Mesothelioma Asbestos Lung Cancer
Mesothelioma affects the tissues that line the chest cavity, lungs and, in rare instances, the tissues of the heart and abdomen. The main cause of mesothelioma lies in asbestos exposure.
Asbestos fibers become stuck in tissues and cause DNA damage. The result is that cells transform into mesothelioma cancer cells.
Signs and symptoms
Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that affects tissues that line and protect organs in the body. Exposure to asbestos fibres could cause cancerous cells to grow into mesothelioma tumours. The majority of mesothelioma cases originate in the lung (pleura). It can also occur in the tissues of the abdomen, the heart and testicles.
The most common mesothelioma symptoms are breathlessness coughing, chest pain and chest pain. Patients may also experience abdominal pain, fatigue and weight loss. These symptoms can be confusing and difficult to identify in the early stages particularly when mesothelioma still a relatively young disease. It could take years or even decades after exposure to asbestos for mesothelioma symptoms to appear.
The first step to diagnosing mesothelioma is an examination and a medical history. A doctor can ask for blood tests or imaging scans to determine the severity of the symptoms. These scans can include CT (computer tomography) scans, MRI and PET (positron emission tomography).
X-rays could reveal a lump or fluid that is not normal in the lungs. These scans can help the doctor determine the type and location of the mesothelioma. The two main mesothelioma types are sarcomatoid and epithelioid. Epithelioid mesothelioma is responsible for about 70% of mesothelioma cases. Sarcomatoid Mesothelioma is a less favorable prognosis, and is less frequent than epithelioid.
Most people diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma suffer from a nonproductive cough, chest wall pain, and trouble breathing. Patients with pleural mesothelioma may have an abnormal heart sound or a condition known as pericardial effusion, or swelling of the scrotum.
The most effective method to diagnose mesothelioma involves the taking of a biopsy of the tissue. The type of mesothelioma also determines how a doctor will treat the disease. For example, if a person has mesothelioma pericardial doctors may eliminate excess fluid through pleurodesis, a procedure that is known as pleurodesis, or insert an indwelling pleural catheter to decrease inflammation and improve breathing. Other options include surgery and chemotherapy.
Diagnosis
The mesothelioma cancerous form develops on the organ's linings. The disease is most common in the lungs. However, it can also occur in the abdomen (peritoneum) or around the testes.
The signs of mesothelioma may be noticed between 10 and 50 years after the initial exposure. Because of this latency period, many patients may be incorrectly diagnosed. This illness is often misdiagnosed as other, less serious illnesses such as pneumonia or the flu. This mistake could result in a delay in treatment, which could reduce the chances of survival for a patient.
If connecticut asbestos law firm suspect mesothelioma, see their doctor as soon as they can. In the first visit, doctors take a patient's full medical history to look for signs and other factors that may make them more susceptible to mesothelioma. This includes asbestos exposure in the past and the type and duration.
The next step is for doctors to conduct imaging tests to examine the chest and abdomen for signs of mesothelioma or other abnormalities. Chest X-rays, CT scans and MRIs are all able to reveal changes in the lungs, such as pleural thickness or fluid accumulation. They can also reveal whether the mesothelioma tumor has spread to other parts of the body.
A doctor may also request a blood test to see whether the patient has high levels of certain chemicals that are linked to mesothelioma. They may also perform an operation known as the thoracentesis. This involves the removal of a small amount of the lungs' fluid to check for cancerous cells.
If a mesothelioma diagnosis has been confirmed then a biopsy is taken to look at an insignificant portion of the tumor to detect cancerous cells. VATS (video assisted thoracoscopic surgery) or a needle-guided CT scan can be used to perform this procedure. The results of this test will help determine the best mesothelioma treatment option for the patient. This could include chemotherapy, surgery or radiation therapy. Certain patients may choose to undergo immunotherapy. This latest form of treatment can improve the prognosis of patients and improve their quality of life.
Treatment
Mesothelioma is a disease that affects the tissues that line and protect organs, including the lung (pleural mesothelioma) as well as the stomach (peritoneal mesothelioma) or the testicles or heart (pericardial mesothelioma). While mesothelioma can't be treated however, treatment can reduce symptoms.
Your doctor will ask you about your health history and check for symptoms of mesothelioma. Your doctor will also inquire about your asbestos exposure as it is the leading risk factor for mesothelioma. Asbestos exposure can cause asbestos fibers to be trapped in the linings of the chest cavity (mesothelium) stomach, chest cavity or the heart. Over time this causes inflammation, and can transform normal cells into cancerous ones. Mesothelioma can be identified using blood tests and imaging tests.
Your healthcare provider will employ a chest X-ray to see changes in the lung tissue and determine whether you have an accumulation of fluid (pleural effusion). Your doctor will recommend an MRI, CT scan, or FDG-positron emissions (PET) to obtain high-quality images. They may also perform a needle biopsy in order to collect a sample from the affected tissue.
A pathologist, also known as a mesothelioma expert, will analyze the tissue using a magnifying lens to detect cancerous cell and determine the kind. The pathologist will use a dye to stain the tissue samples in order to identify the cancer. This dye is visible when certain types of cancer are present. They will then employ an advanced method to get an even closer view of the tissue under the microscope.
It can be difficult to determine if you have mesothelioma as the cells that cause it appear similar to those of other types of cells in the body. Your medical team will attempt to confirm the mesothelioma diagnosis by performing other tests. This includes a blood test to determine levels of fibulin-3 and mesothelin-related peptide that is soluble.
Your healthcare team will decide on a mesothelioma treatment plan depending on the type of cancer you have and the degree to which it is advanced. Surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy are the most common treatment options for mesothelioma. Palliative treatment may be offered when your mesothelioma is at an advanced stage. This will relieve the pain and other signs.
Prognosis
The outlook for mesothelioma is based on the type and stage of cancer, as well as other factors such as the patient's age and general health. Patients should consult experienced doctors to learn more about the treatment options available to them.
Mesothelioma occurs when asbestos fibers harm the tissues that line and protect vital organs. The asbestos fibers can be breathed in or consumed, and over time they cause inflammation and genetic changes that turn normal cells into mesothelioma-related tumors. The most common mesothelioma forms are mesothelioma pleural (which is a tumor that develops on the linings of the lungs as well as the chest cavity and abdomen) mesothelioma.
Doctors diagnose mesothelioma on the basis of symptoms, lab tests and X-rays. They may also recommend an examination to confirm the diagnosis. A biopsy is the removal of a small piece of tissue to be examined. Doctors then compare the biopsy samples against a database to identify the most likely mesothelioma cell type. This information can be used to estimate the life expectancy of a patient with mesothelioma, as well as their treatment plan.
Mesothelioma cells can be classified into three categories: epithelioid epithelial, biphasic and sarcomatoid. Each mesothelioma kind develops at an individual rate and responds to treatment in a different way. Epithelioid cancer is responsible for 60 to 80 percent of all cases and has a higher survival rate than biphasic or sarcomatoid mesothelioma.
It could take up to 50 years for mesothelioma to develop following exposure to asbestos. Therefore, many patients do not be diagnosed with mesothelioma until they experience significant symptoms. Asbestos sufferers should report their exposure to a doctor and be checked regularly.
During these visits, doctors examine for signs of exposure to asbestos like scarring on the lungs, as well as other respiratory problems. They may also conduct a simple blood test to assess the overall health of a patient. If the results indicate that the patient is at a the highest risk of developing mesothelioma they can arrange for additional tests to determine if they are likely to develop a prognosis. This will include imaging exams like X radiographs, CT scans, and ultrasounds, in addition to a lung function test, a chest MRI or PET scan.