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Mesothelioma Symptoms and Treatment When mesothelioma is diagnosed for the first time doctors may order scans of the body to detect any cancerous growths on the abdomen or chest Mesothelioma symptoms can be mistaken for other diseases like lung cancer or pneumonia Doctors may also perform the biopsy to diagnose mesothelioma There are three main mesothelioma types including epithelial and sarcomatoid They are also biphasic Each type responds to treatment differently and has a distinct impact on life expectancy Diagnosis Doctors may perform a variety of tests when mesothelioma is suspected This may include chest Xrays CT scans and biopsies The Xray shows an accumulation of fluid on the chest on one side This is known as Pleural effusion It is often the first indication of mesothelioma Xrays may not be the most reliable method for diagnosis A chest CT scan is the next step This creates a detailed image of your lungs and organs A doctor can inject you with a dye which will highlight areas that could be cancerous During the CT scan you will be passed through a doughnutshaped scanner as you lie on the mattress The procedure will take only less than a minute and isnt particularly uncomfortable even for those who are claustrophobic In some cases a doctor might perform an MRI test The scans produce highquality pictures with radio waves and strong magnetic fields An MRI can be used to determine if there is a mesothelioma affecting the diaphragm and identify its stage Certain patients might also require an PET scan You will receive a radioactive dye during this test Cancer cells absorb dye more than healthy cells and they will appear more clearly on the pictures A biopsy is the most definitive test to confirm mesothelioma A doctor will take tiny portions of the affected lining that will then be examined under a microscope to see whether cancerous cells are present This can be performed under local anaesthesia and by using a CT scan or a needle Your doctor will consider the results from the other tests to confirm that mesothelioma is present This stage describes the extent of the mesothelioma and what treatment is most suitable for you This guide has a section titled Staging that will help you understand more about staging Treatment There are many options for treatment for mesothelioma Some may improve quality of life and prolong life for a longer amount of time than other Mesothelioma patients should discuss their goals with their medical team to determine the most effective method Surgery is one option 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 Surgery can reduce symptoms The most common mesothelioma type is found within the lining that surrounds the lung The mesothelioma can develop around the heart in certain instances pericardial msothelioma Rarely mesothelioma affects the testicles Mesothelioma can be treated with chemotherapy and radiation therapy The treatments are usually given in mesothelioma clinics that are specialized by mesothelioma specialists who are experienced Chemotherapy is a method of treatment that uses drugs to kill the mesothelioma cells and stop their growth The combination of pemetrexed with Cisplatin is a standard firstline treatment option for pleural mesothelioma Radiation therapy employs highenergy beams of energy to kill cancerous cells This treatment is often combined with other mesothelioma therapies such as chemotherapy and surgery It is also a method to eliminate any microscopically residual mesothelioma that surgeons were unable to remove during surgery Mesothelioma patients are susceptible to different side effects from these treatments lowell mesothelioma lawyer include nausea fatigue and hair loss A mesothelioma expert can assist patients select the appropriate treatment for their specific requirements They can also suggest different ways to enhance the quality of life of a patient These include regular lymphatic drainage to ease breathing or strong painkillers Patients should ensure the medical team is aware of any other medications they are taking including supplements herbs or overthecounter drugs This helps avoid risky interactions with these medications Prognosis Mesothelioma is also known as mesothelioma of the pleural region is a cancerous tumor that affects the membrane that forms the internal cavities of our bodies such as the abdomen and chest cavity When someone is diagnosed with mesothelioma cancerous cells can develop in the tissue and they can spread to other areas of the body and cause symptoms like breathing problems or pain A specialist doctors diagnosis of mesotheliomas is essential because its the first step in receiving treatment It may take multiple steps to determine if mesothelioma is present which may include a physical examination lab tests and the biopsy A biopsy is a tiny sample taken from the mass or tumor to look for mesothelioma A misdiagnosis of mesothelioma can be dangerous since it could delay treatment or worsen the outlook Mesothelioma is often difficult to diagnose because the symptoms are similar to those of lung cancer bronchitis or pneumonia Because of this mesothelioma can be mistakenly identified as respiratory disorders The prognosis of mesothelioma depends on the type and stage along with age general health and medical history There is no cure for mesothelioma however the cancer can be controlled through surgery chemotherapy and radiation therapy Patients may also receive palliative care to manage fatigue pain and other symptoms The stage of mesothelioma is an indication of how much the disease of a patient has spread and how fast it has already advanced A doctor will use their best judgment to determine the staging taking into consideration the symptoms and how fast the cancer is growing The survival rate for mesothelioma depends on the stage and type as well as the location of the cancer Patients who are diagnosed with lesscommon types of mesothelioma have poorer prognosis Patients who have peritoneal mesothelioma have a higher chance of living longer because it grows more slowly in the abdomen than pleural msothelioma that is found in the chest In addition patients who have a high tolerance for treatment can live longer than those who have less tolerance Certain patients with peritoneal msothelioma experienced good results when they combined chemotherapy surgery and radiation Symptoms Asbestos fibers can cause tumors in organs if they are taken inhaled or swallowed Mesothelioma usually occurs in the lung However it can also occur in the abdomen chest and testicles of men The symptoms of mesothelioma typically dont show up until about 40 to 50 years after exposure The first step to diagnose mesothelioma begins with taking a background on asbestos exposure Your doctor will then conduct an examination and review your symptoms A chest Xray can reveal abnormal thickening or fluid in the space that separates the lungs from chest wall A lung CT scan is also used to identify mesothelioma as well as other cancers in the lungs A blood test can be ordered to check how your kidneys and liver are working The doctor can also request an abdominal MRI or an PET scan to detect other mesotheliomarelated cancers or mesothelio of the lungs chest wall or abdomen If a biopsy is necessary doctors can remove a sample of the tumor using surgery or with a needle that is inserted through the chest wall under local anesthesia The doctor will then examine the tissue with an magnifying glass to determine whether it is malignant mesothelioma or a different type of cancer The information from the tests will assist doctors in determining the extent of the mesothelioma after a diagnosis They will assign an estimated stage number to mesothelioma This will be useful in planning your treatment They are not cancerous and they wont recur if surgically removed They usually form in the abdominal lining or pleura Mesothelioma of the pericardium is more difficult to treat since it affects the heart It is also possible to recur after surgery Mesothelioma may also spread to other parts of the body such as the lymph nodes and bones that are outside the abdomen and chest The symptoms of mesothelioma are similar to the symptoms of other less serious conditions This makes it difficult to identify This can lead to incorrect diagnosis which may delay treatment In the meantime delay in treatment can cause complications and decrease your chance of survival