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Mesothelioma Symptoms and Treatment When mesothelioma signs are first observed doctors will conduct imaging scans to determine if a patient has any possible cancerous growths on their abdomen or chest Mesothelioma is a common cause of other illnesses such as lung cancer or pneumonia leading to the wrong diagnosis A biopsy will be performed by a doctor in order to determine mesothelioma There are three primary mesothelioma types which include epithelial epidermal the sarcomatoid sarcoma and biphasic Each type responds differently treatment and can affect the life expectancy Diagnosis Doctors will perform several tests if mesothelioma was suspected These include chest Xrays CT scans and biopsies The Xray shows an accumulation of fluid on the chest on one side This is referred to as pleural effusion and is usually the first sign of mesothelioma However Xrays are not the most reliable way to determine the severity of the disease The next step is the chest CT scan which creates a detailed picture of your lungs and other organs A doctor may inject you with a dye that highlights areas of potential cancer During the CT scanner youll be lying on a mattress and passed through a doughnut shaped scanner houston mesothelioma lawsuit takes a few moments and is not uncomfortable for those who are claustrophobic In some cases a physician will also perform an MRI The scans produce highquality pictures using radio waves and strong magnetic fields An MRI can be used to determine if there is mesothelioma that affects the diaphragm and identify the stage of the disease Certain patients might also require a PET scan You will be given a radioactive dye during this test Cancer cells absorb dye more than healthy cells and they will appear brighter on the images A biopsy is the most definitive test to confirm mesothelioma A doctor will take a small amount of the lining affected which will then be tested under a microscope to determine if cancer cells are present This procedure is performed with a local anaesthetic It may be done with surgery or by inserting the needle using a CT scan If the biopsy results confirm mesothelioma your doctor will then utilize the results of the other tests to determine its stage This stage describes the extent of the mesothelioma and what treatment is most suitable for you This guide includes an area titled Staging that will provide you with more information about staging Treatment Many treatment options are available for mesothelioma Certain treatments can improve the quality of life and extend the life span of time than others Patients with mesothelioma must discuss their goals and figure out the most effective treatment plan Surgery is a method to treat mesothelioma In this procedure surgeons attempt to remove all cancerous tissues If mesothelioma has progressed to an advanced stage the doctors may not be able of removing the tumor completely Regardless surgeons can still reduce the symptoms The most wellknown mesothelioma type is called mesothelioma of the pleura which is formed in the lining of the lungs In some cases people they may develop mesothelioma within the membrane that surrounds the heart pericardial mesothelioma In rare instances a person can also suffer from mesothelioma that affects the testicles testicular mesothelioma Mesothelioma is treatable with chemotherapy and radiation therapy These treatments are typically administered by experts in mesothelioma at specific centers Chemotherapy is a method of treatment that employs drugs to kill mesothelioma tumor cells and stop their growth The combination of pemetrexed with Cisplatin is a standard firstline treatment for pleural mesothelioma Radiation therapy uses highenergy beams of energy to kill cancerous cells This therapy is usually used alongside other mesothelioma therapies such as chemotherapy and surgery This procedure can also be applied to any mesothelioma that is microscopic left by surgeons after surgery These treatments may cause numerous adverse effects for patients suffering from mesothelioma These symptoms include nausea fatigue and loss A mesothelioma expert can help a patient find the right medication that meets their specific needs They can also recommend other ways to help improve the quality of life of patients This can include regular drainage of the pleura to ease breathing or strong painkillers Patients should inform their physicians know about any other medications such as herbal remedies supplements or overthecounter drugs This will help to avoid any potentially hazardous interactions between these medications Prognosis Mesothelioma also referred to as mesothelioma in the pleural area is a cancerous tumor that affects the membrane that lines the bodys cavities such as the chest cavity and abdomen When someone is diagnosed with mesothelioma cancerous cells can develop in the tissue which can extend to other areas of the body and trigger symptoms such as pain or difficulty breathing A specialist doctors diagnosis of mesothelioma is crucial as it is the first step towards receiving treatment It could take a number of steps to determine mesothelioma which may include a physical examination lab tests and biopsy A biopsy is a tiny sample taken from the tumor or mass to look for mesothelioma A misdiagnosis of mesothelioma could be dangerous as it could delay treatment or make it more difficult to predict the outcome Mesothelioma is a difficult cancer to detect due to the fact that its symptoms could mimic lung cancer or common illnesses like pneumonia or bronchitis Due to this mesothelioma can be mistakenly diagnosed as respiratory diseases The prognosis for mesothelioma varies according to the type and the stage of mesothelioma as well depending on the patients age and general health history The cancer can be treated through surgery chemotherapy and radiation therapy Patients can also receive palliative treatments to help control fatigue pain and other signs The mesothelioma stage is an indication of how much the disease has spread and how fast it has already advanced The doctor will make use of his or her best judgment when determining the stage taking into account the symptoms and the rate of growth of the cancer The mesothelioma survival rate depends on the stage of the patient and kind of cancer and its location Those diagnosed with the lesscommon types of mesothelioma have poorer prognosis Patients who suffer from peritoneal mesothelioma for instance have a greater chance of surviving longer due to the fact that it is more likely to develop in the abdomen than pleural mesothelioma does in the chest Additionally those who are tolerant for treatment might live longer than patients with lower tolerance People with peritoneal Msothelioma were able to achieve good results when they combined surgery chemotherapy and radiation Symptoms Asbestos fibers can cause cancer in organs when they are swallowed or inhaled Mesothelioma most commonly occurs in the lungs However it can also develop in the abdomen chest and testicles of men Mesothelioma symptoms are usually not evident until 40 to 50 years after exposure The first step to diagnosing mesothelioma is to take a detailed background on asbestos exposure Your doctor will conduct an examination and examine your symptoms A chest Xray may reveal abnormal thickening of the pleura and fluid that is located between the lungs and the chest wall A lung CT scan may also be used to test for mesothelioma and other cancers of the lungs The blood tests can be performed to check how your kidneys and liver are working The doctor might request a chest MRI or a PET scan to look for any other cancers that could be present or mesothelioma within the lungs or the chest wall If a biopsy of the tumor is required the doctor can remove it with surgery or by inserting a needle into the chest wall under local anesthesia The doctor will examine the tissue under microscope to determine if it is malignant mesothelioma or a different cancer When youve been diagnosed with mesothelioma doctors use the information from all tests to help them assess how advanced the cancer is They will assign a staging number for mesothelioma This will be helpful for planning your treatment Benign mesotheliomas do not cause cancer and cant be regrown in the event that they are removed completely surgically They typically occur in the pleura or abdominal lining Mesothelioma in the pericardium is more difficult to treat since it affects the heart It may also recur after surgery Mesothelioma can also spread to other areas of the body such as the lymph nodes and bones that are outside the abdomen and chest It is sometimes difficult to recognize mesothelioma due to the similarity of symptoms to other less serious conditions This can lead misdiagnosis that could delay treatment A delay can lead to more complications and reduce the chance of surviving
