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Mesothelioma Symptoms and Treatment When mesothelioma signs are first diagnosed doctors will perform imaging scans to determine whether a patient has potential cancerous growths in their abdomen or chest Mesothelioma can mimic other illnesses like lung cancer or pneumonia that can lead to confusion in diagnosis A biopsy will be performed by the doctor to diagnose mesothelioma There are three mesothelioma types including epithelial and sarcomatoid They are also biphasic Each type responds to treatment differently and has a different impact on the life expectancy Diagnosis Doctors will perform several tests if mesothelioma has been suspected This could include a chest X ray 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 often the first sign of mesothelioma However Xrays may not be the most reliable way to diagnose the condition The next step is a chest CT scan which produces an image of your lungs and other organs A doctor might inject you with a color which will show areas of potential cancer During the CT scanner you will be lying on a mattress and passing through a doughnutshaped scanner The procedure takes only about a minute and isnt terribly uncomfortable even for people who are claustrophobic In certain situations doctors may also perform an MRI test These scans use strong radio waves and magnetic fields to create highquality images of soft tissues such as lung tissues If lansing mesothelioma law firm suffer from mesothelioma affecting the diaphragm and the diaphragm an MRI can assist doctors in locating it and determine the extent to which it is Some patients will also undergo an PET scan You will receive a radioactive substance in this test Cancer cells absorb the dye more than healthy cells Therefore they will show up more clearly on the pictures A biopsy is the most definitive test to confirm a mesothelioma diagnosis A doctor will take a small sample of the lining that is affected that will then be examined under a microscope to determine whether cancerous cells are present This procedure is performed under local anaesthetic It can be done through surgery or by inserting an instrument that guides the needle through a CT scan If the biopsy results show mesothelioma your doctor will then utilize the results of the other tests to determine its stage The stage identifies the extent to which mesothelioma spread and what types of treatment are appropriate for you This guide contains the section titled Stages that will give you more information about staging Treatment There are a variety of treatment options for mesothelioma Certain treatments can improve the quality of life or extend the life span of patients longer than other Patients with mesothelioma must discuss their goals and determine the most effective treatment plan Surgery is one way to treat mesothelioma The surgeons attempt to eliminate all cancerous tissue during this operation However when mesothelioma has reached an advanced stage its unlikely surgeons will be able to completely remove the tumor However surgeons can reduce symptoms The most commonly encountered type of mesothelioma is pleural mesothelioma which forms in the lining of the lungs In rare instances a person may develop mesothelioma that is located in the membrane around the heart pericardial mesothelioma Rarely mesothelioma may affect the testicles Mesothelioma is treated with radiation and chemotherapy These treatments are usually administered by mesothelioma experts in special centers Chemotherapy is a method of killing mesothelioma cells and to stop their growth Pemetrexed and cisplatin are the preferred firstline treatment for pleural mesothelioma Radiation therapy employs highenergy beams to kill cancerous cells This treatment is often combined in conjunction with other mesothelioma treatments like chemotherapy and surgery This treatment is also used for any microscopic mesothelioma left behind by the surgeons following surgery These treatments can trigger a variety of side effects for patients suffering from mesothelioma The symptoms include nausea fatigue and hair loss A mesothelioma specialist can help patients find the best treatment for their individual needs They can also suggest additional ways to enhance 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 take including supplements herbs or prescription medications This will help to avoid any potentially hazardous interactions between these medications Prognosis Mesothelioma a form of cancer affects the mesothelium a membrane that line our bodys cavities like the abdominal cavity and chest When a person has mesothelioma malignant cells can grow in the tissue which can extend to other areas of the body and trigger symptoms like pain or difficulty breathing A specialist doctors diagnosis of mesotheliomas is essential because its the first step in receiving treatment Mesothelioma can be diagnosed in many ways including a physical examination lab tests and the biopsy A biopsy collects a small sample of the tumor or mass in order to detect mesothelioma A misdiagnosis of mesothelioma can be extremely dangerous because it can delay treatment and make it more difficult to predict Mesothelioma can be difficult to recognize because the symptoms are similar to those of lung cancer bronchitis or pneumonia Because of this mesothelioma is often mistakenly identified as respiratory disorders The prognosis for mesothelioma varies depending on the type and severity of mesothelioma as well depending on the patients age and general health as well as medical history There is no cure for mesothelioma however the cancer can be controlled by surgery chemotherapy and radiation therapy Palliative treatment can be offered for patients to treat symptoms such as fatigue pain and other signs The stage of mesothelioma is an indication of how far a persons disease has spread and how far it has already advanced The doctor will use his or best judgment in determining the stage taking into consideration the symptoms and the rate of growth of the cancer The survival rate of mesothelioma varies based on the stage type and location of the cancer The prognosis for those diagnosed with less common types of mesothelioma are less favorable Patients with peritoneal msothelioma have greater chances of living longer because it develops slower in the abdomen as compared to mesothelioma of the chest that is pleural Additionally those who have a high tolerance for treatment can live longer than patients with an intolerant For instance some people with peritoneal mesothelioma have had positive results using a combination of chemotherapy surgical removal and radiation Symptoms Asbestos fibers can cause cancer within organs when inhaled or swallowed Mesothelioma is the most common type of cancer in the lungs However it can also develop in the chest wall abdomen and testicles in men The symptoms of mesothelioma typically dont manifest until 4050 years after exposure The first step to diagnose mesothelioma begins with a thorough background of exposure to asbestos Your doctor will conduct an examination of your body and examine your symptoms A chest Xray could reveal abnormal growth of the pleura or fluid in the space between the lung and the chest wall A lung CT scan can also be used to test for mesothelioma and other cancers of the lungs A blood test can be ordered to determine how your kidneys and liver are functioning The doctor can request a chest MRI or a PET scan to look for other possible cancers or mesothelioma within the lungs or chest wall If a biopsy of the tumor is required doctors can remove it with surgery or by insertion of a needle through the chest wall while under local anesthesia The doctor will then look at the tissue under microscope to determine if it is malignant mesothelioma or another cancer When youve been diagnosed with mesothelioma doctors use the information from all the tests to determine how advanced the cancer is They will assign mesothelioma a staging number that is important in making plans for your treatment They are not cancerous and they cant grow again even if they are surgically removed They typically develop in the abdominal lining of the pleura Mesothelioma of the pericardium is more difficult to treat as it affects the heart It may also recur after surgery Mesothelioma is also able to spread to other areas of the body including the lymph nodes or bones outside the chest and abdomen It can be hard to recognize mesothelioma due to the similarity of symptoms to other conditions that are less serious This could lead to confusion and delay treatment A delay in treatment can lead to complications and reduce your chance of survival
