Is Mesothelioma Only Caused by Asbestos?
Mesothelioma, a cancer that is deadly is a disease that affects the thin layer of skin that lines many organs. It is most commonly found in the lungs (pleural sarcoidosis) along with the intestines, stomach, and the heart. People who are exposed to asbestos are at greater risk.
Asbestos is a class of minerals that form thin, long fibers. It was used for commercial, military, and residential products during the 20th century. Manufacturers knew about its dangers, but concealed the risks to maximize profits.
Causes
Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral substance that is resistant to chemical wear and heat. It was used in manufacturing a variety of commercial and household products in the past, such as flooring tiles, insulation, and brake linings. Asbestos is a risk, however, because it breaks down into tiny needle-like fibers that can cause irritation to tissue around organs and may cause cancerous cells.
Workers who work with asbestos or who are exposed to asbestos at home or on the job are more likely to develop mesothelioma than people who aren't. 70% to 80% of people diagnosed with mesothelioma had prior exposure to asbestos. The symptoms usually manifest between 20 and 50 years after the initial asbestos exposure. A higher risk of developing symptoms is related to those who have mesothelioma-affected relatives.
Asbestos fibers can enter the lungs when exposed. The fibers then travel to the pleura, which is the lining that surrounds the lungs and may cause irritation to it. In time, this may result in pleural diseases, which may lead to the lungs to build up fluid, a condition called pleural effusion. This can cause breathing difficulties.
Mesothelioma can also develop in the tissues that line the abdomen, intestines and the heart. In the majority of cases, a person with mesothelioma is exposed to asbestos at the workplace. This type of asbestos exposure is different from that of someone who is exposed at home to asbestos, for instance when family members remove asbestos containing insulation from their walls and ceilings.
Scientists are investigating if certain genes increase the likelihood of developing mesothelioma. Even with these asbestos-related genes, exposure is still required to develop mesothelioma. A few rare cases of mesothelioma have been linked to other minerals such as silica and erionite, which are linked to asbestos. Certain individuals may be more susceptible to mesothelioma due to the way they break down asbestos. This isn't a well-known factor and does not explain the difference between a patient who gets mesothelioma and another.
Signs and symptoms
Asbestos exposure may cause cancerous mesothelioma in any of the body linings. It may also grow in the lung (pleural mesothelioma), abdomen or heart. In certain cases, it can form in the testicles (peritoneal mesothelioma).
Mesothelioma symptoms usually appear in sporadic ways over a long period of time. Symptoms can be similar to those of other diseases and, therefore, people are frequently not diagnosed in the initial stages of mesothelioma. The symptoms can take up to 50 years before they appear, so someone may have been exposed for decades before forming mesothelioma. It takes a similar amount of time for cancer to spread to other parts of the body once it develops.
Chest pain, coughing, and breathing problems are all symptoms of pleural Mesothelioma. Other signs include fatigue, weight loss and abdominal pain. Lung fluid is the most frequently reported manifestation (pleural effusion). Pleural mesothelioma affects the lung lining and chest cavity called the pleura. The cancer can thicken the lining of the lungs, making it difficult for the lungs to expand when breathing.
Doctors can diagnose pleural melanoma by taking a sample of tissue from the affected area and performing some tests. A biopsy can determine the type of mesothelioma that a patient is suffering from, the extent to which it has spread and whether it is malignant or benign.
If doctors suspect that the patient has mesothelioma they can refer them to specialist who will conduct additional tests. The specialist will be able to perform an examination in an outpatient setting. The patient is able to leave the hospital the same day.
Mesothelioma is still uncommon, but it is important to be diagnosed as soon as you can. There is no cure for the disease, however treatment can help manage symptoms and reduce its severity.
Treatment
Mesothelioma can be caused by exposure to asbestos, which is a group of minerals containing thin flexible, flexible fibers. Asbestos is a strong, fire-resistant material and doesn't conduct electricity so it was used in various industrial applications like building materials, insulation ships, brakes, and flooring of various kinds. Exposure may occur when these products break into dust and then become dusty. When inhaled or ingested, asbestos fibers may cause irritation that can lead to mesothelioma. The signs of mesothelioma generally are not evident until years after exposure. It can affect the lung linings, stomach, and the heart.
The only way to diagnose mesothelioma is to test it with medical tests. The doctor of the patient will examine them and inquire about their past work history. They will also do scans to check the chest or abdomen for any abnormalities. These tests could include X-rays or CT scans.
If mesothelioma diagnosis is possible, the doctor will take samples of fluid or tissue for further testing. They will look for cancer cells under a microscope in order to determine what type of mesothelioma patient has. There are three types of mesothelioma namely epithelioid (most frequent) and Sarcomatoid (second most frequent) and biphasic. 70 percent of mesothelioma cases are epithelioid. The sarcomatoid is the least common type. The biphasic type is a mix of the two types above and is more difficult to treat than either type individually.
Treatment options for mesothelioma depend on factors such as the stage, type and severity of the disease. Some types of mesothelioma can be more aggressive than others. Patients suffering from late-stage disease are more likely to suffer from a poor prognosis.
Patients with mesothelioma could be treated through surgery, chemotherapy or radiation therapy. These treatments can be painful for some patients, and may cause adverse effects such as nausea, vomiting, fatigue and difficulty breathing. However, these side effects are often temporary and can be managed with medication or other methods. Some patients may be treated with radiation after surgery to eliminate any cancerous cells that surgeons missed during surgery.
Prognosis
Despite its widespread use in industries and its reputation for being a highly durable and cost-effective material asbestos is known to be the cause of several kinds of serious medical conditions. Mesothelioma is one of these diseases. It develops on the linings of organs and structures such as the lungs and heart. Mesothelioma signs can take a long time to appear. Treatments can help manage and reduce symptoms.
Asbestos is comprised of microscopic fibers that may be absorbed into the body and then become embedded in the linings of certain tissues. Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that has been used for many years in products ranging from insulation to textiles.
When asbestos is disturbed, it becomes airborne. It can be inhaled or eaten. Inhaling the asbestos fibers are deposited into the lungs where they can cause irritation to cells until they damage DNA and become malignant. Ingestion of asbestos fibers are digested. They then move through the digestive tract and eventually to the outer abdominal lining (peritoneum) where they may also cause inflammation and result in mesothelioma.
The exposure to asbestos from secondhand sources is also possible when you live in a home in which someone has worked with asbestos. Workers may expose their family members to asbestos fibers when they bring home stray fibers from their clothing, skin or hair. The risk of developing mesothelioma is also increased by having an ancestor with the illness.
There are two main kinds of mesothelioma: pleural and the peritoneal. Pleural mesothelioma can be found in the tissues of the chest and lungs. It is the most prevalent mesothelioma. what causes peritoneal mesothelioma develops when asbestos fibers enter the lining around the abdominal organs and cavity. This kind of mesothelioma is more frequent than pleural and affects the lining of the abdomen.
Asbestos, a highly toxic mineral, can lead to cancers of different types as well as other diseases like mesothelioma or lung cancer. However, asbestos' risks were not widely recognized until the early 1980s when manufacturers began to realize the dangers. Up until then asbestos was being used by blue-collar workers and the military for products such as flooring, roofs and brake Linings.