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Mesothelioma Mesothelioma is a type of cancer correlated with exposure to asbestos the mineral that occurs naturally The disease usually develops over the course of decades after exposure Doctors treat mesothelioma by using chemotherapy radiation and surgery Treatment can help patients live longer There are three types of mesothelioma The type of cancerous cell is responsible for the tumor and its stage influences the prognosis What is mesothelioma Mesothelioma is a cancer that is found in the mesothelium a thin layer of tissue covers internal organs It is caused by asbestos which is a grouping of fibrous minerals The most common exposure to asbestos occurs when people swallow or inhale asbestos fibers These asbestos particles cling to the lining of organs and irritate them leading to tumors The diagnosis of mesothelioma is able to be determined by doctors after they have examined the tumors and obtain a tissue sample also called a biopsy Mesothelioma is classified according to type based on the type of cells that are found in the tumors The three types are epithelial biphasic and sarcomatoid mesothelioma Epithelial mesothelioma is responsible for around 50 percent of all diagnoses Sarcomatoid cancer accounts for 10 percent of cases and has a worse prognosis than epithelial mesothelioma Biphasic mesothelioma is a mix of both epithelial and sarcomatoid cells and is responsible for 30 to 40 percent of all diagnoses Mesothelioma symptoms include abdominal pain chest pain and breathing difficulties These symptoms are similar to symptoms of other diseases so it is imperative to see an expert if you are suffering from them Treatment for mesothelioma might help alleviate symptoms slow tumor growth and allow patients to live longer Treatment options include surgery chemotherapy and radiation therapy Palliative care is offered to patients and helps alleviate discomfort and pain Doctors continue to study ways to treat mesothelioma and how it grows New treatments include immunotherapy which relies on your bodys immune system to fight cancer This is an experimental treatment that has shown promise for some mesothelioma patients Patients are also able to participate in clinical trials which are research studies on new therapies scranton mesothelioma attorney with mesothelioma tend to be treated at cancer centers that have doctors who treat the condition Diagnosis The first step to receiving treatment to extend your life span is a mesotheliomarelated diagnosis Your doctor will begin by examining your symptoms and health history and determining the type of mesothelioma that you have This information is important because the three mesothelioma cell kinds respond differently to treatment Your doctor may recommend an Xray of the chest or CT scan as the first test During this procedure you lie on an Xray table while the or CT machine takes a clear image of your chest as well as the surrounding organs A small amount of dye usually iodine is typically administered prior to the procedure This makes the tissue of your abdomen or chest lighter making it easier to be able to You may be asked to take a breathing test during this period of time If these tests reveal an indication of a cancerous tumor mass your doctor will probably require an examination for biopsy A biopsy involves removing a sample of the mass or tumor either surgically or by inserting needles into the region The sample is examined under a microscope for mesothelioma In some instances our specialists use ultrasound to detect lymph nodes that have enlarged which could be mesothelioma This procedure is known as endobronchial Ultrasonographyguided needle biopsy or EBNA It is done as an outpatient procedure so you can go home the next day A mesothelioma specialist 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 Receiving a precise diagnosis from a mesothelioma specialist the best way to ensure that you receive the proper treatment Treatment The treatment plan of mesothelioma patients is determined by the extent of their disease and their overall health Mesothelioma patients typically receive multimodal therapy which consists of chemotherapy surgery and radiation The first step to treating mesothelioma is a physical exam and telling your doctor about any asbestos exposures you have experienced in the past Doctors will also order imaging scans and blood tests to detect mesothelioma and rule out other diseases These include CT computerized tomography scans MRI magnetic resonance imaging scans FDGPET fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography scans and mediastinoscopy used to examine and test lymph nodes that are located in the chest cavity The majority of mesotheliomarelated pleural cases can be treated surgically A patient can undergo a minimallyinvasive procedure called videoassisted needle biopsy or CTguided thoracoscopic surgical Both surgeries can increase the life expectancy of a patient and reduce the symptoms Chemotherapy is a treatment that uses drugs to kill cancer cells and stop them from growing It is the standard treatment for mesothelioma and can extend the duration of survival It can be administered via intravenous drip IV or in pill form Radiation therapy is a mesothelioma treatment that shrinks tumors and kill cancerous cells It is offered at different stages of pleural mesothelioma in addition to helping to relieve discomfort and allow patients to live longer In the late stage of mesothelioma treatment doctors focus on controlling symptoms to extend the lifespan of patients as long as they can Palliative care is the term used to describe the process of this kind of treatment Despite the poor survival rate of mesothelioma there are still many survivors For example paleontologist Stephen Jay Gould who was diagnosed with mesothelioma of the peritoneal region in 1982 lived another 20 years before dying due to complications from a different illness Symptoms Many patients with mesothelioma experience symptoms for months or years before they are diagnosed Initial symptoms may be misinterpreted as other illnesses or ignored However if you are experiencing any of these symptoms it is crucial to see your doctor right away The organs of your body are protected by a layer called the mesothelium This layer prevents them from rubbing against one against one another Mesothelioma can be described as a cancer that affects mesothelium the cells that line your organs The lining that surrounds your lung is the most commonly location where mesothelioma develops However it can develop in the heart pericardium or abdomen peritoneum or the surrounding lining of your testicles tunica vulginalis The first signs of mesothelioma may include breathlessness as well as chest pain and fatigue Mesothelioma can also cause fluid accumulation in the lungs or chest wall resulting in pleural effusion Pleural effusions can create pressure on the lungs leading to coughing and breathing problems Doctors diagnose mesothelioma after taking a patients medical history and doing an exam They may request chest Xrays to determine if there are any abnormalities such as thickening of the lungs lining or a buildup of fluid on the chest wall They may also request an MRI CT scan or PET scan to take more detailed pictures of your lung or other tissues in your body They may also eliminate any fluid that has accumulated in the pleura and the peritoneum with an ultrasoundguided needle aspiration procedure A biopsy can assist in determining the type of mesothelioma cell that is forming the tumor and how it is advancing This will help doctors choose the most effective treatment options The three main mesothelioma types are radiation surgery and chemotherapy Prevention Mesothelioma is not preventable however you can reduce your risk by avoiding those who are exposed to asbestos and avoiding them Exposure to asbestos may cause lung cancer and other diseases that affect the linings of certain organs Many types of mesothelioma exist and some of them are more serious than others Certain types of mesothelioma are more manageable Asbestos is one of the minerals with tiny microsized fibers Manufacturers used asbestos in industrial and construction products without knowing about the dangers it poses Bluecollar workers and veterans were especially exposed to asbestos Asbestos is now known to be hazardous and you should never reside in a house or work in an old factory that has asbestos If you have an antecedent of exposure to asbestos or asbestosrelated diseases speak with your doctor about having regular screening Xrays and CT or MRI scans can reveal issues with your lungs or abdomen A biopsy can identify a tumor on the lining of your stomach or chest Doctors will then examine the tissue sample taken from that area to see whether you suffer from mesothelioma It is possible that you have pleural mysothelioma which affects the lungs lining Other kinds include peritoneal melanoma testicular mesothelioma or pericardial melot It could take years for mesothelioma to develop after exposure to asbestos Even then it may be difficult to determine It is often misdiagnosed as a different condition or illness such as lung cancer pneumonia or bronchitis This could hinder you from receiving the proper treatment Researchers are working to improve diagnosis and are developing tests that can detect mesothelioma earlier This could result in better treatments and a better survival rate The research involves genetic testing to determine those most likely develop mesothelioma