Is Mesothelioma Only Caused by Asbestos?
Mesothelioma is a fatal cancer is a disease that affects the thin layer that covers many organs. It is most prevalent in the lung (pleural sarcoidosis) as well as the intestines and the heart. People who have been exposed to asbestos are more at risk.
Asbestos is one of the minerals that form thin, long fibers. It was used for military, commercial, and residential products during the 20th century. Manufacturers knew about its dangers, but concealed them in order to maximize profits.
Causes
Asbestos is an naturally occurring mineral that is resistant to wear and heat. It was used to make a variety of commercial and household items in the past, including floor tiles, insulation and brake linings. Asbestos is dangerous however, as it breaks into tiny, needle-like fibers that can cause irritation to tissue around organs and may lead to cancerous cells.
The people 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 have not. Between 70 and 80% of people diagnosed with mesothelioma are victims of exposure to asbestos. It usually takes between 20 and 50 years for symptoms to manifest after the initial exposure. A higher risk is for those with a mesothelioma-affected family member.
Asbestos fibers can get into the lung when exposed. The fibers then travel to the pleura, or lung lining, and can irritate it. This can lead to pleural disease and fluid buildup in the lung. This can make breathing difficult.
Mesothelioma can also develop in the tissues that line the abdomen, intestines and heart. Most often, a mesothelioma patient has been exposed asbestos while at work. This kind of exposure is different from that in which a person is exposed to asbestos at home, for instance, when family members remove asbestos-containing insulation from the ceilings and walls of their homes.
Researchers are studying whether certain genes could increase your risk of developing mesothelioma. However regardless of these genes, a person must be exposed to asbestos in order 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. It is also possible that certain people are more prone to develop mesothelioma because of the way that their bodies process asbestos. This isn't a recognized risk factor however, and it doesn't explain why one person might get the illness while another might not.
Signs and symptoms
Exposure to asbestos can cause mesothelioma tumor to grow in any of the body's linings. It can also develop in the lungs, abdomen or heart (pleural mesothelioma). In certain cases, it can form in the testicles (peritoneal mesothelioma).
Mesothelioma symptoms usually appear in small amounts over a long period of time. The first signs of mesothelioma could be misinterpreted as other diseases. The symptoms can take as long as 50 years to manifest, so someone may have been exposed for decades before developing mesothelioma. It takes a similar amount of time for cancer to spread to other parts of the body once it forms.
The symptoms of pleural mesothelioma are difficulty breathing, coughing, and chest pain. Other symptoms can include weight loss, fatigue and abdominal pain. Fluid in the lungs is the most frequent manifestation (pleural effusion). Pleural mesothelioma can affect the lung lining and chest cavity known as the pleura. The cancer causes the lining to thicken which makes it difficult for the lungs expand when breathing.
A biopsy and other tests can aid in diagnosing the presence of pleural mesothelioma. A biopsy can determine the type of malignant mesothelioma and the extent to which it has spread, and whether it's benign or malignant.
If doctors suspect that a patient has mesothelioma they may refer them to specialist who will conduct additional tests. The specialist can perform the biopsy as an outpatient. This means that the patient can be in and out of the hospital the same day without needing long periods of recuperation.
Mesothelioma is not a common occurrence however it is important to have it diagnosed as soon as you can. There is no cure for mesothelioma however treatment can ease symptoms and slow the disease.
Treatment
Mesothelioma is triggered by exposure to asbestos, which is a group of minerals containing thin, flexible fibers. Asbestos is a strong, fire-resistant material and doesn't conduct electricity, so it was used in a variety of industrial applications, including insulation, building materials ships, brakes, and flooring of various kinds. Exposure could result when these materials break into dust and then become dusty. If inhaled or consumed, asbestos fibers can cause irritation that leads to mesothelioma. Mesothelioma symptoms typically don't show until a long time after the initial exposure. It can affect the linings of the lungs, stomach, and the heart.
The only way to identify mesothelioma is through medical testing. The doctor will examine the patient and ask about their previous work background. The doctor may also perform tests of imaging to determine abnormalities in the abdomen or chest. These tests can include X-rays as well as CT scans.
If mesothelioma diagnoses are possible doctors will collect an in-depth sample of the affected tissue or fluid to conduct further tests. Under a microscope, they will look for cancerous cells in order to determine the type of mesothelioma the patient has. There are three types: epithelioid, biphasic, and sarcomatoid. 70 percent of mesothelioma cases are epithelioid. The sarcomatoid type is least common. The biphasic type is a mix of the two types above and can be harder to treat than any of them separately.
Treatment options for mesothelioma depend on factors like the nature, stage and severity of the disease. Certain types of mesothelioma can be more aggressive than others, and the prognosis is generally less favorable for patients who have mesothelioma that is in the late stages.
Mesothelioma patients may undergo surgery, chemotherapy or radiation therapy to treat the condition. These treatments can be painful and can cause adverse effects like nausea and vomiting, fatigue and difficulty breathing. However these side effects are usually temporary and can be managed by medication or other methods. Some patients will also receive radiation treatment after surgery to kill any cancerous cells that surgeons missed.
Prognosis
Despite its use in many industries and its reputation for being extremely durable and economical material, asbestos is known to cause several types of serious medical conditions. One of these conditions is mesothelioma. It develops in the linings of certain organs and structures like the lungs, stomach, testicles and the heart. Mesothelioma symptoms can take years to manifest. Treatments can be used to manage and lessen symptoms.
Asbestos fibers are tiny and can be absorbed by the body. They can then become lodged within certain tissues. Asbestos is a mineral that occurs naturally that has been used for a long time in products ranging from insulation to textiles.
When asbestos is disturbed it becomes airborne. It is then taken in or eaten. Inhaling asbestos fibers may cause irritation to the cells in the lungs, causing DNA damage and malignancy. Asbestos fibers get digested by the stomach and travel into the lining of the stomach (peritoneum) which is where they can cause mesothelioma and inflammation.
Exposure to asbestos through secondhand contact can also occur if you live in a home where someone has been exposed to asbestos. Family members can be exposed if workers bring home asbestos fibers on their clothing hair, skin and. A mesothelioma-related family history increases the chance of developing the disease.
There are two types of mesothelioma: the peritoneal and the pleural. Pleural mesothelioma can be found in the tissues of the lungs and chest. It is the most frequent type of mesothelioma. Peritoneal Mesothelioma is caused by asbestos fibers that get into the outer linings of the abdominal organs or the abdominal cavity. This mesothelioma type affects the lining of the tummy (abdomen) and is less prevalent than mesothelioma pleural.
Asbestos is a very toxic mineral that can cause various types of cancers as well as other diseases like mesothelioma asbestosis, is mesothelioma only caused by asbestos and lung cancer. The asbestos hazards were not widely recognized until the 1980s, when companies began to realize asbestos's dangers. In the past, blue-collar businesses and the military regularly used asbestos in items such as flooring, roofs insulation, brake linings, and insulation.