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Mesothelioma Symptoms and Treatment When mesotheliomarelated symptoms are first noticed doctors will order imaging scans to determine whether the patient has possible cancerous growths on their chest or abdomen Mesothelioma signs can be misinterpreted as a sign of other illnesses like pneumonia or lung cancer A biopsy is taken by the doctor to diagnose mesothelioma There are three mesothelioma cell types which include epithelial epidermal the sarcomatoid sarcoma and biphasic Each type responds to treatment differently and has a different impact on the length of life Diagnosis If mesothelioma is suspected doctors will run a variety of tests to confirm it This includes chest Xrays CT scans and biopsies The Xray shows the accumulation of fluid on one side of the chest This is referred to as an effusion of the pleura and is usually the first indication of mesothelioma Xrays might not be the most reliable method for diagnosis A chest CT scan is the next step It creates a clear image of your organs and lungs A doctor could inject you with a color that will reveal regions of potential cancer During the CT scan youll be guided through a doughnut scanner while lying on a mattress The procedure only takes less than a minute and isnt terribly uncomfortable even for people who are claustrophobic In certain situations doctors may also perform an MRI These scans create highquality images made of radio waves and powerful magnetic fields If you suffer from mesothelioma that affects the diaphragm and the diaphragm an MRI can assist doctors in locating the cancer and determine how advanced it is Certain patients may also undergo an PET scan In this test you will receive a shot of a radioactive dye Cancer cells absorb the dye in greater quantities than healthy ones and therefore appear brighter in the images A biopsy is the last test to confirm mesothelioma A doctor will remove a small amount of the affected lining The lining will then be examined under a microscope to identify cancer cells This is done with a local anaesthetic It may be done with surgery or by inserting the needle using an CT scan If the biopsy confirms mesothelioma your doctor will then use the results of other tests to determine the stage This stage defines the severity of the mesothelioma and what treatment is most suitable for you You can learn more about staging by reading the section on this guide titled Staging Treatment There are many treatment options for mesothelioma Some can improve the quality of life and extend life for a longer amount of time than others Patients with mesothelioma need to 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 However when mesothelioma has reached an advanced stage its unlikely that surgeons will be able completely eliminate the tumor Regardless surgeons can still reduce the symptoms The most commonly encountered mesothelioma type is mesothelioma pleural which develops in the lining of the lungs There is a possibility that mesothelioma may develop around the heart in certain cases pericardial mesothelioma In rare instances mesothelioma could affect the testicles Mesothelioma is treated using chemotherapy and radiation These treatments are usually provided at specialized mesothelioma centers by experienced mesothelioma specialists Chemotherapy employs drugs to kill mesothelioma tumor cells and stop their growth Cisplatin and pemetrexed are the most commonly used firstline drugs for pleural mesothelioma Radiation therapy utilizes highenergy beams to kill cancerous cells This treatment is most often employed in conjunction with other mesothelioma therapies such as surgery and chemotherapy This treatment is also used for any microscopic mesothelioma left behind by the surgeons after surgery These treatments can cause various adverse consequences for patients suffering from mesothelioma These symptoms include nausea fatigue and hair loss A mesothelioma doctor can help patients choose the right medication to meet their individual needs They can also recommend other methods to improve the quality of life of patients These include regular pleural fluid drainage to ease breathing or strong painkillers Patients should also ensure their medical team knows about any other medications they are taking for example supplements herbs or prescription drugs This will help avoid dangerous interactions with these drugs Prognosis Mesothelioma is an illness that affects mesothelium which is a membrane that lines our bodys cavities such as the chest and abdominal cavity When someone is diagnosed with mesothelioma malignant cells develop in this tissue and can spread to other parts of the body that can cause symptoms such breathing difficulties and pain It is very important to receive a mesotheliomarelated diagnosis by a specialist physician since this is the initial step to receiving treatment There may be multiple steps to diagnose mesothelioma including a physical exam as well as lab tests and biopsy A biopsy takes a small sample of the tumor or mass in order to detect mesothelioma A misdiagnosis of mesothelioma could be dangerous since it could delay treatment or worsen the prognosis Mesothelioma is a difficult cancer to detect because the symptoms can mimic lung cancer or common illnesses like pneumonia or bronchitis Because of this mesothelioma could be mistakenly diagnosed as respiratory diseases The prognosis for mesothelioma varies depending on the type and stage of mesothelioma It also depends on factors such depending on the patients age and general health as well as medical history The cancer can be controlled by chemotherapy surgery and radiation therapy Patients can also receive palliative care to manage fatigue pain and other signs The mesothelioma stage is an indication of the extent to which the disease of a patient has spread and how fast it has already progressed hammond mesothelioma attorneys will make use of their best judgement to determine the stage taking into account the symptoms and how fast the cancer is growing The rate of survival for mesothelioma depends on the stage and type as well the location of the cancer The prognosis for those diagnosed with less frequent types of mesothelioma is lower Patients with peritoneal mesothelioma are at greater chances of living a longer life as it is less invasive in the abdomen compared to mesothelioma of the chest that is pleural Additionally patients who have a high tolerance for treatment may live longer than those with lower tolerance For instance some patients who suffer from peritoneal mesothelioma have experienced successful results with a combination of surgical removal chemotherapy and radiation Symptoms When asbestos fibers are inhaled or swallowed they adhere to the organs lining and cause them to grow into tumors Mesothelioma usually occurs in the lungs However it can also be found in the abdomen chest and testicles of men The signs of mesothelioma generally dont show up until about 40 to 50 years after exposure The first step to diagnosing mesothelioma is taking a medical background on asbestos exposure Your doctor will conduct an examination and examine your symptoms A chest Xray could reveal abnormal thickening of the pleura or fluid in the space between the lungs and the chest wall A lung CT scan may also be used to identify mesothelioma as well as other cancers in the lungs A blood test can be ordered to see how your kidneys and liver are working The doctor can also request a chest MRI or a PET scan to determine other mesotheliomarelated cancers or mesothelio of the lungs chest wall or abdomen If an examination of the tumor is required doctors will remove it surgically or by inserting a needle through the chest wall while under local anesthesia The doctor will examine the tissue with the magnifying glass to determine if the tumor is malignant mesothelioma or a different kind of cancer The results of the tests will help doctors determine the extent of mesothelioma cancer following a mesothelioma They will assign mesothelioma a staging number that is important in planning your treatment Theyre not cancerous and they dont have the potential to grow back after removal surgically They usually develop in the pleura and also in the abdominal lining Because it affects the heart mesothelioma which develops in the pericardium might be more difficult to treat It can also recur after surgery Mesothelioma could also spread to other parts of the body such as the lymph nodes or the bones in the abdomen and chest The symptoms of mesothelioma are comparable to the symptoms of other less serious diseases This can make it difficult to recognize This can result in misdiagnosis and delay your treatment The delay can cause more complications and reduce your chances of survival
