What is Mesothelioma?
Mesothelioma is a serious malignant tumor that affects the
torso of the human body. There is a strong link between mesothelioma and
contact with asbestos particles via 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 the particles)
before spreading to other areas.
2. Peritoneal Mesothelioma starts 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 on because the
symptoms are often mistaken for those of other, less serious ailments. To make
matters worse, it often takes many years for the symptoms to show up after the
contact with asbestos takes place. Individuals with a history of extended
asbestos exposure are at the highest risk for developing malignant
mesothelioma. Even a small exposure to this cancer-causing material can result
in malignant mesothelioma. However, mesothelioma has a latency of up to
thirty-forty years, and many individuals previously exposed to asbestos are now
displaying symptoms. This means the average age of mesothelioma patients is
between 50 and 70 years. Men are typically affected more, because of the common
presence of asbestos in industrial settings. There are three major types of malignant
mesothelioma. Epithelial, sarcomatoid, and mixed. Epithelial mesothelioma is
most common. Symptoms may include, but are not limited to respiratory distress,
a lasting cough, and pneumonia. In addition, symptoms are often mistaken for
less serious ailments, and many patients do not show any signs at all.
Individuals with pleural mesothelioma may amass 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 a biopsy. This exam
will test a tissue sample for the presence of malignant and/or pleural
mesothelioma.
Causes of Mesothelioma
Asbestos is the principal cause of Mesothelioma. Asbestos is
a type of insulation material, which was commonly utilized in the past in the
following industries:
Steel Workers
Brake Mechanics
Insulators
Boilermakers
Ship fitters
Maintenance Workers
Pipe Fitters
Construction industry
Shipbuilding industry
Automotive industry
Other manufacturing industries
Mesothelioma appears most often in people who worked in the
above industries and were exposed to asbestos in their workplace. The
utilization of asbestos was very prevalent after 1940's. However it would take
10-40 years after the first exposure for the first symptoms of mesothelioma to
become noticeable, which made it very difficult to diagnose. The peak in
mesothelioma cases is projected to be reached near year 2010 according to
studies. There are three frequently used types of asbestos: white, brown, and
blue. Brown and blue asbestos are more frequently associated with mesothelioma.
These types of asbestos have been restricted by most countries in the 1990s. A
record of asbestos exposure at work is reported in about 70 percent to 80
percent of all cases.
Asbestos is a very dangerous material and can cause serious
damage to your health. It is made up of very minute fibers, which can find
their way to pleura (outside lining of the lung) and damage the cells pleura
are made of. These fibers can also be passed on to clothing, which makes them
dangerous not only to the person exposed to asbestos, but to their family
members as well.
Smoking
Smoking does not appear to increase the risk of
mesothelioma. However, the combination of smoking and asbestos exposure
drastically increases a person's risk of developing cancer of the air
passageways in the lung.
Symptoms of Mesothelioma
Symptoms of mesothelioma may not materialize until 30 to 50
years after exposure to asbestos. Shortness of breath and pain in the chest due
to an accumulation of fluid in the pleura are often symptoms of pleural
mesothelioma. Symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma include weight loss and
abdominal pain and swelling because of a buildup 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 any
of these symptoms. Only a doctor can make a diagnosis. Once Mesothelioma is
diagnosed, the likelihood of recovery varies according to several factors,
including the size and location of the tumor, how much it has spread, and the
age of the patient.
In general, the earlier that Mesothelioma is diagnosed, the
greater the likelihood of survival. If you feel that you have experienced any
of the typical Mesothelioma symptoms, pay a visit to your doctor for
professional advice.
Mesothelioma diagnosis
Diagnosing mesothelioma is often complicated, because the
symptoms are similar to those of several other conditions. Diagnosis begins
with an assessment of the patient's medical history, as well as any history of
asbestos exposure. A physical examination may be performed, including x-rays of
the chest or abdomen and lung function tests. A CT (or CAT) scan or an 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 an x-ray machine. In an 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 a diagnosis of mesothelioma.
In a biopsy, a surgeon or a medical oncologist (a doctor who specializes in
diagnosing and treating cancer) removes a sample of tissue for examination
under a microscope by a pathologist. A biopsy may be done in different ways,
depending on where the abnormal area is found. If the cancer is in the chest,
the doctor may perform a thoracoscopy. In this procedure, the doctor makes a
small cut through the chest wall and puts a thin, lit tube called a
thoracoscope into the chest between two ribs. Thoracoscopy allows the doctor to
look inside the chest and obtain tissue samples. If the cancer is in the
abdomen, the doctor may perform a peritoneoscopy. To obtain tissue for
examination, the doctor makes a small opening in the abdomen and inserts a
special instrument called a peritoneoscope into the abdominal cavity. If these
procedures do not yield enough tissue, more extensive diagnostic surgery may be
necessary.
If the diagnosis is mesothelioma, the doctor will want to
learn the stage and extent of the disease. Staging involves more tests in a
precise effort to find out whether the cancer has proliferated and, if so, to
which 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
has 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 the disease, and the patient's age and general well being.
Typical treatment options consist 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 of the 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 the use of 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 from moving materials that produce radiation through thin plastic
tubes into the area where the cancer cells are found (internal radiation
therapy).
Chemotherapy is the use of anticancer drugs to kill cancer
cells throughout the body. Most drugs 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 ease symptoms and control discomfort, the doctor may use
a needle or a 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 administered through a tube in the chest to prevent more fluid from
accumulating. Radiation therapy and surgery may also be beneficial in
alleviating symptoms.
Note of Urgency
Mesothelioma is a life-threatening disease and cannot be
left untreated. The sooner it is diagnosed the better a patient's chances are
of fighting this deadly cancer. Please contact a qualified doctor immediately
if you or someone you know has been diagnosed with mesothelioma.
Read more Facts
about Mesothelioma. Alan Hood is a contributing writer at Houston Medical Center
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Alan_Hood/23530
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