The Cause of Mesothelioma Lung Cancer
Mesothelioma may begin in the layer of tissue that covers the lung (pleural mesothelioma) or in the layer of tissue that covers organs of the abdomen (peritoneal mesothelioma). Mesothelioma treatments include chemotherapy, surgery and radiation.
Certain patients with mesothelioma aren't able to have surgery because of the cancer stage. Other options for treatment include a drainage in the pleura to reduce the accumulation of fluids and palliative medications to ease symptoms.
Asbestos
Asbestos is the fibrous minerals of a group that are resistant to heat and strong. In the past, they were popular for insulation and construction materials. People who work with asbestos are at risk of inhaling asbestos fibers which can adhere to the linings of their lungs. These fibers can stay in the lung and cause lung problems including mesothelioma.
The mesothelioma tumor affects the organ's lining that is known as the mesothelium. Most cases of mesothelioma cancer originate in the lungs' linings (pleura), but it may also affect the lining of the abdomen (peritoneum) and the heart's lining (pericardium). Mesothelioma cancer is different from other cancers due to the fact that symptoms typically manifest between 10 and 50 years following asbestos exposure.
People who were exposed to asbestos at work have the highest chance of developing mesothelioma. Shipyard workers, construction workers and asbestos miners are among the most popular industrial jobs. Veterans with mesothelioma are often diagnosed due to exposure to asbestos while in the military.
Employees in these high-risk positions were exposed to asbestos on ships, in buildings, and in vehicles. The fibers were also carried home by workers wearing their uniforms and hair and also their tools. Family members of those exposed to asbestos while at work could also inhale the fibers and could be at risk of developing mesothelioma and other related diseases. This secondhand exposure is referred to as secondary mesothelioma.
Other industries that have the highest risk of exposure to asbestos include asbestos-related pipe fitters, asbestos-producing manufacturers millwrights, asbestos contractors, and millwrights. These industries were mostly in the United States and used chrysotile asbestos, amosite asbestos, and crocidolite as their main products. The workers in these industries also had the highest risk of coming in contact with asbestos on their tools or clothing that could lead to mesothelioma.
Radiation exposure
Radiation exposure has been linked to mesothelioma-related lung cancer, despite asbestos being the main cause. Mesothelioma patients who are exposed to radiation have a higher risk of developing the more aggressive and difficult to treat sarcomatoid mesothelioma. This type of mesothelioma could affect the lungs, chest walls and the heart tissue. Radium exposure and other forms of radiation may increase the risk of developing this form of mesothelioma.
Mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer, can be difficult to detect. Because of this, patients may undergo a variety of tests to determine if they have the disease. The tests may include a physical exam as well as imaging scans, and a biopsy. A biopsy is the removal of a small amount of tissue or fluid to test for mesothelioma.
Radiation therapy is utilized by doctors to treat patients with mesothelioma. They usually administer these treatments before or after surgery. They can also utilize it for patients who are unable to undergo surgery to shrink tumors. Radiation therapy is a different treatment that makes use of high-energy radiations, like the X-ray or gamma rays to kill cancerous tissue by damaging their DNA.
Radiation is used to treat both pleural and mesothelioma peritoneal due to the method it uses to kill cancerous cells and prevent them from spreading. Unlike many other types of chemotherapy, radiation doesn't harm healthy tissues around it. When mesothelioma therapy is administered doctors will put special shielding on the patient's body in order to protect them from the negative effects of the treatment.
Due to the long latency time and the delayed onset of mesothelioma symptoms, it can be difficult for doctors to make an accurate diagnosis. Because of this, mesothelioma is frequently misdiagnosed as a different lung cancer or as a common disease such as bronchitis or pneumonia. This is why it is crucial that patients report their history of exposure to asbestos to their doctors so they can get regular checkups and a mesothelioma treatment when it occurs.
Genetics
Researchers have discovered that genetics play a role in the development of mesothelioma. A small fraction of people who have been exposed for long periods to asbestos develop mesothelioma. Some studies show that mutations in specific tumor-suppressing genes make it more likely that these people will develop mesothelioma.
Scientists are trying to understand the ways that these gene changes contribute to mesothelioma. They are investigating the effects of asbestos on DNA and why some people have more mutations than those who have an asbestos history.
Mesothelioma symptoms often don't appear until 10 to 50 years after the initial exposure to asbestos. When the disease does appear the first symptoms are usually chest pain. These symptoms are often confused with pneumonia or flu. The cancer is usually present in the lungs by the time these symptoms are noticed. Mesothelioma is diagnosed in different stages depending on how far it has spread. The cancer may have started in the lung tissue or the lungs, or other organs.
Many people with mesothelioma will die due to complications that are associated with the cancer. The most frequent complications are respiratory failure and collapsed lung. other causes of mesothelioma of death are lung infections, fluid accumulation in the pleura, or a tumor extending into the diaphragm or heart.
Many people who have mesothelioma have children afflicted by the disease. This has resulted in a debate about whether there is a link between mesothelioma and genetics. The idea that mesothelioma is genetic since children of parents suffering from mesothelioma or other asbestos-related diseases were more likely to develop these diseases. Recent research has proven that there is no genetic connection between mesothelioma or asbestos.
Doctors can check for mesothelioma by taking a sample of fluids or tissues. They can also look into the patient's medical history and determine if they have a previous history of exposure to asbestos. Doctors can also perform a CT scan, MRI or other imaging tests to determine the location of the mesothelioma.
Lifestyle
Mesothelioma is an asbestos cancer that develops in the thin layer of tissue (mesothelium) that covers the majority of internal organs. It is typically located in the Pleura (tissue surrounding the lung). It may also occur in the lining around the abdomen or the heart (peritoneal mesothelioma of the pericardial region) or in the testicles. The doctors divide mesothelioma in stages according to the location of the cancer and its extent. The earlier mesothelioma can be diagnosed, the easier it is to treat.
A doctor can identify asbestosis by asking about the medical history of the patient and examining for signs. They can also order an X-ray of the chest or a computed-tomography scan to look for calcium deposits on the pleura and the lungs, signs of fluid in the chest cavity or changes in the diaphragm. They may also look for mesothelioma in lymph nodes of the chest and abdomen.
If the doctor suspects mesothelioma, they may perform a biopsy to confirm the diagnosis and determine what stage the cancer is in. The mesothelioma-specific type of cancer will also help doctors decide the most effective treatment option.
The majority of people suffering from pleural sarcoidosis have a history that includes asbestos exposure at work. The exposure could have been indirect or direct. Indirect exposure occurs when someone brings home the carcinogen from work on their clothing hair, skin or from tools that are contaminated. In the US, asbestos exposure has been diagnosed in 80% of patients with mesothelioma. In the UK the figure is about 50%.
There are several types of mesothelioma surgery that can alleviate or reduce symptoms and improve quality of life. For pleural mesothelioma the most commonly performed procedures include an extrapleural pneumonectomy or pleurectomy with pulmonary decortication. These surgeries remove cancerous pleura as well as a portion of the diaphragm and/or lung and lining of the heart. Some patients are candidates for surgery that is less invasive that involves removing the pleura but only a small portion of the affected lung. These treatments can be used together or in conjunction to improve a patient's mesothelioma life expectancy.