Mesothelioma is a dangerous cancer which is caused due to the chemical component called asbestos, it is stored in the lungs especially in the pleura for many years, that is we can call it a silent killer, it produces malignant cells in the human body. Which causes tumors over time.
Mesothelioma is considered as a type of neoplasm that originates in the cellular tissue of the human body and is part of the outer surface of the lung and is found in the inner part of the membranes of the human chest. There is a classification that relates to asbestos. Doctors usually use several updated treatments to treat it, pleural mesothelioma is classified according to the area it damages.
Similarly, mesothelioma tends to develop between the ages of 20 and 55 years, after the initial exposure to asbestos, because of the latency period, the condition usually affects the elderly. It usually occurs in men, as they are the most affected in heavy industry and construction, where exposure to asbestos has occurred over the years.
The main symptoms of pleural mesothelioma usually indicate angina pectoris or shortness of breath, however, it is possible that no clinical symptoms will appear until the development of the pathology, the life expectancy of patients with this type of cancer depends on it. It decreases. Two years, but it depends on various factors.
But the good news is that many patients tend to live longer with treatment and a better diet. If combined with other treatments such as surgery, chemotherapy or radiotherapy, they can help patients live longer after a diagnosis of mesothelioma pleural.
Pleural plaques usually present a higher risk of cancer, they are characterized by small areas of thickening in the pleura, which is usually the most common sign that a person has been exposed to asbestos. have encountered, they are usually not cancerous and usually do not Symptoms are present, but may indicate an increased risk of neoplasia.
Irritation from asbestos fibers can cause excess fluid to accumulate between the two layers of the pleura. This condition, called pleural effusion, is present in many cases of pleural mesothelioma. Although it's healthy to have some fluid between the layers of the pleura, too much puts pressure on the lungs, causing chest pain that worsens when you cough or take a deep breath.
How many types of malignant pleural mesothelioma are there?
There are several different classifications for malignant pleural mesothelioma, which are organized into four stages according to the spread of the cancer in the body. The first stages (I and II) are considered early, and provide tumors that are localized, unlike stages III and IV that are already classified as cancer metastases.
The International Mesothelioma Group developed a staging system that is used worldwide for pleural mesothelioma, indicating a stage from tumor origin to metastasis called TNM (tumor-node-metastases). , which is similarly used to detect and analyze other types of cancer. . They are classified into:
Usually lasting 22 to 23 months, the tumors are localized and usually in the lining of the lung tissue.
Stage II can last up to 20 months and the malignant cells spread to nearby lymph nodes.
Stage III can last 17 to 18 months, when the cancer has already spread to nearby cells and lymph nodes that are distant.
Stage IV lasts about 14 to 15 months and determines when the cancer has spread to distant organs.
When is mesothelioma diagnosed?
Mesothelioma diagnosis begins when the doctor analyzes the patient's symptoms. Common clinical symptoms are chest pain and Shortness of breath, so that the studies that are done include a chest X-ray, which may show fluid in the lungs or a tumor in them (see article: Lung cancer), so the patient is referred for other tests. Referred to a pulmonologist, oncologist, or general hospital. Primary care physicians typically do not diagnose pleural mesothelioma, but instead associate the patient's symptoms with influenza-like illnesses. Pneumonia, which presents with similar clinical symptoms, when neoplasia is suspected, pleural mesothelioma can be confused with lung cancer, so doctors don't suspect mesothelioma until the patient tells their doctor. Tell him that he is exposed to asbestos.
Specialists should use advanced imaging scans, blood tests, and tissue biopsies to diagnose pleural mesothelioma. In addition to identifying the cancer, determining the stage and cell type of the cancer is essential to creating an effective treatment plan.
Similarly, malignant mesothelioma has gained prominence in the medical literature unrelated to its incidence in the US population, primarily because of the known association of pleural mesothelioma with asbestos exposure, according to data from the Connecticut Tumor Registry in the US. Statistics show that this tumor is increasing in incidence.
Based on exposures between the 1940s and about 1970, when industrial precautions were first introduced, epidemiologists predict that the number of new mesothelioma cases will peak in the 1990s and that mesothelioma will become less common. will go
These models generally assume that asbestos exposure will be negligible after 1970. While industry levels that are legal today will almost certainly prevent growth. Asbestosis is severe in most workers, unfortunately no exposure threshold below which there is no risk of mesothelioma has been documented. Asbestos continues to be used in floor and ceiling tiles, automotive brake linings, and many other products.
Today, construction workers who maintain or remove asbestos are one of several groups that continue to be exposed. The diagnosis of malignant pleural mesothelioma is not difficult until the physician caring for such a patient considers mesothelioma in the differential diagnosis.
Manifesting pleural effusion, the tumor remains characteristically localized until late in its course, and therefore rarely requires resection. At this time of extensive treatment diagnosis.
Generally, a large piece of tissue obtained by open biopsy is required for an adequate histologic diagnosis. Investigative methods include multiple needle biopsies with specimens sent for electron microscopy, as well as immunoperoxidase staining for keratin and CEA. Treatment of this disease remains unsatisfactory.
However, occasionally patients remain disease-free for more than 5 years after intensive treatment. The conclusion that mesothelioma is incurable is clearly unwarranted as several investigators have reported a 30% response rate to various chemotherapeutic regimens.
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Thanks for reading: Mesothelioma Cancer Stages, Diagnosis and Treatment, Sorry, my English is bad:)