Mesothelioma Cancer
What is mesothelioma?
Mesothelioma is serious malignancy affecting the torso of the human body. There is a strong link between mesothelioma and contact with asbestos particles through breathing or swallowing.
There are three common forms of mesothelioma:
1. Pleural mesothelioma is the most common form of mesothelioma. It starts in the chest cavity (after breathing particles) before spreading to other areas.
2. Peritoneal mesothelioma begin in the abdomen (after swallowing the particles) and accounts for about 10-20% of mesothelioma patients.
3. Pericardial Mesothelioma is the rarest form of mesothelioma. It starts in the cavity that surrounds the heart.
Mesothelioma is difficult to diagnose early because symptoms are often mistaken for those of other, less serious diseases. To make matters worse, it often takes many years for symptoms to show after contact with asbestos occurs. Individuals with a history of extended asbestos exposure are at higher risk for developing malignant mesothelioma. Even small exposure to this material causing cancer can result in malignant mesothelioma. However, mesothelioma has a latency of up to 30-40 years, and many individuals previously exposed to asbestos are now showing symptoms. This means the average age of mesothelioma patients is between 50 and 70 years. Men are typically more affected, due to the presence of asbestos in industrial common. There are three main types of malignant mesothelioma. Epithelial, Sarcomatoid, and mixed. Epithelial mesothelioma is the most common. Symptoms may include, but are not limited to respiratory problems, coughs lasting, and pneumonia. Moreover, symptoms are often mistaken for less serious illnesses, and many patients do not show any signs at all.
Individuals with pleural mesothelioma may generate some fluid between the lung lining and chest cavity. This can be detected through a chest x-ray, as well as CT scans.
Diagnosis of Mesothelioma is based on biopsy. This exam will test a tissue sample for the presence of malignant mesothelioma and / or effusion.
Causes of Mesothelioma
Asbestos is the main cause of mesothelioma. Asbestos is a type of insulation material, which was commonly used in the past in the following industries:
Steel Workers
Brake Mechanics
Insulators
Boilermakers
Ship Fitters
Maintenance Workers
Pipe Fitters
Construction Industry
Building industry
Automotive Industry
Other manufacturing industries
Mesothelioma often appears in people who worked in the above industries and were exposed to asbestos in their workplace. The use of asbestos was very prevalent after 1940. However it would take 10 to 40 years after the first exposure to first symptoms of mesothelioma to become noticeable, which made it very difficult to diagnose. The peak in mesothelioma cases is projected to reach close to 2010 according to studies. There are three types frequently used asbestos: white, brown, and blue. Brown and blue asbestos are most often associated with mesothelioma. These types of asbestos have been restricted by most countries in 1990. Record of exposure to asbestos at work is reported in about 70 percent to 80 percent of all cases.
The asbestos material is very dangerous and can cause serious damage to your health. It is composed of very minute fibers, which can find their way to pleura (outer lining of the lungs) and pleural damage the cells are made. These fibers can also be passed on to the clothes, which makes them dangerous not only to the person exposed to asbestos, but members of their family also.
Smoking
Smoking does not appear to increase the risk of mesothelioma. However, the combination of smoking and asbestos exposure dramatically increases the risk of a person developing cancer of the nasal air in the lungs.
Symptoms of Mesothelioma
Symptoms of mesothelioma may not materialize until 30 to 50 years after exposure to asbestos. Shortness of breath and chest pain due to accumulation of fluid in the pleura are often symptoms of pleural mesothelioma. Symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma include weight loss and abdominal pain and swelling due to accumulation of fluid in the abdomen. Other symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma may include bowel obstruction, blood clotting abnormalities, anemia, and fever. If the cancer has spread beyond the mesothelium to other parts of the body, symptoms may include pain, difficulty swallowing, or swelling of the neck or face. These symptoms may be caused by mesothelioma or by other, less serious conditions. It is important to see a doctor about these symptoms. Only a doctor can diagnose. Once mesothelioma is diagnosed, the likelihood of recovery varies according to several factors, including the size and location of tumor, how it spread, and patient age.
In general, the first that mesothelioma is diagnosed, the greater the likelihood of survival. If you feel you had a typical mesothelioma symptoms, call your doctor for professional advice.
Mesothelioma Diagnosis
Mesothelioma diagnosis is often complicated, because the symptoms are similar to those from many other conditions. Diagnosis starts with patient’s medical history, as well as some history of exposure to asbestos. A physical examination may be performed, including x-rays of the chest or abdomen and tests of lung function. A CT (or CAT) scan or MRI may also be useful. A CT scan is a series of detailed pictures of areas inside the body created by a computer linked to x-ray machine. In MRI, a powerful magnet linked to a computer is used to make detailed pictures of areas inside the body. These pictures are viewed on a monitor and can also be printed.
A biopsy is needed to confirm diagnosis of mesothelioma. In a biopsy, a surgeon or oncologist (doctor who specializes in diagnosing and treating cancer) removes a sample of tissue for examination under a microscope by a pathologist. A biopsy can be done in different ways, depending on where the abnormal area is found. If breast cancer, the doctor may perform thoracoscopy. In this procedure, the doctor makes a small cut from the chest wall and puts a thin, lit tube called thoracoscope into the chest between two ribs. Thoracoscopy allows the doctor to look inside the chest and obtain tissue samples. If the cancer in the abdomen, the doctor may perform peritoneoscopy. To obtain tissue for examination, the doctor makes a small opening in the abdomen and inserts a special instrument called peritoneoscope in the abdominal cavity. If these procedures do not create enough tissue, more extensive diagnostic surgery may be required.
If the diagnosis is mesothelioma, the doctor will want to learn the stage and spread of the disease. Staging involves more tests accurately in an effort to find out whether the cancer has proliferated and, if so, what parts of the body. Knowing the stage of the disease helps the doctor plan treatment. Mesothelioma is described as localized if the cancer is found only on the membrane surface where it originated. It is classified as advanced if it extended beyond the original membrane surface to other parts of the body, such as the lymph nodes, lungs, chest wall, or abdominal organs.
Mesothelioma Treatment
Treatment for mesothelioma depends on the location of the cancer, the stage of disease, and patient age and overall wellness. Options typical treatment consists of surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. Sometimes, these treatments are combined.
Surgery is a frequent treatment for mesothelioma. The doctor may remove part of the lining of the chest or abdomen and some tissue around it. For cancer of the pleura (pleural mesothelioma), a lung may be removed in an operation called a pneumonectomy. Sometimes part of the diaphragm, the muscle below the lungs that helps with breathing, is also removed.
Radiation therapy involves using high-energy rays to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. Radiation therapy affects the cancer cells only in the treated area. The radiation may come from a machine (external radiation) or by moving materials that produce radiation through thin plastic tubes in an area where cancer cells are found (therapy, internal radiation).
Chemotherapy is the use of anticancer drugs to kill cancer cells throughout the body. Many medications used to treat mesothelioma are given by injection into a vein (intravenous, or IV). Doctors are also studying the effectiveness of applying chemotherapy directly into the chest or abdomen (intracavitary chemotherapy).
To relieve symptoms and control discomfort, the doctor may use a needle or thin tube to drain fluid that has accumulated in the chest or abdomen. The procedure for removing fluid from the chest is called thoracentesis. Removal of fluid from the abdomen is called paracentesis. Drugs may be given through a tube into the chest to prevent more fluid from accumulating. Radiation therapy and surgery may also be beneficial to relieve symptoms.
