Understanding Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma is a rare and serious cancer that affects the lining of organs in our chest and abdomen. It mainly impacts our lungs, belly, and other organs in the chest. Each year, around 3,000 new cases are reported in the United States, especially in places with big industries like Michigan.
Types of Mesothelioma:
- Lung (Pleural): This type affects the lining of the lungs and is the most common.
- Belly (Peritoneal): It starts on the lining of the belly.
- Heart (Pericardial): This is rare and affects the lining around the heart.
- Testicles: Very rare, found on the lining of the testicles.
Categories based on Cancer Cell Type:
- Epithelioid: This is the most common, making up 70-80% of cases.
- Sarcomatous: Less common, but grows rapidly.
- Biphasic: It's a mix of epithelioid and sarcomatous cells.
Causes and Risk Factors
Mesothelioma mostly happens due to exposure to asbestos fibers. Being around asbestos for a long time and certain types of asbestos can increase the risk. Even a small amount of exposure to asbestos can be risky for getting mesothelioma.
Serling & Abramson, P.C. has helped people who developed mesothelioma from being near someone with dusty clothes from work. Even touching or riding in a car with asbestos dust can be dangerous.
Development Duration
It takes a really long time for mesothelioma to show up. It can be 20 to 50 years after being exposed to asbestos for the first time. Unlike smoking, the risk doesn’t go away over time after being around asbestos and can even get worse.
Signs and Symptoms
Mesothelioma shows up with signs like trouble breathing, fluid in the lungs or belly, weight loss, chest or belly pain, and lumps under the skin. Finding mesothelioma early is crucial to getting the right treatment.
Diagnosis and Treatment
Doctors check for mesothelioma with exams, special pictures of your insides, and taking out a tiny piece of tissue to look at. There are new treatments being tested too. Survivors of mesothelioma help other people with it by talking about it and giving support.
Considerations for Women with Mesothelioma
Even though most people with mesothelioma are men, about 25% are women. Women might have different signs and might survive longer because they find it earlier. Knowing if you’ve been near asbestos is important, especially for women who might have had it from work or being near someone who worked with it.
Symptoms in women can be different. For those with lung mesothelioma, it might be coughing and chest pain. For belly mesothelioma, symptoms could include fluid in the belly, belly pain, and feeling bloated. Women with belly mesothelioma have sometimes been diagnosed with other problems, so telling your doctor about any asbestos exposure is really important.