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Mesothelioma Symptoms and Treatment When mesothelioma symptoms are first noticed, doctors will order imaging scans to determine if a patient has any potential cancerous growths in their chest or abdomen. Mesothelioma may mimic other diseases like pneumonia or lung cancer that can lead to incorrect diagnosis. Doctors may also perform a biopsy to diagnose mesothelioma. There are three mesothelioma types which include epithelial, Sarcomatoid and biphasic. Each type responds differently to treatment and affects life expectancy. Diagnosis If mesothelioma is suspected, doctors will run a variety of tests to confirm the diagnosis. This could include a chest X ray, CT scans, and biopsies. The X-ray shows the accumulation of fluid on one side of the chest. This is referred to as pleural effusion, and it is often the first indication of mesothelioma. However, X-rays may not be the most reliable method to determine the severity of the disease. A chest CT scan is the next step. It creates a clear image of your organs and lungs. A doctor will inject you with dye to identify any areas that could be cancerous. During the CT scanner, you'll be lying on a bed and moved through a doughnut scanner. The procedure will take only a few minutes and is not particularly uncomfortable, even for those who are claustrophobic. In certain situations the doctor may perform an MRI test. These tests use powerful radio waves and magnetic fields to create high-quality pictures of soft tissues, like lung tissues. An MRI can be used to identify mesothelioma of the diaphragm as well as determine the stage of the disease. Some patients will also undergo a PET scan. In this test, you will be given a shot of radioactive dye. Cancer cells absorb the dye much more than healthy cells and therefore appear brighter in the images. A biopsy is the last test to confirm mesothelioma. A doctor will remove an insignificant portion of the lining that is affected, which is then examined under a microscope to see if cancer cells are present. This procedure is done under local anaesthetic and can be done with surgery or by inserting the needle using a CT scan. Your doctor will use the results of the other tests if the biopsy confirms that mesothelioma is present. This stage describes how far mesothelioma has spread and what kinds of treatment are most suitable for you. You can find out more about staging by reading the section in this guide titled Staging. Treatment There are many options for treatment for mesothelioma. Certain treatments can improve the quality of life or extend life for longer than others. Patients suffering from mesothelioma should talk about their goals and choose the best treatment option. Surgery is one of the ways to treat mesothelioma. In this procedure surgeons try to eliminate all cancerous tissues. However when mesothelioma is at an advanced stage, it's unlikely that surgeons will be able completely remove the tumor. The surgeons can nevertheless reduce the symptoms. The most commonly-used mesothelioma type is found within the lining that surrounds the lungs. In certain instances people, they may develop mesothelioma within the membrane that surrounds the heart (pericardial mesothelioma). In rare instances, mesothelioma could affect the testicles. Mesothelioma is treated using radiation and chemotherapy. These treatments are usually delivered by mesothelioma experts in special centers. Chemotherapy, a treatment, employs drugs to kill mesothelioma tumor cells and stop their growth. Pemetrexed and Cisplatin are the standard first-line drug combination for pleural mesothelioma. Radiation therapy uses high-energy beams of energy to kill cancerous cells. This treatment is most often used in combination with other mesothelioma treatments like surgery or chemotherapy. It can also be used to kill any microscopic residual mesothelioma that surgeons did not remove during surgery. Mesothelioma patients may experience many different side effects as a result of these treatments. These symptoms include nausea, fatigue and hair loss. A mesothelioma specialist can assist patients choose the right medication to fit their individual requirements. They may also suggest other methods to improve the patient's quality of living. These can include regular lymphatic drainage to reduce breathing and strong painkillers. Patients should inform their doctors know about any other medications, such as herbal remedies, supplements, or over-the-counter drugs. This will help to avoid any potentially hazardous interactions between these drugs. Prognosis Mesothelioma, also known as mesothelioma in the pleural area, is a cancerous tumor that affects the membrane that lines the body's cavities such as the chest cavity and abdomen. When someone is diagnosed with mesothelioma malignant cells can grow in the tissue, which can extend to other areas of the body and trigger symptoms such as breathing problems or pain. It is vital to have a mesothelioma diagnosis from a specialist physician because this is the initial step to receiving treatment. There may be multiple steps to diagnose mesothelioma, including a physical exam and lab tests, as well as biopsy. A biopsy is a tiny sample taken from the tumor or mass to check for mesothelioma. If you are misdiagnosed with mesothelioma, it is extremely risky as it can delay treatment and worsen the prognosis. Mesothelioma is a difficult cancer to detect, as the symptoms can mimic lung cancer or common illnesses such as pneumonia or bronchitis. Because of this, mesothelioma is often misdiagnosed as a respiratory condition. The prognosis of mesothelioma differs depending on the type and stage of mesothelioma, as well depending on the patient's age, general health and medical history. The cancer can be controlled through chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation therapy. Patients are also able to receive palliative treatment to alleviate fatigue, pain and other symptoms. A person's mesothelioma stage refers to how the disease has progressed and how much of it has already spread to other parts of the body. The doctor will apply his or his best judgment when determining the stage, taking into account the symptoms and the rate of growth of the cancer. The rate of survival for mesothelioma is contingent on the stage and type as well the location of the cancer. The prognosis for patients diagnosed with less frequent types of mesothelioma are less favorable. Patients with peritoneal mesothelioma are at a higher chance of living longer due to the fact that it grows more slowly in the abdomen than pleural msothelioma in the chest. In addition, patients with a high tolerance for treatment might live longer than those with an intolerant. For instance, some individuals who suffer from peritoneal mesothelioma have experienced successful results with the combination of surgical removal, chemotherapy and radiation. st charles mesothelioma law firm When asbestos fibers are swallowed or inhaled they stick to the organ's lining, and cause them to grow into tumors. Mesothelioma typically occurs in the lung. However, it can also occur in the abdomen, chest and testicles of males. Symptoms of mesothelioma usually don't manifest until 40-50 years after exposure. The first step to diagnose mesothelioma is to take a detailed history about asbestos exposure. Your doctor will then do an examination of your body and review your symptoms. A chest X-ray could show abnormal thickening or fluid in the space that separates the lungs and the chest wall. A lung CT scan may also be used to identify mesothelioma as well as other cancers in the lungs. You may undergo blood tests to check on the health of your liver and kidneys. The doctor can recommend a chest MRI or a PET scan, to check for any other cancers that could be present or mesothelioma that is located in the lungs or chest wall. If it is determined that a biopsy is needed, doctors can remove it by surgery or by inserting a needle in the chest wall, while under local anesthesia. The doctor will examine the tissue using magnifying glasses to determine if this is malignant mesothelioma or a different form of cancer. The results of these tests will assist doctors in determining the extent of cancer after a mesothelioma diagnosis. They will assign mesothelioma a staging number, which is useful in the planning of your treatment. They are not cancerous, and they don't have the potential to grow back even if they are surgically removed. They usually form in the pleura or abdominal lining. Because it affects the heart, mesothelioma which develops in the pericardium might be more difficult to treat. It may also recur after surgery. Mesothelioma may also spread to other parts of the body including the lymph nodes and bones located outside the abdomen and chest. The symptoms of mesothelioma are comparable to the symptoms of other less serious diseases. This makes it difficult to recognize. This can result in incorrect diagnosis and delay treatment. In the event of delay, treatment may result in complications and lower the chance of surviving.