Mesothelioma and Asbestosis
Many mesothelioma patients have breath problems. This is because cancer causes cells to grow out of control, creating a tumor that places pressure on the organs nearby.
Mesothelioma is a cancer caused by asbestos exposure, is a rare type of cancer. It can form in the linings (pleura) of the lungs, as well as other organs such as the abdomen, heart and testicles.
Symptoms
Patients with mesothelioma or asbestosis are likely to have similar symptoms. However, the two conditions are very different. Mesothelioma, which is a cancerous disease, is different from asbestosis (pulmonary fibrosis), a non-cancerous disease.
Asbest exposure can cause many different symptoms. These symptoms vary based on the location and manner of exposure. For instance, those diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma often experience chest or back discomfort, breathing difficulties and persistent coughing. There are also swelling of the face and arms abdominal pain, and unresolved weight loss or anemia (iron deficiency).
Asbestosis is not the cause of these symptoms. However, it can reduce the quality of life due to the formation of scar tissue to accumulate in the lungs. The restriction in breathing can lead to a number of other health issues, such as heart failure, lung damage, and a variety of respiratory problems.
Many people diagnosed with mesothelioma are not able to work due to the severity of their symptoms. This can cause anxiety and financial stress. It is vital that people receive the appropriate treatment to improve their quality.
A patient's doctor can identify mesothelioma through a physical examination by taking a thorough medical history, and then performing an X-ray of the chest or CT scan. If the patient is diagnosed with mesothelioma doctor can offer palliative treatments that can ease discomfort and symptoms and prolong the life of.
If the tumor is located in the pleura, for example the doctor can place tubes or drain excess fluid using a needle to allow the patient to breathe. Pleurodesis is a different procedure that can be performed for patients with mesothelioma pleural. This involves securing the two layers of pleura to stop the buildup of fluid.
Treatments for mesothelioma are aimed at eliminating cancerous cells and slowing the rate of growth. Asbestosis treatments, on the other hand, are focused on reducing symptoms of asbestosis and enhancing a patient's quality of life.
Diagnosis
Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer, affects the mesothelium (the membrane that line the chest cavity and lungs) and the membrane that covers the abdomen (peritoneum) as well as other organs. Most mesothelioma patients are exposed to asbestos, and the condition can take many years to develop.
It is often difficult for doctors to recognize the illness due to its long latency period. Early symptoms aren't specific and can be misinterpreted with other health issues. The most common symptoms are chest pain, breathing problems and unexplained loss of weight.
If a patient is beginning to experience these symptoms, doctors will recommend scans of the body and refer them to a specialist. The most reliable test for mesothelioma is to perform a biopsy, which is when a small amount of tissue is taken away and analyzed in a laboratory. There are a myriad of biopsies available, including the most commonly used bronchoscopy, and needle biopsy.
A bronchoscopy can be performed by inserting a tube into the throat or mouth. This allows the doctor to see lung tissue and take a biopsy. The doctor uses a thoracic needle to extract a small amount of fluid or tissue from around the affected area, usually the lung lining. The needle is placed in the thoracic organ of the patient which is where the fluid originates or into the affected pulmonary area to obtain a tissue sample.
Asbestosis is not a cause of cancer but it can result in scarring that can make breathing difficult. It is also a chronic disease that can lead to respiratory distress with time. The symptoms of asbestosis are similar to mesothelioma including breath shortness, however they tend to be more mild and are present later in the course of disease progression.
Both mesothelioma and asbestosis are caused by exposure to asbestos. Miners, asbestos contractors, and those working in high-risk industries are at greatest risk of developing mesothelioma. Insulation workers and veterans of the military are also at risk of developing asbestosis. Asbestosis can be difficult to identify, as it often presents with mild or moderate symptoms similar to mesothelioma symptoms and can be mistaken for other health issues. It can take years to develop and can be difficult to recognize until it is in advanced stages.
Treatment
Both mesothelioma and asbestosis involve a buildup of lungs-related fluid mesothelioma va claims which can cause breathing problems. Surgeons attempt to eliminate the cancerous cells or tumors that cause these symptoms. They may also use chemotherapy to eliminate remaining cancerous cells and stop the spread of cancerous cells to other areas of the body.
Like all cancers, mesothelioma tumors are caused by an array (mutations) of changes to the DNA inside the cell. The cells receive incorrect instructions and multiply out of control. The excess cells accumulate and create a tumor.
Mesothelioma is a form of cancer however, it is treated differently than other cancers due to the fact that it forms in the lining of the abdomen or chest. Mesothelioma is not curable, however it can be treated to reduce the symptoms of pain and improve quality of life.
Radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and surgery are all options to treat mesothelioma. A vaccine like the flu vaccine, which allows the immune system to fight the virus, is currently being investigated as an option for treating mesothelioma.
Asbestosis sufferers often experience shortness of breath and may require lifestyle adjustments, like having oxygen therapy or attending the pulmonary rehabilitation. They may have to quit smoking cigarettes, or take pain-reducing medications like bronchodilators or opioids.
In the case of mesothelioma, the doctors will examine the kind of cancer of cancer, whether it's benign or malignant, and what stage it's in. They will then discuss the patient's outlook that is the likelihood that the disease will improve or become worse.
Some surgical procedures can cure mesothelioma in particular if the cancer is diagnosed in its early stages. The surgeon will use a scalpel to remove the affected tissue. They may also remove a portion of the lungs to relieve pressure and pain from the large tumor.
Other options for treatment include chemotherapy and radiation which may help remove mesothelioma tumors 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 the treatment to be successful using photodynamics, which uses drugs that are photosensitizing and reacted with specific light to destroy cancerous cells. A new technique combines photodynamic therapy with immunotherapy to boost the body's natural defenses against mesothelioma.
Prognosis
In some instances, patients diagnosed with mesothelioma may be told that their prospects are very grim. Patients and their families are advised to keep the hope alive by seeking a second opinion with another mesothelioma expert. It is important to note that a majority of patients can be in partial or full recovery, which can greatly improve their outlook.
Mesothelioma is a cancer that can affect any part of the body. However it is most often affecting tissue surrounding the lungs. The tumors are most likely to cause pleural swelling as well as an effusion of the pleura. The prognosis for each kind of mesothelioma is different based on the type and amount of cells that create the cancerous tumors.
Asbestosis, a chronic condition, shares some of the same symptoms as mesothelioma. Asbestosis can be caused by the exposure to asbestos fibers and it can cause inflammation of the chest cavity and lungs. In the end, this may lead to breathing problems. Asbestosis can take time to manifest. Many victims are not diagnosed until they have severe symptoms.
While blood tests can be helpful to determine if someone is suffering from mesothelioma, doctors will require other testing methods to confirm the diagnosis. A lung CT scan, also known as an MRI, may be ordered to look for signs of tumors within the lungs and organs affected. A needle biopsy can detect mesothelioma. A doctor inserts a thin, needle-like instrument into the lung in order to take samples of liquid cells which can be used to make diagnostic purposes.
A bronchoscopy or thoracoscopy can be done to look inside the lung. A doctor inserts a small camera inside a tube to the lungs in order to view tissue and collect an in-situ sample. Thoracoscopic surgery can be more than invasive, but it's the most effective method to detect mesothelioma cells.
Both melanoma and asbestosis are incurable diseases, but treatments are getting better. Asbestosis is treated with breathing treatments and prescription pain medication, whereas mesothelioma is more difficult to treat. Patients with early stage mesothelioma may be eligible for chemotherapy and surgery which could improve their prognosis overall.