treated by doctors Patients who have been diagnosed with cancer must be aware of their options and determine the best treatment for them Treatment Mesothelioma can affect the lungs lining pleural mesothelioma abdomen peritoneal mesothelioma or the heart pericardial mesothelioma The symptoms usually dont show up for several decades following exposure to asbestos As a result it is important for those who have had to work with asbestos to be examined if they develop any strange symptoms A doctor will take a medical history to check for mesothelioma risk factors for example how long and how intensely someone was exposed to asbestos A doctor will also perform an examination to look for signs of mesothelioma such as fluid accumulation in the chest cavity Mesothelioma can be classified based on the kind of cells that develop in the mesothelium as well as the location of those cells The most frequent type of mesothelioma is epithelioid and accounts for up between 60 and the majority of mesothelioma patients Other types of mesothelioma are biphasic and sarcomatoid mesothelioma which represent between 10 and 15 of mesothelioma cases There are many different treatment options for patients with mesothelioma The type of treatment depends on the type of mesothelioma as well as the stage of the disease In some instances mesothelioma can be treated with radiation or chemotherapy When treating mesothelioma doctors utilize powerful cancerfighting drugs or equipment to kill tumors This reduces the chance of mesothelioma returning Other types of mesothelioma may be treated through surgery that removes a portion of the tissues of the organ that are affected This can also relieve symptoms such as breathing difficulties If someone is diagnosed with mesothelioma of the pleura the doctor can perform VATS a procedure which involves inserting a camera into the lungs to eliminate part of the pleura and lung This procedure can help with breathlessness due to fluid buildup in the lungs However it does not treat mesothelioma Other treatment options include pain management or support services It is vital that people who suffer from mesothelioma have as much information on the disease as they can and how to deal with it The more they know the more prepared they are to plan for an enjoyable and healthy future