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Mesothelioma Mesothelioma a form of cancer caused by asbestos exposure is a naturally occurring type of cancer The disease is usually diagnosed several decades after exposure Doctors treat mesothelioma with chemotherapy radiation and surgery Treatment can help patients live longer There are three kinds of mesothelioma The type of cell that is responsible for the tumor and its stage influences the prognosis What is Mesothelioma The mesothelioma cancerous form forms in the mesothelium a thin layer of tissue that line organs within the body It is caused by asbestos a grouping of fibrous minerals Asbestos is a risk when people swallow or inhale small fibers These asbestos particles cling to the organs lining and cause irritation leading to tumors Mesothelioma is identified when doctors examine the tumors and take an xray of the tissue called biopsy Mesothelioma can be classified based on what kind of cells are present in the tumors The three types are epithelial sarcomatoid and biphasic mesothelioma Epithelial mesothelioma is the most common type accounting for around 50 of all diagnoses Sarcomatoid mesothelioma accounts for 10 percent of cases and has a poorer prognosis than epithelial mesothelioma Biphasic mesothelioma is a mix of epithelial as well as sarcomatoid cells which accounts for 30 to 40 of all diagnoses The symptoms of mesothelioma can include difficulty breathing and chest pain or discomfort in the abdomen These symptoms are similar to those of other diseases so it is essential to consult your doctor if you suffer from these symptoms Treatment for mesothelioma could improve symptoms slow tumour growth and allow patients to live longer Treatment options include surgery chemotherapy and radiation therapy Palliative treatment is available for patients and helps to manage discomfort and pain Doctors are still pursuing ways to treat mesothelioma and how it grows Immunotherapy is a new treatment that utilizes your immune system to fight the cancer This experimental treatment has shown promise in some mesothelioma cases Patients are also able to participate in clinical trials which are studies of new treatments Mesothelioma patients are typically treated in cancer centers with specialized doctors who treat the condition Diagnosis A mesothelioma diagnosis is the first step towards receiving treatment that will prolong your life span Your doctor will look over your symptoms and medical history to determine the type of mesothelioma that you are suffering from This information is important because the three main mesothelioma cells types respond differently to treatment Your doctor may order a chest X ray or CT scan as the first test During the procedure you lie on a table as the Xray or CT machine creates a detailed picture of your chest and the surrounding organs A small injection of a dye usually iodine is usually given before the procedure This makes the tissue of your abdomen or chest lighter and easier to observe You may also be asked to take an exercise in breathing during this period of time If these tests show the possibility of a tumor that is cancerous or mass your doctor will likely request a biopsy A biopsy involves removing a sample of the mass or tumor either surgically or by inserting a needle into the area The sample is then tested under a microscope looking for mesotheliomalike cells In some instances our specialists employ ultrasound to detect lymph nodes with enlarged lymphatic vessels that could be mesothelioma This procedure is known as endobronchial ultrasoundguided needle aspiration or EBNA It is performed on an outpatient basis so you can go home the same day A mesothelioma expert will also be required to determine the stage of mesothelioma The stages are determined based on how far the cancer has spread and what type of mesothelioma you have Getting an accurate diagnosis from a mesothelioma specialist the best way to ensure that you receive the proper treatment Treatment The treatment plan of a mesothelioma patient is determined by the extent of the disease and their general health Mesothelioma patients generally receive multimodal therapy which is a combination of chemotherapy surgery and radiation The first step in treating mesothelioma is getting an examination of the body and informing the doctor about any prior exposure to asbestos Doctors may also request blood tests or imaging scans to look for mesothelioma and to rule out other illnesses These include CT computerized tomography scans MRI magnetic resonance imaging scans FDGPET fluorodeoxyglucose Postron emission Tomography scans and mediastinoscopy used to examine and test lymph nodes that are located in the chest cavity Surgery is an option for most pleural mesothelioma cases Patients can undergo a minimallyinvasive procedure known as videoassisted needle biopsy or CTguided thoracoscopic surgery Both surgeries can improve a patients life expectancy and reduce symptoms Chemotherapy is a treatment that uses drugs to kill cancer cells and prevent them from advancing It is standard mesothelioma treatment and can improve survival It can be administered via intravenous drip IV or in pill form Radiation is a different mesothelioma treatment that can kill cancer cells and shrink tumors It can be used to treat pleural cancer in different stages as well as to relieve pain and prolong the life span of patients In the later stages of mesothelioma doctors usually focus on controlling symptoms and prolonging a patients life for as long as they can Palliative treatment is the name of this type of treatment Despite the low rate of survival of mesothelioma there are still a lot of survivors For example paleontologist Stephen Jay Gould who was diagnosed with peritoneal mesothelioma in 1982 lived for another 20 years before passing away from complications of another illness Symptoms Many people suffering from mesothelioma show symptoms for months or years before they are diagnosed The initial symptoms are similar to those experienced by other conditions and its easy to ignore or mistake them for minor illnesses If you experience any of these symptoms it is important that you see your doctor right away The organs of your body are covered in a tissue layer called mesothelium This layer protects them from coming into contact Mesothelioma affects mesothelium cells that form the linings of many of your organs The lining of your lung is the primary location where mesothelioma develops However it may also develop in your heart pericardium abdomen peritoneum or the surrounding lining of your testicles tunica vulginalis The initial signs of mesothelioma can be fatigue chest pain and breathlessness Mesothelioma can also trigger fluid buildup in the chest wall or lungs resulting in pleural effusion A pleural effusion can put pressure on the lungs which can cause difficulty breathing and a cough Doctors diagnose mesothelioma by taking the medical history of the patient and doing an exam They can request chest Xrays which may reveal abnormalities such as thickening of lung lining or a buildup of fluid in the chest wall They can also request an MRI CT scan or PET scan to get an indepth look at the lung or other tissues within your body They may also eliminate the fluid that collects in the pleura or peritoneum with an ultrasoundguided needle aspiration procedure A biopsy can help determine the mesothelioma type that is forming the tumor and how fast it is growing This will allow doctors to determine the most effective treatment options The three options of chemotherapy radiation and surgery are the three types of mesothelioma treatments that are standard The following is a list with preventions Mesothelioma is not preventable however you can minimize the risk by avoiding those who are exposed to asbestos and staying away Exposure to asbestos may cause lung cancer as well as other diseases that can affect the lining of certain organs There are many types of mesothelioma some more serious than others Certain types are easier to treat than others Asbestos is a class of minerals that contain tiny microscopic fibers Manufacturers used asbestos in the construction industry and other products without being aware of the dangers it poses Workers and veterans in blue collar jobs were particularly exposed to asbestos Asbestos has been proven to be a danger and you shouldnt stay in an old factory or work in it Discuss with your doctor regular screenings especially if you have an earlier history of asbestos exposure Xrays CT or MRI scanners can identify problems in your lungs abdomen or stomach A biopsy may also help identify the presence of a tumor in the chests lining or stomach Doctors will test samples of tissue from this area to determine whether you suffer from mesothelioma There is a possibility that you have pleural mesothelioma which affects the lungs lining Other types include peritoneal mesothelioma testicular mesothelioma or pericardial meso After exposure to asbestos it may take many years before mesothelioma begins to develop Even so it can be hard to diagnose It is often mistakenly diagnosed as a condition or illness such as pneumonia bronchitis or lung cancer This can prevent you from receiving the correct treatment Researchers are working on improving diagnosis and developing tests that detect mesothelioma sooner This could lead to better treatments and a higher survival rate waukesha mesothelioma lawyer involves genetic tests to determine who is most likely to develop mesothelioma
