Mesothelioma Cancer Mesothelioma is a tumor that can be cancerous caused by asbestos exposure is a serious illness Inhaling asbestos fibers cause mesothelioma pleural and swallowing asbestos can cause peritoneal mesothelioma These symptoms can be a sign of less serious illnesses They can take anywhere from 10 to 50 years to appear The symptoms could include chest pain, abdominal distress and breathlessness Risk Factors Asbestos fibres can cause mesothelioma Pleural mesothelioma is a form of cancer that develops in linings of the chest cavity or the lungs The most common form of mesothelioma is in the peritoneum or in the heart's pericardial membrane pericardium It can take between 20 and 50 years for the cancer to grow and manifest symptoms that are often mistaken for flu-like illnesses Mesothelioma most often affects older people, and is more common in men than women Exposure to asbestos is the most significant risk factor for mesothelioma https//vimeocom/704943483 , a natural mineral that is made up of tiny fibres, was used as a building material such as in walls and ceilings It is resistant to fire and heat It was also extensively employed in the production of goods like pipes insulation, shingles, and cement Workers in industries where asbestos was common such as shipbuilding, mining, or construction, are at high risk of developing mesothelioma Even those who only had secondary exposure to asbestos such as relatives who brought home asbestos-covered clothing and skin are at risk A small portion of mesothelioma cases are linked to a gene mutation called BAP1 This genetic mutation increases the risk of developing mesothelioma in those who have been exposed to asbestos Age is a major risk factor for mesothelioma Mesothelioma is most prevalent in people older than 45 years and two-thirds of those who are diagnosed with the disease are 65 years old or older This is partly due to the lengthy latency period due to asbestos exposure, however, it could be due to the fact that the condition tends to affect older people who have had more extensive and prolonged exposure to the cancer-causing material White males are more likely to develop mesothelioma than any other race or gender This is because historically, more white males worked in occupations which put them at a higher risk of asbestos exposure than other groups Mesothelioma most commonly affects those who were exposed asbestos before the 1980s, when more stringent regulations were in place Signs and symptoms Mesothelioma, a cancer caused by asbestos, develops in the linings that protect various organs The cancerous tumors can cause extreme discomfort and cause damage to the tissue The malignancy could be spread to other parts of the body via the lymphatic system or the bloodstream Mesothelioma symptoms may 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 The latency period can make it difficult to detect the disease in the early stages and symptoms can be misinterpreted as other conditions In most cases, the malignant tumors originate in the chest cavity and lungs pleura Mesothelioma is also able to develop in the linings that surround the heart and abdomen In rare cases the disease may affect the testes' lining, or the sac that surrounds the heart pericardium Asbestos is minerals in a grouping that forms long, thin fibers These fibers are so durable that they can't be broken down by chemicals and water, or by bacteria They were commonly used in a range of construction and household products before scientists discovered how harmful they were to people's lives The majority of mesothelioma cases are caused by exposure to asbestos either at work or at home The majority of patients exposed worked for the US Navy, Air Force, Shipbuilding Industry or Construction It is more common in women than men, and veterans make up about 30 of mesothelioma cases If mesothelioma begins to develop doctors can spot it through imaging scans and medical tests These include X-rays CT scans, MRIs and PET scans The doctor may also send a tissue sample to a lab for testing The results can aid in determining the type and stage of mesothelioma which affects the prognosis and treatment options Most types of mesothelioma are epithelioid and sarcomatoid and between 10 and 15 percent are biphasic, or mixed Epithelioid cancers are less aggressive and typically has the highest rate of survival Sarcomatoid mesothelioma has a worse prognosis and is more difficult to treat Diagnosis Mesothelioma is difficult to diagnose, especially in its early stages Patients should first visit their primary care physician if they experience any symptoms like chest pain or coughing The doctor will examine the patient's breathing using a stethoscope and take down their health history and work This includes any asbestos exposure background, which is essential in determining mesothelioma's diagnosis Doctors must rule out any other diseases before they can make the diagnosis since mesothelioma symptoms are similar to those of other diseases For instance, the cancer often spreads to the lungs of a patient from another part of their body, for instance, their chest wall or abdomen Asbestos-related lung diseases, including pneumonia, are common among asbestos-related victims Pleural mesothelioma could be confused with other respiratory illnesses Imaging tests, blood tests and biopsy can all be used to identify mesothelioma These tests can help doctors identify the cancerous area which is usually located in the lungs, but could also be in the stomach or in the testicles These tests can also help doctors determine the extent of the cancer is growing within the body A CT scan or MRI may reveal mesothelioma-related signs These include calcium deposits also known as plaque in the pleura, and an accumulation of lung tissue and chest wall These tests can also show whether a person has lung capacity on one side or the other In many cases, 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 Some patients might require additional tests, such as FDG-positron emissions tomography PET which allows doctors to examine the lymph nodes located in the middle of the chest, and to take samples of them, or endobronchial ultrasonography EBUS using sound waves to study the mesothelium and lungs Mesothelioma is a rare cancer and doctors are still learning how to treat it effectively Patients who have been diagnosed with cancer need to carefully consider their options to determine the best treatment for them Treatment Mesothelioma can affect the linings of the lungs, abdomen peritoneal cancer or the heart pericardial cancer The symptoms usually don't appear until several decades after exposure to asbestos It is crucial that those who have been exposed to asbestos be examined if they exhibit unusual symptoms A doctor will take an medical history to look for mesothelioma risk factors including how long and how often an individual was exposed to asbestos A doctor can also perform an exam to check for mesothelioma-related symptoms like an accumulation of fluid in the chest cavity Mesothelioma can be classified based on the type of cells that form in the mesothelium as well as where those cells are located Epithelioid mesothelioma accounts for 60 to 80 of mesothelioma Other mesothelioma types are sarcomatoid and biphasic mesothelioma, which both account for approximately 10 to 15 of mesothelioma patients There are a myriad of treatment options available for people with mesothelioma The type of treatment is based on the type and stage of mesothelioma In certain instances, mesothelioma can be treated through radiation or chemotherapy When treating mesothelioma, doctors utilize powerful cancer-fighting medications or special equipment to destroy tumors This decreases the likelihood of mesothelioma recurring Other types of mesothelioma may be treated with surgery which involves the removal of parts of the tissue lining of the organ affected This may also help alleviate symptoms like breathing difficulties A person suffering from pleural asbestosis may undergo a procedure known as VATS This involves inserting a camera into the lungs and removing a part of the pleura and lung This procedure can alleviate the breathlessness that is caused by the accumulation of fluid in the lungs, but does not cure the disease Other options for treatment include support and pain management It is essential that patients who suffer from mesothelioma have as much information about the disease as they can and how to deal with it The more they know, the better equipped they are to plan for the best possible and happy future