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Saturday, November 14, 2009
Pleural mesothelioma is a malignant mesothelioma that forms in the pleura, the portion of the mesothelium that surrounds the lungs in the thoracic cavity. About 75 percent of all mesothelioma cases are pleural. Pleural mesothelioma is almost always contracted when the patient inhales asbestos fibres in large numbers, often over an extended period of time. The fibers migrate into the lungs, where they become ensconced in the lung tissue. Some of the fibers move further, penetrating the lung tissue and entering the pleura. The majority of pleural mesothelioma cases involve the right lung. Medical researchers believe that this is because the right lung is usually larger than the left lung, and has more surface area for the fibers to penetrate. For similar mechanical reasons, most pleural mesotheliomas begin in the bottom lobe of the lung rather than the top lobe, because gravity pulls the fibers down once they have been inhaled.
At first the tumors are small – little more than bumps on the pleural tissue. However, the tumors grow together quickly and form a thin lining that adds to the thickness of the pleural sac. As time passes, the lining gets thicker and thicker as more cancerous cells develop, and the newly thickened lining begins pressing on the lungs, compressing them and compromising their ability to function. This is the point at which the patient generally begins to notice symptoms. At the same time as the pleural lining is thickening, the pleural tissue begins to secrete large quantities of fluid into the pleural area, adding still further to the pressure on the lungs. Breathing becomes painful and difficult.
The tumor now begins to form what appears to be a hard shell over the pleura, and starts expanding outward into the body.The tumor mass begins to shed cancer cells, which serve as tiny ambassadors of the disease to the rest of the body.The full-blown cancer begins to metastasize – and at this point it has become almost impossible to treat.
Mesothelioma is caused by long-term, repeated exposure to asbestos fibers. The disease is generally found in four different forms: pleural, peritoneal, pericardial, and testicular. In each case, the cancer develops in mesothelial cells, which form the membranous linings that surround and protect organs. The different names for each type of mesothelioma refer to the point of origin of the cancer.
Mesothelioma can attack the pleural lining around the lungs. It can also attack the peritoneum, a tissue that surrounds the GI tract. Mesothelioma can attack the stomach lining, other internal organs, or even the pericardium (the tissue sac covering the heart). Thus, mesothelioma can be generally classified into the following types:
- Pleural — 75% of all mesothelioma cases
- Peritoneal — 10%–20%
- Pericardial — 5%
Mesothelioma can also be classified by the cancer type rather than the location of the cancer:
- Epithelioid — most common, best survival rate
- Sarcomatoid — most severe, but more rare
- Mixed/biphasic — a mixture of epithelioid and sarcomatoid cancer
Mesothelioma (cancer of the mesothelium) is a rare form of cancer. Most people who develop mesothelioma have worked on jobs where they inhaled asbestos particles. It is known that family members of workers exposed to asbestos can contract this disease through exposure to the worker’s clothing. The combination of smoking and asbestos exposure significantly increases a person's risk of developing cancer of the air passageways in the lung.
This disease is very difficult to assess consistently due to the great variability in time before diagnosis and the rate of progression of malignant mesothelioma. The cancer keep growing until it is treated so it is very important that disease is diagnosed an treated as early as possible Mesothelioma occurs more often in men than in women and risk increase with age, but this disease can appear in either men or women at any age. Most cases of mesothelioma occur 30-45 years after initial exposure to asbestos.
Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that can be malignant or benign, the malignant type is very dangerous type and may be deadly in most cases. Scientists can classify the types of mesothelioma cancer according to the place of the tumors as following.
Pleural type, in this type the tumors will be developed in Pleura. The Pleura is the most outer membrane surrounds the lungs and has protections functions. Pleural type is the most famous type and the most cases are diagnosed as Pleural mesothelioma.
Peritoneal type, in this case the tumors will be developed in the Peritoneum. The Peritoneum is the outer membrane that surrounds the internal organs of the abdomen and has protection and movement functions. It is less common type but it is more dangerous that the Pleural type.
Pericardial type, in this case the tumors will be developed in the Pericardium. The pericardium is the outer sac that includes the heart and its great arteries. Pericardium is a protective systems for our hearts and the mesothelioma cancer in that systems is very deadly.
Pleural type, in this type the tumors will be developed in Pleura. The Pleura is the most outer membrane surrounds the lungs and has protections functions. Pleural type is the most famous type and the most cases are diagnosed as Pleural mesothelioma.
Peritoneal type, in this case the tumors will be developed in the Peritoneum. The Peritoneum is the outer membrane that surrounds the internal organs of the abdomen and has protection and movement functions. It is less common type but it is more dangerous that the Pleural type.
Pericardial type, in this case the tumors will be developed in the Pericardium. The pericardium is the outer sac that includes the heart and its great arteries. Pericardium is a protective systems for our hearts and the mesothelioma cancer in that systems is very deadly.
1. When asbestos fibers are inhaled, most fibers are expelled, but some can become lodged in the lungs and remain there throughout life. Fibers can accumulate and cause scarring and inflammation. Enough scarring and inflammation can affect breathing, leading to disease.
2. People are more likely to experience asbestos-related disorders when they are exposed to high concentrations of asbestos, are exposed for longer periods of time, and/or are exposed more often.
