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Mesothelioma CancerMesothelioma which is a cancerous tumor that is caused by asbestos exposure is a serious disease. Inhaling alameda asbestos attorneys can cause pleural cancer, and swallowing asbestos can cause cancer of the peritoneal region.The symptoms can manifest within 10 to 50 years of the initial diagnosis. The symptoms could include chest pain, abdominal distress and breathlessness.Risk FactorsAsbestos fibers can cause mesothelioma. The most commonly encountered mesothelioma type is mesothelioma that is found in the chest cavity’s lining and lungs. Mesothelioma can also form in the peritoneum (the membrane surrounding the heart) or in the pericardium. The cancer may take up to 50 years to manifest symptoms. The symptoms are often misinterpreted as flu-like illnesses. Mesothelioma is most common in older people and is more prevalent in males than females.Exposure to asbestos is the most significant risk factor in mesothelioma. Asbestos, a natural mineral composed of tiny fibres, was utilized as a building material, like in walls and ceilings. It is abrasive to heat and fire. It was also widely utilized in the manufacture of goods like insulations, pipes, shingles, and cement. Mesothelioma is an extremely serious illness for those who work in industries that employ asbestos, such as mining, shipbuilding, or construction. However even those who experienced secondary exposure, such as family members who brought home asbestos-contaminated clothes and skin, are at risk.A small portion (less than 5percent) of mesothelioma can be traced to mutations in the BAP1 gene. This genetic mutation increases the chance of developing mesothelioma among those who have been exposed to asbestos.Age is another important risk factor for mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is most common among people who are older than 45, and two thirds of those diagnosed with it are 65 years old or older. This is partly due to the long latency period that is associated with asbestos exposure but it could be due to the fact that the disease is more prevalent in older those who have had a more prolonged and heavy exposure to asbestos-related material.White males are more likely develop mesothelioma more than any other race or gender. This is due to the fact that historically more white men worked in jobs which put them at greater risk of asbestos exposure than other groups. Mesothelioma most commonly affects those who were exposed to asbestos before the 1980s, a time when better regulations were in place.Signs and symptomsMesothelioma is an asbestos-related tumor that forms in the linings that protect many organs of the body. The cancerous tumors which form in the tissue could damage them and cause severe pain. The malignancy can be spread to other parts of the body via the bloodstream or lymphatic system.Mesothelioma symptoms are similar to other illnesses, such as pneumonia or the flu. It can take up to 50 years after asbestos exposure before showing symptoms. The latency period can make it difficult to diagnose the disease early, and symptoms may be misinterpreted as other conditions.In the majority of cases, malignant tumors start in the chest cavity and lungs (pleura). However, mesothelioma may also develop in the tissues surrounding the heart and abdomen. In rare instances the disease may affect the testes’ lining or the sac that surrounds the heart (pericardium).Asbestos is made up of minerals in a grouping which form long, thin fibers. The fibers are so strong that they are unable to be broken down by chemicals or water, or even bacteria. They were widely used in many household and construction products for decades before scientists understood the dangers they pose to health.Most mesothelioma cases were caused by exposure to asbestos at work or home. The majority of patients who were exposed were employed in the US Navy Air Force, Shipbuilding Industry or Construction. Men are more likely to develop mesothelioma than women. Veterans make up about 30% of all cases.When mesothelioma is diagnosed, doctors can identify it by performing medical tests and imaging scans. These include X rays, CT scanners, MRIs, and PET scans. The doctor can also send a tissue sample to a lab for testing.The results will help determine the mesothelioma’s stage and type which can affect the prognosis and treatment options. Most types of mesothelioma are epithelioid or sarcomatoid, and between 10% and 15% are biphasic or mixed. Epithelioid cancer is less invasive and typically has the highest survival rates. Sarcomatoid Mesothelioma is more difficult to identify and has a less favorable prognosis.DiagnosisIt is difficult to recognize mesothelioma in particular in the early stages. The first step is to see their primary care doctor with any symptoms, like chest pains or coughing. The doctor will observe the patient’s breathing using a stethoscope and take down their health history and work. This includes any past history of asbestos exposure, which is crucial in determining mesothelioma’s diagnosis.Doctors must rule out any other diseases before they can make a diagnosis because mesothelioma symptoms are similar to other diseases. For instance the cancer is often spread to the lungs of patients from other parts of the body, such as the chest wall or abdomen. Asbestos victims are prone to lung problems, including mesothelioma, pneumonia, and pleural symptoms can be confused with other respiratory illnesses.Mesothelioma can be detected with blood tests as well as imaging tests and biopsies. These tests can help doctors find the cancerous region, which is usually in the lungs, but may also be in the testicles or stomach. The tests will help doctors determine the extent to which the cancer has spread throughout the body.A CT scan or MRI can reveal signs of mesothelioma like calcium deposits in the pleura (known as plaque) and a buildup of fluid between the chest wall and the lungs. These tests can also reveal whether a person’s lungs are more pronounced on one side or the other.In many cases, a biopsy is necessary to confirm a diagnosis of mesothelioma. This procedure involves removing the tissue in a small amount and testing it in the lab for mesothelioma-related cells.Certain patients might require additional tests, such as FDG-positron emissions tomography (PET) which permits doctors to examine the lymph nodes in the middle of the chest, and to sample them, or endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS), using sound waves to study the lungs and the mesothelium. Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer, is still being treated by medical professionals. Therefore, patients who are diagnosed with cancer need to weigh their options carefully to decide what treatment is best for them.TreatmentMesothelioma can affect the lung linings or abdomen (peritoneal cancer) or the heart (pericardial cancer). The symptoms usually don’t manifest until decades after exposure to asbestos. Because of this, it’s important for people who have had to work with asbestos to get checked out for any unusual symptoms.A doctor will review your medical history to determine if you are at risk of mesothelioma risks. This is based on how long and how frequently you were exposed to asbestos. A doctor will also perform an examination to determine mesothelioma signs, such as an accumulation of fluid in the chest cavity. The type of cells that reside in the mesothelium and the locations of those cells are used to identify mesothelioma. Epithelioid mesothelioma is the most common type of percent to 80% mesothelioma. The other types of mesothelioma are sarcomatoid and biphasic mesothelioma, which both represent approximately 10 to 15% of mesothelioma patients.There are a myriad of treatment options for mesothelioma. The kind of treatment is contingent on the type of mesothelioma as well as the stage of the disease.In certain instances, mesothelioma can be treated with chemotherapy or radiation. In these treatments, doctors inject powerful cancer-fighting drugs or utilize special equipment to destroy cancerous tumors and decrease the chance of mesothelioma recurring.Other mesothelioma types are treated by surgery that removes part of the lining from the affected organ. It can also alleviate symptoms such as breathing difficulties.A person with asbestosis pleural can undergo a procedure referred to as VATS. This involves placing a camera in the lung and then removing a portion of the lung and pleura. This can improve the breathlessness that is caused by the accumulation of fluid in the lungs, but does not cure the disease.Other options for treatment include support or pain management. It is important for people suffering from mesothelioma to obtain as much information as possible about the disease and ways to manage it. The more they are aware of the more equipped they will be to plan for a a healthy and happy future.