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Mesothelioma Symptoms and Treatment When mesothelioma signs are first noticed, doctors will order imaging scans to determine whether the patient has possible cancerous growths on their abdomen or chest. Mesothelioma is a common cause of other illnesses like lung cancer or pneumonia which can lead to the wrong diagnosis. A biopsy is performed by the doctor to identify mesothelioma. There are three main mesothelioma types: epithelial, sarcomatoid and biphasic. Each type responds to treatment differently and has a different impact on the length of life. Diagnosis If mesothelioma has been identified, doctors will run a variety of tests to confirm the diagnosis. This includes a chest X-ray, CT scans, and biopsies. The Xrays reveal the presence of fluid on one side of the chest. This is referred to as pleural effusion and is often the first manifestation of mesothelioma. X-rays may not be the most reliable method for diagnosis. The next step is an chest CT scan, which produces an image of your lungs as well as other organs. A doctor will inject you with a dye to identify any areas that might be cancerous. During the CT scan, you will be passed through a doughnut-shaped scanner while lying on the bed. The procedure is only about a minute and isn't particularly uncomfortable, even for those who are claustrophobic. In certain instances the doctor may perform an MRI test. These tests use powerful magnetic fields and radio waves to produce high-quality images of soft tissues, including lung tissues. An MRI can be used to detect a mesothelioma affecting the diaphragm as well as determine the stage of the disease. Some patients will also undergo an PET scan. You will receive a radioactive dye during this test. Cancer cells absorb the dye significantly more than healthy ones and therefore appear brighter in the images. A biopsy is the most definitive test to confirm mesothelioma. A doctor will remove a small amount of the affected lining which will be examined under a microscope, to determine whether cancerous cells are present. This procedure is performed with a local anaesthetic. It may be done through surgery or by inserting an instrument that guides the needle through an CT scan. Your doctor will use the results from other tests if the biopsy proves that mesothelioma is present. This stage indicates how far mesothelioma has spread and what kinds of treatment are best for you. You can learn more about staging by reading the section in this guide called Staging. Treatment There are several treatment options for mesothelioma. Certain treatments can improve quality of life or extend the duration of life more than others. Patients with mesothelioma must discuss their goals and figure out the best treatment option. Surgery is a method to treat mesothelioma. During this operation surgeons attempt to remove all cancerous tissues. However, if mesothelioma is in an advanced stage, it's unlikely surgeons will be able to completely eliminate the tumor. Surgery can reduce symptoms. The most commonly-used form of mesothelioma occurs within the lining that surrounds the lungs. In some instances, a person may develop mesothelioma inside the membrane surrounding the heart (pericardial mesothelioma). In rare instances one may also have mesothelioma in the testicles (testicular mesothelioma). Mesothelioma can be treated with radiation therapy and chemotherapy. These treatments are usually administered in mesothelioma centres that are specially designed by highly experienced mesothelioma experts. Chemotherapy utilizes drugs to kill mesothelioma cells, and to stop their growth. Pemetrexed and Cisplatin are the preferred first-line treatment for pleural mesothelioma. Radiation therapy employs high-energy beams of energy to kill cancerous cells. This therapy is usually used in conjunction with other mesothelioma treatments like chemotherapy and surgery. It is also a method to kill any residual microscopic mesothelioma, which surgeons failed to remove during surgery. These treatments can have numerous adverse consequences for patients suffering from mesothelioma. These symptoms include nausea fatigue, and hair loss. A mesothelioma specialist can help patients choose the best medication that meets their specific needs. They can also suggest alternative ways to improve the quality of life of patients. This might include regular pleural drainage to help with breathing, or strong painkillers. Patients should ensure they inform their medical professional of any other medications they take, including supplements, herbs or prescription medications. This can help prevent dangers from interactions with these drugs. Prognosis Mesothelioma is also known as mesothelioma pleural is a cancerous tumor that affects the membrane that surrounds the internal cavities of our bodies such as the chest cavity and abdomen. If a person is diagnosed with mesothelioma, cancerous cells can develop in the tissues, which could be spread to other parts of the body, causing symptoms like breathing difficulty or pain. It is vital to receive a mesothelioma-related diagnosis from a specialist doctor since this is the first step to receiving treatment. Mesothelioma can be diagnosed multiple ways, including through physical examination, lab tests, and the procedure of a biopsy. A biopsy is a small sample of the tumor or mass in order to detect mesothelioma. A misdiagnosis of mesothelioma could be dangerous, since it could delay treatment or make it more difficult to predict the outcome. Mesothelioma is difficult to recognize, as the symptoms can be similar to lung cancer or other common ailments like pneumonia or bronchitis. Because of this, mesothelioma is frequently mistakenly identified as a respiratory issue. The prognosis for mesothelioma can vary according to the type and the stage of mesothelioma, aswell as the patient's age and general health, as well as medical history. There is no cure for mesothelioma, but the cancer can be treated with chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation therapy. Palliative treatment can be offered for patients to control symptoms such as fatigue, pain, and other signs and symptoms. The stage of mesothelioma is a measure of how far the disease of a patient has spread and how much it has already progressed. The doctor will use his or best judgment in determining the stage, taking into consideration the symptoms and the rate of growth of the cancer. The survival rate for mesothelioma depends on the stage and type, as well as the location of the cancer. The prognosis for patients diagnosed with less common types of mesothelioma is lower. Patients who have peritoneal mesothelioma have an increased chance of living longer because it grows slower in the abdomen, compared to pleural msothelioma that is found in the chest. Additionally, those who have a good tolerance for treatment could live longer than patients with a low tolerance. For instance, some patients who suffer from peritoneal mesothelioma have experienced successful results with a combination of chemotherapy, surgical removal and radiation. Signs and symptoms Asbestos fibers can cause cancer within organs when taken inhaled or swallowed. Mesothelioma is the most common type of cancer in the lungs, but it can also manifest in the chest wall, abdomen, and testicles (in men). Symptoms of mesothelioma usually don't show up until about 40 to 50 years after exposure. The first step to determine if you have mesothelioma is to take a background of exposure to asbestos. Your doctor will conduct an examination and review your symptoms. A chest X-ray may reveal abnormal thickening 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 or other types of cancer of the lungs. You may undergo blood tests to check on the health of your liver and kidneys. The doctor may recommend a chest MRI or a PET scan to check for any other cancers that could be present or mesothelioma of the lungs, or chest wall. If a biopsy is necessary doctors can remove a sample of the tumor using surgery or with an instrument that is inserted through the chest wall while under local anesthesia. The doctor will then examine the tissue using magnifying glasses to determine if it is malignant mesothelioma or a different type of cancer. The results of these tests will help doctors determine the extent of the mesothelioma after a diagnosis. gastonia mesothelioma attorney will assign a mesothelioma staging number, which is important in planning your treatment. Benign mesotheliomas aren't cancerous and will not grow back if they are completely removed surgically. They typically occur in the abdominal lining of the pleura. Mesothelioma of the pericardium is more difficult to treat since it affects the heart. It may also recur after surgery. Mesothelioma is also able to spread to other parts of the body, like the lymph nodes and bones outside the chest and abdomen. It can be hard to identify mesothelioma due the similarity of symptoms with other conditions that are less serious. This could lead to confusion and delay treatment. A delay can lead to more complications, and reduce the chances of survival.