Mesothelioma and Asbestosis
The majority of mesothelioma patients feel breathy. This is because cancer causes the cells to expand out of control, creating an abnormality that puts pressure on nearby organs.
Mesothelioma is a cancer caused by asbestos exposure, is a rare form of cancer. It can grow in the linings (pleura) of the lungs and other organs like the abdomen, heart, and testicles.
Symptoms
Patients suffering from asbestosis or mesothelioma are likely to experience similar symptoms. The two conditions are distinct. Mesothelioma, which is a cancerous disease is different from asbestosis (pulmonary fibrosis), a non-cancerous disease.
Exposure to asbestos can trigger various symptoms. These symptoms depend on the location and method of exposure. For instance, those diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma often suffer from back or chest pain, difficulty breathing and frequent coughing. Some people also experience swelling of the arms and faces, abdominal pain, unexplained loss of weight or anemia.
Asbestosis is not the reason behind any of these symptoms. However it can impact the quality of life by causing scar tissue to build up in the lungs. These breathing problems can cause health issues such as heart disease, lung failure and other respiratory ailments.
Many people diagnosed with mesothelioma are incapable of working due to the severity of their symptoms. This can lead to financial issues and emotional stress. It is essential that people receive the right treatment to improve their quality of life.
A patient's doctor can identify mesothelioma with a physical exam and a thorough medical history and conducting an X-ray chest scan or CT scan. If the patient is diagnosed with mesothelioma their doctor may recommend palliative treatments that can ease symptoms and pain and prolong the life of the patient.
For example, if the tumor is located in the pleura, doctors may drain excess fluid with an instrument or tube to allow the patient to breathe easily. Another treatment a patient with pleural mesothelioma may receive is pleurodesis, which involves sealing the two layers of the Pleura to prevent the recurrence of fluid accumulation.
Treatments for mesothelioma aim at destroying cancerous cells and slowing the growth rate. Asbestosis treatments, on the contrary, are focused on relieving asbestosis symptoms and enhancing a patient's quality of life.
Diagnosis
Mesothelioma is a rare cancer that affects mesothelium, the membrane that lines the chest cavity and lungs (pleura) and the abdominal membrane (peritoneum) or other organs. Almost all victims of mesothelioma are exposed to asbestos and the condition can take many years to develop.
Because the disease has such prolonged latency, it can be difficult to diagnose. The initial symptoms are usually not specific and may be similar to other health conditions. The most common symptoms are chest pain, breathing difficulties and unexplained loss of weight.
When a patient begins experiencing these symptoms, doctors will recommend scans of the body and refer them to a specialist. The most reliable test for mesothelioma is a biopsy where a small sample of tissue is taken and analyzed in a laboratory. There are a variety of biopsies available, including the most popular bronchoscopy and needle biopsy.
A bronchoscopy can be performed by inserting a bronchoscope tube into the mouth or throat. This allows the doctor to see lung tissue and then take an in-depth biopsy. The doctor makes use of the thoracic syringe to extract some fluid or tissue around the affected area. This is usually the lung lining. The needle is inserted in the thoracic duct of the patient, in the area where the fluid is, or the affected pulmonary area to obtain a tissue sample.
Asbestosis is not a cause of cancer, but it can cause scarring that can make breathing difficult. Asbestosis is a chronic condition that can cause respiratory distress. Asbestosis symptoms are similar to those of mesothelioma. However, they are milder and appear later in the development of the disease.
The exposure to asbestos is the cause of both mesothelioma and asbestosis. Those who are most at risk of developing mesothelioma include miners, asbestos contractors and workers in other high-risk sectors. Insulation workers and veterans of the military are also at risk of developing asbestosis. Asbestosis can be difficult to diagnose, as it often presents with mild or moderate symptoms that resemble those of mesothelioma and are mistaken as other health conditions. It can also take years to develop and is difficult to identify until it is at advanced stages.
