Mesothelioma is a form of cancer that manifests by developing in thin linings in the lungs and other organs. It is most often attributed to asbestos exposure. It introduces malignant cells into the body that can damage nearby tissues and greatly reduces the patient's lifespan. If you or someone you know has been struck by this horrible ailment, this guide will provide you with the information you need to understand the disease. If you're armed with the needed information, you will be able to communicate with your medical professional better. While this is a disease with a high fatality rate, the right specialist might be able to get you a better prognosis.
Understanding how mesothelioma works
Mesothelioma is a disease that predominantly affects the mesothelium tissues and causes the development of tumors. These tissues are generally found surrounding your lungs, around your heart, or covering your abdomen, which is why this disease most commonly manifests in the chest. It can affect the tunica vaginalis around men's testicles in rare cases.
This disease can manifest in two forms. If you're lucky, you would have benign mesothelioma, which does not spread to the other parts of the body. This form of illness is not life-threatening, and the harmful cells can usually be removed by surgery. Moreover, it does not have a high chance of reoccurrence. On the other hand, malignant mesothelioma can spread across the body. About half of malignant cases tend to be epithelioid, which have a better outlook than the other forms.
Unfortunately, this disease is usually discovered in late stages, and unless treatment is provided quickly, most people would be looking at a life expectancy of 12-21 months.
Causes of mesothelioma
Research has shown that the main vector for this ailment is asbestos, which is generally encountered in some work environments such as construction or mining. Asbestos fibers are resistant to heat and chemicals and do not construct electricity. Hence the mineral was extensively used to construct old buildings, cars, military equipment, household products, etc. Recently, Apple Park had to shut down and send its workers home after an asbestos scare.
While it was a useful construction material, it has been discovered that these fibers, if inhaled, can lead to several serious health issues, including mesothelioma. Bear in mind that this disease has a long incubation period and can take years and even decades for cancer to develop after the initial exposure.
If you or someone you know worked in a field that risked asbestos exposure, it might be a good idea to visit a doctor and get a check-up. Lines of work where you might have encountered asbestos include builders, plumbers, electricians, welders, asbestos miners, automotive industry workers, and textile workers. According to the statistics on the disease, there are 3,000 cases reported each year, of which 75 percent are men.
Symptoms to look out for
As mentioned earlier, mesothelioma can occur in different parts of the body, and the symptoms you might experience depend on this as well. For example, pleural mesothelioma, which indicates the presence of cancerous cells around the lungs, generally includes chest pain, severe and painful coughing, explained weight loss, and lumpy tissues under the lungs. You might experience similar symptoms when dealing with pericardial mesothelioma, where the tumor surrounds the heart. Meanwhile, peritoneal mesothelioma, which affects the abdomen, will cause abdominal pain, swelling, and nausea. If you feel like you are experiencing these symptoms and have risked exposure to asbestos in your life, consult a medical specialist as soon as possible.
Getting tested
There are no means of early screening for the ailment in most countries. Unlike other forms of cancer, this one is comparatively rare, so you might not find equipment meant to detect it in your general check-ups. However, blood and fluid tests can help determine if you have been afflicted with this ailment. If your blood tests reveal elevated levels of fibulin-3, osteopontin, and soluble mesothelin-related peptides, there is a high chance of you having the disease.
However, these tests are not definitive yet, and you would have to combine them with fluid tests. Mesothelioma can result in fluid build-up in the afflicted area, and a doctor can remove this fluid and examine it under a microscope for cancerous cells. There are also needle biopsies that can accurately determine your condition. Your doctor can best advise you on which one you need, but for this illness, you would be looking at either a thoracoscopy, laparoscopy or mediastinoscopy.
If you're hesitant about cuts, you can opt for imaging tests, such as a CT, PET, or MRI scan. This would allow the doctor to observe the inside of your body and find any tumorous growths without needing to make incisions.
What are your treatment options?
Like other forms of cancer, the treatment options include surgery to remove the cancerous tissue, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. Moreover, studies are being conducted on the use of targeted drug therapy and immunotherapy to treat mesothelioma. This is also a form of electric treatment known as tumor-treating fields, which might be helpful.
Conclusion
While this is a troublesome disease, if you manage to catch it early, you could be looking at a rather hopeful outlook. Even in the case where you catch it at a later stage, meeting with the right specialist can significantly improve your prognosis. Bodies like The American Cancer Society are constantly researching the material and coming up with new treatment options. It's scary, but it isn't a reason to lose hope.