• 목록
• 답변
• 글쓰기
• 게시판 리스트 옵션
  • 수정
  • 삭제

Mesothelioma and Asbestos

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that comes in long, thin fibres. Workers who are regularly exposed to asbestos risk developing lung diseases like mesothelioma.

The symptoms of these diseases may not show up for decades after exposure to asbestos. Different types of asbestos may cause different symptoms.

Pleural Mesothelioma

Pleural mesothelioma is a cancer that occurs in the lung's outer lining (pleura). It is the most frequent type of mesothelioma, making up between 70 and 79% of all diagnosed cases. Patients with this disease suffer from chest pain and breath shortness and may experience an ache or heaviness in the chest.

This kind of cancer is often caused through exposure to asbestos, which is a grouping of minerals that are made up of microscopic fibres. Once inhaled, these fibers are absorbed into the lung and cause irritation that leads to scarring and DNA mutations. Pleura is the lining of both the chest cavity and the lungs, and so irritations can also affect the heart. Mesothelioma typically doesn't manifest until 30 to 50 year after exposure.

Shortness of breath and chest pain are the most frequently reported symptoms. Patients may also experience chest tightness or coughing. They may also experience difficulty breathing. Patients with this cancer have a history of disease that includes asbestos claim exposure at work. The most common jobs that put people at risk of developing pleural cancer are construction, manufacturing and shipbuilding. People who served in the military are at greater risk due to the extensive use asbestos (i thought about this) in Navy vessels and Army bunkers.

The most commonly used staging system for pleural mysothelioma has been the TNM (tumor lymph nodes, lymph nodes, and metastases) staging system. The stage that a patient is in at the time of diagnosis will help determine the treatment plan they should follow. Patients with pleural mesothelioma that is in stage three or four will have a worse prognosis compared to those who are in a less advanced stage. Stage four mesothelioma can develop into the liver, heart, or diaphragm. This makes the cancer more difficult to treat and increase the risk of complications for the patient.

Peritoneal Mesothelioma

In contrast to pleural cancer, which forms in the lung's lining, peritoneal cancer develops in a membrane that covers the abdominal cavity, which includes organs like the intestines and liver. Like pleural mesothelioma, exposure to asbestos is the cause of peritoneal mesothelioma. Only 300-500 cases are diagnosed each year this is less than pleural asbestosis.

Like pleural mesothelioma, symptoms can take a long time to manifest. Most patients are afflicted with abdominal pain as well as an abdominal mass. This mesothelioma type can also cause nausea, weight loss and fever. A lot of these symptoms are similar to those of digestive problems, which can result in misdiagnosis.

The doctors can detect mesothelioma through reviewing the medical history of the patient and performing a physical examination. Imaging tests such as X-rays or CT scans are a way to identify mesothelioma. These tests can reveal tumors and other signs of cancer that are not evident on X-rays.

The results of these tests allow doctors to diagnose mesothelioma and determine the stage. They can also suggest treatment options. The stage is determined by the type of cell and whether the cancer has spread.

The most important risk factor for mesothelioma is asbestos exposure. People who have been exposed to asbestos in professions, such as electrical or plumbing work, or in construction, manufacturing and manufacturing, are more likely to contract the disease. However, even if people aren't employed in these fields they may be exposed to asbestos through family members or through other sources. Anyone who suspects that they are at risk should consult an expert. A mesothelioma expert can help those who have had a experience with asbestos attorney to understand more about their risk.

Risk Factors

Asbestos exposure is the primary risk factor for mesothelioma which accounts for as much as 80 percent of all cases. Exposure to asbestos can occur due to military service, work, or living with people who have worked with asbestos. When exposed to asbestos, small particles can be inhaled into the lungs and abdomen. They can cause irritation to the linings of the abdomen and can cause cancerous cells to develop in the mesothelium. After exposure to asbestos mesothelioma can develop between 15 and 60 years.

Other risk factors include smoking, genetics, and age. People in their 40s and 50s are more likely be diagnosed with mesothelioma compared to those who are younger or more senior. This is because mesothelioma usually lasts between 20 and 60 years from the initial exposure before symptoms of cancer begin to manifest. It is important to keep in mind that mesothelioma can be present in those who have been exposed to asbestos compensation without having been directly exposed to it. This is referred to as indirect or secondary asbestos exposure, and is as dangerous as direct asbestos exposure.

Smoking increases the risk of mesothelioma, as it damages the mesothelium. It also makes it more prone to. Mesothelioma is also aggravated by certain illnesses such as asbestosis and pneumonia. Men are more likely to develop mesothelioma than females. This is due to men being more likely to work with asbestos and experience a a longer period of exposure than women. Men are also more likely to have lived with someone who had worked with asbestos lawyer and to carry asbestos fibers on their clothing. Women tend to have less contact with asbestos and rarely carry asbestos legal on their clothes.

Diagnosis

Mesothelioma is a difficult disease to recognize because the symptoms can be similar to other diseases. Due to this, patients are often misdiagnosed.

NYU Langone doctors will perform a physical examination and record the patient's medical background, including asbestos exposure. Doctors may also request an CT scan or chest X-ray in order to look for abnormalities, lumps and evidence of asbestos exposure. These include pleural plaques, thickened pleura and calcium deposits.

Other diagnostic tests include an echocardiogram which examines the heart and blood vessels and magnetic resonance imaging, also known as MRI, test, which makes use of magnets and radio waves to create detailed images of the inside of the body. A surgical biopsy is yet another way for doctors to diagnose mesothelioma. During a surgical biopsy, doctors take a small amount of tissue from the peritoneum or pleura to conduct further tests. A pathologist is then able to examine the tissue with microscopes to determine whether it contains cancerous cells.

Mesothelioma can be classified based on the type of mesothelial cells involved, whether the cells are benign or malignant, and the location of the tumor, the type, and the stage of the tumor. Certain types of mesothelioma may be more likely to develop metastasis or spread which is why it is crucial to have a clear diagnosis to ensure that doctors are able to treat the disease before it becomes out of control.

Doctors can also run tests in the lab on a tumor to identify particular proteins, genes and other factors that help them understand the cancer's characteristics and plan treatment. These results are known as staging.

Treatment

A diagnosis of mesothelioma can be frightening. It is important to remember, however, that cancer can be treated particularly in its early stages. Many people with mesothelioma can live with the disease for many years without it spreading.

Exposure to asbestos can cause mesothelioma through a variety of ways. Asbestos fibres, small enough to not be felt or viewed by naked eyes, can become airborne, causing irritation to the lining of the lung (pleura). In time, the irritation leads to the formation of scar tissue that eventually result in tumors.

The Pleura is a protective layer that protects the abdomen, heart, and lungs. Mesothelium consists of cells that react when exposed to asbestos. They cause inflammation to the tissue and cause it to scar. As time passes, these changes cause the development of malignant mesothelioma tumors.

Breathing problems, chest pain or fluid accumulation on the lungs are all signs of pleural Msothelioma. In rare cases, the cancer can grow to the tissues surrounding the heart and reproductive organs.

A doctor will request biopsy if imaging scans show a potential lung tumor or stomach. The procedure involves the removal of small amounts of fluid or tumor to allow for lab tests. The results can confirm the diagnosis of mesothelioma and determine the best treatment plan.

There are many types of treatment for mesothelioma including surgery and chemotherapy. Most doctors utilize the combination of these treatments. Participating in clinical trials of new mesothelioma treatment may also be beneficial to patients. Patients can find out more by consulting a mesothelioma expert who has treated mesothelioma.