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Mesothelioma Symptoms and Treatment When mesothelioma first becomes apparent doctors will order imaging scans to look for any cancerous growths on the chest or abdomen Mesothelioma symptoms can be mistaken for other diseases such as lung cancer or pneumonia A biopsy will be performed by a doctor to determine mesothelioma There are three main mesothelioma cells epithelial sarcomatoid and biphasic Each one responds differently to treatment and impacts the length of life Diagnosis If mesothelioma is suspected doctors will run a variety of tests to confirm it This may include chest X ray CT scans and biopsies cleveland mesothelioma law firm reveal an increase in fluid to the chests left side This is referred to as Pleural effusion It is often the first indication of mesothelioma Xrays arent the most reliable method for diagnosis The next step is an chest CT scan which creates a detailed 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 scan youll be scanned through a doughnutshaped scanner while lying on the bed The procedure takes only a few minutes and isnt particularly uncomfortable even for those who feel claustrophobic In certain instances a doctor might conduct an MRI test These scans create highquality images made of radio waves and powerful magnetic fields An MRI can be used to determine if there is a mesothelioma affecting the diaphragm as well as determine the stage of the disease Some patients will also undergo an PET scan In this test you will be given a shot of a radioactive dye Cancer cells will absorb the dye significantly more than healthy cells which is why they appear brighter in the images A biopsy is the last test to confirm mesothelioma A doctor will remove an infected lining This will be examined under a microscope for cancer cells This can be done under local or general anaesthesia and by using a CT scan or needle If the biopsy results show mesothelioma your doctor will use the results of the other tests to determine its stage This stage describes how far the mesothelioma has spread and what kinds of treatment are most suitable for you You can find out more about staging by reading the section in this guide titled Staging Treatment A variety of treatment options are available for mesothelioma There are a variety of treatment options available Certain treatments can improve the quality of life or prolong life for longer than others Patients suffering from mesothelioma should talk about their goals and determine the best treatment plan Surgery is a method to treat mesothelioma In this operation surgeons attempt to remove all cancerous tissues If mesothelioma has progressed to an advanced stage the doctors may not be able to eliminate the tumor completely But surgeons are able to reduce symptoms The most wellknown mesothelioma type is pleural mesothelioma which forms in the lining of the lungs The mesothelioma can develop around the heart in some instances pericardial msothelioma In rare instances mesothelioma could affect the testicles Mesothelioma is treated by chemotherapy and radiation The treatments are usually provided by mesothelioma experts at specific centers Chemotherapy is a treatment that utilizes drugs to kill mesothelioma cancerous cells and stop their growth Pemetrexed and Cisplatin are the standard firstline drug combination for pleural mesothelioma Radiation therapy uses high energy beams to kill cancerous cells This method is often used in conjunction with other mesothelioma therapies including surgery and chemotherapy It can also be used to kill any residual microscopic mesothelioma that surgeons were unable to remove during surgery Mesothelioma patients can experience many diverse side effects as a result from these treatments These include nausea fatigue and loss A mesothelioma doctor can help patients find the best medication that meets their specific requirements They can also suggest other ways to enhance a patients quality of life This can include regular drainage of the pleura to ease breathing or strong painkillers Patients should inform their doctor know about any other medications such as herbal remedies supplements or overthecounter medications This will ensure that there arent any potentially harmful interactions between these medications Prognosis Mesothelioma is a cancer that affects mesothelium which is a membrane that line our bodys cavities such as the abdominal and chest cavity When someone is diagnosed with mesothelioma malignant cells may develop within the tissue which can spread to other areas of the body causing symptoms like breathing difficulties or pain It is very important to receive a mesotheliomarelated diagnosis from a specialist physician because this is the first step in receiving treatment It may take multiple steps to diagnose mesothelioma which may include a physical examination along with lab tests and biopsy A biopsy is a small 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 make it more difficult to predict the outcome Mesothelioma is often difficult to detect because the symptoms are similar to those of lung cancer bronchitis or pneumonia Due to this mesothelioma may be mistakenly identified as respiratory disorders The outlook for mesotheliomas patients is contingent on the type and stage along with age general health and medical history There is no cure for mesothelioma but the cancer can be treated with chemotherapy surgery and radiation therapy Palliative care is available to patients in order to manage symptoms like fatigue pain and other symptoms The stage of mesothelioma is an indication of how much a persons disease has spread and how much it has already advanced A doctor will employ their best judgment to determine the staging considering the symptoms and how quickly the cancer is growing The chance of survival for mesothelioma depends on the patients stage the type of cancer and the location The prognosis for those diagnosed with less common types of mesothelioma are less favorable Patients with peritoneal mesothelioma for example have a better chance of surviving longer due to the fact that it is more likely to grow faster in the abdomen than pleural mesothelioma does in the chest In addition patients who have a good tolerance for treatment can live longer than patients with an intolerant For instance a few patients with peritoneal cancer have had success with the combination of surgical removal chemotherapy and radiation Symptoms Asbestos fibers can cause cancer in organs when they are inhaled or swallowed Mesothelioma most commonly occurs in the lungs However it can also manifest in the chest abdomen and testicles in men The signs of mesothelioma generally dont manifest until 4050 years after exposure The first step to diagnose mesothelioma involves taking a medical history of exposure to asbestos The doctor will then conduct a physical exam and review your symptoms A chest Xray may detect abnormal thickening or fluid in the space that separates the lungs and the chest wall A lung CT scan is also used to detect mesothelioma and other lung cancers You can have blood tests done to check on the health of your liver and kidneys The doctor may require an chest MRI or an PET scan to check for any other cancers that could be present or mesothelioma in the lungs or chest wall If a biopsy of the tumor is required the doctor can remove it through surgery or by inserting a needle in the chest wall under local anesthesia The doctor will examine the tissue with an magnifying glass to determine if this is malignant mesothelioma or a different type of cancer If you are diagnosed with mesothelioma by a doctor they will utilize the information from all tests to help them assess how advanced the cancer is They will assign a staging number to mesothelioma that can be useful in planning your treatment Benign mesotheliomas arent cancerous and wont recur when theyre completely removed surgically They typically occur 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 is also possible to recur after surgery Mesothelioma may also spread to other parts of the body such as the lymph nodes and bones located outside the chest and abdomen It is sometimes difficult to diagnose mesothelioma because of the similarity of symptoms with other conditions that are not as serious This could lead to incorrect diagnosis and delay treatment A delay could lead to more complications and decrease the chance of surviving