Is Mesothelioma Only Caused by Asbestos?
Mesothelioma, a deadly cancer is a disease that affects the thin layer that covers various organs. It is most common in the lungs (pleural sarcoidosis) as well as the intestines and heart. People exposed to asbestos are at greater risk.
mesothelioma what causes it is minerals that make up thin and long fibers. It was utilized for commercial, military and residential items during the 20th century. The manufacturers were aware of its dangers, but concealed the risks to maximize 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 insulation, floor tiles and brake linings. Asbestos can be dangerous but it is so because it breaks into tiny, needle-like fibers that can cause irritation to organ tissues and cause cancerous cells.
Mesothelioma is more prevalent in people who work with asbestos, or are exposed to it on the job or at home. Between 70 and 80% of people diagnosed with mesothelioma have a history of exposure to asbestos. It typically takes between 20 and 50 years for the symptoms to appear after the initial exposure. A higher risk is related to those who have mesothelioma-affected relatives.
Asbestos fibers can get into the lung when exposed. These fibers can then travel into the pleura, or lining around the lungs and irritate it. This can lead to the development of pleural disease as well as fluid accumulation within the lung. This can cause breathing difficulties.
Mesothelioma may also develop in tissues that line the heart, abdomen or the intestines. In the majority of instances, a person suffering from mesothelioma has had exposure to asbestos in the workplace. This type of asbestos exposure is different from that of a person who is exposed at home to asbestos, for example when family members remove asbestos-containing insulation from their ceilings and walls.
Scientists are studying whether certain genes could increase the likelihood 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 individuals may be more prone to mesothelioma thanks to the way asbestos is broken down. This isn't a recognized risk factor however, and it doesn't explain why one person could be more susceptible to the disease and another wouldn't.
Symptoms
Asbestos exposure can cause the cancer mesothelioma to develop in any of the body's linings. It can also form in the lungs (pleural mesothelioma), abdomen or heart. In some cases, it can form in the testicles (peritoneal mesothelioma).
The signs of mesothelioma typically develop slowly over a lengthy time. The early symptoms of mesothelioma may be misinterpreted as signs of other diseases. The symptoms can take up to 50 years before they appear and a person could have been exposed for decades before forming mesothelioma. The cancer spreads to different organs of the body at the same time.
Coughing, chest pain, and breathing difficulties are all symptoms of pleural Mesothelioma. Patients can experience other symptoms also, including fatigue, abdominal pain and weight loss. The most frequently reported sign is fluid in the lungs (pleural effusion). Pleural mesothelioma can affect 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 tissue sample from the affected area and conducting certain tests. A biopsy can determine the type of mesothelioma that a patient is suffering from, the extent to which it has spread and whether it is benign or malignant.
If doctors suspect mesothelioma, they can refer the patient to a specialist for further tests. The specialist will be able to perform the biopsy in an outpatient setting. The patient can leave the hospital the next day.
Mesothelioma may be rare but it's crucial to be diagnosed as soon possible. There is no cure for the disease, but treatment can ease symptoms and reduce its severity.
Treatment
Mesothelioma is caused by asbestos, a clustering of minerals that have thin and flexible fibers. Asbestos was used for various industrial applications, such as building materials as well as brakes, insulation and ships. It is also fire-resistant and doesn't conduct electricity. Exposure could occur when these products break into dust and then become dusty. Inhaling or ingestion of asbestos fibers can cause irritation which can lead to mesothelioma. The signs of mesothelioma generally are not evident until years after exposure. It can affect the linings of the lungs, stomach, and the heart.
The only way to identify mesothelioma is by medical testing. A patient's doctor will evaluate them and ask questions about their previous work background. They will also do scans to check the chest or abdomen for any abnormalities. These tests can include X-rays, CT scans, MRI or PET scans.
If mesothelioma diagnosis is possible, the doctor will take samples of fluid or tissue for further analysis. Under a microscope, they will search for cancer cells to determine the type of mesothelioma the patient is suffering from. There are three types: epithelioid biphasic, and sarcomatoid. The epithelioid type is responsible for 70 percent of mesothelioma cases. The sarcomatoid is the less common type. The biphasic form is a mix of the first two types and is more difficult to treat than either one separately.
Mesothelioma treatment options depend on the mesothelioma type, the stage of the disease and other factors. Certain types of mesothelioma can be more aggressive than others, and the outlook is generally poorer for those with late-stage mesothelioma.
Mesothelioma patients can undergo chemotherapy, surgery or radiation therapy to to treat the disease. These treatments can be painful for certain patients, and can cause side effects like nausea, vomiting, fatigue and difficulty breathing. However, these effects are typically temporary and can be controlled with medication or other methods. Certain patients also undergo radiation therapy following surgery to kill cancer cells that surgeons did not see.
Prognosis
Asbestos can cause serious medical conditions despite its wide use and repute as a durable and economical product. One of these conditions 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 help manage the disease and reduce symptoms.
Asbestos fibers are microscopic and can be ingested into the body. They may then be infiltrating certain tissues. Asbestos is a mineral that occurs naturally has been used in everything from insulation to textiles for centuries.
When asbestos is disturbed, it becomes airborne and can be breathed in or ingested. Inhaling the asbestos fibers are 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 move through the digestive tract to the outside abdomen's lining (peritoneum) where they can cause inflammation and eventually cause mesothelioma.
Asbestos exposure may also occur through secondhand contact, such as living in a place in which someone has worked with asbestos. Family members could be exposed when workers bring home stray asbestos fibers on their clothes, skin and hair. A history of mesothelioma in the family increases the likelihood of developing the disease.
There are two main kinds of mesothelioma, pleural and peritoneal. Pleural mesothelioma occurs in the tissues of the lungs and chest. It is the most common mesothelioma. Peritoneal Mesothelioma results from asbestos fibers that penetrate the outer linings of the abdominal organs or the abdominal cavity. This type of mesothelioma affects the tummy's lining (abdomen) and is less prevalent than pleural mesothelioma.
Asbestos, a toxic mineral, can cause cancers of various types as well as other diseases like mesothelioma or lung cancer. Unfortunately, asbestos' dangers were not well-known until the early 1980s when manufacturers started to realize its dangers. Up until then asbestos was being employed by blue-collar industries and the military for products like flooring, roofs and brake Linings.