Mesothelioma Asbestos Lung Cancer
Mesothelioma is a cancer that affects the tissue lining the lungs and chest cavity, and in rare cases, the abdominal lining and heart. The primary reason for mesothelioma is asbestos exposure.
Asbestos fibers get stuck in tissues and cause DNA damage. The result is that cells turn into mesothelioma cancerous cells.
Signs and symptoms
Mesothelioma is a type of cancer, affects the tissues which line and protect organs within the body. Exposure to asbestos fibres can cause these cancerous cells to grow into mesothelioma-related tumors. The majority of mesothelioma cases are located in the lungs. It can also be found in the linings of the abdomen, the heart and testicles.

Breathlessness, chest discomfort and coughing are the most common symptoms of mesothelioma. Patients also feel abdominal pain, fatigue and weight loss. These symptoms are often confusing and difficult to recognize in the beginning particularly when mesothelioma still a relatively young disease. The signs of mesothelioma might not be evident for a long time or even decades after asbestos exposure.
The first step to diagnose mesothelioma is to conduct a physical exam and a health history. To determine the severity of the symptoms doctors may recommend imaging tests and blood tests. These scans comprise CT (computer-tomography) scans as well as MRI and PET scans (positron emission Tomography).
X-rays may reveal an unusual mass or fluid in the lung. These scans may help the doctor determine where the mesothelioma is located and the kind of mesothelioma. The two major mesothelioma types are epithelioid and sarcomatoid. Epithelioid mesothelioma makes up around 70% of all mesothelioma cases. Sarcomatoid Mesothelioma is a less favorable prognosis, and is less frequent than epithelioid.
People with pleural cancer typically have a nonproductive, painful cough and breathing issues. A person with pleural msothelioma may suffer from an abnormal heart sound and a condition known as pericardial effusion, or swelling of the scrotum.
The best way to accurately identify mesothelioma is through a biopsy of tissue. The type of mesothelioma that is diagnosed will determine how a doctor treats the illness. For denver asbestos attorneys when a patient has mesothelioma of the pericardium the doctor could eliminate excess fluid through pleurodesis, a procedure that is known as pleurodesis, or insert an indwelling pleural catheter to reduce inflammation and improve breathing. Other options include surgery and chemotherapy.
Diagnosis
Mesothelioma, a form of cancer, develops in the organ's linings, known as the mesothelium. The majority of the time, the disease develops in the lungs (pleura), though it can also develop in the abdomen (peritoneum) or around the testes (tunica vaginalis).
The signs of mesothelioma may be noticed between 10 and 50 years after the initial exposure. Due to this latency period many patients are misdiagnosed. It is often misinterpreted as other, less serious illnesses, like pneumonia or the flu. This mistake can lead to delays in treatment, which could reduce the chances of surviving.
Those who suspect mesothelioma should see their doctor immediately. During this initial visit, doctors take a patient's full medical history to look for signs and any other factors that might make people more likely to develop mesothelioma. This includes asbestos exposure in the past as well as the nature and duration of the exposure.
The next step is for doctors to order imaging tests to check the abdomen and chest for signs of mesothelioma or other abnormalities. Chest X-rays, CT scans and MRIs all offer detailed images of the inside of the body and can show lung changes, such as pleural thickening or fluid buildup. They can also tell the extent to which mesothelioma is spreading to other parts of the body.
A doctor might also recommend an examination of the blood to determine whether a patient has elevated levels in certain substances linked to mesothelioma. They may also perform the procedure known as a thoracentesis, which involves the removal of a sample from the fluid surrounding the lungs to search for cancerous cells.
If a mesothelioma diagnosis has been confirmed the biopsy procedure will be taken to look at an insignificant portion of the tumor for cancerous cells. VATS (video assisted thoracoscopic surgery) or a needle guided CT scan may be used to perform this procedure. The results will aid in determining which mesothelioma treatment options are the most effective for the patient. This may include chemotherapy, surgery or radiation therapy. Some patients might also opt to take part in immunotherapy. This newer form of mesothelioma treatment may improve the quality of life for patients and improve their chances of survival.
