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Mesothelioma Symptoms and Treatment When mesothelioma first becomes apparent, doctors order imaging scans to look for any cancerous growths on the abdomen or chest. Mesothelioma symptoms may be misinterpreted as a sign of other illnesses such as lung cancer or pneumonia. Doctors may also conduct a biopsy to diagnose mesothelioma. There are three main mesothelioma cell types: epithelial (epidermal), sarcomatoid (sarcoma) and biphasic. Each type responds to treatment differently and has a distinct impact on the length of life. Diagnosis If mesothelioma has been identified, doctors will run several tests to confirm the diagnosis. This could include a chest X-ray, CT scans, and biopsies. The X-ray shows an increase in fluid to one side of the chest. This is called the pleural effusion, and is usually the first sign of mesothelioma. X-rays aren't the most reliable method of diagnosis. A chest CT scan is the next step. This produces a precise image of your organs and lungs. A doctor will inject you with dye to highlight any areas that could be cancerous. During the CT scan, you'll be scanned through a doughnut-shaped scanner while lying on the bed. The procedure only takes minutes and isn't too uncomfortable for people who are claustrophobic. In certain instances doctors may also conduct an MRI. These scans produce high-quality images using radio waves and strong magnetic fields. An MRI can be used to locate mesothelioma of the diaphragm and determine its stage. Some patients will also undergo a PET scan. You will be given a radioactive dye during this test. Cancer cells absorb the dye more than healthy cells, and they will appear brighter in the images. A biopsy is the final test to confirm mesothelioma. A doctor will remove a small amount of the affected lining. This will be scrutinized under a microscope for cancer cells. The procedure is performed under local anaesthetic. It can be accomplished through surgery or by inserting a needle guided by an CT scan. Your doctor will consider the results from the other tests to confirm that you have mesothelioma. The stage identifies the extent of mesothelioma and the treatment is most suitable for you. You can learn more about staging by reading the section in this guide titled Staging. Treatment There are several treatment options for mesothelioma. Some can improve the quality of life and extend the duration of time than other. Mesothelioma patients should 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 eliminate all cancerous tissues. If mesothelioma reaches an advanced stage the doctors may not be able remove the tumor completely. However, surgeons can manage to reduce symptoms. The most frequent form of mesothelioma occurs in the lining surrounding the lung. In some instances there is a possibility that a person develops mesothelioma within the membrane that surrounds the heart (pericardial mesothelioma). In rare instances there is also the possibility that a person could suffer from mesothelioma that affects the testicles (testicular mesothelioma). Mesothelioma is treated using radiation and chemotherapy. The treatments are usually provided by mesothelioma experts in specialized centers. Chemotherapy utilizes drugs to kill mesothelioma cells and prevent their growth. Cisplatin and pemetrexed are the standard first-line drug combination for pleural mesothelioma. Radiation therapy uses high-energy beams to destroy cancerous cells. This procedure is usually utilized in conjunction with other mesothelioma treatments like surgery and chemotherapy. This treatment can also be applied to any mesothelioma with a microscopic size left behind by the surgeons after surgery. Mesothelioma patients can suffer from many different side effects as a result of these treatments. These symptoms include nausea fatigue and hair loss. A mesothelioma expert can help patients choose the best medication to meet their individual requirements. They can also suggest alternative ways to improve a patient's quality of life. These include regular lymphatic drainage to ease breathing or strong painkillers. Patients should also make sure their medical team is aware of any other medications they take such as supplements, herbs or prescription drugs. This will help avoid any potentially hazardous interactions between these medications. Prognosis Mesothelioma is an illness that affects mesothelium which is a membrane that lines the body's cavities, including the abdominal and chest cavity. If someone develops mesothelioma, malignant cells develop in this tissue and can be spread to other areas of the body which can cause symptoms such as discomfort and breathing problems. A specialist doctor's diagnosis of mesothelioma is crucial because it is the first step to receive treatment. There are a variety of steps to identify mesothelioma including a physical exam along with lab tests and biopsy. A biopsy will take a tiny sample of the tumor or mass to test for mesothelioma. A misdiagnosis of mesothelioma can be very risky because it can delay treatment and make it more difficult to predict. Mesothelioma is a difficult cancer to detect because the symptoms may mimic lung cancer or common illnesses such as pneumonia or bronchitis. Because of this, mesothelioma can be mistakenly diagnosed as respiratory diseases. The outlook for mesothelioma's patients is contingent on the type and stage along with age, general health and medical history. The cancer can be treated through surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Patients can also receive palliative treatments to manage fatigue, pain, and other signs. mount pleasant mesothelioma attorney staging stage of a patient refers to how the disease has advanced and how much has already expanded to other parts of the body. The doctor will employ his or their best judgment when determining the stage, taking into account the symptoms and the rate of growth of the cancer. The chance of survival for mesothelioma is dependent on the patient's stage and the type of cancer and location. Patients diagnosed with less well-known types of mesothelioma have a worse prognosis. Patients suffering from peritoneal mesothelioma for example have a higher chance of surviving longer due to the fact that it is more likely to develop in the abdomen than pleural mesothelioma can do in the chest. Additionally, patients who have a good tolerance for treatment can live longer than patients with lower tolerance. People with peritoneal Msothelioma were able to achieve good results when they combined surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation. Signs and symptoms When asbestos fibers are inhaled or swallowed they stick to the lining of organs and cause them to develop tumors. Mesothelioma most commonly occurs in the lung. However it can also manifest in the chest, abdomen and testicles of men. The signs of mesothelioma generally don't appear until 40-50 year after exposure. The first step to diagnosing mesothelioma involves taking a background on asbestos exposure. Your doctor will then do an examination of your body and review your symptoms. A chest Xray can reveal abnormal thickening of the pleura and fluid in the space between the lung and the chest wall. A lung CT scan is also used to detect mesothelioma and other lung cancers. The blood tests can be performed to see how your kidneys and liver are working. The doctor can also request a chest MRI or an PET scan to determine other mesothelioma-related cancers or mesothelio of the chest wall, lungs or abdomen. 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 study the tissue with microscope to determine whether it is malignant mesothelioma. cancer. The information from the tests will help doctors determine the extent of the cancer after a mesothelioma diagnosis. They will assign a staging number for mesothelioma. This will be helpful for planning your treatment. They are not cancerous and they aren't able to grow back after removal surgically. They typically develop in the pleura and in the abdominal lining. Because it affects the heart, mesothelioma that develops in the pericardium might be more difficult to treat. It can also recur following surgery. Mesothelioma can also spread to other areas of the body such as the lymph nodes or the bones that are outside the abdomen and chest. The symptoms of mesothelioma are comparable to the symptoms of other less serious illnesses. This makes it difficult to determine the cause. This could lead to misdiagnosis and delay your treatment. In the meantime, delay in treatment can cause complications and decrease the chance of surviving.