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Mesothelioma - What is Mesothelioma?

Many conditions cause symptoms like chest pain. To diagnose mesothelioma, it is important to rule out other diseases.

Doctors perform this by taking samples of fluid around the lung or stomach. They may also employ other tests like a CT scan, MRI or PET scan.

Causes

Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that occurs in the tissues that line the chest (pleural mesothelioma) or abdomen, or the heart (peritoneal mesothelioma). Exposure to asbestos, a substance that was widely employed in shipbuilding, construction and other industries, is the primary cause of mesothelioma. Inhaling asbestos fibres could cause mesothelioma. These fibres can cause tissue damage and irritation and can cause abnormal tumors. Mesothelioma usually develops 20-50 years after asbestos exposure.

Asbestos is a group of minerals that are made up of long, thin fibres that break down into smaller pieces. These fibres are able to easily enter the lungs and be inhaled. They may then get lodged in the pleura, the lining surrounding the lungs. They can cause irritation to the lung tissues over time, and cause tumors that are abnormal to develop. Mesothelioma can also be caused by exposure to asbestos through secondhand sources for instance, when workers brought home fibres on their clothing and equipment or from contaminated materials such as asbestos-containing insulation.

People who have mesothelioma often have shortness of breath, fatigue, and coughing. Other symptoms include weight gain, chest pain swelling, difficulty swallowing and a rash that's painful, similar to hives. Mesothelioma is rare and there are between 2,500 to 3000 cases being diagnosed each year in the United States.

The most prevalent form of mesothelioma is found in the pleura, which covers the lungs and the chest wall. Other mesothelioma types may develop in the peritoneum that covers the stomach, intestines, and testicles.

A doctor who specialises in mesothelioma can suggest tests to detect signs of the disease, such as x-rays, CT scans or MRI. A mesothelioma specialist, surgeon for the thoracic or a medical oncologist might undergo surgery chemotherapy or radiation therapy. In some cases the palliative treatment option is available to alleviate discomfort and other symptoms. Doctors can also assist with the diagnosis of mesothelioma by examining symptoms and offering suggestions on managing the symptoms. If necessary, they can refer you to specialists. For example, they can refer you to a respiratory doctor to examine your breathing and other symptoms as well as to collaborate with your mesothelioma physician.

Symptoms

Mesothelioma symptoms may vary depending on the type of mesothelioma that you have. This is due to the fact that the types of mesothelioma are classified by the location and extent of the cancer.

Mesotheliomas can form in the lining surrounding the lungs (pleura), which is the lining of the heart (pericardium), or lining the abdomen (peritoneum). what are signs of mesothelioma include chest pain, breathing difficulties and fluid accumulation, as well as weight loss.

Asbestos fibres can cause irritation of the pleura (lung liner) and cause abnormal cells to develop. Over time these cells can develop in uncontrollable amounts and become tumors. Mesothelioma can also affect other body parts with similar linings. This includes the abdominal cavity and reproductive organs.

The symptoms may take a long time to appear and may cause a late diagnosis. Most often, patients are diagnosed with mesothelioma after it is advanced and life-limiting. This is partly due to the fact that mesothelioma sufferers have a latency time of 20 to 40 years between exposure and when the cancer begins to manifest.

There are three options for treatment for mesothelioma, including surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy. The doctor will recommend the option that is most suitable for your particular situation. The type of treatment you are offered depends on how far your cancer has been able to spread.

Surgery: In a surgical procedure doctors will remove any cancerous tissue. They may also combine surgeries to treat mesothelioma. The type of surgery used depends on the location and size of the mesothelioma.

Radiation: Doctors may employ high-energy X-rays and other types of radiation to kill mesothelioma cancer cells or stop them from growing. This kind of treatment may be administered either externally or internally.

Chemotherapy: Doctors might prescribe chemotherapy liquids or pills to shrink cancer cells or to prevent their spread. Chemotherapy is used alone or in conjunction with other treatments, like radiation and surgery.