Treatment
Both mesothelioma (asbestosis) and mesothelioma involve an accumulation of fluid around the lung that can exacerbate breathing problems. Surgery is performed to remove the cancerous cells or tumors that cause these symptoms. They may also use chemotherapy to eliminate any remaining cancerous cells to prevent the spread of cancerous cells.
As with all cancers mesothelioma cancer is caused by a series (mutations) of mutations in the DNA inside the cell. Cells receive the wrong instructions and multiply in uncontrolled ways. The excess cells multiply and form a tumor.
Mesothelioma, a cancerous tumor is treated differently than other cancers due to its position in the tissues of the chest and abdomen. Mesothelioma is not curable, however it can be treated to lessen pain and other symptoms and improve the quality of your life.
Treatments for mesothelioma include surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy. A vaccine, similar to the flu vaccine that allows the immune system to fight the virus, is being evaluated as an option for treating mesothelioma.
Asbestosis sufferers often experience shortness in breath. They may have to change their lifestyles for example, like attending pulmonary rehabilitation and using oxygen therapy. They may need to quit smoking cigarettes or take medications for breathing problems, such as bronchodilators or opioids for pain relief.
In a mesothelioma-related case, doctors will consider the type of mesothelioma they are treating, whether it is benign or malignant and what stage it's in. They will discuss the patient's prognosis, which is the likelihood that the disease will either improve or become worse.
Certain surgical procedures can be used to treat mesothelioma, particularly when the cancer is detected in its early stages. The surgeon will slice out the affected tissue using the scalpel, a tool that is used to cut through the tissue. They may also remove part of the lung to relieve pain and pressure from a larger tumor.
Other options for treatment include chemotherapy and radiation which may help eliminate mesothelioma cancerous cells that the surgeon was unable to remove. In cases of mesothelioma, surgeons can use 3D CRT (or Intensity Modulated Radiotherapy (IMRT)) to give greater doses of radiation while doing less harm to surrounding tissue.
A few mesothelioma patients have experienced success with photodynamic treatment using drugs that are photosensitive and react to specific light in order to kill cancerous cells. A new method that combines immunotherapy and photodynamic therapy to enhance the body's natural defenses against mesothelioma.
Prognosis
In some instances, patients diagnosed with mesothelioma may be told that their prospects are very grim. However, patients and their families should be encouraged mesothelioma cancer claims to keep the hope alive and seek an alternative opinion from a different mesothelioma expert. It is important to know that many patients can enter partial or complete recovery, which can greatly improve their chances of survival.
Mesothelioma can be found in many regions of the body but it most commonly affects the tissues that surround the lungs (pleura). The tumors most often cause pleural thickening and pleural effusion. This is a buildup of fluid. Mesothelioma is also classified based on the type of cell that forms the cancerous tumors and the prognosis for various kinds differs.
Asbestosis is a chronic illness that, shares some of the same symptoms as mesothelioma. Asbestosis is caused by breathing in asbestos fibers and can cause inflammation of the lungs and chest cavities. Eventually, this can cause breathing problems and shortness of breath. As with mesothelioma it usually takes years for asbestosis to develop and, therefore, some patients are not diagnosed until they're already struggling with serious symptoms.
Blood tests can be used to help determine if a patient is suffering from mesothelioma. However, other types of testing are required to confirm the diagnosis. A lung CT scan or MRI could be scheduled which will reveal indications of tumors in the lungs as well as other affected organs. Mesothelioma can also be identified by a needle biopsy. With this procedure the doctor inserts an extremely thin needle into the lungs in order to retrieve liquid that contains samples of cells for pathological analysis.
A bronchoscopy or thoracoscopy may also be used to look at the inside of the lung. A doctor places a tiny camera on a tube to the lungs in order to view tissue and collect a sample. Thoracoscopic surgery may be more risky, but it is the most effective method to detect mesothelioma cells.
Both melanoma and asbestosis are incurable diseases, but treatments are getting better. Doctors can treat asbestosis using prescription pain medication and breathing therapies, whereas mesothelioma requires a more extensive treatment. Patients with mesothelioma that is in its early stages could qualify for surgery and chemotherapy, improving their overall prognosis.