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Mesothelioma Symptoms and Treatment When mesothelioma signs are first discovered, doctors will request imaging scans to determine if a patient has any possible cancerous growths on their abdomen or chest. Mesothelioma is a common cause of other illnesses like lung cancer, pneumonia, or pneumonia, leading to the wrong diagnosis. Doctors may also conduct a biopsy to identify mesothelioma. There are three main mesothelioma cells: epithelial, sarcomatoid and biphasic. Each type responds to treatment differently and has a distinct impact on the length of life. Diagnosis Doctors will perform several tests if mesothelioma has been suspected. These include a chest X-ray, CT scans and biopsies. The X-ray can reveal the presence of fluid on the chest on one side. This is known as pleural effusion, and it is often the first sign of mesothelioma. However, Xrays aren't the most reliable way to determine the severity of the disease. The next step is the chest CT scan, which creates an accurate picture of your lungs and other organs. A doctor may inject you with a dye that highlights areas that could be cancerous. During the CT scan, you will be passed through a doughnut-shaped scanner while lying on the bed. The procedure takes just minutes and isn't a problem for people who are claustrophobic. In certain instances, a physician will also perform an MRI. These scans create high-quality images made of radio waves and powerful magnetic fields. If you suffer from mesothelioma that affects the diaphragm, an MRI can assist doctors in locating it and determine how advanced it is. Some patients might also undergo a PET scan. In this test, you'll be given a shot of a radioactive dye. Cancer cells absorb the dye more than healthy cells, and they will appear brighter in the images. A biopsy is the most definitive test to confirm mesothelioma. A doctor will take a small amount of the affected lining. The sample will be examined under a microscope for cancerous cells. This can be done under local anaesthesia and by using a CT scan or needle. If the biopsy confirms mesothelioma your doctor will then use the results of the other tests to determine the stage. The stage identifies the extent to which mesothelioma spread and what kinds of treatment are appropriate for you. You can find out more about staging by reading the section on the guide titled Staging. Treatment There are many treatment options for mesothelioma. Certain treatments can improve the quality of life, or extend life longer than others. Patients suffering from mesothelioma should talk about their goals and determine the best treatment plan. Surgery is one way to treat mesothelioma. During this procedure, surgeons attempt to remove all cancerous tissues. However when westland mesothelioma attorney has reached an advanced stage, it's unlikely surgeons will be able to completely eliminate the tumor. But, surgeons are able to reduce symptoms. The most common mesothelioma type is found in the lining of the lung. In rare instances there is a possibility that a person develops mesothelioma that is located in the membrane around the heart (pericardial mesothelioma). Rarely, mesothelioma may affect the testicles. Mesothelioma is treated using radiation and chemotherapy. These treatments are usually provided at mesothelioma centers that are specially staffed by experienced mesothelioma specialists. Chemotherapy is a therapy that employs drugs to kill mesothelioma cancerous cells and stop their growth. The combination of pemetrexed and Cisplatin is the first-line treatment option for pleural mesothelioma. Radiation therapy employs high-energy beams to destroy cancerous cells. This method is often used in conjunction with other mesothelioma treatments, such as surgery and chemotherapy. It is also a method to kill any remaining microscopic mesothelioma that surgeons were unable to remove during surgery. Mesothelioma patients are susceptible to different adverse effects resulting from these treatments. These symptoms include nausea fatigue and hair loss. A mesothelioma specialist can help patients choose the best medication for their needs. They can also suggest other ways to help improve the quality of life of a patient. These include regular lymphatic drainage to ease breathing or strong painkillers. Patients should ensure their medical team knows about any other medications they are taking for example, supplements, herbs or prescription drugs. This will allow them to avoid any potentially hazardous interactions between these drugs. Prognosis Mesothelioma, also known as pleural mesothelioma is a cancerous tumor that affects the membrane that line the body's cavities such as the abdomen and chest cavity. If a person is diagnosed with mesothelioma, malignant cells can grow in the tissue, which can spread to other areas of the body and cause symptoms such as breathing difficulties or pain. A specialist doctor's diagnosis of mesothelioma is vital as it is the first step towards receiving treatment. It may take multiple steps to determine mesothelioma including a physical exam along with lab tests and a biopsy. A biopsy is a small sample taken from the mass or tumor to determine if mesothelioma is present. The wrong diagnosis of mesothelioma can be risky, as it can delay treatment or make it more difficult to predict the outcome. Mesothelioma is difficult to recognize because the symptoms may be similar to lung cancer or other common illnesses such as pneumonia or bronchitis. Because of this, mesothelioma is often misdiagnosed for respiratory conditions. The prognosis for mesothelioma is based on the type and stage, along with age, general health and medical history. The cancer can be controlled through surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Palliative care may be provided for patients to manage symptoms such as fatigue, pain, and other signs and symptoms. The mesothelioma stage is an indication of how much the disease of a patient has spread and how fast it has already progressed. The doctor will employ his or best judgment in determining the stage, taking into account the symptoms and the rate of growth of the cancer. The survival rate for mesothelioma is dependent on the stage, type and location of the cancer. Patients diagnosed with less common types of mesothelioma have a poorer prognosis. Patients suffering from peritoneal mesothelioma for example has a higher probability of living a longer life because it tends to shrink slower in the abdomen than pleural mesothelioma does in the chest. Additionally, those who have a high tolerance for treatment may be more successful than those with lower tolerance. People with peritoneal Msothelioma were able to achieve good results when they combined chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation. Symptoms Asbestos fibers can cause tumors in organs when they are taken inhaled or swallowed. Mesothelioma is most often found in the lung. However it can also be found in the chest, abdomen, and testicles of men. Symptoms of mesothelioma usually don't appear until 40-50 year after exposure. The first step in diagnosing mesothelioma is taking a medical history about asbestos exposure. Your doctor will then conduct 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 from the chest wall. A lung CT scan may also be used to identify mesothelioma as well as other cancers in the lungs. You could have blood tests to check on the health of your liver and kidneys. The doctor might also recommend a chest MRI or an PET scan to look for any other mesothelioma or cancers of the lungs, chest wall or abdomen. If a biopsy is necessary, doctors can take a sample of the tumor by surgery or an instrument that is inserted through the chest wall while under local anesthesia. The doctor will then look at the tissue with microscopes to determine if it is malignant mesothelioma or another cancer. Following a diagnosis of mesothelioma in the future, doctors will utilize the results of all tests to determine how advanced the cancer is. They will assign an appropriate staging number to mesothelioma. This can aid in planning your treatment. Benign mesotheliomas do not cause cancer and can't be regrown when they're completely removed surgically. They typically develop within the pleura and the abdominal lining. Because it affects the heart, mesothelioma that develops in the pericardium might be more difficult to treat. It is also possible to recur after surgery. Mesothelioma is also able to spread to other body parts such as the lymph nodes and bones that are located outside the chest and abdomen. The symptoms of mesothelioma resemble the symptoms of other less serious illnesses. This can make it difficult to identify. This could lead to incorrect diagnosis and delay treatment. A delay can lead to more complications and reduce your chances of survival.