Mesothelioma Cancer Mesothelioma is a tumor that can be cancerous caused by asbestos exposure, is a serious disease Inhaling asbestos fibers cause mesothelioma pleural and swallowing asbestos can lead to peritoneal mesothelioma Symptoms can appear between 10 and 50 years after the initial diagnosis Symptoms include shortness of breath, chest pain and abdominal distress Risk Factors Mesothelioma occurs when asbestos fibres get into the body The most common type of mesothelioma is mesothelioma that is found in the lining of the chest cavity and the lungs Mesothelioma can also develop in the peritoneum the membrane that surrounds the heart or the pericardium It can take between 20 and 50 years for the cancer to grow and manifest symptoms that can be confused with flu-like illnesses Mesothelioma is most prevalent in people over the age of 50 and is more prevalent in males than females https//vimeocom/704885809 to asbestos is the biggest risk factor for mesothelioma Asbestos, a natural mineral made up of tiny fibres, was employed as a building material, such as in ceilings and walls It is impervious to heat and fire It was also widely used in the manufacturing of goods such as pipes insulation, shingles, insulation and cement Mesothelioma is an extremely serious illness for people who work in industries that employ asbestos, for example mining, shipbuilding, or construction Even those who have had a second exposure to asbestos like family members who brought home asbestos-covered clothing or skin are at risk A small portion less than five percent of mesothelioma is linked to an alteration in the gene BAP1 This genetic mutation increases the chance of developing mesothelioma in those who have been exposed asbestos The patient's age is also a risk factor Mesothelioma typically affects those over 45 and two-thirds of those diagnosed are aged 65 or older This is largely due to the lengthy latency period that is associated with asbestos exposure however, it could be due to the fact that the disease tends to affect older people who have had longer-term and more intense exposure to the cancer-causing substance White males are more likely develop mesothelioma than anyone else of any race or gender This is due to the fact that historically more white men have worked in occupations that put them at higher risk of asbestos than other groups In addition, mesothelioma is usually seen in people who were exposed to asbestos before better regulations were put into during the 1980s Symptoms Mesothelioma, a type of cancer caused by asbestos, occurs in the protective linings of many organs The cancerous tumors can cause extreme pain and damage the tissue The malignancy may spread to other parts through the lymphatic or bloodstream system Mesothelioma symptoms can be similar to other illnesses, such as pneumonia or the flu They typically take between 10 and 50 years to appear after exposure to asbestos This latency period makes it difficult to recognize mesothelioma in the early stages, and the symptoms may be misinterpreted as a sign of other illnesses The majority of malignant tumors start in the chest cavity or lungs pleura Mesothelioma may also form in the linings surrounding the abdomen and heart In rare instances the disease can affect the lining of the testes or the sac that surrounds the heart pericardium Asbestos is a group of minerals that form long, thin fibers The fibers are so strong that they cannot be broken down by chemicals and water, or by bacteria These materials were used widely in many household and construction materials for a long time before researchers realized how dangerous they were to health The majority of mesothelioma cases were triggered by exposure to asbestos either at work or home The majority of patients who were exposed worked for the US Navy Air Force, Shipbuilding Industry or Construction Men are more likely to develop mesothelioma compared to women Veterans comprise about 30 of all cases Imaging scans and medical tests can aid doctors in identifying mesothelioma This includes X-rays CT scanners, MRIs, and PET scans The doctor may also send a sample of tissue to a laboratory for testing The results will help determine the mesothelioma's type and stage which can affect the prognosis and treatment options The majority of mesothelioma types are epithelioid or sarcomatoid Between 10 percent and 15 of cases are biphasic or mixed Epithelioid cancer is less aggressive and usually has the highest survival rate Sarcomatoid mesothelioma can be more difficult to detect and has a lower prognosis Diagnosis Mesothelioma is a difficult cancer to detect particularly in its early stages The first step is for patients to see their primary care doctor with any symptoms, such as chest pains or coughing The doctor will observe the patient's breathing with an stethoscope, and record their work and health history This includes any previous asbestos exposure, which is important to determine if mesothelioma is present Doctors must rule out any other diseases before they can confirm the diagnosis, as mesothelioma signs are like those of other diseases Cancer can develop in the lung tissue of a patient through other parts of the body like the chest or abdomen Asbestos sufferers are at risk of lung issues, such as mesothelioma, pneumonia, and pleural symptoms may be confused with other respiratory ailments Mesothelioma can be diagnosed with blood tests as well as imaging tests and biopsies These tests will aid in locating the site of the cancer, which is typically in the lungs, but may also be located in the stomach or the testicles The tests will also assist doctors find out how much of the cancer is growing throughout the body A CT scan or MRI can reveal mesothelioma-related signs including calcium deposits in the pleura known as plaque and an accumulation of fluid between the chest wall and the lungs These tests can also show whether a person's lungs are more prominent on one side than the other In many instances a biopsy is required to confirm the diagnosis of mesothelioma This involves removing small amounts of tissue and testing them in the lab for mesothelioma Certain patients may require additional tests, such as FDG-positron emission tomography PET which helps doctors understand how the tumor is affecting the blood supply to the lungs mediastinoscopy, which permits doctors to look at and sample lymph nodes that are located in the center of the chest; or endobronchial ultrasound EBUS, which uses sound waves to examine mesothelium and the lungs Mesothelioma, a rare cancer, is still being treated by doctors In the end, patients who are diagnosed with cancer need to consider their options carefully and determine the best treatment for them Treatment Mesothelioma can affect the lung's lining pleural mesothelioma, abdomen peritoneal mesothelioma or the heart pericardial mesothelioma The symptoms are not usually evident for a long time after exposure to asbestos As a result, it is important for those who have worked around asbestos to have their health checked when they experience unusual symptoms A doctor will collect an medical history to look for mesothelioma-related risk factors, such as the length of time and intensity the patient was exposed to asbestos A doctor may also conduct an examination to determine mesothelioma signs, such as an accumulation of fluid in the chest cavity Mesothelioma is categorized by the type of cells that form in the mesothelium as well as where those cells are located Epithelioid-like mesothelioma comprises 60 to 80 of mesothelioma Other types of mesothelioma are biphasic and sarcomatoid mesothelioma that both represent about 10 to 15 of mesothelioma patients There are a myriad of treatment options available for people suffering from mesothelioma The treatment option is based on the stage and type of mesothelioma In some cases, mesothelioma may be treated through radiation or chemotherapy In these procedures, doctors administer powerful chemotherapy drugs or utilize special equipment to destroy tumors and reduce the chances of mesothelioma coming back Other types of mesothelioma may be treated through surgery, which removes parts of the tissues of the organ that are affected This can also ease symptoms like breathing problems If a person is diagnosed with mesothelioma of the pleura the doctor can perform VATS, a procedure that involves the use of a camera into the lungs to eliminate part of the pleura and lungs This procedure can help with breathlessness due to fluid buildup in the lungs However, it does not cure mesothelioma Other treatment options include support services or pain management It is important for people suffering from mesothelioma to obtain as much information as possible about the disease and ways to deal with it The more they know, the better equipped they will be to plan for a an enjoyable and healthy future