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Types of Mesothelioma, Causes & Symptoms
In order to understand mesothelioma and choose the best path to extend survival, you must first grasp some of the basic information about this type of cancer, including its causes, types and symptoms.
Causes
Exposure to asbestos, a naturally occurring mineral once highly regarded for its insulation and fire-retardant properties, is the predominant cause of mesothelioma.
Approximately 75 percent of cases are men who were exposed to asbestos while serving in the military or working certain high-risk blue-collar jobs, including construction, firefighting, shipbuilding and industrial work.
Secondhand exposure also occurs when washing the clothes of someone in a high-risk occupation and living near abandoned asbestos mines or areas where asbestos occurs naturally in the environment.
Types
Each type of mesothelioma is classified by the location in the body where it develops. Prognosis, symptoms and treatment options vary by type.
The pleural and peritoneal types of mesothelioma are the most common, while pericardial accounts for just 1 percent of cases. Another rare type known as testicular mesothelioma represents less than 1 percent of all mesotheliomas.
Symptoms
Mesothelioma symptoms usually appear during the late stages of the cancer, when tumors have grown and they begin to press against the chest wall or abdominal cavity.
COMMON MESOTHELIOMA SYMPTOMS
Dry coughingShortness of breathRespiratory complicationsPain in the chest or abdomenFever or night sweatsPleural effusion (fluid around the lungs)FatigueMuscle weakness
If you have a history of asbestos exposure and experience these symptoms, you should consult a mesothelioma specialist as soon as possible. Early diagnosis may improve your prognosis and life expectancy.
How Is Mesothelioma Diagnosed?
The main reason the majority of patients are diagnosed with mesothelioma later in life is because mesothelioma can take anywhere from 20 to 50 years after asbestos exposure before symptoms appear.
Doctors use several methods to test for malignant mesothelioma, but only a biopsy can truly confirm a diagnosis. This usually comes after a series of other tests and scans once symptoms arise.
Imaging Scans
Most people initially undergo a basic chest X-ray. If an abnormal growth is detected, doctors will recommend a more detailed imaging scan such as a PET scan, CT scan or MRI.
QUICK FACT
About 3,000 new cases are diagnosed annually
Blood Tests
Mesothelioma blood tests are also available, but they do not confirm the presence of the disease. Research is underway to determine if blood tests can aid in early diagnosis for at-risk former asbestos workers.
Biopsies
If cancer is suspected, doctors will recommend taking a tissue sample, also known as a biopsy. Doctors use biopsies to definitively confirm the presence of mesothelioma cells.
Because mesothelioma is rare, the cancer is often initially misdiagnosed as a less serious condition such as the flu or pneumonia.
Anyone who thinks or knows they were exposed to asbestos at some point in time should immediately notify their primary care doctor about their exposure history. This will ensure mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases are not ruled out as the cause of the symptoms.
In order to understand mesothelioma and choose the best path to extend survival, you must first grasp some of the basic information about this type of cancer, including its causes, types and symptoms.
Causes
Exposure to asbestos, a naturally occurring mineral once highly regarded for its insulation and fire-retardant properties, is the predominant cause of mesothelioma.
Approximately 75 percent of cases are men who were exposed to asbestos while serving in the military or working certain high-risk blue-collar jobs, including construction, firefighting, shipbuilding and industrial work.
Secondhand exposure also occurs when washing the clothes of someone in a high-risk occupation and living near abandoned asbestos mines or areas where asbestos occurs naturally in the environment.
Types
Each type of mesothelioma is classified by the location in the body where it develops. Prognosis, symptoms and treatment options vary by type.
The pleural and peritoneal types of mesothelioma are the most common, while pericardial accounts for just 1 percent of cases. Another rare type known as testicular mesothelioma represents less than 1 percent of all mesotheliomas.
Symptoms
Mesothelioma symptoms usually appear during the late stages of the cancer, when tumors have grown and they begin to press against the chest wall or abdominal cavity.
COMMON MESOTHELIOMA SYMPTOMS
Dry coughingShortness of breathRespiratory complicationsPain in the chest or abdomenFever or night sweatsPleural effusion (fluid around the lungs)FatigueMuscle weakness
If you have a history of asbestos exposure and experience these symptoms, you should consult a mesothelioma specialist as soon as possible. Early diagnosis may improve your prognosis and life expectancy.
How Is Mesothelioma Diagnosed?
The main reason the majority of patients are diagnosed with mesothelioma later in life is because mesothelioma can take anywhere from 20 to 50 years after asbestos exposure before symptoms appear.
Doctors use several methods to test for malignant mesothelioma, but only a biopsy can truly confirm a diagnosis. This usually comes after a series of other tests and scans once symptoms arise.
Imaging Scans
Most people initially undergo a basic chest X-ray. If an abnormal growth is detected, doctors will recommend a more detailed imaging scan such as a PET scan, CT scan or MRI.
QUICK FACT
About 3,000 new cases are diagnosed annually
Blood Tests
Mesothelioma blood tests are also available, but they do not confirm the presence of the disease. Research is underway to determine if blood tests can aid in early diagnosis for at-risk former asbestos workers.
Biopsies
If cancer is suspected, doctors will recommend taking a tissue sample, also known as a biopsy. Doctors use biopsies to definitively confirm the presence of mesothelioma cells.
Because mesothelioma is rare, the cancer is often initially misdiagnosed as a less serious condition such as the flu or pneumonia.
Anyone who thinks or knows they were exposed to asbestos at some point in time should immediately notify their primary care doctor about their exposure history. This will ensure mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases are not ruled out as the cause of the symptoms.