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Mesothelioma Symptoms and Treatment When mesothelioma signs are first noticed doctors will order imaging scans to determine whether a patient is suffering from possible cancerous growths on their abdomen or chest Mesothelioma can be a sign of other illnesses like lung cancer or pneumonia leading to misdiagnosis flower mound mesothelioma law firm may also perform a biopsy to identify mesothelioma There are three mesothelioma cells epithelial sarcomatoid and biphasic Each type responds to treatment differently and has a distinct impact on life expectancy Diagnosis Doctors will run several tests if mesothelioma was suspected This includes a chest Xray CT scans and biopsies The Xray shows a buildup of fluid on one side of the chest This is known as pleural effusion and is often the first manifestation of mesothelioma Xrays might not be the most reliable method for diagnosis A chest CT scan is the next step This will create a detailed image of your organs and lungs A doctor can inject you with a dye which will show areas of cancer that may be present During the CT scanner youll be lying on a bed and passed through a doughnut shaped scanner The procedure only takes less than a minute and isnt too uncomfortable even for people who are claustrophobic In certain situations doctors may also perform an MRI test These tests use powerful magnetic fields and radio waves to create highquality pictures of soft tissues including lung tissues An MRI can be used to identify mesothelioma in the diaphragm and determine its stage Some patients will also undergo an PET scan In this test youll be given a shot the radioactive dye Cancer cells absorb the dye more than healthy ones and consequently appear brighter in the images A biopsy is the last test to confirm mesothelioma A doctor will take a sample of the affected lining The sample will be scrutinized under a microscope for cancer cells This procedure is done under local anaesthetic and can be done through surgery or by inserting needles guided by an CT scan If the biopsy results confirm mesothelioma your doctor will then use the results of other tests to determine the stage The stage identifies the extent of the mesothelioma and which treatment is most suitable for you You can find out more about staging by reading the section in this guide titled Staging Treatment There are several treatment options for mesothelioma Certain treatments can improve quality of life or prolong life for longer than others Mesothelioma patients must discuss their goals with their medical team to determine the most effective strategy Surgery is one method to treat mesothelioma Surgeons try to remove all cancerous tissue during this procedure However if mesothelioma is in an advanced stage its unlikely doctors will be able to completely remove the tumor Surgeons can still reduce the symptoms The most commonlyused form of mesothelioma occurs in the lining surrounding the lung In some instances a person may develop mesothelioma that is located in the membrane around the heart pericardial mesothelioma In rare instances mesothelioma could affect the testicles Mesothelioma is treatable with radiation therapy and chemotherapy These treatments are typically delivered in mesothelioma centres that are specially designed by mesothelioma specialists who are experienced Chemotherapy employs drugs to kill mesothelioma cells and to stop their growth Cisplatin and pemetrexed are the common firstline combination of drugs for pleural mesothelioma Radiation therapy utilizes highenergy beams to kill cancerous cell This procedure is usually employed in conjunction with other mesothelioma therapies including surgery and chemotherapy It is also a method to kill any remaining microscopic mesothelioma that surgeons did not remove during surgery Mesothelioma patients may experience many different adverse effects resulting from these treatments These include nausea fatigue and hair loss A mesothelioma doctor can help patients choose the right medication to meet their individual requirements They can also suggest other ways to help improve a patients quality of life This might include regular pleural drainage to ease breathing or strong painkillers Patients should ensure the medical team is aware of any other medications they are taking including supplements herbal remedies or overthecounter drugs This helps avoid potentially harmful interactions with these drugs Prognosis Mesothelioma is also known as pleural mesothelioma is a cancerous tumor that affects the membrane that line the cavities of our bodies like the chest cavity and abdomen When a person has mesothelioma malignant cells may develop within the mesothelium which may be spread to other parts of the body and trigger symptoms like pain or difficulty breathing It is crucial to get a mesothelioma diagnose from a specialist doctor because this is the first step to receiving treatment There are a variety of steps to identify mesothelioma including a physical exam as well as lab tests and biopsy A biopsy is a tiny sample taken from the mass or tumor to check for mesothelioma The wrong diagnosis of mesothelioma can be dangerous since it can delay treatment or make it more difficult to predict the outcome Mesothelioma is a difficult cancer to detect because the symptoms may mimic lung cancer or common ailments like pneumonia or bronchitis Due to this mesothelioma could be misdiagnosed for respiratory conditions The prognosis for mesothelioma can vary depending on the type and stage of mesothelioma It also depends on factors such depending on the patients age general health and medical history The cancer can be treated through surgery chemotherapy and radiation therapy Palliative treatment can be offered for patients to control symptoms such as fatigue pain and other signs and symptoms The mesothelioma stage is an indication of the extent to which a persons disease has spread and how far it has already progressed The doctor will employ his or their best judgment when determining the stage taking into account the symptoms and the rate of growth of the cancer The chance of survival for mesothelioma is dependent on the patients stage and the type of cancer and the location The prognosis for those diagnosed with less frequent types of mesothelioma is less favorable Patients who have peritoneal mesothelioma have higher odds of living a longer life as it is less invasive in the abdomen compared to pleural msothelioma in the chest Additionally those who have a good tolerance for treatment could be more successful than those with a low tolerance A few patients with peritoneal mesothelioma have had excellent results when they combined surgery chemotherapy and radiation Signs and symptoms When asbestos fibers are inhaled or swallowed they adhere to the lining of organs and cause them to grow into tumors Mesothelioma is the most common type of cancer in the lungs but it can also be found in the chest wall abdomen and testicles in males The symptoms of mesothelioma are usually not likely to show up until about 40 to 50 years after exposure The first step in determining mesothelioma is taking a background of exposure to asbestos Your doctor will then conduct an examination and review your symptoms A chest Xray can show abnormal growth of the pleura or fluid that is located between the lung and the chest wall A lung CT scan may also be used to check for mesothelioma or other cancers of the lungs You can undergo blood tests to determine the health of your liver and kidneys The doctor might also recommend a chest MRI or a PET scan to check for other possible mesothelioma or cancers of the lungs chest wall or abdomen If a biopsy of the tumor is required doctors can remove it through surgery or by insertion of a needle through the chest wall while under local anesthesia The doctor will then examine the tissue with magnifying glasses to determine whether it is malignant mesothelioma or a different type of cancer After a diagnosis of mesothelioma doctors will use the information from all the tests to help them assess how advanced the cancer is They will assign mesothelioma a staging number which is important in the planning of your treatment Benign mesotheliomas dont cause cancer and wont recur if they are completely removed surgically They typically form within the pleura and the abdominal lining Because it affects the heart mesothelioma that develops in the pericardium may be more difficult to treat It can also recur after surgery Mesothelioma can also grow to other parts of the body such as the lymph nodes or the bones outside the chest and abdomen The symptoms of mesothelioma resemble those of other less serious conditions This can make it difficult to determine the cause This could lead to misdiagnosis and delay your treatment A delay can lead to more complications and lower your chances of surviving
