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Mesothelioma Symptoms and Treatment When mesotheliomarelated symptoms are first diagnosed doctors will perform imaging scans to determine if a patient has any possible cancerous growths on their chest or abdomen Mesothelioma symptoms can be mistaken for other illnesses such as pneumonia or lung cancer A biopsy is taken by the doctor to diagnose mesothelioma There are three main mesothelioma cell types epithelial sarcomatoid and biphasic Each one responds differently to treatment and affects life expectancy Diagnosis If mesothelioma may be a possibility doctors will run a variety of tests to confirm it This includes chest Xrays CT scans and biopsies The Xray reveals a buildup of fluid on one side of the chest This is known as pleural effusion and it is often the first indication of mesothelioma However Xrays arent the most reliable way to identify the disease A chest CT scan is the next step This creates a detailed image of your lungs and organs A doctor could inject you with a dye which will highlight areas of cancer that may be present During the CT scan you will be passed through a doughnutshaped scanner while lying on a bed The procedure takes just several minutes and isnt a problem for people who are claustrophobic In certain instances the doctor may also perform an MRI These tests make use of strong magnetic fields and radio waves to produce highquality images soft tissues like those in the lungs An MRI can be used to locate a mesothelioma affecting the diaphragm and identify the stage of the disease Certain patients may also undergo a PET scan You will receive a radioactive dye during this test Cancer cells absorb the dye in greater quantities than healthy cells and therefore appear brighter in the images A biopsy is the last test to confirm mesothelioma A doctor will take a sample of the affected lining It will be examined under a microscope to identify cancer cells This procedure is done under local anaesthetic The procedure can be accomplished through surgery or by inserting an instrument that guides the needle through a CT scan If the biopsy confirms mesothelioma your doctor will then utilize the results of other tests to determine the stage The stage is the measurement of the size of mesothelioma and the treatment is the best for you You can find out more about staging by reading the section in this guide called Staging Treatment Several treatment options are available for mesothelioma Certain treatments can improve the quality of life and extend life for a longer period of time than other Patients suffering from mesothelioma should talk about their goals and decide on the best treatment option Surgery is one of the ways to treat mesothelioma During aurora mesothelioma lawsuit attempt to remove all cancerous tissues If mesothelioma has reached an advanced stage the doctors may not be able to remove the cancer completely However surgeons can minimize the symptoms The most common mesothelioma form is pleural mesothelioma which forms in the lining around the lungs In certain instances a person may develop mesothelioma in the membrane surrounding the heart pericardial mesothelioma In rare instances it is possible to have mesothelioma affecting the testicles testicular mesothelioma Mesothelioma is treatable with radiation therapy and chemotherapy These treatments are typically administered by mesothelioma experts at specialist centers Chemotherapy utilizes drugs to kill mesothelioma cells and to stop their growth The combination of pemetrexed and Cisplatin is a standard firstline treatment of pleural mesothelioma Radiation therapy employs highenergy beams to kill cancerous cells This treatment is most often used in conjunction with other mesothelioma treatments including surgery and chemotherapy It is also a method to kill any residual microscopic mesothelioma that surgeons were unable to remove during surgery Mesothelioma patients are susceptible to different adverse effects resulting from these treatments The symptoms include nausea fatigue and hair loss A mesothelioma expert can help a patient find the right medication to meet their individual requirements They can also suggest alternative ways to improve the quality of life for patients This can include regular pleural drainage for breathing or powerful painkillers Patients should ensure they inform their medical professional of any other medications they are taking for example supplements herbs or prescription drugs This helps to avoid any risky interactions with these medications Prognosis Mesothelioma is an illness that affects the mesothelium which is a membrane that lines our bodys cavities like the abdominal cavity and chest When someone is diagnosed with mesothelioma malignant cells develop within this tissue They can grow to other parts of the body that can cause symptoms such difficulty breathing and pain A specialist doctors diagnosis of mesothelioma is crucial as it is the first step towards receiving treatment There are a variety of steps to determine if mesothelioma is present which may include a physical examination lab tests and a biopsy A biopsy is a small sample taken from the tumor or mass to check for mesothelioma A misdiagnosis of mesothelioma could be very dangerous as it can delay treatment and worsen the prognosis Mesothelioma is difficult to identify as the symptoms can be similar to lung cancer or other common ailments like pneumonia or bronchitis Due to this mesothelioma can be incorrectly identified as respiratory illnesses The prognosis for mesothelioma varies according to the type and the stage of mesothelioma as well depending on the patients age and general health as well as medical history The cancer can be treated by chemotherapy surgery and radiation therapy Patients may also receive palliative care to manage fatigue pain and other signs A persons mesothelioma stage refers to how the disease has progressed and how much of it has already expanded to other parts of the body The doctor will apply his or his best judgment when determining the stage taking into account the symptoms and the rate of growth of the cancer The mesothelioma survival rate is contingent on the patients stage the type of cancer and the location The prognosis of those diagnosed with less common types of mesothelioma are less favorable Patients with peritoneal mesothelioma for instance has a higher probability of living longer due to the fact that it tends to shrink slower in the abdomen than pleural mesothelioma grows in the chest Additionally patients who have a high tolerance for treatment can live longer than patients with less tolerance For instance a few patients with peritoneal mesotheliomas have had success with a combination of surgical removal chemotherapy and radiation Signs and symptoms Asbestos fibers may cause tumors in organs if they are swallowed or inhaled Mesothelioma typically occurs in the lungs However it can also be found in the abdomen chest and testicles of males Symptoms of mesothelioma usually dont show up until about 40 to 50 years after exposure The first step in determining mesothelioma is taking a medical review of your history regarding asbestos exposure The doctor will then conduct an examination of your body and review your symptoms A chest Xray may reveal abnormal thickening of the pleura or fluid in the space between the lungs and the chest wall A lung CT scan could also be used to test for mesothelioma or other types of cancer of the lungs Blood tests can be done to assess how your liver and kidneys are working The doctor may recommend an chest MRI or an PET scan to check for other possible cancers or mesothelioma of 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 under local anesthesia The doctor will then examine the area under the magnifying glass to determine if this is malignant mesothelioma or a different type of cancer If you are diagnosed with mesothelioma by a doctor they will utilize the information gathered from all tests to help them assess how advanced the cancer is They will assign a staging number for the mesothelioma which can be helpful for planning your treatment Benign mesotheliomas dont cause cancer and wont recur when theyre completely removed surgically They typically develop in the pleura and in the abdominal lining Mesothelioma that is located in the pericardium can be more difficult to treat since it affects the heart It may also recur after surgery Mesothelioma can also spread other areas of the body such as lymph nodes and bones located outside the abdomen and chest The symptoms of mesothelioma resemble the symptoms of other less severe conditions This makes it difficult to determine the cause This can lead to incorrect diagnosis which may delay your treatment In the event of delay treatment may result in complications and lower the chances of surviving