Causes of malignant mesothelioma - Symptoms - Diagnosing and Types of Mesothelioma

Causes of malignant mesothelioma - Symptoms  - Diagnosing and Types of Mesothelioma

Malignant Mesothelioma
Malignant mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer caused by exposure to asbestos. The disease attacks the mesothelium, a thin double layer coating the lining of the internal organs of the body such as the lungs, heart, chest and abdomen. Mesothelioma that affects the chest is called pleural mesothelioma while mesothelioma affects the abdomen and heart are called peritoneal mesothelioma and pericardial mesothelioma respectively.

About 75% of mesotheliomas are known to start in the chest and lungs, making it the most common form of the disease, followed by 10 or 20% of cases of mesothelioma which affects the abdomen. A rare form of mesothelioma is the one located in the tunica vaginalis testis or affecting the reproductive organs.

Causes of malignant mesothelioma
causes malignant mesotheliomaMalignant mesothelioma is almost exclusively caused by asbestos exposure. The particles which are inhaled or ingested they enter the patient's respiratory system and can potentially create a worsening and cancer cell growth in the membranes.

In USA more than 3,000 people are diagnosed with mesothelioma annually. These people may have been exposed to asbestos in their extensive use since it was given as an insulator and fire retardant work. Those at higher risk of exposure to asbestos had are:

Electricians
Tuberos
Installers bulkheads
Metal Workers
Welders
Insulators
Chemical plant workers
Nuclear Plants
Mechanical
Shipyard workers
Members of the armed forces
Besides asbestos fibers may be impregnated in the clothing workers in the hair, making their families are at risk when they return home from work. Many ceilings, floors and pipes are covered with asbestos. Once these fibers break and released can be extremely toxic to anyone who is around.

Symptoms of malignant mesothelioma
symptoms malignant mesotheliomaSymptoms and signs typically associated to mesothelioma include coughing, fatigue, pain in the chest wall, side, back, or abdomen, weight loss, fluid accumulation in the abdomen, restricted breathing and spitting blood.

Since these symptoms are similar to other diseases or less serious ailments, remain initially ignored until the disease is more serious. Typically spend between two to three months after symptoms appear until malignant mesothelioma is diagnosed.

Diagnosing malignant mesothelioma
Mesothelioma Diagnosis is carried out by scanners and biopsies are intended to identify where cancer and size of the tumor is located. Normally used for test images such as x-rays, PET, CET or MRI to diagnose the disease. Other methods that are commonly used to diagnose cancer are the analysis of blood and tissue and fluid test. The diagnosis will also determine whether the tumor is benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous).

While benign tumors are completely resercables, if not carried out an operation to remove them tend to become cancerous. Even once you have removed a review every ten years is recommended as a precaution.

Types of Mesothelioma
There are three types of malignant mesothelioma: epithelial representing between 50 and 70% of cases of malignant mesothelioma, sarcomatoid which is between 7 and 20% of malignant mesothelioma cases, and cases of mixed / biphasic represents between 20 and 35% of cases.

On the other hand, benign tumors such as adenomatoid tumors that grow in the male and female reproductive organs and cystic tumors, which grow only in the female reproductive organs, are also common. However they are not cancerous and they can be removed with surgery.

Stages of Mesothelioma
After identifying the tumor, the next step is to determine the stage of cancer. Three staging systems that are used to determine if the cancer has spread to the extent that scattering is commonly used, and whether it can be removed with surgery. These systems are known as the Butchart system, the TNM system and Brigham

Treating the disease
The final phase is to establish the correct form of treatment based on the location, type and stage of the tumor and the patient's age, weight and health status. Normally malignant mesothelioma treatments include chemotherapy, radiation and surgery. Chemotherapy involves using drugs to kill cancer cells. It can also be used to improve the results of radiotherapy or to destroy cancer cells that reproduce. On the other hand radiation is used to slow the growth and spread of cancer cells.

Some of malignant mesothelioma can be treated with surgery. Palliative surgery is an option to reduce or eliminate pain pleural fluid. . A more complex option healing is what is known as extrapleural pneumonectomy involving complex reconstruction that affects the mesothelial cells with proséticos
Malignant mesothelioma can be treated, the treatment can reduce pain, slow the growth of cancer, and significantly improve the quality of life of patients and prolong life expectancy. However malignant mesothelioma is not a cure and recurrence usually presents