Mesothelioma Cancer Mesothelioma, a cancerous tumor caused by asbestos exposure, is a serious condition Inhaling asbestos fibres can cause pleural cancer and swallowing asbestos can cause peritoneal cancer The symptoms may manifest 10 to 50 years after the initial diagnosis Symptoms include shortness of breath, chest pain and abdominal distress Risk Factors Mesothelioma is a form of asbestos that develops when asbestos fibres enter the body The most well-known mesothelioma type is pleural mesothelioma, which forms in the lining of the chest cavity and the lungs Mesothelioma may also grow in the peritoneum the membrane surrounding the heart or in the pericardium The cancer can take up to 50 years to develop and manifest symptoms The symptoms are often misinterpreted as flu-like illnesses Mesothelioma is most common in older people and more common in males than females Exposure to asbestos is the biggest risk factor in mesothelioma Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that is made up of tiny fibres, was utilized as a building material, such as in walls and ceilings It is abrasive to heat and fire It was also widely utilized in the manufacture of goods such as pipes, insulations shingles, and cement Mesothelioma is a serious disease for those who work in industries that employ asbestos, for example mining, shipbuilding or construction Even those who have only been exposed to asbestos for a short period of time such as relatives 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 BAP1 gene This genetic mutation increases the chance of developing mesothelioma among people who have been exposed asbestos The patient's age is also a risk factor Mesothelioma is most prevalent in those who are older than 45 and two thirds of those who are diagnosed with the disease are 65 years old or older This is due to the lengthy duration of exposure to asbestos However, it could also be that older people are more likely to develop the disease because of the long-term exposure White males are more likely to develop mesothelioma than any other race or gender This is due to the fact that historically more white men worked in jobs that put them at a greater risk of exposure to asbestos than other groups Mesothelioma most commonly affects those who were exposed to asbestos prior to the 1980s, when more stringent regulations were in place Signs and symptoms Mesothelioma, a cancer caused by asbestos, occurs in the linings that protect various organs The cancerous tumors that form in the tissue could cause irreparable damage and pain The malignancy can extend to other areas of the body via the lymphatic system or the bloodstream The symptoms of mesothelioma can be similar to those of other illnesses such as influenza or pneumonia It usually takes between 10 and 50 years to appear after exposure to asbestos This latency period makes it difficult to recognize mesothelioma early Additionally, the symptoms can be mistaken for other conditions The majority of malignant tumors originate in the chest cavity, or lungs pleura Mesothelioma is also able to develop in the linings around the abdomen and the heart In rare cases it may affect the lining of the heart or the testes Asbestos is made up of minerals in a grouping that forms long, thin fibers The fibers are so strong that they are unable to be broken down by water, chemicals or bacteria They were used extensively in a variety of construction and household products before scientists discovered how hazardous they were to people's lives https//vimeocom/703540884 were caused due to exposure to asbestos at workplace or at home The majority of patients who were exposed were employed in the US Navy or Air Force, Shipbuilding Industry, or Construction It is more common in women than men and veterans account for around 30 of mesothelioma cases Medical tests and imaging scans can help doctors identify mesothelioma This includes X-rays, CT scans, MRIs and PET scans The doctor can also send a tissue sample to a lab for testing The results will help doctors determine the mesothelioma type and stage of the disease which can affect the prognosis as well as treatment options The majority of mesothelioma types are epithelioid and sarcomatoid Between 10 percent and 15 of cases are biphasic or mixed Epithelioid cancers are less aggressive and typically has the highest survival rates Sarcomatoid Mesothelioma is more difficult to identify and has a less favorable 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, like coughing or chest pains The doctor will examine the patient's breathing with an stethoscope, and record their work and health history This includes any asbestos exposure background, which is essential in determining mesothelioma's diagnosis Because mesothelioma's symptoms are similar to those of other illnesses, doctors must exclude other conditions prior to making a diagnosis Cancer can develop in the lungs of a patient from other body parts like the abdomen or chest Asbestos sufferers are at risk of lung problems, including mesothelioma and pneumonia symptoms can be confused with other respiratory ailments Mesothelioma can be detected with blood tests as well as imaging tests and biopsies These tests can help doctors locate the area of the cancer, which is typically in the lungs, but can also be in the stomach or the testicles The tests will assist doctors determine how far the cancer has spread in the body A CT scan or MRI may show signs of mesothelioma This includes calcium deposits also called plaque in the pleura and an accumulation between the lungs' and chest wall's walls These tests can also reveal whether the lungs of a person are more prominent on one side or the other In many cases, a biopsy is needed to confirm the diagnosis of mesothelioma This procedure involves taking some of the tissue and analyzing it in a laboratory for mesothelioma cells Some patients may require additional tests, for example FDG-positron emission tomography PET which allows doctors to see how the tumor is affecting the blood supply to the lungs; mediastinoscopy, which allows doctors to examine and collect lymph nodes located in the middle of the chest and endobronchial ultrasound EBUS which makes use of sound waves to examine the mesothelium and lungs Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer, is being treated by doctors As a result those diagnosed with the cancer must consider their options carefully and decide which treatment is the best for them Treatment Mesothelioma can affect the lung's lining pleural mesothelioma or the abdomen peritoneal mesothelioma or heart pericardial mesothelioma The symptoms generally don't manifest until years after exposure to asbestos It is crucial that those who have been exposed to asbestos get checked for any strange symptoms A doctor will go over your medical history in order to determine if you have mesothelioma risk This includes how long and intensely you were exposed to asbestos A doctor may also conduct an examination to look for signs of mesothelioma such as an accumulation of fluid in the chest cavity The type of cells in the mesothelium and the location of these cells, are used to classify mesothelioma The most common mesothelioma type is epithelioid It makes up 60 to the majority of mesothelioma patients Other types of mesothelioma are sarcomatoid mesothelioma and biphasic, which represent between 10 and 15 of all mesothelioma cases There are a variety of treatment options for patients suffering from mesothelioma The kind of treatment is contingent on the type of mesothelioma as well as the stage of the disease In some cases, the mesothelioma is treated using radiation or chemotherapy During these treatments doctors use powerful cancer-fighting drugs or equipment to eliminate tumors This lowers the risk of mesothelioma returning Other types of mesothelioma may be treated surgically which involves the removal of parts of the tissue lining of the organ affected This can also help relieve symptoms like breathing difficulties If a person is diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma and their doctor recommends VATS, a procedure which uses a camera inserted into the lungs to eliminate part of the pleura and lung This procedure can ease breathlessness due to fluid buildup in the lung However, it will not cure mesothelioma Other treatment options could include support and pain management It is essential for patients who suffer from mesothelioma, to gather the most information they can about the disease and how to deal with it The more they know, the better equipped they will be to plan for a a healthy and happy future