Is Mesothelioma Only Caused by Asbestos?
Mesothelioma, a cancer that is deadly can affect the thin layer lining many organs. It is most prevalent in the lungs (pleural sarcoidosis) as well as the intestines and the heart. People who have been exposed to asbestos are at greater risk.
Asbestos is made up of a group minerals that form thin and long fibers. It was utilized in commercial, military and residential products throughout the 20th century when manufacturers knew of the dangers, but kept them to maximize profits.
Causes
Asbestos is a mineral that occurs naturally, is resistant to heat and chemicals. It was used to manufacture a variety of commercial and household items in the past, including flooring tiles, insulation, and brake linings. Asbestos is a risk, however, because it breaks down into tiny needle-like fibers, which can irritate tissue around organs and may lead to cancerous cell growth.
Mesothelioma is more common in those who work with asbestos, or are exposed to asbestos on the job or at home. 70 percent to 80% of patients diagnosed with mesothelioma have a history of asbestos exposure. Symptoms usually appear between 20 and fifty years after the first asbestos exposure. Anyone with a family member with mesothelioma also have a higher risk of developing it.
When exposed to asbestos, the fibers are able to be inhaled into the lungs. These fibers then travel into the pleura, or lung lining, and can irritate it. This can cause the development of pleural diseases and the accumulation of fluid within the lung. This can make it difficult to breathe.
Mesothelioma can also be found in tissues that line the heart, abdomen, or intestines. In most cases, the person suffering from mesothelioma has had exposure to asbestos at work. This kind of exposure is different from that in which a person is exposed to asbestos in their 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 the likelihood of developing mesothelioma. However regardless of these genes, a person will still need to be exposed to asbestos in order to develop mesothelioma. A few rare cases of mesothelioma have been connected to other minerals, such as silica and erionite, which are related to asbestos. It is also possible that certain individuals are more susceptible to developing mesothelioma due to the way their bodies break down asbestos. This is not a known risk factor, however, and does not explain why one person might be more susceptible to the disease while another may not.
Signs and symptoms
Asbestos exposure can cause cancerous mesothelioma in any of the body linings. It can also form in the lungs, abdomen or the heart (pleural mesothelioma). It may also develop in the testicles.
The signs of mesothelioma typically develop slowly over a lengthy time. Its symptoms may be similar to those of other illnesses which is why people are often not diagnosed in the initial stages of mesothelioma. The symptoms can take as long as 50 years to manifest, so someone may have been exposed for decades before forming mesothelioma. It takes about the same amount of time for the cancer to spread to other areas of the body after it develops.
Chest pain, coughing and breathing difficulties are all symptoms of pleural mesothelioma. Patients can experience other symptoms, too, including fatigue, abdominal pain, and weight loss. The most frequently reported manifestation is fluid accumulation in the lungs (pleural effusion). Pleural mesothelioma is a type of cancer that affects the lining of the chest cavity and lungs known as the pleura. The cancer causes the lining to become thicker, making it difficult for the lungs to expand during breathing.
Doctors can detect pleural mesothelioma by taking a tissue sample from the affected area and doing certain tests. A biopsy can help determine the type of mesothelioma a patient has, how far it has spread and whether it is malignant or benign.
If the doctor suspects that the patient has mesothelioma they can refer them to specialist who will conduct additional tests. The specialist will be able to perform an examination in an outpatient setting. The patient can leave the hospital on the next day.
Mesothelioma is still uncommon, but it is important to be diagnosed as early as is possible. There is no cure for mesothelioma however, treatment can help control symptoms and slow the progression of the disease.
Treatment
Mesothelioma can result from asbestos, a clustering of minerals with thin and flexible fibers. Asbestos is a strong, fire-resistant material and doesn't conduct electricity, so it was used in a variety of industrial applications like building materials, insulation ships, brakes, and some kinds of flooring. Exposure may be caused by these products breaking down and become dusty. Inhaling or ingestion of the asbestos fibers may cause irritation that causes mesothelioma. The symptoms of mesothelioma typically do not manifest until a long time after exposure. It can affect the lining of the lungs (pleural mesothelioma) as well as the stomach's lining (peritoneal mesothelioma) or the lining of the heart (pericardial mesothelioma).
The only way to identify mesothelioma is through medical testing. The doctor of the patient will examine them and inquire about their past work history. The doctor will also perform tests of imaging to determine abnormalities in the abdomen or chest. These tests can include X-rays or CT scans.
If mesothelioma diagnosis is possible, the doctor will take an organ or a fluid sample to conduct further tests. Under a microscope, they will look for cancerous cells in order to determine the type of mesothelioma the patient is suffering from. There are three types of mesothelioma: epithelioid (most popular) and the sarcomatoid (second most frequent) and biphasic. 70 percent of mesothelioma cases are epithelioid. The sarcomatoid is the least common type. The biphasic type is a mix of the two types and is more difficult to treat than either type in isolation.
Treatment options for mesothelioma depend on factors like the stage, type and severity of the disease. Certain mesothelioma types can be more aggressive than other. Patients suffering from late-stage disease are more likely to suffer from a poor prognosis.
Mesothelioma patients can undergo chemotherapy, surgery or radiation therapy to help combat the disease. These treatments can be painful and cause negative side effects, such as nausea and vomiting, fatigue and breathing difficulties. These side effects can be treated by medication or other techniques. Some patients may also undergo radiation treatments following surgery to kill any cancer cells that surgeons missed.
Prognosis
Despite its widespread use in industries and its reputation as extremely durable and economical material, asbestos is known to cause several kinds of serious medical conditions. Mesothelioma is one of these diseases. It is a condition that affects the tissues of organs and structures such as the lungs and heart. Mesothelioma signs can take a long time to manifest. Treatments can help manage and reduce symptoms.
Asbestos is comprised of microscopic fibers that may be absorbed into the body and then become lodged in the lining of certain tissues. Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that has been used for centuries in various products, from textiles to insulation.
When asbestos is disturbed, it turns airborne and can be inhaled or consumed. Inhaled asbestos fibers irritate the cells of the lungs which can cause DNA damage and malignancy. After ingestion, the asbestos fibers are digested, and then move through the digestive tract to the outer abdomen's lining (peritoneum) where they may cause inflammation and eventually result in mesothelioma.
Exposure to asbestos through secondhand contact can also occur when you live in a house where someone has worked around asbestos. Workers can expose family members to asbestos fibers if they bring home stray fibers from their clothing, skin or hair. The risk of developing mesothelioma is also increased if you have an ancestral history of the disease.
There are two types of mesothelioma, both pleural and peritoneal. Pleural mesothelioma occurs in the linings of the chest and lungs. It is the most common mesothelioma type. Peritoneal Mesothelioma results from asbestos fibers that get into the outer linings of the abdominal organs or cavity. This mesothelioma type is more prevalent than pleural and affects causes of mesothelioma the lining of the abdomen.
Asbestos, a toxic mineral, is a cause of cancers of all kinds as well as other illnesses like mesothelioma or lung cancer. Unfortunately, asbestos' dangers were not well-known until the 1980s, when manufacturers began to realize its dangers. In the past, blue-collar businesses and the military frequently employed asbestos in various products, such as flooring, roofing, insulation and brake linings.