3. Inhaling longer, more durable asbestos fibers (such as tremolite and other amphiboles) contributes to the severity of asbestos-related disorders.
4. Exposure to asbestos, including tremolite, can increase the likelihood of lung cancer, mesothelioma, and non-malignant lung conditions such as asbestosis (restricted use of the lungs due to retained asbestos fibers) and changes in the lung lining.
5. Changes in the lining of the lungs (pleura) such as thickening, plaques, calcification, and fluid around the lungs (pleural effusion) may be early signs of asbestos exposure. These changes can affect breathing more than previously thought. Pleural effusion can be an early warning sign for mesothelioma (cancer of the lining of the lungs).
6. Most cases of asbestosis or lung cancer in workers occurred 15 years or more after the person was first exposed to asbestos.
7. Most cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed 30 years or more after the first exposure to asbestos.
8. Mesothelioma has been diagnosed in asbestos workers, family members, and residents who live close to asbestos mines.
9. Health effects from asbestos exposure may continue to progress even after exposure is stopped.
10. Smoking or cigarette smoke, together with exposure to asbestos, greatly increases the likelihood of lung cancer.
Signs and Symptoms of asbestosis can include:
Shortness of breath which is the primary symptom
A persistent and productive cough (a cough that expels mucus)
Chest tightness
Chest pain Loss of appetite
A dry, crackling sound in the lungs while inhaling.
If you suspect that you have been exposed to asbestos, speak with your physician immediately and discuss your level of exposure. Early detection of mesothelioma increases your chances immeasurably.
2. People are more likely to experience asbestos-related disorders when they are exposed to high concentrations of asbestos, are exposed for longer periods of time, and/or are exposed more often.
3. Inhaling longer, more durable asbestos fibers (such as tremolite and other amphiboles) contributes to the severity of asbestos-related disorders.
4. Exposure to asbestos, including tremolite, can increase the likelihood of lung cancer, mesothelioma, and non-malignant lung conditions such as asbestosis (restricted use of the lungs due to retained asbestos fibers) and changes in the lung lining.
5. Changes in the lining of the lungs (pleura) such as thickening, plaques, calcification, and fluid around the lungs (pleural effusion) may be early signs of asbestos exposure. These changes can affect breathing more than previously thought. Pleural effusion can be an early warning sign for mesothelioma (cancer of the lining of the lungs).
6. Most cases of asbestosis or lung cancer in workers occurred 15 years or more after the person was first exposed to asbestos.
7. Most cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed 30 years or more after the first exposure to asbestos.
8. Mesothelioma has been diagnosed in asbestos workers, family members, and residents who live close to asbestos mines.
9. Health effects from asbestos exposure may continue to progress even after exposure is stopped.
10. Smoking or cigarette smoke, together with exposure to asbestos, greatly increases the likelihood of lung cancer.
Signs and Symptoms of asbestosis can include:
Shortness of breath which is the primary symptom
A persistent and productive cough (a cough that expels mucus)
Chest tightness
Chest pain Loss of appetite
A dry, crackling sound in the lungs while inhaling.
If you suspect that you have been exposed to asbestos, speak with your physician immediately and discuss your level of exposure. Early detection of mesothelioma increases your chances immeasurably.
Asbestos is an incredibly deadly substance; major exposure to asbestos leads to diseases such asbestosis, lung cancer, and mesothelioma, often with fatal effects. Asbestos was one of the most common industrial materials put to use in the twentieth century. The most common way for asbestos fibres to enter the body is through breathing. In fact, asbestos containing material is not generally considered to be harmful unless it is releasing dust or fibres into the air where they can be inhaled or ingested. Many of the fibres will become trapped in the mucous membranes of the nose and throat where they can then be removed, but some may pass deep into the lungs or, if swallowed, into the digestive tract. Once they are trapped in the body, the fibres can cause health problems.
It is not possible to completely avoid asbestos exposure. This is because asbestos is a naturally-occurring mineral product; it is part of the rocks that make up our planet, and as those rocks erode due to weather, fibers are released into the atmosphere. Asbestos fibers float in the air and water quite naturally, even without any human intervention or industrial development. It is estimated that a cubic meter of outdoor air (about what an adult would breathe in an hour) contains ten asbestos fibers. And – despite the deadliness of asbestos in general – this level of exposure does not present any significant health risk.
Asbestos exposure has two main pathways:
The first pathway is inhalation – drawing the fibers into the lungs because the fibers are in the air.
The second pathway is ingestion, swallowing asbestos fibers that have contaminated food or water. Asbestos fibers are not soluble in water, and so when asbestos washes into a water source by erosion from nearby rocks, runoff from mines, or asbestos-containing pipes or filters, the fibers can be absorbed by people who drink the water.
The first pathway is inhalation – drawing the fibers into the lungs because the fibers are in the air. The second pathway is ingestion, swallowing asbestos fibers that have contaminated food or water. Asbestos fibers are not soluble in water, and so when asbestos washes into a water source by erosion from nearby rocks, runoff from mines, or asbestos-containing pipes or filters, the fibers can be absorbed by people who drink the water.
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