Mesothelioma Cancer Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that is caused by exposure to asbestos Inhaling asbestos fibers causes pleural mesothelioma and swallowed asbestos can lead to peritoneal mesothelioma The symptoms may be similar to those of less serious diseases and can take anywhere from 10 to 50 years to show Symptoms include shortness of breath, chest pain and abdominal distress Risk Factors Mesothelioma develops when asbestos fibres enter the body Pleural mesothelioma is a form of cancer that develops in linings of the chest cavity or the lungs https//vimeocom/704887425 may also grow in the peritoneum the membrane surrounding the heart or the pericardium It can take between 20 and 50 years for the cancer to grow and show symptoms, which can often be mistaken for flu-like illnesses Mesothelioma is most common in older people and is more common in males than females The main risk factor for mesothelioma involves exposure to asbestos Asbestos is a natural mineral composed of tiny fibres which were employed in building materials, such as ceilings and walls because of its resistance to heat and fire It was also extensively employed in the production of products like pipes insulation, shingles, and cement Mesothelioma is an extremely serious illness for people who work in industries that employ asbestos, such as shipbuilding, mining, or construction Even those who have been exposed to asbestos for a short period of time, such as family who brought home asbestos-covered clothing and skin are at risk A small percentage less than five percent of mesothelioma is linked to a mutation in the gene BAP1 This genetic mutation increases the likelihood of developing mesothelioma in those who have been exposed to asbestos The age of the patient is also a risk factor Mesothelioma most commonly affects those who are over 45 and two-thirds of those diagnosed are 65 or older This is due in part to the long latency period associated with asbestos exposure, but it could also be because the disease tends to impact older people who have had more prolonged and heavy exposure to the cancer-causing material White males are more likely develop mesothelioma than anyone else of any race or gender This is because historically, more white men worked in jobs which put them at a higher risk of asbestos exposure than other groups Mesothelioma most commonly affects those who were exposed asbestos prior to the 1980s, when more strict regulations were in place Signs and symptoms Mesothelioma is an asbestos-related tumor that forms in the protective linings of several body organs The cancerous tumors can cause extreme pain and can damage the tissues The malignancy could spread to other parts through the lymphatic or bloodstream system Mesothelioma symptoms can be similar to those of other diseases, such as pneumonia or the flu They typically take between 10 and 50 years to manifest after exposure to asbestos The time of latency can make it difficult to identify the disease early and symptoms may be misinterpreted as a sign of other illnesses The majority of malignant tumors originate in the lungs or chest cavity pleura Mesothelioma is also able to form in the linings surrounding the heart and abdomen In rare cases it can affect the lining of the heart or the testes Asbestos is a class of minerals that form long, thin fibers These fibers are so durable that they can't be broken down by chemical, water or bacteria They were extensively used in various household and construction materials for a long time before scientists realized how harmful they were to people's health Most mesothelioma patients were exposed to the material in the workplace or at home and the majority of those who were exposed worked in the US Navy and air force, shipbuilding or construction Men are more likely to develop mesothelioma than women Veterans account for about 30 of all cases Medical tests and imaging scans can aid doctors in identifying mesothelioma This includes X-rays, CT scans, MRIs and PET scans The doctor can also collect a sample of the tissue and send it to a laboratory to be tested The results will allow doctors to determine the type of mesothelioma and stage of the disease which affects the prognosis and treatment options Most types of mesothelioma are epithelioid or sarcomatoid, and between 10 and 15 percent are biphasic, or mixed Epithelioid mesothelioma is usually less aggressive and has the highest survival rates Sarcomatoid mesothelioma is a less favorable prognosis and is more difficult to treat Diagnosis It can be difficult to identify mesothelioma, particularly in the early stages Patients should consult their primary care physician if they are experiencing any symptoms such as chest pains or coughing The doctor will use a stethoscope to listen to the patient breathing and then record their health and work history This includes any asbestos exposure background, which is essential to determine mesothelioma's presence Because mesothelioma's symptoms are similar to those of other conditions, doctors need to rule out other conditions before making the diagnosis For instance the cancer is often spread to a person's lungs from a different part of their body, such as their chest wall or abdomen Asbestos sufferers are at risk of lung problems, including mesothelioma, pneumonia, and pleural symptoms can be confused with other respiratory ailments Tests for blood, imaging and biopsy can all be used to diagnose mesothelioma These tests will aid doctors in locating the location of the cancer, which is most often found in the lungs, but can also be in the stomach or the testicles The tests can help doctors determine the extent to which the cancer has spread throughout the body A CT scan or MRI can reveal mesothelioma-related signs including calcium deposits in the pleura known as plaque and the accumulation of fluid between the chest wall and the lungs These tests can also show whether a person's lungs are more on one side than on the other In many cases biopsy is necessary to confirm the diagnosis of mesothelioma This procedure involves removing small quantities of tissue and testing them in the laboratory for mesothelioma Some patients might require additional tests, such as FDG-positron emissions tomography PET which permits doctors to check the lymph nodes in the middle of the chest and sample them, or endobronchial ultrasonography EBUS, using sound waves to study the lungs and the mesothelium Mesothelioma is a rare disease, and doctors are still learning how to treat it effectively Patients who have been diagnosed with cancer should carefully weigh their options to determine the best treatment option for them Treatment Mesothelioma can affect the lung's lining pleural mesothelioma and abdomen peritoneal mesothelioma or heart pericardial mesothelioma The symptoms generally don't appear until several decades after exposure to asbestos As a result, it's crucial for those who have been exposed to asbestos to get checked out if they develop any strange symptoms A doctor will look over your medical history to determine if you're at mesothelioma risks This includes how long and how often you were exposed to asbestos A doctor can also perform an examination to determine mesothelioma-related symptoms like fluid accumulation in the chest cavity The type of cells in mesothelium, as well as the location of those cells, are used to classify mesothelioma The most common type of mesothelioma is epithelioid It makes up 60 to the majority of mesothelioma patients Other types of mesothelioma are biphasic mesothelioma and sarcomatoid which make up between 10 and 15 of all mesothelioma cases There are a myriad of treatment options for mesothelioma The type of treatment depends on the type and stage of mesothelioma In certain instances, mesothelioma can be treated by radiation or chemotherapy During these treatments, doctors inject powerful cancer-fighting drugs or utilize special equipment to kill tumors and reduce the chances of mesothelioma returning Other mesothelioma types can be treated surgically, which removes parts of the lining of the affected organ It can also alleviate symptoms like breathing problems If a person is diagnosed with mesothelioma of the pleura the doctor can perform VATS, a procedure which uses a camera inserted into the lungs to remove part of the lung and pleura This procedure can help with breathing problems due to the accumulation of fluid in the lungs However, it will not treat mesothelioma Other options for treatment include support and pain management It is important for people who suffer from mesothelioma, to gather as much information as they can about the disease and ways to manage it The more educated they are more prepared they will be to plan for a future that includes a full range of health and wellness-related activities