Asbestos Exposure Mesothelioma
Typically, pleural mesothelioma is diagnosed 20-60 years after asbestos exposure. The symptoms can be difficult to diagnose because they are usually mild.
Asbestos, a mineral was used in thousands industrial, commercial and domestic products. It releases fibers into the air when disturbed and is harmful if inhaled.
Occupational Exposure
A large number of people with mesothelioma were exposed to asbestos while at work. In fact, prior occupational exposure accounts for up to 80% of cases. Mesothelioma is a rare cancer that affects the organs' linings, such as the lungs or abdomen. The most affected are those who worked in industries such as shipbuilding, construction, manufacturing, and others that used asbestos. But mesothelioma can occur in those who lived with people who were exposed to asbestos on a regular basis.
Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that is very strong and resistant to heat. Before asbestos' dangers were discovered, it was widely used in shipbuilding, construction and other industrial jobs. It was utilized in homes and other residential structures because of its fire resistance properties.
When asbestos is disturbed, it releases tiny fibres into air. These can be inhaled or swallowed. The resulting irritation to the stomach or lungs causes mesothelioma.
Asbestos exposure can last for years to cause mesothelioma. Most cases of mesothelioma are the result of working with asbestos in the manufacturing, shipbuilding, mining and other industrial jobs. Veterans and those who lived with someone who had been exposed to asbestos are at risk.
On a regular basis, people are at risk for developing mesothelioma. A family history of asbestos-related cancers as well as mesothelioma could increase the risk.
The most frequent mesothelioma forms are mesothelioma peritoneal and pleural. Asbestos fibers get into the lungs when inhaled and are absorbed into the lining that protects. The mesothelium is made up of cells that react to the asbestos and cause it to turn into cancerous tumors.
Researchers have discovered that rates of peritoneal and pleural mesothelioma rise in proportion to the time following exposure to asbestos. The rate of latency is believed to flatten at approximately 45 years for both women and men. The type of asbestos may also impact the time frame of Mesothelioma. Crocidolite, for example, is believed to cause more pleural than peritoneal mesothelioma. Similar to amosite, it has a higher incidence of mesothelioma pleural than chrysotile or mixed fibres.
Secondary Exposure
Asbestos can be present in a variety of household products. Families of asbestos workers can be exposed to harmful fibers when they bring asbestos home. This is called secondary exposure. In some instances, family members could have directly contacted asbestos workers and inhaled them.
The mesothelioma patients tend to be those whose fathers and husbands were employed in asbestos-related businesses. These women could have brought home the fibers on their clothing and skin or through the contaminated clothing they wore to work. These children could then wear these clothes while playing and be further exposed.
Asbestos fibers can become airborne and pose a risk to anyone living in the home. Studies have shown that asbestos fibers can be present in homes for up to 20 years, creating an hazard to residents. Mesothelioma patients have reported coughing, sneezing and collecting asbestos dust on furniture and other surfaces.
Because the time of latency for mesothelioma is so long the majority of people who have had a para-occupational exposure to asbestos do not realize it until they develop serious mesothelioma symptoms. The symptoms are often mistaken for other diseases like COPD or lung cancer or asthma. The signs of mesothelioma may also be mistaken for the bowel and ovarian cancers as well as heart conditions.
Patients suffering from mesothelioma frequently claim that their doctor did not know about their asbestos exposure, since these cancers are not visible in routine lab tests. A patient's doctor must be thorough when reviewing the medical background of a patient to determine if mesothelioma has been due to occupational or secondary exposure.
Studies that focus a area or community with a specific industrial source for para-occupational exposure to asbestos have proved more effective in measuring mesothelioma-related risks than those which focus on a specific worker who was exposed. For instance an investigation conducted in Casale Monferrato, northwest Italy revealed that those who lived within 2000m of an asbestos cement plant had a higher risk than those who didn't live near to the plant.
Symptoms
Mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer, manifests in the tissues that line the outside of many internal organs. It may affect the lung lining and chest cavity (pleura) and the membrane that covers the asbestos and mesothelioma abdominal cavity (peritoneum) or the membranes that surround other internal organs. The disease begins in mesothelial cells. Mesothelioma can be a cancerous disease where cells multiply uncontrollably, and eventually form tumors.
The disease can take an extended time to manifest after exposure to asbestos, and even longer for symptoms to be diagnosed. The initial symptoms may be mild and difficult to diagnose. Mesothelioma predominantly affects the respiratory system, but it can also affect other organs, such as the stomach, the heart, and the larynx.
In most cases, the asbestos fibers that cause mesothelioma get trapped in the lungs. The tiny fibers then enter the bloodstream of the lungs and cause damage to cells which line the lungs and other respiratory organs. This can result in a variety of symptoms like chest pain, breathing difficulties and coughing. The symptoms of advanced mesothelioma may be more severe. Some of these include the accumulation of fluid in the chest (pleural effusion) as well as fatigue and weight loss, fever and anemia.
A person who has been exposed to asbestos should consult a doctor as soon as possible for a thorough physical examination and lab tests, including an x-ray of the chest as well as lung function tests. The doctor should ask about the person's work background and family history of illness related to asbestos exposure.
If the patient exhibits early mesothelioma-like symptoms A biopsy is suggested to confirm the diagnosis. The doctor should use an approach that reduces the risk of discomfort and pain. In a majority of cases, the biopsy can be carried out by a specialist as an outpatient procedure. The tissue sample is then sent to a laboratory for testing.
If the test results come back as positive for mesothelioma, additional tests will be required to determine the severity of the disease and plan treatment. Depending on the stage of cancer patients may undergo a variety of nonsurgical and surgical treatments. A lung transplant can help some people breathe easier, and chemotherapy has helped some patients live longer.
Diagnosis
If you notice chest pain, breathlessness, or any other signs of mesothelioma triggered by asbestos exposure, seek medical advice as soon as you can. They should also inform their doctor of any asbestos exposure they may have experienced in the past.
The asbestos fibres are believed to cause mesothelioma through altering the genes of lung cells. Mesothelioma can also affect the lining of the heart (peritoneal mesothelioma) and the testicles (pericardial mesothelioma). Mesothelioma could take many decades to develop. This means that asbestos-exposed people may not realize they have mesothelioma for a long time.
Many patients have difficulty getting a mesothelioma diagnosis because symptoms often come on gradually and can be mistaken for other conditions like pneumonia or the flu. It is often difficult for both doctors and patients to determine if the mesothelioma patient's illness was the result of work-related exposure.
Mesothelioma can be identified through imaging tests to identify tumors in the lungs or other areas of the body. X-rays and computed tomography (CT) scans are often the first tests performed because they can reveal lumps or tumours, and help doctors determine if there are other conditions.
If the tests are not conclusive, mesothelioma may be diagnosed by performing a biopsy to see whether cancerous cells are present. This procedure is typically done using a tube that is introduced into the lung via an incision on the chest (thoracotomy). The doctor will then 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. However, the blood marker isn't 100% accurate and cannot always detect mesothelioma.
If a mesothelioma diagnosis has been confirmed the treatment can be initiated. Mesothelioma patients should discuss the options for treatment with their doctors. This could include surgery or chemotherapy. Asbestos victims should contact a U.S. veterans' compensation specialist to make a claim for VA benefits now. Click here to download a no-cost VA claim form.