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Mesothelioma Symptoms and Treatment When mesothelioma 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 diseases like pneumonia or lung cancer A biopsy is taken by the doctor to identify mesothelioma There are three primary mesothelioma types classified as epithelial epidermal sarcomatoid sarcoma and biphasic Each type responds differently treatment and has an impact on life expectancy Diagnosis If mesothelioma is suspected doctors will run several tests to confirm it This includes chest Xrays CT scans and biopsies The Xrays reveal the presence 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 arent the most reliable way to diagnose the condition A chest CT scan is the next step This produces a precise image of your lungs and organs A doctor might inject you with a color that will reveal areas of potential cancer During the CT scanner you will be lying on a mattress and traversed through a doughnutshaped scanner The procedure only takes a few moments and is not uncomfortable for people who are claustrophobic In certain situations doctors will also perform an MRI These scans produce highquality images made of radio waves and powerful magnetic fields If you suffer from mesothelioma that is affecting the diaphragm an MRI can assist doctors in locating it and determine how advanced it is Some patients might also undergo a PET scan You will receive a radioactive substance during this test Cancer cells absorb the dye more than healthy cells which means they will show up more clearly on the pictures A biopsy is the final test to confirm mesothelioma A doctor will remove a small amount of the affected lining that will then be examined under a microscope in order to determine whether cancerous cells are present This can be done under local anaesthesia and by using a CT scan or needle If the biopsy results show mesothelioma the doctor will then consider the results of the other tests to determine the stage The stage identifies how far the mesothelioma has spread and what kinds of treatment are appropriate for you You can learn more about staging by reading the section in this guide called Staging Treatment There are many treatment options for mesothelioma Some treatments may 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 best treatment strategy Surgery is one of the ways to treat mesothelioma In this operation surgeons attempt to remove all cancerous tissues However if mesothelioma is in an advanced stage its unlikely doctors will be able to completely eliminate the tumor However surgeons can reduce symptoms The most prevalent mesothelioma type is found in the lining of the lung There is a possibility that mesothelioma may develop around the heart in certain cases pericardial msothelioma Rarely mesothelioma affects the testicles Mesothelioma can be treated using chemotherapy and radiation therapy These treatments are usually provided at specialized mesothelioma centers by mesothelioma specialists with years of experience Chemotherapy is a method of treatment that uses drugs to kill the mesothelioma cancerous cells and stop their growth The drug combination of pemetrexed and cisplatin is the standard firstline treatment for pleural mesothelioma Radiation therapy uses high energy beams to kill cancerous cells This treatment is often combined with other mesothelioma therapies such as chemotherapy and surgery This treatment can also be used to treat any mesothelioma left behind by the surgeons following surgery These treatments can trigger numerous adverse effects for patients suffering from mesothelioma These symptoms include fatigue nausea and hair loss A mesothelioma specialist can assist a patient find the right medication that meets their specific needs They can also suggest alternative ways to improve the quality of life of a patient These could include regular Pleural fluid drainage to help alleviate breathing problems or powerful painkillers Patients should also ensure their medical team knows about any other medications they take for example supplements herbs or prescription medications This can help prevent risky interactions with these medications Prognosis Mesothelioma is a cancer that affects mesothelium which is a membrane that lines the bodys cavities including the abdominal cavity and the chest If someone has mesothelioma cancerous cells can develop in the mesothelium which may be spread to other parts of the body and cause symptoms like pain or difficulty breathing A specialist doctors diagnosis of mesothelioma is crucial because its the first step in receiving treatment It could take a number of steps to identify mesothelioma including a physical exam along with lab tests and a biopsy A biopsy is a small sample of the tumor or mass to test for mesothelioma Getting a mesothelioma misdiagnosis could be very dangerous as it can delay treatment and make it more difficult to predict Mesothelioma is often difficult to diagnose because the symptoms are similar to those of lung cancer pneumonia or bronchitis Because of this mesothelioma is frequently mistakenly identified as a respiratory issue The prognosis for mesothelioma is determined according to the type and the stage of mesothelioma It also depends on factors such as the patients age general health and medical history There is no cure for mesothelioma but the cancer can be controlled with surgery chemotherapy and radiation therapy Palliative treatment can be offered to patients to manage symptoms such as fatigue pain and other symptoms The mesothelioma level of a patient is a reference to how the disease has advanced and how much has already moved to other areas of the body The doctor will make use of his or her best judgment when determining the stage taking into consideration the symptoms and the rate of growth of the cancer The survival rate for mesothelioma is contingent on the stage and type as well the location of the cancer The prognosis for patients diagnosed with less frequent types of mesothelioma is less favorable Patients with peritoneal msothelioma stand an increased chance of living longer because it develops slower in the abdomen than mesothelioma pleural in the chest Patients who have high tolerance to treatment might also live longer than patients with lower tolerance For instance some individuals with peritoneal mesotheliomas have had successful results with the combination of chemotherapy surgical removal and radiation Symptoms When asbestos fibers are inhaled or swallowed they adhere to organ linings and cause them tumors Mesothelioma usually occurs in the lung However it can also develop in the chest abdomen and testicles in men Mesothelioma symptoms typically dont show until 4050 years after exposure The first step in diagnosing mesothelioma involves taking a review of your history regarding asbestos exposure lorain mesothelioma law firm will then conduct an examination of your body and discuss your symptoms A chest Xray may 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 look for mesothelioma and other cancers of the lungs The blood tests can be performed to determine how your kidneys and liver are working The doctor might recommend an chest MRI or a PET scan to look for other possible cancers or mesothelioma in the lungs or the chest wall If a biopsy is necessary doctors can remove a portion of the tumor using surgical procedures or using a needle that is inserted through the chest wall under local anesthesia The doctor will examine the tissue under an magnifying glass to determine if the tumor is malignant mesothelioma or another type of cancer If you are diagnosed with mesothelioma in the future doctors will utilize the information from all the tests to determine how advanced the cancer is They will assign a staging number to mesothelioma This will aid in planning your treatment Benign mesotheliomas arent cancerous and cant grow back if they are completely removed surgically They typically form within the pleura and the abdominal lining Because it affects the heart mesothelioma which forms in the pericardium can be more difficult to treat It can also recur after surgery Mesothelioma is also able to spread to other areas of the body including the lymph nodes that are in the abdomen and chest The symptoms of mesothelioma are comparable to those of other less serious illnesses This can make it difficult to recognize This could lead to mistakes in diagnosis and delay treatment In the meantime delay in treatment can cause complications and decrease your chance of survival