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Mesothelioma Symptoms and Treatment When mesothelioma is first diagnosed doctors request imaging scans to look for any cancerous growths on the chest or abdomen Mesothelioma can mimic other illnesses like lung cancer or pneumonia that can lead to incorrect diagnosis A biopsy will be taken by the doctor to diagnose mesothelioma There are three main types of mesothelioma cells which include epithelial epidermal and the sarcomatoid sarcoma and biphasic Each type responds to treatment differently and has a distinct impact on the life expectancy Diagnosis If mesothelioma may be a possibility doctors will run several tests to confirm the diagnosis This may include chest Xray CT scans and biopsies The Xrays reveal the presence of fluid on one side of the chest This is called the pleural effusion and is usually the first manifestation of mesothelioma However Xrays arent the most reliable method to diagnose the condition A chest CT scan is the next step It creates a clear image of your lungs and organs A doctor might inject you with a dye which will show regions of potential cancer During the CT scanner you will be lying on a mattress and passing through a doughnutshaped scanner The procedure is only a few minutes and isnt particularly uncomfortable even for those who feel claustrophobic In certain situations the doctor may conduct an MRI test These scans create highquality images by using radio waves and strong magnetic fields If you suffer from mesothelioma of the diaphragm and the diaphragm an MRI can help doctors locate the disease and determine how advanced it is Certain patients may also undergo an PET scan You will receive a radioactive dye during this test Cancer cells will absorb the dye significantly more than healthy ones and consequently appear brighter in the images A biopsy is the most definitive test to confirm mesothelioma A doctor will take tiny portions of the lining that is affected which will be examined under a microscope to determine whether cancerous cells are present This is done under local anaesthetic It can be accomplished through surgery or by inserting needles guided by a CT scan If the biopsy results show mesothelioma the doctor will then consider the results of the other tests to determine its stage This stage describes how far mesothelioma has spread and what types of treatment are appropriate for you You can learn more about staging by reading the section in this guide titled Staging Treatment There are many options for treatment for mesothelioma Certain treatments can improve quality of life or extend life longer than others Mesothelioma patients must discuss their goals with their medical team to determine the best approach Surgery is one of the ways to treat mesothelioma During this procedure surgeons attempt to remove all cancerous tissues If mesothelioma reaches an advanced stage doctors may not be able of removing the cancer completely Regardless surgeons can still minimize the symptoms The most commonlyused mesothelioma form is found within the lining that surrounds the lung There is a possibility that mesothelioma may develop around the heart in a few instances pericardial msothelioma In rare instances it is possible to suffer from mesothelioma of the testicles testicular mesothelioma Mesothelioma can be treated using radiation therapy and chemotherapy The treatments are usually given at specialized mesothelioma centers by mesothelioma specialists who are experienced Chemotherapy utilizes drugs to kill mesothelioma cells and prevent their growth The combination of pemetrexed with Cisplatin is a standard firstline treatment of pleural mesothelioma Radiation therapy uses highenergy beams that kill cancerous cells This procedure is usually employed in conjunction with other mesothelioma treatment including surgery and chemotherapy It can also be used to eliminate any microscopically residual mesothelioma which surgeons failed to remove during surgery These treatments may cause a variety of side effects on patients with mesothelioma The symptoms include nausea fatigue and hair loss A mesothelioma doctor can help patients find the best treatment for their individual needs They can also suggest alternative methods to improve the patients quality of life These could include regular lymphatic drainage to reduce breathing and strong painkillers Patients should let their doctors know about any other medications such as herbal remedies supplements or overthecounter medications This can help prevent dangers from interactions with these drugs Prognosis Mesothelioma also known as pleural mesothelioma is a cancerous tumor that affects the membrane that line the cavities of our bodies such as the abdomen and chest cavity If a person is diagnosed with mesothelioma malignant cells can grow in the tissues which could extend to other areas of the body causing symptoms like breathing problems or pain A specialist doctors diagnosis of mesotheliomas importance as it is the first step in receiving treatment Mesothelioma can be diagnosed various ways including an examination of the body lab tests and biopsy A biopsy takes a small sample of the tumor or mass in order to detect mesothelioma Getting a mesothelioma misdiagnosis could be very dangerous as it can delay treatment and make it more difficult to predict Mesothelioma is difficult to diagnose as the symptoms can mimic lung cancer or common illnesses like pneumonia or bronchitis Because of this mesothelioma gets mistakenly diagnosed as a respiratory disease The prognosis for mesothelioma varies depending on the type and stage of mesothelioma aswell as the patients age and general health as well as medical history There is no cure for mesothelioma but the cancer can be controlled through surgery chemotherapy and radiation therapy Patients are also able to receive palliative treatment to manage fatigue pain and other signs The stage of mesothelioma is an indication of how much the disease of a patient has spread and how far it has already progressed The doctor will use his or their best judgment when determining the stage taking into account the symptoms and the rate of growth of the cancer The survival rate of mesothelioma depends on the stage and type as well as the location of the cancer The prognosis of those diagnosed with less common forms of mesothelioma is lower Patients who suffer from peritoneal mesothelioma for instance have a greater chance of surviving longer due to the fact that it tends to grow slower in the abdomen than pleural mesothelioma grows in the chest In addition patients who have a high tolerance for treatment can live longer than those with lower tolerance For instance some individuals who suffer from peritoneal mesothelioma have experienced success with a combination of chemotherapy surgical removal and radiation Symptoms When asbestos fibers are inhaled or swallowed they stick to organ linings and cause them to grow into tumors Mesothelioma is most prevalent in the lungs but it can also be found in the chest wall abdomen and testicles in men The signs of mesothelioma generally dont manifest until 4050 years after exposure The first step to determine if you have mesothelioma is taking a background of exposure to asbestos Your doctor will then conduct an examination of your body and review your symptoms A chest Xray can reveal abnormal thickening of the pleura or fluid that is located between the lungs and the chest wall A lung CT scan can also be used to detect mesothelioma and other lung cancers Blood tests can be done to see how your kidneys and liver are working The doctor might order an chest MRI or an PET scan to look for any other cancers that could be present or mesothelioma that is located in the lungs or chest wall If new york mesothelioma law firm is needed doctors can remove a small sample of the tumor by surgical procedures or using an instrument that is inserted through the chest wall while under local anesthesia The doctor will then look at the tissue under a microscope to determine if it is malignant mesothelioma or a different cancer Following a diagnosis of mesothelioma doctors will use the results of all tests to help them assess how advanced the cancer is They will assign an appropriate staging number to the mesothelioma which can help you plan your treatment They are not cancerous and they arent able to grow back if surgically removed They typically occur within the pleura and the abdominal lining Mesothelioma of the pericardium is more difficult to treat as it affects the heart It may also recur after surgery Mesothelioma can also spread other areas of the body like the lymph nodes and bones in the abdomen and chest The symptoms of mesothelioma can be similar to those of other less serious conditions This makes it difficult to determine the cause This could lead to misdiagnosis and delay your treatment A delay in treatment can cause complications and decrease your chance of survival