Is Mesothelioma Only Caused by Asbestos?
Mesothelioma is a cancer that can be fatal that affects the thin layer of tissues that line various organs within the body, most commonly the lungs (pleural mesothelioma), intestines and heart. People who have been exposed to asbestos are at a higher risk.
mesothelioma caused by is a class of minerals that make thin, long fibers. It was used in military, commercial and residential products throughout the 20th century when companies were aware of the dangers, but kept the risks to increase profits.
Causes
Asbestos is an naturally occurring mineral that is impervious to heat and chemical wear. In the past asbestos was used to make a variety household and commercial products, including flooring tiles, insulation and brake linings. Asbestos is dangerous, however, because it is broken down into tiny, needle-like fibers that can cause irritation to organs and tissues and cause cancerous cells.
The people who are exposed to asbestos or are exposed to it at workplace or at home are more likely to develop mesothelioma compared to those who do not. 70% to 80% of those diagnosed with mesothelioma have prior exposure to asbestos. It typically takes between 20 and 50 years for the symptoms to appear after the initial exposure. Anyone with mesothelioma-related relatives are also at a higher risk of developing it.
Asbestos fibers can get into the lungs when exposed. These fibers then travel into the pleura, or lining that surrounds the lungs and may cause irritation to it. In time, this may cause pleural inflammation that can lead to the lungs to build up fluid which is a condition known as pleural effusion. This can cause breathing difficulties.
Mesothelioma can also develop in the tissues that connect the abdomen, intestines, and the heart. Most often, a mesothelioma sufferer has been exposed to asbestos while at work. This kind of asbestos exposure differs from a person who is exposed at home to asbestos, for example when family members remove asbestos-containing insulation from their walls and ceilings.
Scientists are studying whether certain genes may increase the risk of developing mesothelioma. Even with these asbestos-related genes, exposure is still necessary for the development of mesothelioma. A few mesothelioma cases have been linked to other minerals such as silica and erionite that are linked to asbestos. Certain people are more susceptible to mesothelioma due to the way asbestos is broken down. This isn't a well-known risk factor, however, and doesn't explain why one person might be more susceptible to the disease while another may not.
Signs and symptoms
Asbestos exposure could cause mesothelioma cancer in any of the body linings. It may also develop in the lungs, abdomen or heart (pleural mesothelioma). In some instances it may develop in the testicles (peritoneal mesothelioma).
Mesothelioma symptoms usually appear in small ways over a long period of time. Its symptoms may be similar to those of other diseases and, therefore, people are frequently wrongly diagnosed in the beginning stages of mesothelioma. The symptoms can take up to 50 years to manifest and, therefore, a person may have been exposed to asbestos for decades before forming mesothelioma. The cancer spreads to different parts of the human 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. Fluid in the lungs is the most frequently reported manifestation (pleural effusion). Pleural mesothelioma is a cancer that affects the lung lining and chest cavity, also known as the pleura. The cancer causes the lining to grow thicker, which makes it difficult for the lungs to expand during breathing.
Doctors can detect pleural mesothelioma by taking a sample of tissue from the affected area and performing some tests. A biopsy can be used to determine the type of mesothelioma that a patient has, how far it has spread and whether it is malignant or benign.
If the doctor suspects mesothelioma they may refer the patient to a specialist for further tests. The specialist can perform the biopsy in an outpatient setting. This means that patients can go in and out of the hospital the same day without having to wait much recovery time.
Mesothelioma can be rare however it is important to get it detected as soon as possible. There is no cure for mesothelioma, however treatment can ease symptoms and slow the progression of the disease.
Treatment
Mesothelioma can be caused by exposure to asbestos, a class of minerals that have thin elastic fibers. Asbestos is a strong, fire-resistant material and doesn't conduct electricity so it was used in a variety of industrial applications like insulation, building materials, ships, brakes and flooring of various kinds. Exposure could occur when these products break down and turn into dusty. Asbestos fibers can cause irritation when consumed or inhaled, which can lead to mesothelioma. The signs of mesothelioma generally do not manifest until a long time after exposure. It can affect the linings of the lungs, stomach, and the heart.
Only medical tests can identify mesothelioma. A patient's doctor will examine them and ask questions about their past work and medical history. They may also conduct scans to check the chest or abdomen for any signs of abnormalities. These tests could include X-rays or CT scans.
If a mesothelioma diagnosis is possible, doctors will take a sample of the affected tissue or fluid for further testing. Under microscopes, they look for cancerous cells to determine the type of mesothelioma the patient is suffering from. There are three types: epithelioid, sarcomatoid and biphasic. 70 percent of mesothelioma cases are epithelioid. The sarcomatoid is the less common type. The biphasic type is a combination of the two types above and is more difficult to treat than any type individually.
Treatment options for mesothelioma depend on the stage, type and severity of the disease. Some types of mesothelioma are more aggressive than others, and the prognosis is generally less favorable for patients with mesothelioma in late-stage.
Patients with mesothelioma could be treated through surgery, chemotherapy or radiation therapy. These treatments can be painful for certain patients, and they can cause side effects like nausea, vomiting, fatigue and difficulty breathing. These side effects can be managed through medication or other methods. Some patients may also receive radiation after surgery to kill any remaining cancer cells that surgeons missed during surgery.
Prognosis
Asbestos can cause serious medical problems despite its wide use and reputation as a long-lasting and cost-effective product. Mesothelioma is one of these diseases. It is a condition that affects the linings of organs and structures like the lungs and heart. Mesothelioma symptoms may take a long time to show up. Treatments can be used to manage and lessen symptoms.
Asbestos fibers are microscopic and can be absorbed into the body. They may then become trapped within certain tissues. Asbestos is a mineral that occurs naturally is utilized in everything from insulation to textiles for a long time.
When asbestos is disturbed, it transforms into airborne and is able to be breathed in or inhaled. Inhaling the asbestos fibers get deposited in the lungs where they can cause irritation to cells until they damage DNA and turn into malignant. After ingestion, the asbestos fibers are digested, and then travel through the digestive tract to the outer abdomen's lining (peritoneum) where they may cause inflammation and eventually result in mesothelioma.
Exposure to asbestos through secondhand contact can also occur when you live in a place in which someone has worked with asbestos. Workers can expose family members to asbestos fibers when they bring home any stray fibers from their clothing, skin or hair. The risk of contracting mesothelioma also increased by having an ancestral history of the illness.
There are two types of mesothelioma, pleural and peritoneal. Pleural mesothelioma is found in the tissues of the chest and lungs. It is the most common form of mesothelioma. Peritoneal mesothelioma occurs when asbestos fibers get into the lining of the abdominal cavity and organs. This mesothelioma type is more common than pleural and affects the lining in the abdomen.
Asbestos, a toxic mineral, is a cause of cancers of all kinds as well as other illnesses like mesothelioma or lung cancer. The dangers of asbestos were not widely recognized until the beginning of the 1980s when manufacturers began to realize its dangers. Before that, asbestos was employed by blue-collar industries and the military in products like flooring, roofing and brake linings.