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Mesothelioma Symptoms and Treatment When mesothelioma symptoms are first noticed doctors will order imaging scans to determine whether the patient has potential cancerous growths in their chest or abdomen Mesothelioma is a common cause of other illnesses like lung cancer or pneumonia and can cause misdiagnosis Doctors will also take a biopsy to identify mesothelioma There are three primary mesothelioma cell types epithelial epidermal Sarcomatoid sarcoma and biphasic Each type responds differently treatment and impacts the length of life Diagnosis Doctors will conduct a variety of tests if mesothelioma is suspected This includes chest Xrays CT scans and biopsies The Xrays reveal an accumulation of fluid on one side of the chest This is known as pleural effusion and is often the first indication of mesothelioma However Xrays arent the most reliable way to diagnose the condition The next step is the chest CT scan which produces an image of your lungs as well as other organs A doctor may inject you with a dye that will reveal areas that could be cancerous During the CT scan youll be passed through a doughnutshaped scanner while lying on a mattress The procedure is only less than a minute and isnt terribly uncomfortable even for those who are claustrophobic In some cases doctors will also perform an MRI These tests use powerful magnetic fields and radio waves to produce highquality images soft tissues like the lungs An MRI can be used to determine if there is a mesothelioma affecting the diaphragm and to determine the stage of the disease Some patients could also have a PET scan You will be given a radioactive color in this test Cancer cells absorb the dye significantly more than healthy ones and therefore appear brighter in the images A biopsy is the last test to confirm the diagnosis of mesothelioma A doctor will remove a small amount of the affected lining This will be examined under a microscope for cancer cells This can be done under local or general anaesthesia and by using the CT scan or a needle Your doctor will use the results of other tests to confirm that mesothelioma has been diagnosed 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 in this guide titled Staging Treatment There are many treatment options for mesothelioma Certain treatments can improve quality of life or extend life for longer than others Patients with mesothelioma must discuss their goals and decide on the best treatment option Surgery is one of the ways to treat mesothelioma In this procedure surgeons attempt to remove all cancerous tissues If tennessee mesothelioma law firm has reached an advanced stage it is possible that doctors will not be able remove the cancer completely Regardless surgeons can still minimize the symptoms The most prevalent mesothelioma is found within the lining that surrounds the lungs Mesothelioma can form around the heart in some cases pericardial msothelioma Rarely mesothelioma can affect the testicles Mesothelioma can be treated with radiation therapy and chemotherapy These treatments are usually provided at mesothelioma centers that are specially staffed by mesothelioma specialists with years of experience Chemotherapy is a method of killing mesothelioma cells and prevent their growth The drug combination of pemetrexed with Cisplatin is the most common firstline treatment for pleural mesothelioma Radiation therapy employs highenergy beams that kill cancerous cells This method is often employed in conjunction with other mesothelioma treatment such as surgery and chemotherapy It is also a method to kill any residual microscopic mesothelioma that surgeons did not remove during surgery Mesothelioma patients may experience many different side effects from these treatments These include nausea fatigue and even hair loss A mesothelioma specialist can help patients select the right treatment for their specific needs They can also recommend different ways to enhance the quality of life for patients This might include regular pleural drainage to help with breathing or powerful painkillers Patients should inform their doctors know about any other medications for example supplements herbal remedies or overthecounter medications This helps avoid dangers from interactions with these drugs Prognosis Mesothelioma also called mesothelioma in the pleural area is a cancerous tumor that affects the membrane that line the cavities of our bodies like the chest cavity and abdomen When a person has mesothelioma malignant cells can grow in the tissues which could be spread to other parts of the body causing symptoms like breathing difficulty or pain A specialist doctors diagnosis of mesothelioma is crucial because it is the first step to receive treatment Mesothelioma is diagnosed in various ways including an examination of the body lab tests and a biopsy A biopsy is a tiny sample taken from the mass or tumor to look for mesothelioma Getting a mesothelioma misdiagnosis is extremely risky as it could delay treatment and even worsen the likelihood of a positive outcome Mesothelioma can be difficult to detect because the symptoms are similar to those of lung cancer pneumonia or bronchitis Due to this mesothelioma is often misdiagnosed for respiratory conditions The prognosis for mesothelioma is determined by the type and stage of mesothelioma as well depending on the patients age and general health as well as medical history The cancer can be controlled through chemotherapy surgery and radiation therapy Patients are also able to receive palliative treatment to alleviate pain fatigue and other signs The stage of mesothelioma is an indication of the extent to which the disease has spread and how much it has already advanced The doctor will employ his or best judgment in determining the stage taking into consideration the symptoms and the rate of growth of the cancer The rate of survival for mesothelioma is dependent on the patients stage and the type of cancer and the location The prognosis for those diagnosed with less common forms of mesothelioma is less favorable Patients with peritoneal mesothelioma for example have a higher chance of living longer because it is more likely to develop in the abdomen than pleural mesothelioma can do in the chest Patients who have an increased tolerance to treatment may also live longer than those with an insufficient tolerance For instance a few patients with peritoneal cancer have had good results after a combination of chemotherapy surgical removal and radiation Symptoms Asbestos fibers can cause cancer in organs if they are taken inhaled or swallowed Mesothelioma typically occurs in the lungs However it can also manifest in the chest abdomen and testicles of males Symptoms of mesothelioma usually dont appear until 4050 year after exposure The first step to determine if you have mesothelioma begins with a thorough background of exposure to asbestos The doctor will then conduct a physical exam and review your symptoms A chest Xray can show abnormal growth of the pleura or fluid that is located between the lungs and the chest wall A lung CT scan may also be used to look for mesothelioma or other cancers of the lungs A blood test can be ordered to determine how your liver and kidneys are functioning The doctor may also order a chest MRI or an PET scan to check for other mesothelioma and cancers of the chest wall lungs or abdomen If a biopsy is needed doctors can remove a sample of the tumor by surgical procedures or using a needle that is inserted through the chest wall while under local anesthesia The doctor will then examine the tissue with a magnifying glass to determine if it is malignant mesothelioma or a different form of cancer The results of the tests will assist doctors in determining the extent of the cancer after a mesothelioma diagnosis They will assign a mesothelioma staging number which is useful in making plans for your treatment They arent cancerous and they wont recur after removal surgically They typically form in the pleura as well as in the abdominal lining Because it affects the heart mesothelioma that occurs in the pericardium could be more difficult to treat It can also recur after surgery Mesothelioma may also spread to other areas of the body like the lymph nodes or bones located outside the chest and abdomen It can be hard to recognize mesothelioma due to the similarity of symptoms to other conditions that are less serious This can lead to a misdiagnosis which could delay treatment The delay can cause more complications and reduce your chances of surviving
