Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that is caused when a person has been exposed to asbestos. During the manufacturing process of asbestos, microscopic particles can be inhaled into the lungs or even swallowed if proper care is not taken. The symptoms of Mesothelioma can then take from fifteen to thirty years to fully develop, making it very difficult to know when and where the exposure occurred. Asbestos exposure can also highly increase the risk of other lung, throat and, kidney cancers and asbestosis, which is a non-cancerous, long-term lung infection.
Asbestos Exposure
Exposure to asbestos for long periods of time, or exposure to asbestos in very high quantities for just a few hours will greatly increase the risk of an individual getting Mesothelioma. Asbestos fibers are extremely thin and can be inhaled or ingested without people even knowing about it. These fibers then make their way into the tiniest of airways inside the lungs. From here the fibers settle around the membrane which surrounds the lung, called the pleura. The asbestos fibers cannot be coughed up; because they are lodged very deep inside the lungs and after long periods of time the lungs become inflamed. This unfortunately is the beginning of Mesothelioma.
People living all around the world have most likely come into contact with asbestos. The pipes that our water comes from, the tiny particles of asbestos floating around in the air we have to breath, or the asbestos thrown into the landfills all over the world are but just a few ways a person can become exposed. Exposure to asbestos does not mean that every individual will eventually be plagued with mesothelioma, but it is a very scary thought.
People that are diagnosed with Mesothelioma are usually those who have been employed in an area where the exposure to asbestos is as simple as punching in at the time clock, where this means a high exposure rate of mass quantities of asbestos. Sadly, this type of high exposure can also lead to a secondary exposure of asbestos. This happens when a person goes home after working in a high exposure area, and his or her clothing are covered with asbestos fibers or particles that can become dislodged and ingested by the spouse or children. Over long periods of time, this secondary exposure can also lead to Mesothelioma.
The Symptoms of Mesothelioma
The symptoms of Mesothelioma commonly start with pain the chest cavity and difficulty of breathing. This is caused by fluid that builds up between the chest wall and the lungs, which is called pleural effusion. Pleural Mesothelioma, which affects the lungs, can be hypothesized by x-ray or CT scan, but a biopsy and a microscopic examination is needed to confirm the diagnosis. Sometimes there may be no symptoms present when the diagnosis is made. This is because, as previously stated, the symptoms of Mesothelioma can take up to thirty years to become developed to the point of being known. This slow development of symptoms gives this disease more than enough time to wreak havoc on the body, while remaining undiagnosed. Once the symptoms of Pleural Mesothelioma make themselves known and become more prevalent, they can include, but are not limited to:
○ Pain in the chest wall.
○ Shortness of breath.
○ The loss of weight.
○ Night sweats.
○ Uncontrollable coughing.
○ A general, nagging feeling of not being well.
Peritoneal Mesothelioma vs Pleural Mesothelioma
The symptoms of Peritoneal Mesothelioma are a little different than those of Pleural Mesothelioma. Peritoneal Mesothelioma affects the internal lining of the intestines. Diagnosis of Peritoneal Mesothelioma is very complicated. The symptoms of Peritoneal Mesothelioma include:
○ Swelling.
○ Pain in the abdominal cavity due to excess fluid buildup.
○ High fever. (Usually constant.)
○ The loss of weight.
○ A mass of tissue in the abdomen.
○ Obstruction of the bowels
○ A low red blood cell count. (Anemia)
○ Blood clotting abnormalities.
○ Nausea.
○ Diarrhea or constipation.
Pericardial Mesothelioma Symptoms
Another type of is Pericardial Mesothelioma. This type attacks and damages the lining of the heart and causes fluids to build up between the tissues of the heart and the lining of the heart. The symptoms of Pericardial Mesothelioma include:
○ Mild to severe chest pain.
○ Chronic coughing.
○ An irregular heartbeat.
○ Abnormal breathing.
○ Weakness or fatigue.
Mesothelioma Symptoms
These symptoms are usually present in the later stages of Mesothelioma, with the initial symptoms being shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, and chest pain. As this horrible disease progresses, the symptoms grow to include:
○ The loss of appetite.
○ Vocal changes. (Caused by local invasion of a tumor.)
○ An increased difficulty of breathing.
○ The loss of diaphragm functions.
○ Severe cough.
○ Constant fatigue.
Metastasis Symptoms
When Mesothelioma grows beyond the mesothelium and spreads to other parts of the body it is called metastasis. The symptoms of metastasis can include all of the above, as well as:
○ General body pain.
○ Difficulty in swallowing.
○ An inflamed face or neck.
Diagnosis of Mesothelioma
The diagnosis of Mesothelioma is very difficult due to the symptoms being identical to other illnesses, which include lung cancer. When the doctor makes a diagnosis of Mesothelioma, he or she will start by doing a physical examination and complete medical history. This medical history will include a thorough questioning about the possible exposure to asbestos and the possible time period that this may have occurred.
There are no tests available for the early detection of Mesothelioma. However, there are tests that can be performed to help in the diagnosis of this dreaded illness. These tests include:
○ An x-ray of the chest.
○ A CT Scan.
○ An MRI Scan.
The x-ray of the chest can show any abnormal changes which may be present in the lungs. The CT scan or Computed Tomography scan, is a type of x-ray that gives detailed images through the use of computers. The MRI scan, or Magnetic Resonance Imaging, utilizes magnetic radio waves without radiation to create an image that is clear. All three of these tests can help doctors to find the location and size of the tumors, as well as tell the difference between Mesothelioma and other types of cancer.
Tissue samples may be needed to further help in the diagnosis. This is called a biopsy. Another type of sample is when a doctor draws fluids from a tumor. Blood tests and tumor markers are generally done when the presence of Mesothelioma is a possibility. These tests are to measure for chemicals in the blood that can only be present if there is a tumor in the body.
