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Mesothelioma Symptoms and Treatment When mesothelioma is first diagnosed doctors may order scans of the body to detect any cancerous growths on the abdomen or chest Mesothelioma symptoms can be misinterpreted as other illnesses such as lung cancer or pneumonia Doctors may also perform the biopsy to diagnose mesothelioma There are three primary types of mesothelioma cells which include epithelial epidermal and the sarcomatoid sarcoma and biphasic Each type reacts differently to treatment and affects life expectancy Diagnosis Doctors will perform several tests if mesothelioma is suspected This includes chest Xrays CT scans and biopsies The Xray can show a buildup of fluid on one side of the chest This is referred to as pleural effusion and it is often the first sign of mesothelioma The Xrays arent always the most reliable method for diagnosis The next step is a chest CT scan which produces an accurate picture of your lungs and other organs A doctor will inject you with dye to highlight the areas that are cancerous During the CT scan you will be passed through a doughnutshaped scanner as you lie on the mattress The procedure is only some minutes and isnt a problem for people who are claustrophobic In certain instances a doctor will also conduct an MRI test These tests make use of strong radio waves and magnetic fields to produce highquality images of soft tissues like those in the lungs If you suffer from mesothelioma affecting the diaphragm an MRI can aid doctors in locating the cancer and determine how advanced it is Certain patients might also require a PET scan In burbank mesothelioma lawyer youll be given a shot an irradiated dye Cancer cells absorb the dye more than healthy cells which means they will show up brighter on the images A biopsy is the most definitive test to confirm the diagnosis of mesothelioma A doctor will remove tiny portions of the lining affected which will be examined under a microscope to determine if cancer cells are present This procedure is done under local anaesthetic and can be performed using surgery or by inserting an instrument that guides the needle through a CT scan If the biopsy results confirm mesothelioma your doctor will use the results of other tests to determine the stage The stage is the measure of the extent to which mesothelioma spread and what kinds of treatment are best for you This guide has a section titled Staging that will give you more information about staging Treatment Many treatment options are available for mesothelioma Some may improve quality of life and prolong life for a longer amount of time than others Patients with mesothelioma need to discuss their goals and decide on the best treatment plan Surgery is one of the ways to treat mesothelioma In this operation surgeons attempt to remove all cancerous tissues However the mesothelioma that is in an advanced stage its unlikely doctors will be able to completely eliminate the tumor In any case surgeons can reduce the symptoms The most frequent mesothelioma form is found in the lining surrounding the lungs Mesothelioma can form around the heart in a few cases pericardial mesothelioma In rare instances it is possible to suffer from mesothelioma that affects the testicles testicular mesothelioma Mesothelioma is treated by chemotherapy and radiation These treatments are usually delivered by experts in mesothelioma at special centers Chemotherapy uses drugs to kill mesothelioma cells and to stop their growth The combination of pemetrexed and Cisplatin is a standard firstline treatment option for pleural mesothelioma Radiation therapy uses high energy beams to kill cancerous cell This type of treatment is typically employed in combination with other mesothelioma treatments including surgery and chemotherapy It is also a method to kill any residual microscopic mesothelioma which surgeons failed to remove during surgery Mesothelioma patients can suffer from many different adverse effects resulting from these treatments These include nausea fatigue and even hair loss A mesothelioma doctor can help patients choose the best medication to fit their individual requirements They can also recommend other methods to improve a patients quality of life This could include regular drainage of the pleura to ease breathing or strong painkillers Patients should also make sure their medical team knows about any other medications they take such as supplements herbs or prescription medications This will help to avoid any potentially harmful interactions between these medications Prognosis Mesothelioma a form of cancer affects mesothelium which is a membrane that lines our bodys cavities such as the abdominal cavity and the chest When someone is diagnosed with mesothelioma cancerous cells can develop in the tissue and they can extend to other areas of the body causing symptoms such as pain or difficulty breathing A specialist doctors diagnosis of mesothelioma is crucial as it is the first step to receive treatment There may be multiple steps to determine mesothelioma including a physical exam and lab tests as well as the biopsy A biopsy is a small sample taken from the mass or tumor to test for mesothelioma The wrong diagnosis of mesothelioma can be risky as it can delay treatment or worsen the likelihood of a positive outcome Mesothelioma can be difficult to recognize because the symptoms are similar to those of lung cancer bronchitis or pneumonia Because of this mesothelioma is frequently misdiagnosed as a respiratory condition The prognosis of mesothelioma depends on the stage and type along with age general health and medical history There is no cure for mesothelioma but the cancer can be controlled with chemotherapy surgery and radiation therapy Patients are also able to receive palliative treatment to help control fatigue pain and other symptoms The stage of mesothelioma is an indication of how much a persons disease has spread and how far it has already advanced The doctor will employ his or his best judgment when determining the stage taking into consideration the symptoms and the rate of growth of the cancer The mesothelioma survival rate depends on the stage of the patient the type of cancer and the location The prognosis of those diagnosed with less common types of mesothelioma is poorer Patients suffering from peritoneal mesothelioma for example have a greater chance of living a longer life because it tends to shrink slower in the abdomen than pleural mesothelioma does in the chest Patients with an increased tolerance to treatment might also live longer than those with lower tolerance People with peritoneal Msothelioma had good results when they combined surgery chemotherapy and radiation Signs and symptoms Asbestos fibers can cause cancer within organs when swallowed or inhaled Mesothelioma is the most common type of cancer in the lungs but it can also develop in the chest wall abdomen and testicles in males The signs of mesothelioma generally dont appear until 4050 year after exposure The first step in determining mesothelioma is to take a detailed history of asbestos exposure Your doctor will then conduct an examination and review your symptoms A chest Xray can show abnormal growth of the pleura or fluid in the space between the lungs and the chest wall A lung CT scan may also be used to check for mesothelioma and other cancers of the lungs Blood tests can be conducted to see how your liver and kidneys are functioning The doctor can request a chest MRI or a PET scan to check for other possible cancers or mesothelioma within the lungs or chest wall If a biopsy is required doctors can remove a sample of the tumor using surgery or by using a needle that is inserted through the chest wall under local anesthesia The doctor will then examine the tissue under microscope to determine if it is malignant mesothelioma or a different cancer The information from the tests will help doctors determine the extent of mesothelioma after a diagnosis They will assign an appropriate staging number to mesothelioma This can aid in planning your treatment They are not cancerous and they dont have the potential to grow back even if they are surgically removed They typically form in the abdominal lining or pleura Because it affects the heart mesothelioma that forms in the pericardium can be more difficult to treat It is also possible to recur after surgery Mesothelioma can also grow to other parts of the body such as the lymph nodes or bones located outside the chest and abdomen It is sometimes difficult to identify mesothelioma due the similarity of symptoms to other less serious conditions This can lead misdiagnosis that could delay treatment In the event of delay treatment may result in complications and lower the chance of surviving
