Asbestos cancer is more commonly known as mesothelioma.
Mesothelioma cancer most often associated with exposure to asbestos, is a malignant tumor that occurs in the lining of the lungs, abdomen, and heart. A diagnosis of mesothelioma is usually classified as one of three types: pleural mesothelioma occurs in the lining of the lungs (pleura) peritoneal mesothelioma occurs in the lining of the abdominal cavity (the peritoneum); and pericardial mesothelioma occurs in the lining of the heart (the pericardium).
Asbestos, which was used for literally thousands of years as a fire retardant material and insulation has long been associated with the disease, but not necessarily cancer until the last 50 years. Once the asbestos has been listed as a known carcinogen, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Consumer Product Safety Commission imposed strict regulations on its use in commercial and industrial products. Unfortunately, most companies producing asbestos products were well aware of the dangers of asbestos and continued raised expose workers and workers to harmful asbestos fibers.
The diagnosis of asbestos cancer is often difficult because the symptoms mimic those of other diseases.
Diagnosis of asbestos cancer, including diagnosis of mesothelioma and lung cancer can be difficult because the symptoms can be similar to those of other complications, mostly minor breathing. Symptoms such as shortness of breath, chest pain or chronic cough can lead doctors to suspect mesothelioma, especially if the patient has a known history of exposure to asbestos.
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Diagnostic tools include computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging for patients where it is suspected that asbestos cancer. In most cases, these imaging are capable of providing an image of the tumor, but a biopsy, probably be necessary to determine a conclusive diagnosis of mesothelioma other lung carcinomas. In cases where the pleural or peritoneal expressed in the patient, drainage and removal of fluid through the pleurocentesis oncologists may allow fluid analysis for the presence of malignant cells.
Asbestos treating cancer
Treatment options for asbestos cancer usually include a combination of surgery, chemotherapy and radiation
Depending on the location of the cancer generally malignancies involving asbestos are difficult to dry because the latency period in which no cancer is often detected can be extended in the time period in which the tumor grows through its preliminary stages. Cancers at later stages, particularly those related to asbestos, often not resectable malignant. Although the diagnosis of early stage cancer in asbestos rare, certainly those who are eligible for surgical removal often have cancer resection. Adjuvant chemotherapy is often administered after surgery to complete resection.
Extrapleural pneumonectomy Pleurectomy and both major surgery, are often used in the treatment of asbestos pleural cancer. The surgery is much less common in the peritoneal and pericardial malignant cancer, as the origin of the tumor is difficult to access without endangering the survival of the patient.