Is Mesothelioma Only Caused by Asbestos?
Mesothelioma, a deadly cancer can affect the thin layer lining many organs. It is most common in the lungs (pleural sarcoidosis) along with the intestines, stomach, and heart. People who have been exposed to asbestos are more at risk.
Asbestos is composed of minerals that make up thin and long fibers. It was utilized in commercial, military and residential products throughout the 20th century, when manufacturers knew of the dangers, but kept it to make the most profit.
Causes
Asbestos is a mineral that occurs naturally, is resistant to chemicals and heat. It was used in manufacturing various commercial and household products in the past, such as insulation, floor tiles, and brake linings. But asbestos is extremely dangerous because it is broken into tiny needle-like fibers that may irritate the organs' tissues which can lead to cancerous cells.
Workers who are exposed to asbestos or are exposed to it at home or on the job are more likely to develop mesothelioma compared to those who do not. 70% to 80% of people diagnosed with mesothelioma had a history of asbestos exposure. The symptoms typically manifest between 20 and 50 years after the initial asbestos exposure. People with a family member with mesothelioma also have a higher risk of developing it.
If exposed to asbestos, the fibers can be inhaled into the lungs. These fibers can then be transported into the pleura, or lining around the lungs and irritate it. Over time, this can result in pleural diseases, which may lead to fluid buildup in the lungs and cause pleural effusion. This can make breathing difficult.
Mesothelioma may also develop in tissues that line the abdomen, the heart or the intestines. In the majority of instances, a person suffering from mesothelioma has had exposure to asbestos at the workplace. This kind of exposure is different than that in which a person is exposed to asbestos in their home, for instance, when family members remove asbestos-containing insulation from the ceilings and walls of their homes.
Researchers are studying whether certain genes can increase the chances of developing mesothelioma. However, even with these genes, a person will still need to be exposed to asbestos to develop mesothelioma. A few mesothelioma cases have been connected to other minerals such as silica and erionite, which are related to asbestos. Certain individuals may be more prone to mesothelioma due to the way they break down asbestos. This isn't a well-known risk factor however, and it doesn't explain why one person could develop the disease while another may not.
Signs and symptoms
Exposure to asbestos can cause cancer mesothelioma to develop in any of the body's linings. It can also form in the lungs, abdomen or in the heart (pleural mesothelioma). It may also develop in the testicles.
Mesothelioma symptoms usually appear in small ways over a long period of time. The initial symptoms of mesothelioma could be misinterpreted as other illnesses. It can take between 20 and 30 years to show up, so one could have experienced asbestos exposure for years before mesothelioma developed. The cancer spreads to different organs of the body in roughly the same time.
The symptoms of pleural mesothelioma are difficulty breathing, coughing and chest pain. Patients can experience other symptoms also, including fatigue, weight loss and abdominal pain. The most common symptom is fluid in the lung (pleural effusion). Pleural mesothelioma is a type of cancer that affects the lining in the chest cavity and lungs, known as the pleura. The cancer causes the lining to thicken, which makes it difficult for the lungs to expand during breathing.
A biopsy and other tests can aid in diagnosing the presence of pleural mesothelioma. A biopsy can determine the type of malignant mesothelioma and the extent to which it has spread, and whether it's benign or malignant.
If doctors suspect that the patient has mesothelioma they can refer them to specialist who will conduct additional tests. The specialist can conduct the biopsy as an outpatient. The patient may leave the hospital on the same day.
Mesothelioma may be rare, but it's important to get it detected as soon as possible. There is no cure for the disease, however treatment can ease symptoms and reduce its severity.
Treatment
Mesothelioma is caused by exposure to asbestos, which is a group of minerals containing thin flexible, malleable fibers. Asbestos was used for many industrial applications, such as building materials as well as brakes, insulation and ships. It is also fire-resistant and doesn't conduct electricity. Exposure may occur when these products break into dust and then become dusty. Inhaling or ingestion of the asbestos fibers may cause irritation that leads to mesothelioma. Mesothelioma symptoms usually don't show up until a few decades after the initial exposure. It can affect the lung lining (pleural mesothelioma) as well as the lining of the stomach (peritoneal mesothelioma) or the heart's lining (pericardial mesothelioma).
The only way to determine mesothelioma is by medical testing. The doctor will examine the patient and inquire about their work background. The doctor may also perform tests for imaging to look for abnormalities in the abdomen or chest. These tests may include X-rays as well as CT scans.
If mesothelioma is a possibility, doctors will take a sample of the affected tissue or fluid for further testing. Under a microscope, they will search for cancer cells to determine the type of mesothelioma that the patient is suffering from. There are three types: epithelioid, sarcomatoid and biphasic. 70 percent of mesothelioma cases are epithelioid. The sarcomatoid type is least common. The biphasic form is a combination of the first two types and is harder to treat than either one in isolation.
The treatment options for mesothelioma rely on factors such as the stage, type and severity of the disease. Certain types of mesothelioma can be more aggressive than others, and the prognosis is generally less favorable for patients with mesothelioma in late-stage.
Mesothelioma patients might also undergo surgery, chemotherapy or radiation therapy to treat the condition. These treatments can be painful for some patients, and they can cause side effects like nausea fatigue, vomiting, and difficulty breathing. These side effects can be treated through medication or other methods. Some patients will also undergo radiation treatments following surgery to kill cancer cells that surgeons did not see.
Prognosis
Despite its use in a variety of industries and its reputation as a highly durable and economical material, asbestos is known to be the cause of several types of serious medical issues. One of these is mesothelioma. This cancer is a condition that affects the linings of certain organs and structures like the lungs heart, stomach and testicles. The symptoms of mesothelioma can take a long time to manifest but treatment can to manage the disease and decrease symptoms.
Asbestos is composed of microscopic fibers that may enter the body and become lodged in the lining of certain tissues. Asbestos is a mineral found naturally that has been used for a long time in a variety of products from insulation to textiles.
When asbestos is disturbed, it is then airborne. It is then inhaled or eaten. Inhaling asbestos fibers can cause irritation to lung cells which can cause DNA damage and malignancy. Asbestos fibers are absorbed by the stomach and travel into the lining of the stomach (peritoneum), where they can cause inflammation and mesothelioma.
The exposure to asbestos from secondhand sources can also happen when you live in a house in which someone has worked with asbestos. Family members may be exposed when workers bring home asbestos fibers on their clothes, skin and hair. The risk of contracting mesothelioma also increased if you have an ancestor with the illness.
There are two kinds of mesothelioma: peritoneal and pleural. Pleural mesothelioma is caused by exposure to mesothelioma is a form of cancer that occurs in the lining of the chest and lungs. It is the most prevalent mesothelioma. Peritoneal mesothelioma develops when asbestos fibers penetrate the outer lining of the abdominal organs and cavity. This type of mesothelioma is more prevalent than pleural and affects the lining of the abdomen.
Asbestos, a toxic mineral, can cause cancers of various types as well as other illnesses like mesothelioma and lung cancer. Unfortunately, asbestos' dangers were not well-known until the 1980s, when companies began to recognize its dangers. In the past, blue-collar businesses and the military routinely used asbestos in items such as flooring, roofing insulation, brake linings, and insulation.