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Mesothelioma Symptoms and Treatment When mesothelioma is first diagnosed doctors may order imaging scans to check for any cancerous growths on the abdomen or chest. Mesothelioma symptoms can be mistaken for other illnesses such as lung cancer or pneumonia. Doctors may also conduct a biopsy to diagnose mesothelioma. There are three main types of mesothelioma cells which include epithelial (epidermal), the sarcomatoid (sarcoma) and biphasic. Each type responds to treatment differently and has a distinct impact on the length of life. Diagnosis Doctors will conduct a variety of tests if mesothelioma was suspected. This includes chest X-rays, CT scans and biopsies. The X-ray reveals an accumulation of fluid on the chest's left side. This is known as the pleural effusion, and is usually the first indication of mesothelioma. X-rays might not be the most reliable method of diagnosis. The next step is a chest CT scan, which will give you a an exact picture of your lungs and other organs. A doctor will inject you with dye to highlight any areas that could be cancerous. During the CT scan, you will be passed through a doughnut-shaped scanner while lying on a bed. The procedure takes just some minutes and isn't uncomfortable for those who are claustrophobic. In certain situations doctors will also conduct an MRI. These scans use strong radio waves and magnetic fields to produce high-quality images of soft tissues, including lung tissues. If you have mesothelioma that affects the diaphragm, an MRI can help doctors locate it and determine how advanced it is. Some patients could also have a PET scan. You will be given a radioactive dye in this test. Cancer cells absorb the dye more than healthy cells. Therefore, they will appear more clearly on the pictures. A biopsy is the most definitive test to confirm the diagnosis of mesothelioma. A doctor will remove tiny portions of the lining affected, which will be examined under a microscope to determine whether cancerous cells are present. The procedure is performed under local anaesthetic. It can be done through surgery or by inserting an instrument that guides the needle through the aid of a CT scan. Your doctor will consider the results of other tests if the biopsy confirms that mesothelioma is present. The stage identifies the extent of the mesothelioma, and what treatment is best for you. This guide includes a section titled Staging that will give you more information about staging. Treatment There are a variety of treatment options for mesothelioma. Certain treatments can improve the quality of life and prolong life for a longer amount of time than others. Mesothelioma patients should discuss their goals with their medical team to determine the most effective approach. Surgery is one method to treat mesothelioma. During this procedure, surgeons attempt to remove all cancerous tissues. If mesothelioma reaches an advanced stage doctors may not be able to remove the cancer completely. However, surgeons can manage to reduce symptoms. The most common mesothelioma type is found in the lining around the lungs. A person can develop mesothelioma around the heart in some cases (pericardial mesothelioma). In rare instances one may also suffer from mesothelioma of the testicles (testicular mesothelioma). Mesothelioma can be treated using chemotherapy and radiation therapy. These treatments are usually delivered by mesothelioma experts in special centers. Chemotherapy is a method of treatment that employs drugs to kill mesothelioma cancerous cells and stop their growth. The drug combination of pemetrexed and cisplatin is the standard first-line treatment for pleural mesothelioma. Radiation therapy utilizes high-energy beams to kill cancerous cells. This procedure is typically used in conjunction with other mesothelioma treatments such as chemotherapy and surgery. This procedure can also be applied to any mesothelioma that is microscopic left behind by the surgeons after surgery. These treatments can have many adverse consequences for patients suffering from mesothelioma. They may experience nausea, fatigue and loss. A mesothelioma expert can help a patient choose the right medication for their requirements. They can also suggest other ways to help improve the quality of life of a patient. This could include regular drainage of the pleura to ease breathing, or powerful painkillers. Patients should also ensure that their medical team knows about any other medications they are taking for example, supplements, herbs or prescription medications. This will help to avoid any potentially dangerous interactions between these medications. Prognosis Mesothelioma, also referred to as mesothelioma pleural is a cancerous tumor that affects the membrane that forms the cavities of our bodies such as the abdomen and chest cavity. If a person is diagnosed with mesothelioma, malignant cells develop in this tissue and can grow to other parts of the body and cause symptoms like difficulty breathing and pain. It is vital to receive a mesothelioma-related diagnosis by a specialist physician since this is the first step in receiving treatment. Mesothelioma can be diagnosed in different ways, such as a physical examination, lab tests, and biopsy. A biopsy is a tiny sample taken from the tumor or mass to check for mesothelioma. The wrong diagnosis of mesothelioma can be dangerous, as it can delay treatment or worsen the prognosis. Mesothelioma can be difficult to recognize because the symptoms are similar to those of lung cancer, pneumonia, or bronchitis. Because of this, mesothelioma is often misdiagnosed as a respiratory condition. The prognosis of mesothelioma depends on the type and stage, as well as age, general health, and medical history. There is no cure for mesothelioma, however, the cancer can be controlled with chemotherapy, surgery, or radiation therapy. Palliative care can be provided to patients in order to control symptoms such as fatigue, pain, and other signs. The mesothelioma stage is a measure of how far a person's disease has spread and how much it has already progressed. The doctor will use his or his best judgment when determining the stage, taking into account the symptoms and the rate of growth of the cancer. The survival rate of mesothelioma is dependent on the stage and type as well as the location of the cancer. Patients diagnosed with less well-known types of mesothelioma have a poorer prognosis. Patients suffering from peritoneal mesothelioma for instance has a higher probability of living longer because it is more likely to grow faster in the abdomen than mesothelioma that is pleural in the chest. In addition, patients who have a high tolerance for treatment might live longer than those with an intolerant. A few patients with peritoneal mesothelioma have had excellent results when they combined surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. Symptoms When asbestos fibers are inhaled or swallowed they adhere to the organ's lining and can cause them to form tumors. Mesothelioma is most prevalent in the lungs, but it can also manifest in the chest wall, abdomen and testicles (in men). Mesothelioma symptoms usually don't manifest until 40 to 50 years after exposure. The first step in determining mesothelioma is taking a medical history about asbestos exposure. Your doctor will then perform a physical exam and review your symptoms. A chest X ray can reveal abnormal thickening of the lungs or fluid in the space that separates the lungs from the chest wall. A lung CT scan can be utilized to check for mesothelioma, or other cancers of the lungs. You can have blood tests done to assess the health of your kidneys and liver. The doctor might request an chest MRI or an PET scan, to check for other possible cancers or mesothelioma in the lungs or the chest wall. If it is determined that a biopsy is required, doctors can remove it by surgery or by inserting a needle in the chest wall while under local anesthesia. The doctor will examine the tissue with the magnifying glass to determine if it is malignant mesothelioma or a different type of cancer. The results from the tests will allow doctors to determine the extent of the mesothelioma after a diagnosis. They will assign a staging number to mesothelioma. This will be useful in planning your treatment. Benign mesotheliomas don't cause cancer and can't be regrown after they've been completely removed surgically. clovis mesothelioma lawyer form in the abdominal lining of the pleura. Because it affects the heart, mesothelioma which develops in the pericardium might be more difficult to treat. It may also recur after surgery. Mesothelioma can also spread other parts of the body such as the lymph nodes or bones in the abdomen and chest. The symptoms of mesothelioma are comparable to those of other, less serious conditions. This can make it difficult to recognize. This could lead to confusion and delay treatment. Delay can cause more complications and decrease the chances of survival.