Is Asbestos the Only Cause of Mesothelioma?
Mesothelioma has a strong association with asbestos exposure. Not everyone who is exposed to asbestos will develop the cancer.
Exposure to asbestos can increase your risk of developing pleural or peritoneal mesothelioma. Mesothelioma may develop 20 to 50 years after asbestos exposure.
The people who work with asbestos may bring tiny asbestos fibers into their homes on their clothing. Exposure to asbestos in the workplace could expose family members to the risk for developing mesothelioma.
Risk factors
Mesothelioma is triggered by a number of factors such as the person's work history, family history, and the type of asbestos to which they were exposed. Mesothelioma is more frequent for those who have worked with asbestos or resided in homes that contained asbestos. They could also be genetically predisposed to the condition.
Mesothelioma is usually diagnosed after exposure to asbestos for 10 or more years. The most common type is pleural mesothelioma, which occurs around the lungs. The second most popular form of mesothelioma is peritoneal mesothelioma and the third most rare mesothelioma form develops around the heart (pericardial mesothelioma).
It is difficult to determine the percentage of mesotheliomas caused by asbestos that aren't caused by asbestos exposure. This is partly because the mesothelioma signs take a long time to manifest. The majority of patients are diagnosed during their 50s or 60s, when they are nearing retirement age. Mesothelioma is more frequent in older patients who have been exposed asbestos.
The majority of mesothelioma patients are veterans who were exposed to asbestos during their time in the military. Often, the veterans were part of naval vessels or military buildings which contained asbestos-containing materials. Other mesothelioma victims have worked for the shipyards, asbestos companies, or other industries that used asbestos for insulation and fireproofing.
In addition to asbestos, mesothelioma has also been associated with other cancer-causing substances like talcum powder and radiation therapy. Investigating other possible causes of the disease could help to uncover mesothelioma-related symptoms. This could lead earlier diagnosis and better treatment options to sufferers.
Men are more likely to develop asbestos-related mesothelioma than women. Men are more likely to develop asbestos-related mesothelioma than women, mostly because they were employed in positions that were asbestos-related. However Peritoneal msothelioma is much more common in women than in men. This could be due to a variety of causes including exposure from wives who shake the clothes of husbands who were exposed to asbestos or other exposures to environmental factors like erionite. Furthermore, it is possible that the genetic predisposition to mesothelioma and low-level asbestos carcinogenesis contributes to the gender gap.
Signs and symptoms
The lung is the most frequent organ affected, but other organs may also be affected. The symptoms are typically mild and akin to other diseases. It is therefore difficult to determine mesothelioma early. When you add the long interval between asbestos exposure and diagnosis, these symptoms can lead to misdiagnosis and delay treatment.
Symptoms of mesothelioma include fatigue, a dry cough, and difficulty breathing. Talk to your doctor if you are suffering from any health issues, especially if there is a history of asbestos. Seeing a specialist in mesothelioma will help doctors better know your symptoms and get diagnosed as soon as possible.
Asbestos fibers are airborne when they break or fall apart and can be swallowed or inhaled. When these fibers get into the body, they can cause inflammation and irritation. The irritated tissues may grow tumors, which can lead to mesothelioma.
Pleural mesothelioma, which is a disease that affects the lung's lining is the most prevalent mesothelioma type. Mesothelioma symptoms include breathing problems, chest discomfort, difficulty breathing, fluid accumulation in the lungs, inflammation of the lungs, and fatigue. These symptoms are similar to those associated with other diseases like pneumonia and chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD). The exact method by which asbestos fibers get to the abdomen is unknown however they could be inhaled or swallowed into the lungs through the digestive system.
Peritoneal mesothelioma that affects the lining of the abdomen, is less common than pleural mesothelioma or lung cancer. It is caused by inhalation of asbestos fibers which are absorbed by the gastrointestinal tract via the respiratory system or through the lymphatic system. It is unclear how asbestos fibers reach other organs inside the body, including the scrotum and the heart.
