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Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma occurs when asbestos fibers cause irritation to the tissue that surrounds a lot of your organs. The cancerous cells begin to grow.

The lining of the lung (pleura) is the most common site of mesothelioma. Less-common types affect the abdomen's lining and the tissue around the testicles.

Doctors diagnose mesothelioma by examining a sample of fluid or tissue to detect cancerous cells. They may also request blood tests and imaging tests.

Symptoms

Mesothelioma affects the lining of organs throughout the body. The symptoms can vary based on the location of the tumor, like in the peritoneum or pleura (lung lining) for pleural and peritoneal cancers. Unpredictable fatigue, fever and loss of weight are common symptoms. Mesothelioma symptoms may also include pain or difficulty breathing.

The first step to diagnose mesothelioma is a physical examination. Your doctor will ask you about your past exposure to asbestos and other factors that could increase the risk of developing mesothelioma. This includes a history of working in an industry where asbestos exposure was prevalent, such as manufacturing, shipbuilding or construction.

Most mesothelioma cases are diagnosed by imaging scans of either the chest or abdomen. These include X-rays, CT (computer tomography) scans, and MRI (magnetic resonance imaging). These tests allow doctors to view the inside of your body, and also check for mesothelioma or other masses in the lung or stomach.

The X-rays will reveal a thickening of the pleura or the accumulation of fluid in the lung space and chest wall, which are both common symptoms of pleural mesothelioma. They will also detect any fluid in the abdominal cavity, which is most commonly associated with peritoneal msothelioma.

If a mesothelioma-like mass is found and your doctor orders a biopsy. A biopsy is when your doctor will take a small amount of tissue to test for mesothelioma. A surgeon will inject a needle or perform a surgical procedure to remove the specimen.

For patients with pleural mesothelioma doctors will drain the fluid in the chest cavity with pleurodesis, a procedure. This involves making a small incision in the chest or abdomen and then using a tube to drain the fluid. The buildup of fluid can cause difficulties breathing in patients suffering from mesothelioma of the pleura. Your doctor may recommend an indwelling needle aspirator or an indwelling cathode to manage the buildup of fluid in your pleura.

In rare cases mesothelioma may spread to other areas of the body. This can cause symptoms like abdominal pain, weight loss and difficulty breathing. These are known as metastatic signs, since they are not related to the original tumor.

Diagnosis

In most instances, doctors will conduct a physical exam to evaluate symptoms such as chest discomfort and coughing. Patients will be inquired about exposure to asbestos. They will then order imaging tests to detect lung cancer and abdomen. This could include X-rays CT scans, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), or the positron emission tomography (PET) scans.

Since mesothelioma is a rare cancer, it can be hard for doctors to identify it accurately. Patients with mesothelioma can be wrongly diagnosed with common illnesses like pneumonia and bronchitis. portsmouth mesothelioma lawyer can delay treatment and spread the disease before it is properly detected.

If doctors discover a potential mesothelioma cancer, they'll require a sample of fluid or tissue for testing. These samples will allow them to confirm the type of mesothelioma and whether it has spread to other parts of the body. The biopsy is one method doctors can take mesothelioma specimens. These can be performed by removing a tiny amount of tissue through surgery or inserting an needle in the abdominal or chest region to remove fluid.

The samples will be analyzed to determine whether they contain cancerous cells. The type of mesothelioma the doctor detects will help them determine the best treatment options.

Doctors may also recommend tests on the tumor to determine how the tumor works. These tests can identify genes, proteins and other elements that are unique to the tumor.

The doctors also need to know if the tumor has spread. This is known as staging. This helps them describe the size of the tumor and if it has expanded to other organs.

When all of the tests are completed, the doctor will discuss them with you. They will also provide you with a prognosis. It is based on the typical mesothelioma patients with similar symptoms and stage. They will then explain how the prognosis may change as the tumor expands, shrinks, or other treatments are utilized. If you have questions then seek an opinion from another doctor. This is a great way to ensure you get the best treatment.

Treatment

Being diagnosed with mesothelioma can be only the beginning of a long and difficult road. Treatment options are based on many factors including the type and severity of mesothelioma (how quickly it develops). Doctors will also consider the patient's age, general health and other medical ailments.

It is often difficult to determine mesothelioma's diagnosis, because it is a rare disease. The combination of tests, like chest CT scans and X-rays, are frequently used to confirm the diagnosis of mesothelioma. These imaging studies may reveal changes in the linings of the lungs and abdomen, like pleural thickening or fluid buildup. The blood tests can be done to detect mesothelioma's high levels.

A biopsy is usually performed when mesothelioma is suspected. This involves inserting a needle into the affected area to remove the tissue sample to test. The tissue sample will be examined in a lab to determine if the sample contains any cancer cells.

If a patient is diagnosed with mesothelioma pleural, doctors can remove the excess fluid using a procedure called Thorcentesis. They can also use a procedure called pleurodesis to aid in preventing fluid from building up in the future. Pleurodesis involves inserting tubes inside the chest to remove fluid. It can be used in conjunction with medication to lower the risk that fluid builds up again.

Radiation therapy is a different treatment for mesothelioma, and it can be used as a stand-alone treatment or in conjunction with chemotherapy or surgery. Doctors can choose to use traditional photon radiation, or a more sophisticated method known as intensity-modulated radiotherapy. This is where the radiation is delivered in different angles to reduce damage to healthy tissues.

Chemotherapy uses drugs to kill cancer cells, and it is used prior to or after surgery to make the operation easier. Patients suffering from peritoneal mesothelioma may also receive intraperitoneal chemotherapy, which is heated and injected into the abdomen. Some patients are eligible to participate in clinical trials of new mesothelioma treatments. These are usually done in larger medical centers, and may provide the most promising results. Even after treatment, mesothelioma can occur again. The treatment options are based on the site of the recurrence as well as the treatment options previously used.

Prognosis


The prognosis of mesothelioma depends on a number of factors that include the stage and type of cancer, overall health, and age. It is also dependent on the severity of mesothelioma and how well the treatment will control the symptoms.

A doctor will employ a variety of tests to determine the prognosis of a patient which include imaging tests such as an CT scan or an X-ray, blood tests and biopsy. A biopsy is the process of taking a small sample from the mesothelioma tumor or mesothelioma and examine it under magnifying glasses to search for cancerous cells.

Mesothelioma is a rare cancer that affects the lining of tissues surrounding organs in the body, including the abdominal lining, chest lining, and the tests. It is caused by asbestos exposure.

A mesothelioma diagnose can be shocking and may cause feelings of fear, anger or anxiety. It is important to discuss these feelings with a trusted family member mesothelioma support group, mesothelioma lawyer.

A timely diagnosis of mesothelioma could improve the chances of survival. If doctors are able to remove the tumor completely or a large portion of it, patients have greater chance of having a longer life.

Another aspect is how fit a mesothelioma patient is. Fitness levels are linked to better survival rates for mesothelioma patients. The blood chemistry of a person can also play a role in their mesothelioma prognosis. The more normal one's haemoglobin levels, white blood cell and platelet counts are, the better their prognosis.

A mesothelioma that has not yet reached a critical stage can be treated with radiation therapy, chemotherapy or surgery. These treatments can lower the possibility of cancer cells spreading and growing. However, these treatments do not cure cancer. Many mesothelioma patients have outlived their initial prognosis. Some mesothelioma survivors have lived for decades, or even a decade after their diagnosis. For example, paleontologist Stephen Jay Gould survived his peritoneal mesothelioma for 20 years. He died from cancer unrelated to his mesothelioma.

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