The Cause of Mesothelioma Lung CancerMesothelioma may begin in the tissue layer that covers each lung (pleural mesothelioma) or in the tissue layer that covers organs in the abdomen (peritoneal mesothelioma). The treatment options for mesothelioma are chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation.Some patients with mesothelioma cannot undergo surgery due to the cancer stage. Other treatment options include a pleural drain to eliminate fluid buildup, and palliative care to relieve symptoms.AsbestosAsbestos is a group fibrous minerals which are resistant to heat and durable. In the past, they were popular as insulation and construction materials. People who work with asbestos are at risk of breathing asbestos fibers that can stick to the lung linings. These fibers can stay in the lung and cause lung problems such as mesothelioma.The mesothelium is the layer that protects organs. The majority of cases of mesothelioma cancer occur in the lungs' linings (pleura), but it can also occur in the lining of the abdomen (peritoneum) and the heart's lining (pericardium). Mesothelioma cancer is distinct from other cancers due to the fact that symptoms usually appear between 10-50 years after exposure to asbestos.People who were exposed to asbestos in their workplaces are at a higher risk of developing mesothelioma. Shipyard workers, construction workers, and asbestos miners are among the most common industrial jobs. Mesothelioma sufferers often develop the disease as a result of exposure to asbestos during their military service.Workers in these high-risk jobs were exposed to asbestos on ships, in buildings, and in vehicles. The fibers were also carried home by workers wearing their uniforms and hair and their equipment. Families of those exposed to asbestos at work also are at risk for mesothelioma or other diseases. This secondhand exposure is known as secondary mesothelioma.Other industries with a high asbestos exposure risk include asbestos manufacturers and pipe fitters. These industries were primarily in the United States and used chrysotile asbestos, amosite asbestos and crocidolite as their primary products. These industries also were at risk of exposure to asbestos, whether on clothing or tools.Exposure to radiationRadiation exposure has been linked to mesothelioma lung carcinoma even though asbestos is the main cause. Mesothelioma patients who have been exposed to radiation are at a higher risk of developing the more severe and difficult to treat mesothelioma that is sarcomatoid. This form of mesothelioma can be found in the chest wall, lungs, and heart tissue. Exposure to radium and other forms of radiation may increase the risk of developing this mesothelioma.Mesothelioma is a rare type of cancer that can be hard to identify. Patients may require multiple tests in order to determine if the disease is present. The tests can include physical examinations or imaging scans, as well as a biopsy. A biopsy is the process of removing some of the tissue or fluid from the affected area in order to check for mesothelioma cancer cells.Doctors use several types of radiation therapy to treat mesothelioma patients. They usually administer these treatments before or after surgery. They may also apply it for patients who can't undergo surgery to reduce tumors. Radiation therapy is an alternative treatment that makes use of high-energy radiation, such as the X-ray or gamma rays to eliminate cancerous tissues by damaging their DNA.Radiation is used in the treatment of both pleural mesothelioma and mesothelioma due to its capability to kill cancerous cell and stop their spread. In contrast to other forms of chemotherapy, radiation doesn't negatively affect healthy surrounding tissues. In mesothelioma treatment, physicians will use special shielding to protect the patient from the harmful effects.It is often difficult for doctors to diagnose mesothelioma accurately because of the time of latency. Mesothelioma may be mistakenly identified by doctors as another lung cancer, or as an ordinary illness such as bronchitis or pneumonia. It is therefore crucial that patients inform their doctors about their asbestos exposure so that they can receive regular screenings and a mesothelioma diagnosis when it happens.GeneticsResearchers have discovered that genetics plays an important role in the development of mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is a rare occurrence of those exposed to asbestos for a long period of time. Certain studies have demonstrated that mutations of tumor-suppressing gene make it more likely for these people to develop mesothelioma.Scientists are trying to discover the causes of these mutations in genes that lead to mesothelioma. Scientists are trying to figure out how asbestos affects DNA and why some people are prone to more mutations than others with a history asbestos exposure.The first symptoms of mesothelioma can not be evident for at least 50 years after the initial exposure to asbestos. When the disease does appear the first symptoms include chest pain. These symptoms are similar to those of pneumonia or flu and could easily be misinterpreted as other ailments. The cancer usually has reached the lungs at the time these symptoms are observed. Mesothelioma is usually diagnosed in stages based on the extent to which the cancer has spread from its initial point which could be the lung tissue or the lungs themselves, or other organs in the body. can mesothelioma cause prostate cancer with mesothelioma die due to complications that are associated with the cancer. The most frequent complications are respiratory failure and collapsed lungs. Other causes of death are lung infections, fluid accumulation in the pleura or tumor that has spread into the diaphragm or heart.Certain mesothelioma patients have children who suffer from the disease, which has led to a debate on whether there is a genetic link to mesothelioma. In the past, scientists believed that mesothelioma was a genetic component because children of parents with mesothelioma, or other asbestos-related illnesses, were more likely to suffer from these diseases. Recent research has proven that there is no genetic connection between mesothelioma or asbestos.Doctors can detect mesothelioma by looking for the presence of cancer cells in the sample of fluid or tissue. They can also look at the medical records of the patient to determine if there is any evidence of asbestos exposure. Doctors can also perform a CT scan, MRI or other imaging tests to determine the location of mesothelioma.Enjoy the Life you liveMesothelioma is a cancer of asbestos that, occurs in the thin layer (mesothelium), which covers the majority of internal organs. It is most commonly located in the pleura (tissue that surrounds the lungs). In rare instances, it may occur in the abdominal lining or around the heart (peritoneal mesothelioma) or around the testicles (pericardial mesothelioma). Doctors classify mesothelioma into different stages based on the location where the cancer starts and the extent to which it has spread. The earlier mesothelioma cancer is identified, the quicker it can be treated.A doctor can determine mesothelioma by studying a patient's medical history looking for signs and asking about possible exposure to asbestos. They can also request an X-ray chest scan or a computed-tomography scan to detect calcium deposits on the pleura or lungs, signs of fluid in the chest cavity, or changes in the diaphragm. They can also check the lymph nodes in the abdominal and chest areas for mesothelioma.If a doctor suspects that you have mesothelioma they may perform a biopsied to confirm the diagnosis. They will also determine the stage of the cancer. The type of mesothelioma cells will help doctors decide the best treatment.The majority of patients diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma have had a history of exposure in the workplace to asbestos. The exposure could have been from direct contact or indirect contact. Indirect exposure occurs when someone brings home the carcinogen from the work they do on their clothes hair, skin and hair or from tools that are contaminated. In the US around 80 percent of mesothelioma sufferers have been diagnosed as having been exposed to occupational asbestos. In the UK, it is around 50 percent.There are a variety of mesothelioma surgery that can alleviate or reduce symptoms and improve quality of life. For pleural mesothelioma, the most frequently performed operations are the extrapleural pneumonectomy, or pleurectomy with pulmonary decortication. These surgeries eliminate the tumor as well as the pleura, part of the lung, and/or part of the diaphragm or lining of the heart. Certain patients are candidates for a less invasive surgical operation that involves removing the pleura but only a small part of the lung affected. These treatments can be used together or in conjunction to improve the life expectancy of patients with mesothelioma.