Is Asbestos the Only Cause of Mesothelioma?
Mesothelioma has a strong association with asbestos exposure. Not everyone exposed to asbestos will develop the cancer.
Exposure to asbestos increases the chance of developing peritoneal or pleural mesothelioma. It may take between 20 and 50 years after exposure before mesothelioma begins to develop.
People who work with asbestos can carry tiny asbestos fibers home on their clothing. This puts family members at risk of developing mesothelioma due to exposure to asbestos from secondhand sources.
Risk factors
There are many known mesothelioma risk factors which include a person's employment background, their family history and the kind of asbestos they were exposed to. Mesothelioma is more prevalent among those who worked with asbestos or lived in homes that used asbestos. They may also be genetically predisposed to the condition.
Mesothelioma is usually diagnosed when someone has been exposed to asbestos for 10 years or more. The most prevalent form of the disease is called pleural mesothelioma. It forms around the lungs. The second most common mesothelioma type is found in the peritoneal cavity. The third and most rare mesothelioma form is around the heart.
It is extremely difficult to determine the percentage of mesotheliomas caused by asbestos are not the result of exposure to asbestos. This is due to the fact that mesothelioma signs take a long time to manifest. Most patients are diagnosed in their 50s and 60s as they approach retirement age. Mesothelioma is more prevalent in patients older than 50 who have been exposed to asbestos.
The majority of mesothelioma cases are veterans, who were exposed to asbestos during their time in the military. Most often, veterans were employed in military structures or naval vessels which contained asbestos-containing materials. Other mesothelioma patients have worked in shipyards, asbestos businesses or other industries that utilized the mineral as insulation and fireproofing.
Other cancer-causing substances like talcum, radiation therapy and talcum powder also have been linked to mesothelioma. Studies on other possible causes of the disease could aid in identifying mesothelioma-related symptoms. This could lead to earlier diagnoses and more treatment options for sufferers.
Men are more likely to develop mesothelioma related to asbestos than women. This is mostly because more men worked in asbestos-affected jobs. However, peritoneal msothelioma is more common in women than in men. This could be a result from a variety of causes, including secondhand exposure by wives who shook clothes of husbands who worked with asbestos or other environmental exposures such as erionite. It is also possible that a genetic predisposition to mesothelioma or low-level asbestos carcinogenesis could contribute to the gender gap.
Signs and symptoms
The most common mesothelioma signs are found in the lungs, however it can also affect other organs, as well. The symptoms are typically moderate and are similar to other diseases. It is therefore difficult to determine mesothelioma at its earliest stages. These symptoms, when coupled with the long period between exposure to asbestos and diagnosis can lead to misdiagnosis.
Mesothelioma symptoms could include trouble breathing, dry cough, and fatigue. It is essential to speak with your doctor about any health concerns, particularly when you have any history of asbestos exposure. Consulting a specialist for mesothelioma will help doctors better understand the signs and symptoms you are experiencing and get you diagnosed as soon as is possible.
When asbestos fibers break or break down, they become airborne and can be ingested or inhaled. When these fibers get into the body, they can cause inflammation and irritation. The tissues that are irritated can grow tumors, which can lead to mesothelioma.
Pleural mesothelioma that affects the lining of the lungs is the most prevalent form of mesothelioma. Mesothelioma symptoms include breathing difficulties chest discomfort, trouble breathing, the accumulation of fluids in the lung, inflammation of the lung and fatigue. These symptoms are similar to those of other conditions like tuberculosis, pneumonia, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD). It isn't known how asbestos fibers get to the abdomen, but it is believed that they may be swallowed or inhaled into the lungs from the digestive tract.
Peritoneal mesothelioma, affecting the abdominal lining is less prevalent than pleural mesothelioma, and lung cancer. Inhalation of asbestos fibers from the lymphatic system or respiratory tract can trigger it. It is unclear how asbestos fibers reach other organs within the body, such as the scrotum and heart.
