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Mesothelioma Symptoms and Treatment When mesothelioma first becomes apparent doctors order imaging scans to determine if there are any cancerous growths on the abdomen or chest Mesothelioma can mimic other illnesses such as lung cancer or pneumonia leading to confusion in diagnosis A biopsy will be performed by the doctor to identify mesothelioma There are three main mesothelioma cells which include epithelial Sarcomatoid and biphasic Each type responds to treatment differently and has a different impact on the length of life Diagnosis Doctors will conduct a variety of tests if mesothelioma is suspected These include a chest Xray CT scans and biopsies The Xrays reveal a buildup of fluid to the chests left side This is known as Pleural effusion It is often the first manifestation of mesothelioma Xrays might not be the most reliable method of diagnosis The next step is an chest CT scan which creates an exact picture of your lungs as well as other organs A doctor will inject you with dye to highlight the areas that are cancerous During the CT scanner you will be lying on a mattress and traversed through a doughnutshaped scanner The procedure only takes less than a minute and isnt too uncomfortable even for people who feel claustrophobic In some instances doctors may also perform an MRI test The scans produce highquality pictures made of radio waves and powerful magnetic fields An MRI can be used to determine if there is mesothelioma in the diaphragm and identify its stage Some patients could also have a PET scan wichita mesothelioma attorneys will be given a radioactive color in this test Cancer cells absorb dye more than healthy cells and they will show up more prominently on the images A biopsy is the most definitive test to confirm mesothelioma A doctor will remove a small sample of the lining that is affected that will then be examined under a microscope in order to determine if cancer cells are present This is done with a local anaesthetic It may be accomplished through surgery or by inserting a needle guided by an CT scan If the biopsy results show mesothelioma your doctor will then utilize the results of the other tests to determine its stage This stage defines the severity of mesothelioma as well as which treatment is best for you You can find out more about staging by reading the section in the guide titled Staging Treatment There are several treatment options for mesothelioma Certain treatments can improve the quality of life or prolong life longer than others Patients with mesothelioma must discuss their goals and determine the most effective treatment plan Surgery is one way to treat mesothelioma In this operation surgeons attempt to remove all cancerous tissues However the mesothelioma that is in an advanced stage its unlikely surgeons will be able completely eliminate the tumor In any case surgeons can reduce symptoms The most frequent type of mesothelioma is mesothelioma of the pleura which is formed in the lining around the lungs The mesothelioma can develop around the lungs in a few instances pericardial msothelioma Rarely mesothelioma may affect the testicles Mesothelioma is treatable with chemotherapy and radiation therapy These treatments are usually administered at mesothelioma centers that are specially staffed by mesothelioma specialists with years of experience Chemotherapy employs drugs to kill mesothelioma cells and prevent their growth Pemetrexed and Cisplatin are the standard firstline drug combination for pleural mesothelioma Radiation therapy utilizes highenergy beams that kill cancerous cells This treatment is most often employed in conjunction with other mesothelioma treatments like surgery and chemotherapy This treatment can also be applied to any mesothelioma with a microscopic size left by surgeons following surgery Mesothelioma patients may experience many different adverse effects resulting from these treatments The symptoms include nausea fatigue and hair loss A mesothelioma specialist can help patients choose the right treatment for their individual requirements They can also suggest other ways to improve a patients living quality These include regular Pleural fluid drainage to help alleviate breathing problems or powerful painkillers Patients should inform their physicians know about any other medications such as supplements herbal remedies or prescription drugs This will help to avoid any potentially harmful interactions between these drugs Prognosis Mesothelioma a form of cancer affects mesothelium which is a membrane that lines our bodys cavities such as the chest and abdominal cavity If a person is diagnosed with mesothelioma malignant cells grow in this tissue and can spread to other parts of the body causing symptoms such as pain and difficulty breathing A specialist doctors diagnosis of mesotheliomas is essential because its the first step to receive treatment It could take a number of steps to diagnose mesothelioma which may include a physical examination as well as lab tests and the biopsy A biopsy is a small sample of the tumor or mass to check for mesothelioma A misdiagnosis for mesothelioma may be dangerous since it can delay treatment or worsen the outlook Mesothelioma is difficult to recognize as the symptoms can be similar to lung cancer or other common illnesses like pneumonia or bronchitis Because of this mesothelioma may be mistakenly identified as respiratory disorders The prognosis for mesothelioma is based on the type and stage as well as age general health and medical history The cancer can be treated by surgery chemotherapy and radiation therapy Palliative care is available to patients in order to manage symptoms such as fatigue pain and other signs The mesothelioma staging stage of a patient refers to how the disease has advanced and how much of it has already been spread to other parts of the body A doctor will use their best judgment to determine the staging considering the symptoms and the speed at which the cancer is growing The survival rate for mesothelioma is dependent on the patients stage and type of cancer and the location The prognosis for those diagnosed with less common forms of mesothelioma is poorer Patients with peritoneal msothelioma have an increased chance of living longer because it grows slower in the abdomen than pleural msothelioma that is found in the chest Additionally patients who have a good tolerance for treatment might live longer than those who have an intolerant For instance some individuals with peritoneal cancer have had good results after a combination of surgical removal chemotherapy and radiation Signs and symptoms Asbestos fibers can cause tumors in organs when swallowed inhaled or inhaled Mesothelioma is most often found in the lungs but it can also occur in the chest wall abdomen and testicles in males The signs of mesothelioma generally dont manifest until 4050 years after exposure The first step in determining mesothelioma is to take a detailed background on asbestos exposure Your doctor will then conduct an examination of your body and discuss your symptoms A chest Xray can reveal abnormal growth of the pleura or fluid that is located between the lungs and the chest wall A lung CT scan is also used to detect mesothelioma and other cancers in the lungs You may undergo blood tests to check on the health of your liver and kidneys The doctor could request an chest MRI or an PET scan to look for other possible cancers or mesothelioma in the lungs or the chest wall If a biopsy of the tumor is required doctors will remove it with surgery or by insertion of a needle through the chest wall under local anesthesia The doctor will examine the tissue under a microscope to determine if it is malignant mesothelioma or a different cancer If you are diagnosed with mesothelioma doctors will use the information from all tests to help them assess how advanced the cancer is They will assign an appropriate staging number to the mesothelioma which can be useful in planning your treatment They are not cancerous and they dont have the potential to grow back even if they are surgically removed They typically occur in the pleura as well as in the abdominal lining Mesothelioma that is located in the pericardium can be more difficult to treat as it affects the heart It can also recur following surgery Mesothelioma could also spread to other areas of the body such as the lymph nodes or the bones outside the chest and abdomen It is sometimes difficult to diagnose mesothelioma because of the similarity of symptoms with other conditions that are less serious This can result in incorrect diagnosis and delay treatment The delay can cause more complications and reduce the chances of survival