Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma: Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis & Treatment

Mesothelioma is a type of invasive and malignant cancer. It occurs in a thin layer of tissue that covers most of your internal organs, also called the mesothelium.

Although treatment options are available for this condition, for many patients with mesothelioma, a cure is not possible. The average lifespan of a patient after diagnosis is 12-21 months, although treatment may improve the diagnosis.

Symptoms

The signs and symptoms of this condition usually depend on where the cancer occurs.

Plural mesothelioma: This type of mesothelioma affects the tissues surrounding the lungs and can cause various signs and symptoms such as:

Chest pain

Weakness of breath

Painful cough

Unexplained weight loss

Tissue defects under the skin of your chest

Peritoneal mesothelioma: This type of mesothelioma occurs in the abdominal tissue and can cause signs and symptoms such as:

Abdominal pain

Feeling sick

Flatulence

Unexplained weight loss

Other forms:

Although other forms of mesothelioma also exist, the signs and symptoms are usually vague, as the forms of this disease are usually rare.

Causes and causes of risk

The most common and major risk factor for mesothelioma is working with asbestos. Asbestos is a group of minerals containing thin microscopic fibers, which are resistant to heat, fire as well as chemicals and do not conduct electricity. Because of these qualities, they are widely used in construction, automotive and other industries.

In the process of making asbestos, the fibers are released into the air, and they can be inhaled and swallowed, which can cause serious health problems. Most mesothelioma cases are associated with exposure to asbestos at work. There is also evidence that anyone living with family members and asbestos workers is at increased risk for developing the condition. This risk is usually the result of dust brought home from clothing and hair.

In some cases, mesothelioma has also been reported in individuals who have no known exposure to asbestos. Some unusual but possible causes include:

Zeolites - This type of mineral is chemically related to asbestos. Exposure to arionite, another of these related minerals, is thought to be responsible for the high rates of mesothelioma in regions such as Turkey, where it is commonly found.

Radiation - According to the American Cancer Society, there have been several published reports of mesothelioma which develops after exposure to high levels of radiation in the abdomen or chest after injection of thorium dioxide or thorotrust. This ingredient was used by physicians on chest X-rays in the 20th century.

Genetics - According to some experts, certain people are also genetically predisposed to mesothelioma. Disease rates may vary from population to population.

SV40 virus- Some studies in laboratory animals have also raised the possibility that infection with Simian virus 40 may increase the risk of mesothelioma.

Diagnosis

Physical examination

If you have signs and symptoms of mesothelioma, your doctor will perform a physical examination to check for any abnormalities or abnormalities.

Imaging scan

Your doctor may order a chest x-ray and imaging scan, such as a computerized tomography scan of your abdomen or chest, to detect abnormalities.

Depending on the results, you may need to go through further tests to determine if mesothelioma or any other disease is leading to symptoms.

Biopsy

Biopsy, a method of removing a small portion of tissue for laboratory testing, is the only way to determine if you have mesothelioma. Your doctor will select the right biopsy procedure for you depending on the area of ​​your body that has been affected.

Additional tests

Once your mesothelioma is confirmed, your doctor may recommend additional tests to see if the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes or other areas of your body.

Tests may include:

CT scan of your chest and abdomen

Positron emission tomography (PET)

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

Your doctor is going to determine which tests are right for you. He then uses the data from these tests to determine a stage of your cancer, from I to IV. The lower the number, the more likely it is to localize to the area around the lungs and the higher it is, the more likely the cancer will spread to other areas of your body. Once your doctor is able to diagnose the stage of the cancer, he or she is going to choose the right treatment for you.

Treatment

When deciding on a treatment option for you, your doctor considers a variety of factors, such as your overall health, stage, or your cancer as well as its location.

Unfortunately, this condition is usually invasive, and for most people, a cure is not possible. It is usually diagnosed at an advanced stage when it is not possible to remove the cancer through surgery. Therefore, your doctor may work to control it.

Surgery

Surgery can sometimes be successful in curing cancer. However, most of the time, it is not possible to remove all of the cancer. In such cases, surgery can help reduce the signs and symptoms caused by mesothelioma that has spread throughout your body. Surgical options can be of different types.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy involves the use of chemicals that kill cancer cells. Systemic chemotherapy is able to travel throughout the body and help shrink or slow the growth of mesothelioma that cannot be surgically removed. Chemotherapy can sometimes be used before surgery to make the operation easier or in some cases, after surgery, to reduce the chances of the cancer coming back.

In the case of peritoneal mesothelioma, chemotherapy drugs can be heated and given directly into the abdominal cavity.

Radiation therapy

Radiation therapy focuses high-energy rays from a source, such as a proton or X-ray, on a specific spot or spot on the body. Radiation can also be used to kill the remaining cancer cells after surgery. It can also help reduce the symptoms of advanced cancer, in situations where surgery is not an option.

Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy is a type of treatment that uses your immune system to fight cancer. Your body's immune system sometimes can't fight your cancer because the cancer cells make a protein that can blind the immune system. However, immunotherapy may interfere with this process. This option is usually used when other treatments are not working.

Targeted therapy

Targeted therapies use drugs that attack specific vulnerabilities of cancer cells.

Complications

As your pleural mesothelioma spreads to the chest, it can put pressure on the structure of the area, causing complications such as difficulty breathing and swallowing, chest pain, pain due to pressure on the nerves and spine, and constriction. Chest fluid, which can constrict nearby lungs and make breathing more difficult.

Resistance

To prevent this, it is important to reduce your exposure to asbestos. Workers who may be exposed to asbestos fiber include:

Asbestos miners

Plumber

Pipefitter

Electrician

Insulator

Destroyers

Elected military personnel

Shipyard workers

Home Remodelers

Brake mechanics

If you are one of the above, it is important to ask your employer if there is a risk of asbestos exposure in your job.

Remember to follow all safety precautions in your workplace, including wearing protective equipment. This is also good if you take a bath and change your work clothes before you take a lunch break or go home. You can talk to your doctor to find out if you need to take any more precautions.