Mesothelioma, as with other cancers can be difficult to identify because the symptoms are similar to those of other ailments and diseases. A diagnosis of mesothelioma requires a physical exam and an examination of the patient's medical as well as work history. It can also involve chest X-rays or CT scans to check for abnormalities in the lungs and other areas of the body. A mesothelioma test can confirm the diagnosis.
Diagnosis
A mesothelioma diagnosis involves an amalgamation of symptoms, medical history and specialized tests. These may include a chest X-ray, CT scan or MRI and blood tests to look for abnormal cells. Doctors can also examine the pleural fluid or biopsy a tumor to look for indications of cancer.
It is hard to determine mesothelioma due to its rarity, and its symptoms are similar. It is difficult for doctors until the end stages of the disease to recognize mesothelioma in a patient.
Asbestos exposure is the sole known cause of mesothelioma. The asbestos fibers are dangerous and penetrate into the linings specific organs, including stomach or lungs. Once they are inside, they could cause changes that result in the development and spread of cancerous tissues. The fibers can be inhaled, swallowed or absorbed by the skin.
Once the asbestos fibers reach the lining of the body they may remain there for decades. They may then become stuck and start to cause irritation to the tissue. This causes cancerous tumors that can eventually grow into malignant mesothelioma.
Most people who develop asbestosis are exposed at work. They typically develop pleural mesothelioma that affects the lung's lining (pleura). Asbestos can also infiltrate other areas of the human body, such as the peritoneal lining (abdominal lining) or the heart.
There are four types of mesothelioma. Pleural mesothelioma accounts for about 80% of all cases. Other types include testicular mesothelioma pericardial, and peritoneal.
The mesothelioma cells can be epithelioid or sarcomatoid. Epithelioid mesothelioma is the most common and has the best prognosis. Sarcomatoid Mesothelioma has a higher chance to be fatal.
Mesothelioma is not curable however it can be treated in order to lessen pain and increase the quality of life of patients. Mesothelioma can spread very quickly and is a highly aggressive type of cancer. However, a patient can improve his or her chances of survival by getting diagnosed early and following treatment guidelines closely. If you've been exposed to asbestos, contact your doctor as soon as possible. They can provide you with information on asbestos exposure and suggest testing to help determine if you have a mesothelioma diagnosis.
Treatment
The only way to eliminate mesothelioma is to treat it. Treatments can prolong the lives of patients. Doctors typically combine chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation to treat cancer. There are a variety of new treatments being evaluated. Some of them are aimed at eliminating the tumor and destroying cancerous cells. Other treatments include immunotherapy which can help boost the body's immune system to fight cancer cells.
Asbestos, a grouping of microscopic fibers used in construction, is the most common cause of mesothelioma. When inhaled, the fibres can cause irritation and scarring to the lungs, which could cause permanent damage. mesothelioma causes besides asbestos takes a while for mesothelioma's growth to occur, with most cases occurring more than 20 years after the initial exposure. Although asbestos is not used anymore in the UK but asbestos-containing products still exist in many buildings.
Anyone who has been exposed is at risk of developing mesothelioma and mesothelioma can be found in people with no known asbestos exposure. Scientists have identified several factors that increase the risk of developing mesothelioma. This includes smoking cigarettes and changes to certain genes. These risks don't explain the reason why some asbestos-related patients develop mesothelioma whereas others don't.
Pleural mesothelioma occurs more frequently in males than females, which is likely because more men have worked in jobs where they were exposed to asbestos. However women are more likely to develop mesothelioma of the peritoneal region. This could be due to exposure to asbestos by the wives of men working with the material, or genetics such as mutations of BAP1 gene.
Mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer, is typically difficult to treat by doctors. Therefore, doctors might refer patients to specialists who have more experience. Mesothelioma is a rapidly evolving disease, and more options for treatment are likely to be available in the near future. If you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma it is important to contact an expert asbestos lawyer as soon as you can. They can assist you in tracking the root of your exposure to asbestos and ensure that you receive compensation.