Asbestos Exposure Mesothelioma
Typically, pleural melanoma develops 20 to 60 years after asbestos exposure. The symptoms can be difficult to diagnose because they tend to be mild.
Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that was used in thousands of industrial, commercial and household products. When disturbed it releases fibers that can be harmful to breathe in.
Workplace Exposure
Many of those suffering from mesothelioma have had exposure to asbestos on the job. In fact, prior exposure to asbestos at work is responsible for as much as 80percent of cases. Mesothelioma is a rare type of cancer that affects the organ linings such as the lungs or abdomen. People who worked at sites that employed asbestos in construction, shipbuilding, manufacturing and other industries have been most affected. Mesothelioma may also be a possibility for those who reside with someone who has been exposed to asbestos regularly.
Asbestos, a mineral that is naturally occurring is extremely hard and withstands high temperatures. Before asbestos's dangers were discovered asbestos was extensively used for construction, shipbuilding and other industrial tasks. It was used in residential homes and other structures due to its fire resistance properties.
When asbestos is handled or disturbed, it releases tiny fibers into the air. They can be inhaled or swallowed. The resulting irritation to the lungs or stomach can cause mesothelioma.
Asbestos exposure can last for years to cause mesothelioma. Mesothelioma can be caused by asbestos exposure in shipbuilding, mining manufacturing, shipbuilding and other industrial occupations. People who have lived with someone who had been exposed to asbestos are at risk.
Mesothelioma can also be a concern for those who smoke frequently. Additionally, a family history of mesothelioma as well as other asbestos-related cancers could increase the risk of an individual.
The most common mesothelioma forms are peritoneal and pleural mesothelioma. Asbestos fibers are absorbed into the lungs when inhaled and are then incorporated into the lining of protection. The mesothelium consists of cells that react to asbestos and cause it to transform into cancerous tumors.
Researchers have found that rates of peritoneal mesothelioma and pleural asbestosis increase in proportion over time. The rate of latency seems to decrease approximately 45 years for both genders. The type of asbestos may influence the time frame of Mesothelioma. Crocidolite, for example, appears to result in more pleural than peritoneal mesothelioma. Similar to amosite, it has a higher incidence of pleural mesothelioma than mixed fibres and chrysotile.
Secondary Exposure
Asbestos is a dangerous mineral that can be found in many household products. Families of asbestos workers could be exposed to harmful fibers when they bring asbestos home. This is known as secondary exposure. In some cases, these family members might have directly touched asbestos workers and inhaled their breath.
Mesothelioma victims are often women whose husbands or fathers worked in asbestos-related industries. These women could have brought home the asbestos on their clothing and skin or through the contaminated clothes they wore at work. Their children may have worn those clothes while playing, further exposing themselves.
The asbestos fibers that accumulate on the skin or clothing can also become airborne in homes, posing an immediate danger to anyone in the vicinity. Studies have shown that fibers can stay in homes for as long as 20 years. This poses a risk to the people who live there. Mesothelioma patients have reported coughing, sneezing and accumulation of asbestos dust on furniture and other surfaces.
Since the time to develop mesothelioma is so long the majority of people who have had para-occupational exposure to asbestos do not know about it until they begin to develop serious mesothelioma symptoms. The symptoms are often mistaken for other ailments like COPD or lung cancer or asthma. The signs of mesothelioma may be misinterpreted as the bowel and ovarian cancers and heart diseases.
Patients with mesothelioma often claim that their doctor was not aware about their asbestos exposure since these types of cancer are not detected in standard lab tests. Due to this, the doctor of a patient must be very thorough when reviewing asbestos mesothelioma cancer their medical history to determine if mesothelioma is the result of occupational or other exposures.
Studies that focus on a specific area or community that has a specific industrial source of para-occupational exposure to asbestos have proved more accurate in assessing mesothelioma risk than studies which focus on a specific worker who was exposed. For instance, a study conducted in Casale Monferrato, northwest Italy revealed that those living within 2000 meters of an asbestos cement plant were at higher risk than those who didn't live close to the plant.
Symptoms
Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that develops in the tissue that forms the outside of most internal organs. It can affect the lung's lining as well as the chest cavity (pleura) as well as the membrane that covers the abdominal cavity (peritoneum) or the membranes surrounding other internal organs. The disease starts in mesothelial cells. Like other cancers, mesothelioma cell expand beyond their control and develop into tumors.
It takes a long while for symptoms to manifest following asbestos exposure and it can take even longer to identify. The initial symptoms may be subtle and difficult to determine. Mesothelioma is mostly respiratory illness, however it can also affect the heart, stomach and larynx.
In the majority of cases, asbestos fibers that cause mesothelioma get lodged in the lung. The fibers get into the bloodstream of the lungs, which causes damage to the cells that line the lungs. This can cause various symptoms, such as difficulty breathing, coughing and chest pain. Signs of more advanced stages of mesothelioma are more severe. These include fluid accumulation in the chest (pleural effusion) as well as weight gain, fatigue, anemia, and fever.
Anyone who has come in contact with asbestos should see a doctor immediately for a thorough physical examination, lab tests, and a chest x radiograph. The doctor should ask about the person's past work background and family history of illness that are related to asbestos exposure.
If a patient is experiencing mesothelioma-like symptoms in the beginning, a biopsy should be considered to confirm the diagnosis. The doctor should use an approach that reduces the risk of discomfort and pain. In a majority of cases the specialist can conduct the biopsy as an outpatient setting and then provide a tissue sample to be tested in a laboratory.
If the results of the test show positive results for mesothelioma, then further tests will need to be performed in order to determine the stage and plan the treatment. Patients can undergo non-surgical or surgical treatment depending on the stage of cancer. Some people can breathe easier after a lung transplant and chemotherapy can help them live longer.
Diagnosis
When someone experiences breathlessness, chest pain or other signs of asbestos exposure mesothelioma they should seek medical assistance immediately. They must inform their doctor of any asbestos exposure they might have experienced in the past.
It is believed that asbestos fibres penetrate into the lung's lining (pleura) and cause mutations to the genes that are present in lung cells, which leads to mesothelioma. Mesothelioma can also affect the linings of the testicles and the heart. Mesothelioma can take a long time to develop. This means that people who are exposed to asbestos might not be aware of having mesothelioma for many years.
Many patients struggle to get mesothelioma diagnoses since symptoms typically develop gradually and can be confused with other conditions like pneumonia or the flu. It is often difficult for patients and doctors to determine if the mesothelioma diagnosis is due to exposure to work.
Imaging tests can be used to detect mesothelioma by identifying tumours in the lungs and other areas of the body. X-rays and computed tomography scans (CT) and other imaging tests are often used as the first test. They can detect tumors or lumps and help doctors rule in other ailments.
If these tests are inconclusive, mesothelioma may be diagnosed through a biopsy to see if cancerous cells are present. This procedure is typically done with a tube inserted into the lung via an incision on the chest (thoracotomy). The doctors can then use tools to remove a sample of tissue and send it to a lab to look for mesothelioma and other cancers.
A blood test called mesothelioma's cellular marker can aid in identifying cancerous cells. The blood marker isn't always accurate and cannot detect mesothelioma.
Once a mesothelioma diagnosis is confirmed, treatment can begin. Mesothelioma patients should discuss the options for treatment with their doctors. This may include chemotherapy or surgery. Asbestos patients should consult an U.S. veterans' compensation specialist to file a claim for VA benefits right now. Click here to download a no-cost VA claims form.