If you or someone you love suffers from mesothelioma it is important to see an expert as soon as possible. Bring our no-cost Symptoms Checklist to your appointment, and talk to your doctor about your symptoms.

Diagnosis

In the past, doctors utilized a variety of tests to identify mesothelioma. These tests include a lab test, a physical examination and imaging scans. They also look over a patient's medical and job history to look for any asbestos exposure indicators.

The first step to diagnosing mesothelioma involves a physical examination by a doctor. This includes looking for lumps, and asking about the person's symptoms. Doctors will also take down the mesothelioma type of the patient, such as epithelial, biphasic, or sarcomatoid. These kinds are based on the cells that are found in every kind of tumor.

Mesothelioma is difficult to detect. It is most often found in the pleura (a thin layer of tissue that covers the lungs and chest cavity). It may also affect the peritoneum, a thin layer of tissue that runs along the stomach and the intestines. A slurred breath, coughing, and abdominal pain are just a few possible signs. In certain cases mesothelioma, it can expand to other organs like the heart.

A biopsy is the best way to confirm mesothelioma. A doctor removes mesothelioma tissue and sends it to a laboratory for testing. The lab examines for mesothelioma as well as other types of cancer.

If the biopsy is positive, doctors will examine the cancerous cells to determine which type of mesothelioma it is. This allows them to select the most effective treatment.

Other tests could include an X-ray or CT scan to detect asbestos in the lung lining, calcium deposits or indications of mesothelioma such as an edema of the pleural. They can also conduct tests on blood to determine whether there are any abnormalities such as anemia, or low levels of certain antibodies that suggest mesothelioma.

Other imaging tests include MRI and PET scans, which use magnets and radio waves to create precise images. They can aid in the detection of mesothelioma on the lungs, as well as other areas like the diaphragm muscle (a dome-shaped muscular tissue that divides the chest from the abdomen). They can also show the extent of the cancer's spread. They can also look for mesothelioma in lymph nodes. This is done by putting an instrument in the trachea or windpipe. This procedure is called mediastinoscopy and is performed under sedation.


Treatment

The cancer is extremely difficult to treat since it is often diagnosed later and is often common when it is first discovered. The treatment aims to reduce symptoms and improve the quality of life. A mesothelioma specialist will help patients find the best treatment plan for them.

A mesothelioma doctor will have an entire team of specialists working together to provide care. The team could comprise the general practitioner who is accountable for the overall health of a patient and a respiratory physician who examines symptoms and treats lung disease and an interventional radiologist who uses imaging scans for guiding needles and other tools to drain fluids or remove tissues to diagnose the condition, a surgeon who can perform surgery or other operations to treat diseases affecting the lungs or chest, and a medical oncologist that prescribes drugs such as chemotherapy.

If mesothelioma was discovered, further tests will be carried out to determine if the cancer has spread to other parts of the body. This could include an CT scan or MRI FDG-positron emission tomography (to search for the movement of the mesothelioma cell) and a biopsied sample taken from a tissue sample removed during surgery.

A patient with malignant pleural mesothelioma is likely to undergo a surgical procedure in order to reduce breathlessness due to the accumulation of fluid. This might involve a procedure called VATS (video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery) which is a procedure wherein a small portion of the linings of the lung and chest wall are removed to lessen the fluid build up. In certain instances it is possible to have a tube put into the chest to drain the fluid regularly at home.

Benign mesothelioma doesn't usually require surgery. Doctors may use painkillers or other treatments to manage symptoms.

Because mesothelioma is rare new treatments are being developed in clinical trials. These trials could lead to better treatments for mesothelioma patients. The decision to participate in a clinical trial is not to be taken lightly, since the risks associated with treatment are usually serious. This is why it is vital for mesothelioma patients or their families to discuss their options with a mesothelioma specialist.

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