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Mesothelioma Symptoms and Treatment When the first signs of mesothelioma are observed doctors will conduct imaging scans to determine whether a patient has potential cancerous growths in their abdomen or chest Mesothelioma can mimic other illnesses like lung cancer or pneumonia and can cause misdiagnosis Doctors may also conduct a biopsy to identify mesothelioma There are three primary types of mesothelioma cells epithelial epidermal the sarcomatoid sarcoma and biphasic Each type responds to treatment differently and has a different impact on the length of life Diagnosis If mesothelioma is suspected doctors will run several tests to confirm the diagnosis This may include chest Xrays CT scans and biopsies The Xray shows the accumulation of fluid on one side of the chest This is called Pleural effusion It is often the first manifestation of mesothelioma However Xrays arent the most reliable method to diagnose the condition The next step is an chest CT scan which produces an exact picture of your lungs and other organs A doctor will inject you with a dye to identify the areas that are cancerous During the CT scan youll be scanned through a doughnutshaped scanner as you lie on the bed The procedure only takes several minutes and is not uncomfortable for people who are claustrophobic In certain instances doctors will also conduct an MRI The scans produce highquality images made of radio waves and powerful magnetic fields If you have a mesothelioma that affects the diaphragm or the diaphragm an MRI will help doctors find it and determine how advanced it is Some patients may also have a PET scan In this test you will be given a shot an irradiated dye Cancer cells absorb dye more than healthy cells so they will show up brighter on 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 to identify cancer cells This can be done under local anaesthesia or by using a CT scan or a needle Your doctor will consider the results from other tests to determine that mesothelioma has been diagnosed The stage identifies the extent of the mesothelioma and what treatment is best for you Learn more about staging by reading the section in this guide titled Staging Treatment There are many treatment options for mesothelioma Certain treatments can improve the quality of life and prolong life for a longer period of time than other Mesothelioma patients should discuss their goals with their medical team to determine the most effective method Surgery is one option to treat mesothelioma During this operation surgeons try to eliminate all cancerous tissues However when mesothelioma has reached an advanced stage its unlikely that surgeons will be able completely eliminate the tumor The surgeons can nevertheless reduce the symptoms The most commonlyused form of mesothelioma occurs in the lining of the lung In certain instances it is possible for a patient to develop mesothelioma that is located in the membrane around the heart pericardial mesothelioma Rarely mesothelioma affects the testicles Mesothelioma can be treated with radiation therapy and chemotherapy These treatments are typically delivered in mesothelioma clinics that are specialized by mesothelioma specialists with years of experience Chemotherapy is a treatment that uses drugs to kill the mesothelioma cells and stop their growth Pemetrexed and Cisplatin are the most commonly used firstline drugs for pleural msothelioma Radiation therapy employs highenergy beams to kill cancerous cells This treatment is often used in conjunction with other mesothelioma treatments like chemotherapy and surgery It can also be used to kill any remaining microscopic mesothelioma which surgeons could not remove during surgery new jersey mesothelioma attorneys can cause a variety of side consequences for patients suffering from mesothelioma These symptoms include nausea fatigue and hair loss A mesothelioma expert can assist patients choose the best treatment for their specific needs They can also suggest different ways to enhance the quality of life of a patient These could include regular drainage of the pleural fluid to alleviate breathing problems or powerful painkillers Patients should let their doctors know about any other medications for example herbal remedies supplements or prescription drugs This helps avoid dangerous interactions with these drugs Prognosis Mesothelioma is a cancer that affects the mesothelium which is a membrane that lines the bodys cavities including the chest and abdominal cavity When someone is diagnosed with mesothelioma cancerous cells can develop in the tissue which can extend to other areas of the body causing symptoms like pain or difficulty breathing A specialist doctors diagnosis of mesothelioma is crucial since it is the initial step to receiving treatment There are a variety of steps to determine if mesothelioma is present which may include a physical examination lab tests and biopsy A biopsy takes a small sample of the tumor or mass to determine if it is mesothelioma The consequences of a mesothelioma diagnosis error is extremely risky as it can delay treatment and even worsen the likelihood of a positive outcome Mesothelioma can be difficult to identify because the symptoms are similar to those of lung cancer pneumonia or bronchitis Because of this mesothelioma could be mistakenly identified as respiratory disorders The prognosis of mesothelioma depends on the stage and type along with age general health and medical history The cancer can be treated by chemotherapy surgery and radiation therapy Palliative care is available to patients in order to treat symptoms such as fatigue pain and other symptoms A persons mesothelioma stage refers to how far the disease has progressed and how much has already expanded to other parts of the body The doctor will use his or her best judgment when determining the stage taking into consideration the symptoms and the rate of growth of the cancer The rate of survival for mesothelioma varies based on the stage and type as well as the location of the cancer Those diagnosed with the lesscommon types of mesothelioma have poorer prognosis Patients who have peritoneal mesothelioma have a higher chance of living longer because it grows more slowly in the abdomen compared to pleural msothelioma that is found in the chest Patients with high tolerance to treatment could also live longer than those with a low tolerance For instance some people with peritoneal mesothelioma have had success with the combination of chemotherapy surgical removal and radiation Symptoms When asbestos fibers are inhaled or swallowed they stick to the lining of organs and can cause them to form tumors Mesothelioma is most prevalent in the lungs however it can also be found in the chest wall abdomen and testicles in men Mesothelioma symptoms usually dont manifest until 4050 years after exposure The first step to diagnose mesothelioma is to take a history of exposure to asbestos The doctor will then conduct an examination of your body and review your symptoms A chest Xray can show abnormal swelling of the pleura or fluid that is located between the lung and the chest wall A lung CT scan can also be used 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 may also order a chest MRI or an PET scan to look for any other mesothelioma or cancers of the lungs chest wall or abdomen If a biopsy is needed doctors can remove a sample of the tumor by surgery or with the use of a needle through the chest wall while under local anesthesia The doctor will examine the tissue under microscope to determine if it is malignant mesothelioma or another cancer Following a diagnosis of mesothelioma by a doctor they will utilize the information from all tests to determine how advanced the cancer is They will assign a staging number for mesothelioma This will be helpful for planning your treatment They are not cancerous and they wont recur if surgically removed They typically occur in the abdominal lining of the pleura Mesothelioma in the pericardium is more difficult to treat since it affects the heart It may also recur after surgery Mesothelioma can also spread other areas of the body such as lymph nodes that are outside the chest and abdomen It can be difficult to determine if you have mesothelioma based on the similarity of symptoms to other conditions that are not as serious This can lead to mistaken diagnosis which can delay treatment In the meantime delay in treatment can result in complications and reduce the chance of surviving