Like other cancers mesothelioma may be difficult to identify because the symptoms are similar to those of other diseases and illnesses. A diagnosis of mesothelioma will require a physical exam as well as a review of the patient's medical as well as work history. This can include chest X-rays and CT scans which are used to detect abnormalities in the lungs and other body parts. A mesothelioma test can confirm the diagnosis.
Diagnosis
The diagnosis of mesothelioma is made by a combination of symptoms and history, as well as specialized tests. These tests could include an CT scan, MRI or X-ray of the chest to detect abnormal cell growth. A doctor can also test pleural fluid, or examine a tumor for signs of cancer.
It is hard to determine mesothelioma because it is rare, and its symptoms are similar. It is challenging for doctors until the end stages of the disease to identify mesothelioma in a patient.
Only asbestos exposure is known to cause mesothelioma. The dangerous asbestos fibers penetrate into the linings certain organs, such as the stomach or lungs. Once there, they cause changes that result in the growth of cancerous tissue. The fibers can be inhaled, swallowed or absorbed through the skin.
Once the asbestos fibers reach the lining of the body and are absorbed into the body, they can remain there for a long time. They can then get stuck and begin to irritate the tissue. This leads to cancerous tumors that can eventually grow into malignant mesothelioma.
Most patients who develop mesothelioma have been exposed to asbestos in the workplace. The lung's lining (pleura) is most often affected by cancer of the pleural lining. Asbestos may also get into other areas of the human body, like the peritoneal lining (abdominal lining) or the heart.
There are four kinds. About 80% of cases are mesothelioma with pleural origins. Other types include peritoneal, testicular, and pericardial mesothelioma.
The mesothelioma cells can be epithelioid or sarcomatoid. Epithelioid is the most popular type and has the most favorable prospects. Sarcomatoid mesothelioma is the worst prognosis.
Mesothelioma is not curable, however it can be treated to lessen the patient's pain and enhance their quality of life. Mesothelioma can grow rapidly and is a highly aggressive form of cancer. However, patients can improve their chances of surviving by being diagnosed early and following treatment recommendations closely. Contact a doctor immediately if you've been exposed. They can provide you with information on asbestos exposure and recommend testing to help determine a mesothelioma diagnosis.
Treatment
The only way to treat mesothelioma is to treat it. Treatments can help patients live longer. Doctors typically employ a combination of surgery, chemotherapy and radiation to treat the cancer. However, there are a number of newer treatments being evaluated as well. Some of them are aimed at removing tumors and eliminating cancerous cells. Immunotherapy is a different treatment that can boost the immune is mesothelioma always caused by asbestos system of the body to fight cancer cells.
Asbestos, a clumping of microscopic fibers used in construction, is the most common cause of mesothelioma. When inhaled, the fibres cause irritation and scarring of the lungs, which can lead to permanent damage. Most cases of mesothelioma develop after more than 20 years from the initial exposure. Although asbestos is no longer in use in the UK but asbestos-containing products still exist in many buildings.
Anyone who has been exposed is at risk of developing mesothelioma and the disease may be diagnosed in people who have no known asbestos exposure. Researchers have identified a few factors that increase the likelihood of developing mesothelioma. These include smoking cigarettes and changes in certain genes. However, these risks do not explain why certain people who were exposed to asbestos develop the disease, while others do not.
Pleural mesothelioma occurs more frequently in men than women this is due to the fact that more men have had positions that exposed them to asbestos. In contrast women are more likely to develop mesothelioma peritoneal. This could be due to exposure to asbestos by the wives of men who work with asbestos, or due to genetic factors like mutations in a gene calledBAP1.
Mesothelioma is a rare type of cancer and doctors usually have limited experience in treating it. Consequently, doctors may refer patients to specialists with more expertise. Mesothelioma research is rapidly progressing and the development of additional treatment options could soon be in reach. If you're diagnosed with mesothelioma, it is important that you contact an asbestos lawyer with experience. They can help you find down the source of your exposure to asbestos, and get compensation.