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Mesothelioma Symptoms and Treatment When mesothelioma is first diagnosed doctors request scans of the body to detect any cancerous growths on the chest or abdomen. Mesothelioma symptoms can be misinterpreted as a sign of other illnesses such as pneumonia or lung cancer. A biopsy will be taken by the doctor to diagnose mesothelioma. There are three main mesothelioma cells including epithelial and sarcomatoid. They are also biphasic. Each type responds to treatment differently and has a distinct impact on the length of life. Diagnosis If mesothelioma may be a possibility, doctors will run several tests to confirm the diagnosis. These include chest Xrays, CT scans and biopsies. The Xrays reveal an increase in fluid to the chest's left side. This is known as pleural effusion and it is often the first sign of mesothelioma. However, X-rays may not be the most reliable method to identify the disease. The next step is the chest CT scan, which produces an exact picture of your lungs and other organs. A doctor will inject you with dye to identify any areas that could be cancerous. During the CT scan, you will be taken through a doughnut-shaped scanner while lying on the bed. The procedure takes only some minutes and isn't too uncomfortable for people who are claustrophobic. In some instances the doctor may perform an MRI test. The scans make use of powerful radio waves and magnetic fields to produce high-quality images soft tissues like those in the lungs. An MRI can be used to determine if there is mesothelioma of the diaphragm as well as determine its stage. Some patients may also have an PET scan. You will be given a radioactive dye during this test. Cancer cells absorb the dye more than healthy cells, and they will show up brighter on the images. A biopsy is the last test to confirm the diagnosis of mesothelioma. A doctor will take a small amount of the affected lining. The lining will then be examined under a microscope to detect cancer cells. This is done under local anaesthetic. The procedure can be done through surgery or by inserting an instrument that guides the needle through the aid of a CT scan. If the biopsy confirms mesothelioma your doctor will use the results of the other tests to determine its stage. The stage identifies the extent of the mesothelioma and which treatment is the best for you. Learn more about staging by reading the section on this guide called Staging. Treatment There are many treatment options for mesothelioma. Some treatments may improve the quality of life or prolong life longer than others. Mesothelioma patients must discuss their goals with their medical team to determine the best approach. Surgery is one method to treat mesothelioma. During topeka mesothelioma law firm , surgeons attempt to remove all cancerous tissues. If mesothelioma has reached an advanced stage doctors may not be able remove the cancer completely. Surgery can reduce symptoms. The most commonly-used form of mesothelioma occurs within the lining that surrounds the lungs. In some cases it is possible for a patient to develop mesothelioma in the membrane surrounding the heart (pericardial mesothelioma). In rare cases one may also have mesothelioma affecting the testicles (testicular mesothelioma). Mesothelioma is treatable with radiation therapy and chemotherapy. These treatments are usually administered by mesothelioma experts in specialized centers. Chemotherapy utilizes drugs to kill mesothelioma cancer cells and inhibit their growth. The drug combination of pemetrexed and Cisplatin is a standard first-line treatment for pleural mesothelioma. Radiation therapy makes use of high energy beams to kill cancerous cell. This treatment is most often employed in conjunction with other mesothelioma therapies, such as surgery and chemotherapy. This treatment may also be applied to any mesothelioma with a microscopic size left behind by the surgeons after surgery. Mesothelioma patients are susceptible to diverse side effects as a result from these treatments. These symptoms include nausea, fatigue and hair loss. A mesothelioma specialist can assist patients select the right treatment for their specific needs. They can also recommend alternative ways to improve the quality of life of a patient. This could include regular pleural drainage to help with breathing, or powerful painkillers. Patients should ensure the medical team is aware of any other medications they are taking, including supplements, herbs or prescription medications. This can help prevent risky interactions with these medications. Prognosis Mesothelioma, a form of cancer, affects the mesothelium, a membrane that lines the body's cavities, including the abdominal cavity and chest. If a person is diagnosed with mesothelioma, malignant cells may develop within the tissue, which can spread to other areas of the body, causing symptoms like pain or difficulty breathing. A specialist doctor's diagnosis of mesothelioma is vital because it's the first step to receiving treatment. It could take a number of steps to diagnose mesothelioma, which may include a physical examination along with lab tests and the biopsy. A biopsy is a small sample taken from the tumor or mass to test for mesothelioma. The consequences of a mesothelioma diagnosis error could be very dangerous as it could delay treatment and even worsen the likelihood of a positive outcome. Mesothelioma is difficult to recognize, as the symptoms can mimic lung cancer or common illnesses such as pneumonia or bronchitis. Due to this, mesothelioma is often misdiagnosed for respiratory conditions. The prognosis for mesothelioma varies by the type and stage of mesothelioma, as well depending on the patient's age and general health history. The cancer can be treated by surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. Palliative care is available to patients to manage symptoms like fatigue, pain, and other symptoms. The stage of mesothelioma is an indication of how far a person's disease has spread and how fast it has already advanced. The doctor will employ his or best judgment in determining the stage, taking into consideration the symptoms and the rate of growth of the cancer. The chance of survival for mesothelioma depends on the patient's stage and the type of cancer, and the location. Patients who are diagnosed with less-common types of mesothelioma have a less favorable prognosis. Patients with peritoneal mesothelioma are at greater chances of living longer, because it grows more slowly in the abdomen compared to pleural msothelioma that is found in the chest. Patients who have an increased tolerance to treatment might also have a longer life span than those with less tolerance. For instance, some people with peritoneal mesothelioma have had success with a combination of chemotherapy, surgical removal and radiation. Symptoms When asbestos fibers are swallowed or inhaled they adhere to the organ's lining, and can cause them to form tumors. Mesothelioma is most often found in the lungs. However, it can also occur 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 diagnose mesothelioma begins with taking a history of asbestos exposure. Your doctor will then do an examination of your body and review your symptoms. A chest Xray can reveal abnormal thickening of the pleura and fluid in the space between the lung and the chest wall. A lung CT scan can also be used to identify mesothelioma as well as other lung cancers. A blood test can be ordered to assess how your liver and kidneys are functioning. The doctor might also recommend a chest MRI or an PET scan to check for any other mesothelioma or cancers of the lungs, chest wall or abdomen. If a biopsy of the tumor is required, the doctor can remove it by surgery or by insertion of a needle through the chest wall, while under local anesthesia. The doctor will then examine the tissue using a magnifying glass to determine if it is malignant mesothelioma or another type of cancer. The information from the tests will allow doctors to determine the extent of the cancer after a mesothelioma diagnosis. They will assign mesothelioma a staging number, which can be important in planning your treatment. Benign mesotheliomas aren't cancerous, and will not grow back after they've been completely removed surgically. They typically develop in the pleura as well as in the abdominal lining. Because it affects the heart, mesothelioma that develops in the pericardium may be more difficult to treat. It can also recur after surgery. Mesothelioma may also spread to other body parts, like the bones or lymph nodes in the abdomen and chest. The symptoms of mesothelioma are comparable to the symptoms of other less severe conditions. This can make it difficult to identify. This could lead to a mistaken diagnosis, which can delay treatment. Delay in treatment could cause complications and decrease the chance of surviving.