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Mesothelioma Symptoms and Treatment When the first signs of mesothelioma are observed doctors will conduct imaging scans to determine if a patient has any possible cancerous growths on their chest or abdomen Mesothelioma symptoms may be misinterpreted as a sign of other illnesses like lung cancer or pneumonia Doctors may also conduct an xray to determine mesothelioma There are three major types of mesothelioma cells epithelial epidermal sarcomatoid sarcoma and biphasic Each type responds to treatment differently and has a distinct impact on the length of life Diagnosis If mesothelioma is suspected doctors will run several tests to confirm it These include chest Xrays CT scans and biopsies The Xrays reveal an increase in fluid to the chest on one side This is known as the pleural effusion and is usually the first indication of mesothelioma Xrays arent the most reliable method for diagnosis The next step is the chest CT scan which provides an exact picture of your lungs as well as other organs A doctor could inject you with a dye which will highlight regions of potential cancer During the CT scan youll be taken through a doughnutshaped scanner as you lie on the bed The procedure is only a few minutes and is not particularly uncomfortable even for people who are claustrophobic In certain situations doctors may also conduct an MRI The scans make use of powerful radio waves and magnetic fields to produce highquality images soft tissues including the lungs An MRI can be used to detect mesothelioma in the diaphragm and to determine the stage of the disease Some patients will also undergo a PET scan You will receive a radioactive substance in this test Cancer cells absorb dye more than healthy cells and they will show up more clearly on the pictures A biopsy is the most definitive test to confirm mesothelioma A doctor will remove a portion of the affected lining The lining will then be examined under a microscope to identify cancerous cells This can be done under local anaesthesia and by using a CT scan or a needle If the biopsy results show mesothelioma your doctor will then use the results of other tests to determine the stage This stage defines the severity of mesothelioma as well as which treatment is the best for you Learn more about staging by reading the section in this guide titled Staging Treatment There are a variety of treatment options for mesothelioma Certain treatments can improve the quality of life or prolong the life span of patients longer than other Mesothelioma patients should discuss their goals with their medical team to determine the best method of treatment Surgery is one way to treat mesothelioma Surgeons try to remove all cancerous tissue during this operation However when mesothelioma has reached an advanced stage its unlikely that surgeons will be able to completely eliminate the tumor But surgeons are able to reduce symptoms The most wellknown mesothelioma type is pleural mesothelioma which forms 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 instances it is possible to suffer from mesothelioma of the testicles testicular mesothelioma Mesothelioma is treated using chemotherapy and radiation The treatments are usually provided by mesothelioma experts in specialist centers Chemotherapy is a method of killing mesothelioma tumor cells and stop their growth The combination of pemetrexed with cisplatin is the standard firstline treatment for pleural mesothelioma Radiation therapy uses highenergy beams to kill cancerous cells This treatment is most often utilized in conjunction with other mesothelioma therapies including surgery and chemotherapy It can also be used to kill any remaining microscopic mesothelioma which surgeons failed to remove during surgery These treatments can trigger various adverse effects on patients with mesothelioma These include nausea fatigue and hair loss A mesothelioma doctor can help patients find the best medication to meet their individual requirements They can also recommend other methods to improve the quality of life for patients These could include regular Pleural fluid drainage to help alleviate breathing problems or powerful painkillers Patients should also make sure their medical team knows about any other medications they take for example supplements herbs or prescription medications This will allow them to avoid any potentially harmful interactions between these drugs Prognosis Mesothelioma a form of cancer affects mesothelium which is a membrane that lines the bodys cavities including the chest and abdominal cavity If a person is diagnosed with mesothelioma cells that are malignant form in this tissue and can expand to other parts of the body causing symptoms such as breathing difficulties and pain It is crucial to receive a mesothelioma diagnosis from a specialist physician because this is the first step towards receiving treatment There may be multiple steps to determine if mesothelioma is present which may include a physical examination lab tests and a biopsy fontana mesothelioma lawyer collects a small sample of the tumor or mass to test for mesothelioma A misdiagnosis of mesothelioma can be very risky because it can delay treatment and worsen the prognosis Mesothelioma is often difficult to detect because the symptoms are similar to those of lung cancer bronchitis or pneumonia Because of this mesothelioma can be mistakenly identified as a respiratory issue The prognosis of mesothelioma depends on the type and stage along with the patients age general health and medical history The cancer can be treated by surgery chemotherapy and radiation therapy Patients can also receive palliative treatments to alleviate fatigue pain and other signs The stage of mesothelioma is a measure of how far the disease has spread and how far it has already advanced The doctor will use his or their 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 the location of the cancer The prognosis of patients diagnosed with less frequent types of mesothelioma is less favorable Patients with peritoneal msothelioma stand a higher chance of living longer due to the fact that it is less invasive in the abdomen compared to pleural msothelioma that is found in the chest Additionally those who have a high tolerance for treatment could live longer than those who have a low tolerance Some people with peritoneal msothelioma were able to achieve good results when they combined surgery chemotherapy and radiation Symptoms When asbestos fibers are swallowed or inhaled they adhere to the organs lining and cause them to grow into tumors Mesothelioma is most often found in the lungs However it can also develop in the chest abdomen and testicles of males Symptoms of mesothelioma usually dont show up until about 40 to 50 years after exposure The first step in determining mesothelioma is taking a history of exposure to asbestos Your doctor will then conduct an examination and review your symptoms A chest Xray may reveal abnormal thickening of the pleura and fluid that is located 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 can recommend a chest MRI or an PET scan to look for other possible cancers or mesothelioma in the lungs or chest wall If you are required to take a biopsy of the tumor is required doctors can remove it with surgery or by inserting a needle in the chest wall while under local anesthesia The doctor will then study the tissue with microscopes to determine if it is malignant mesothelioma or another cancer The results 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 is beneficial in planning your treatment Benign mesotheliomas dont cause cancer and cant grow back if they are completely removed surgically They usually develop in the pleura as well as in the abdominal lining Mesothelioma that is located in the pericardium can be more difficult to treat due to the fact that it affects the heart It can also recur following surgery Mesothelioma can also spread to other areas of the body such as the lymph nodes or bones in the abdomen and chest It can be difficult to determine if you have mesothelioma based on the similarity of symptoms to other less serious conditions This can lead misdiagnosis that could delay your treatment Delay can cause more complications and reduce the chance of surviving