Treatment
Mesothelioma affects tissues that line and protect organs, including the lungs (pleural mesothelioma) and stomach (peritoneal mesothelioma) or the testicles or heart (pericardial mesothelioma). Although mesothelioma cannot be cured, treatment can help control symptoms.
Your doctor will ask about your medical history and search for symptoms of mesothelioma. Your doctor will also ask about your asbestos exposure, as this is the number one risk factor for mesothelioma. Exposure to asbestos can cause asbestos fibers to get trapped in the lining of the chest cavity the stomach, tummy or the heart (mesothelium). As time passes this causes inflammation, and can transform normal cells into cancerous ones. Imaging tests and blood tests can be used to detect mesothelioma.
Your healthcare provider uses an X-ray of the chest to determine if you have fluid accumulation (pleural effusion). Your healthcare provider will request an MRI, CT scan, or FDG-positron emissions (PET), to get detailed images. They will also conduct an incision using a needle to collect a sample from the affected tissue.
A mesothelioma specialist, also known as a pathologist will examine the mesothelioma tissue under a microscope in order to find cancerous cells and determine what type of mesothelioma you have. The pathologist will use a dye to color the tissue samples in order to identify the cancer. This dye is visible when certain types of mesothelioma are present. Then, they will employ a special technique to get a closer look at the tissue under microscope.
It can be difficult to determine if you have mesothelioma as the mesothelioma-causing cells look similar to those of other types of cells in the body. Your healthcare team will confirm the diagnosis of mesothelioma with other tests. These include a blood test to determine the levels of fibulin-3 and mesothelin-related peptide that is soluble.
Your care team will choose the mesothelioma treatment plan based on the type of cancer you suffer from and how advanced it is. Radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and surgery are the most common treatments for mesothelioma. The option of palliative therapy is available when your mesothelioma is at an advanced stage. This can relieve your discomfort and other symptoms.
Prognosis
The prognosis for mesothelioma varies on the type and the stage of cancer, as well as other factors like the patient's age as well as general health. Patients should work with knowledgeable doctors to find out more about the treatment options available to them.
Asbestos fibers can cause damage to tissues that connect vital organs and shield them from harm. These asbestos fibers are inhaled or consumed, and they can cause genetic changes and inflammation, which transform normal cells into mesothelioma tumors. The most frequent mesothelioma variants are pleural mesothelioma that occurs in the lung lining and chest cavity (pleura) and peritoneal mesothelioma, a rarer form that arises in the lining that protects the abdomen.
Doctors diagnose mesothelioma using symptoms, laboratory tests, and X-rays. They may also suggest taking a biopsy to confirm the diagnosis. A biopsy involves the removal of a small piece of tissue to be examined. The doctors can then compare the biopsy samples against an online database to determine the most likely type of mesothelioma cells. This information will help them predict the mesothelioma-related life expectancy of a patient and treatment plan.
The three mesothelioma types are epithelioid, epithelial or epithelial cells, sarcomatoid cells and biphasic cells. Each mesothelioma kind develops at a different rate and responds to treatment in a different way. Epithelioid mesothelioma makes up 60 percent to 80% of cases and has a better survival rate than sarcomatoid and biphasic mesothelioma.
Mesothelioma may develop for up to 50 years after asbestos exposure. Many patients aren't diagnosed of mesothelioma until they show significant symptoms. Asbestos exposure must be reported to a physician and patients must undergo regular checks.
During these visits doctors can check for signs of exposure to asbestos for example, scarring around the lungs, or other respiratory problems. They can also do an easy blood test to determine the patient's health. If the results show that the risk of a patient developing mesothelioma is high they can arrange for further tests to receive a mesothelioma prognosis. This could include imaging tests such as X-rays, CT scans and ultrasound as well as a lung function test and an chest MRI or PET scan.