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Mesothelioma Symptoms and Treatment When mesothelioma-related symptoms are first noticed, doctors will order imaging scans to determine whether the patient has potential cancerous growths in their abdomen or chest. Mesothelioma symptoms can be mistaken for other illnesses such as lung cancer or pneumonia. Doctors may also conduct a biopsy to identify mesothelioma. There are three mesothelioma types which include epithelial, Sarcomatoid and biphasic. Each type responds differently to treatment and has an impact on life expectancy. Diagnosis Doctors will conduct a variety of tests when mesothelioma is suspected. This includes a chest X ray, CT scans, and biopsies. The X-ray shows a build-up of fluid on one side of the chest. This is referred to as pleural effusion and is often the first indication of mesothelioma. However, X-rays are not the most reliable method to determine the severity of the disease. The next step is a chest CT scan, which produces an image of your lungs and other organs. A doctor might inject you with a color that highlights areas of cancer that may be present. During the CT scanner, you'll be lying on a bed, and moved through a doughnut scanner. The procedure will take only about a minute and isn't too uncomfortable, even for people who are claustrophobic. In certain situations, a doctor will also perform an MRI test. The scans produce high-quality pictures with radio waves and strong magnetic fields. If you have mesothelioma that affects the diaphragm or the diaphragm, then an MRI can help doctors locate the cancer and determine how advanced it is. Some patients may also have a PET scan. You will receive a radioactive dye during this test. Cancer cells absorb the dye more than healthy cells, so they will appear brighter in the images. A biopsy is the most definitive test to confirm a mesothelioma diagnosis. A doctor will take tiny portions of the affected lining that will then be examined under a microscope in order to determine whether cancerous cells are present. This can be done under local or general anaesthesia and by using a CT scan or needle. The doctor will rely on the results from the other tests to confirm that mesothelioma is present. eau claire mesothelioma attorneys describes how far the mesothelioma has spread and what types of treatment are the most appropriate for you. This guide has a section titled Staging that will give you more information about staging. Treatment There are many treatment options for mesothelioma. Certain treatments can improve the quality of life and prolong life for a longer period of time than other. Patients with mesothelioma must discuss their goals and decide on the most effective treatment plan. Surgery is a method to treat mesothelioma. During this operation surgeons try to eliminate all cancerous tissues. If mesothelioma has reached an advanced stage, doctors may not be able remove the tumor completely. But, surgeons are able to minimize the symptoms. The most prevalent mesothelioma is found in the lining surrounding the lungs. In some instances it is possible for a patient to develop mesothelioma that is located in the membrane around the heart (pericardial mesothelioma). In rare cases there is also the possibility that a person could suffer from mesothelioma of the testicles (testicular mesothelioma). Mesothelioma can be treated with radiation therapy and chemotherapy. These treatments are typically administered by mesothelioma experts in specific centers. Chemotherapy, a treatment, utilizes drugs to kill mesothelioma cancer cells and stop their growth. The combination of pemetrexed with cisplatin is the standard first-line treatment option for pleural mesothelioma. Radiation therapy makes use of high energy beams to kill cancerous cell. This treatment is often used alongside other mesothelioma treatments, like chemotherapy and surgery. This treatment is also used to treat any mesothelioma left behind by the surgeons after surgery. Mesothelioma patients may experience many different side effects from these treatments. These symptoms include nausea fatigue and hair loss. A mesothelioma specialist can help patients choose the right medication that meets their specific needs. They can also suggest other ways to improve a patient’s living quality. This might include regular pleural drainage to ease breathing, or powerful painkillers. Patients should let their doctors know about any other medications, including supplements, herbal remedies or over-the-counter medications. This can help prevent dangers from interactions with these drugs. Prognosis Mesothelioma is a cancer that affects mesothelium which is a membrane that line our body's cavities, such as the abdominal cavity and the chest. If someone develops mesothelioma cells that are malignant form in the mesothelium and expand to other parts of the body, causing symptoms such as discomfort and breathing problems. It is very important to receive a mesothelioma diagnosis from a specialist doctor since this is the first step towards receiving treatment. There are a variety of steps to identify mesothelioma which may include a physical examination and lab tests, as well as biopsy. A biopsy is a small sample of the tumor or mass to determine if it is mesothelioma. Getting a mesothelioma misdiagnosis can be extremely dangerous because it could delay treatment and make it more difficult to predict. Mesothelioma can be difficult to detect because the symptoms are similar to those of lung cancer, bronchitis, or pneumonia. Because of this, mesothelioma is often mistakenly interpreted as a respiratory illness. The prognosis of mesothelioma differs depending on the type and severity of mesothelioma, aswell depending on the patient's age, general health and medical history. There is no cure for mesothelioma, however, the cancer can be controlled through chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation therapy. Palliative care can be provided to patients to manage symptoms like fatigue, pain and other signs. The mesothelioma stage of a person is related to how the disease has advanced and how much has already spread to other parts of the body. The doctor will use his or best judgment in determining the stage, taking into account the symptoms and the rate of growth of the cancer. The chance of survival for mesothelioma depends on the stage of the patient and kind of cancer and its location. The prognosis of patients diagnosed with less prevalent types of mesothelioma is poorer. Patients with peritoneal msothelioma have higher odds of living longer, because it is less invasive in the abdomen as compared to pleural msothelioma that is found in the chest. Patients who have a high tolerance to treatment could also live longer than patients with a low tolerance. For instance, some people with peritoneal cancer have had successful results with a combination of surgical removal, chemotherapy and radiation. Symptoms When asbestos fibers are swallowed or inhaled they adhere to the organ's lining and cause them to grow into tumors. Mesothelioma most commonly occurs in the lungs. However it can also manifest in the chest, abdomen, and testicles of men. Mesothelioma symptoms typically don't show until 40 to 50 years after exposure. The first step to diagnosing mesothelioma involves taking a history of asbestos exposure. The doctor will then conduct a physical exam and review your symptoms. A chest X ray can show abnormal thickening or fluid in the space that separates the lungs from the chest wall. A lung CT scan can also be used to look for mesothelioma and other cancers of the lungs. You may undergo blood tests to check on the health of your kidneys and liver. The doctor might order an chest MRI, or a PET scan to look for any other cancers that could be present or mesothelioma in the lungs or the chest wall. If an examination of the tumor is needed, doctors can remove it through surgery or by inserting a needle through the chest wall while under local anesthesia. The doctor will then examine the tissue under the magnifying glass to determine if the tumor is malignant mesothelioma, or another type of cancer. If you are diagnosed with mesothelioma in the future, doctors will utilize the results of all tests to help them assess how advanced the cancer is. They will assign mesothelioma a staging number, which is useful in the planning of your treatment. Benign mesotheliomas aren't cancerous and will not grow back when they're completely removed surgically. They typically form in the abdominal lining, or pleura. Mesothelioma that is located in the pericardium can be more difficult to treat since it affects the heart. It may also recur after surgery. Mesothelioma can also spread to other areas of the body, like the lymph nodes or bones that are outside the abdomen and chest. It can be hard to recognize mesothelioma due to the similarity of symptoms to other conditions that are not as serious. This can result in mistakes in diagnosis and delay treatment. A delay could lead to more complications and lower your chances of survival.