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"Ask Me Anything": Ten Responses To Your Questions About Mesothelioma
What is Mesothelioma?

A diagnosis of mesothelioma can be overwhelming. mesothelioma legal to be shocked, confused and upset.

The pleura, which covers the lungs as well as the chest wall, is affected by pleural mesothelioma. This cancer causes a buildup of fluid in the lungs and makes breathing difficult.

Asbestos is the main cause of mesothelioma. At risk are people who have worked with asbestos or lived with someone who has.

What is mesothelioma?

Mesothelioma is a cancer that is found in the lining of tissues, known as the mesothelium. This lining wraps around and protects the majority of organs of your body, including your heart, chest and abdomen. It is comprised of two layers that form the sac, which covers the inner layer and organs within your body. The fluid between the layers allows organs to move freely. Mesothelioma cancer cells grow and destroy the tissue around them. They may also spread to other areas of your body (metastasize).

The most at-risk group to develop mesothelioma is those who have been working with asbestos. Asbestos workers include builders, plumbers, electricians, asbestos miners, welders auto industry workers, and many more. Higher risk is also for those who work or live near asbestos plants such as factories and power plants. Mesothelioma patients have typically been exposed to asbestos for between 20 and 60 years prior to the time their disease manifests.

Pleural mesothelioma occurs most commonly in the lung lining. This kind of mesothelioma can cause chest pain, breathing difficulties and weight loss. It is most often affecting the lungs, however it could also affect other organs, such as the heart and stomach. Peritoneal mesothelioma is an uncommon form of the disease that affects the lining in the abdominal cavity. It can cause pain and difficulty eating.

Other mesothelioma types are pericardial and tunica vaginalis mesothelioma, both of which occur in the tissue that covers the lining of the chest, abdomen or testicles, respectively. These types of mesothelioma often are not diagnosed, and have lower survival rates than other forms of the disease.

The mesothelioma treatment options depend on the nature and location of the disease, the stage at diagnosis and the general health of the patient. Some patients are treated successfully by undergoing surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. Patients with mesothelioma that is more advanced might be treated with experimental therapies like immunotherapy or gene therapy. In either situation, treatment options could improve a patient's life expectancy.

Symptoms

Mesothelioma is a rare cancer that most often occurs in the chest lining or abdominal cavity. It is caused by exposure to asbestos, a heat and fire-resistant mineral used in the construction industry, insulation, shipbuilding, power generation, and home renovations before it was banned in the 1970s. The exposure is mostly due to working in the asbestos industry, however, people who have cleaned their work clothes with asbestos fibres or disturbed asbestos in home renovations may also be at risk of developing mesothelioma.

Most mesothelioma patients experience general symptoms, like fatigue or weight loss, coughing with a change in pattern or intensity, chest pain, and the list goes on. Patients should consult their physician if they experience any of these symptoms. Tell your doctor if you have been exposed asbestos.

In pleural asbestosis, symptoms are usually caused by the tumor, causing fluid to accumulate in the region around the lungs. The build-up of fluid, which is known as a "pleural effusion", puts pressure on the lungs, which makes breathing difficult. The volume of fluid that is in the pleural cavity can help improve breathlessness.

Other symptoms of Mesothelioma are the night sweats, a fever and abdominal pain. The reason for the fever is the body's temperature increasing in the fight against the cancer. The body attempts to reduce its temperature by producing night sweats as a reaction to the fever. These symptoms are signs that cancer is worsening and causing stress on the body.

Other symptoms of mesothelioma include fatigue, a swollen stomach and difficulty walking. Mesothelioma can also affect the tissue that surrounds the heart, which can cause difficulty breathing and chest pain. Mesothelioma can also form in the tissue that covers the testicles. This can lead to swelling or the appearance of a lump.

Because mesothelioma is so rare it can be difficult to diagnose early. The symptoms of mesothelioma can be similar to those of other diseases and are often mistaken for a pneumonia or a flu. Because of this, mesothelioma signs can take anywhere from months or even years to manifest before they are properly diagnosed.

Diagnosis


Mesothelioma is a cancer that is difficult to diagnose. Doctors must exclude other conditions that have similar symptoms before diagnosing mesothelioma. Once they have completed this, they will be able to determine the best treatment option for you.

The first step to mesothelioma diagnosis is to have your doctor ask about your symptoms and perform a a physical exam. Your doctor may also order blood tests to see how well your organs are functioning. One such test is the complete blood count (CBC) that examines the amount of white and red blood cells, how your kidneys and liver are working, and other vital information. Mesothelioma cells are often seen in these blood tests, however they can be difficult to detect because they look so similar to normal cells.

If your doctor suspects that you have mesothelioma, they will likely request imaging tests to find the location and extent of any growths or fluid that is forming around the lungs or abdomen. The most frequent test is a chest radiograph. If the test does not reveal any abnormalities, your doctor might recommend more thorough tests, like an CT or MRI.

These tests offer high-resolution images of the body through a combination of radio waves and powerful magnets to produce precise images. They can detect fluid or thickening of the peritoneum and pleura which could indicate mesothelioma. A CT scan can identify other health issues, such as lung infections or pneumonia.

A biopsy can give doctors a better idea about the type of cancer you have. This is the only reliable method of identifying mesothelioma. These samples are examined with a magnifying glass in order to determine the type of mesothelioma, as well as the extent of the cancer's spread.

Certain doctors inject dye into a vein or perform other tests to determine the area of the cancer. This is referred to as mesothelioma staging, and it assists doctors in determining the extent to which the cancer has expanded.

Treatment

Mesothelioma is a form of cancer that is a result of the cells lining the lungs and organs. The cells can grow out of control, forming tumors (masses). The cancer spreads to nearby tissues due to the fact that they do not respond to signals that stop them from growing too quickly. It can also invade the blood vessels that carry oxygen to the lung. This can make breathing difficult and cause a cough.

Doctors diagnose mesothelioma through examining the symptoms of a person and their history of asbestos exposure. They may also order scans and other tests to detect and detect tumors. Chest X-rays, for example, can be used to check lung changes, including pleural thickening and the pleural effusion (fluid build-up). They can also request CT scanning, an MRI or a PET scan to determine the location of the tumors and determine the extent of mesothelioma's spread. They may also take fluid from the lungs (called a Thoracentesis) to determine if mesothelioma is present and relieve pressure on the lungs caused by the accumulation of fluid.

When a mesothelioma diagnosis has been confirmed, doctors can begin planning treatment options to manage the disease. It is essential to discuss your treatment goals with a mesothelioma specialist. Some people want aggressive treatment to extend their lives and improve their chances of survival, while others are comfortable with a less-intensive approach to reduce pain, nausea and other adverse effects.

Treatments for mesothelioma can include chemotherapy, surgery and radiation. The type of treatment that an individual receives is determined by the stage of their mesothelioma, and whether or not it's composed of sarcomatoid or epithelioid cells. Epithelioid cells are easier to remove through surgery, and they have better outcomes than sarcomatoid cells. Certain patients have a combination of both kinds, and they typically have less favorable outcomes than those with epithelioid mesothelioma only.

After treatment is completed, it is important to follow up with your mesothelioma specialist regularly. This can help prevent the cancer from recurring. The mesothelioma treatment team will come up with an updated plan in case it occurs again.

Some patients with mesothelioma are enrolled in clinical trials to test new treatments. Clinical trials give people access to advanced treatments that aren't yet approved for use in general.

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