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Mesothelioma Symptoms and Treatment When mesothelioma first becomes apparent doctors order imaging scans to look for any cancerous growths on the chest or abdomen Mesothelioma symptoms can be misinterpreted as other illnesses such as pneumonia or lung cancer Doctors can also take a biopsy to diagnose mesothelioma There are three main mesothelioma cells epithelial sarcomatoid and biphasic Each type responds to treatment differently and has a distinct impact on life expectancy Diagnosis Doctors will run several tests if mesothelioma has been suspected This may include chest X ray CT scans and biopsies The Xrays reveal an increase in fluid to the chest on one side This is known as pleural effusion and it is often the first indication of mesothelioma However Xrays arent the most reliable way to identify the disease A chest CT scan is the next step It creates a clear image of your organs and lungs A doctor might inject you with a color which will highlight areas of cancer that may be present During the CT scanner you will be lying on a bed and moved through a doughnut scanner The procedure takes only minutes and isnt a problem for those who feel claustrophobic In certain instances doctors will also conduct an MRI These scans use strong radio waves and magnetic fields to create highquality pictures of soft tissues like the lungs If you have a mesothelioma of the diaphragm an MRI can assist doctors in locating it and determine how advanced it is Certain patients might also require a PET scan In this test youll be given a shot of radioactive dye Cancer cells absorb dye more than healthy cells and they will appear more clearly on the pictures A biopsy is the most definitive test to confirm mesothelioma A doctor will take tiny portions of the affected lining which will be examined under a microscope to see whether cancerous cells are present This can be done under local or general anaesthesia and by using the CT scan or a needle Your doctor will use the results from the other tests to determine that you have mesothelioma This stage describes the extent of the mesothelioma and what treatment is best for you You can find out more about staging by reading the section on the guide titled Staging Treatment There are a variety of treatment options available for mesothelioma Some can improve the quality of life and extend the life span of time than others Patients suffering from mesothelioma should talk about their goals and figure out the best treatment option Surgery can be used to treat mesothelioma Surgeons strive to remove all cancerous tissue during the procedure However if mesothelioma is in an advanced stage its unlikely surgeons will be able completely eliminate the tumor In any case surgeons can reduce the symptoms The most common form of mesothelioma occurs within the lining that surrounds the lungs 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 is treated by radiation and chemotherapy These treatments are typically administered by experts in mesothelioma at specialist centers Chemotherapy is a therapy that employs drugs to kill mesothelioma cancer cells and stop their growth The combination of pemetrexed with Cisplatin is a standard firstline treatment of pleural mesothelioma Radiation therapy employs highenergy beams of energy to kill cancerous cells This procedure is usually used in conjunction with other mesothelioma treatment like surgery or chemotherapy This treatment is also used for any microscopic mesothelioma left by surgeons following surgery Mesothelioma patients can experience many different side effects as a result of these treatments These symptoms include nausea fatigue and hair loss A mesothelioma expert can assist patients choose the best medication for their requirements They may also suggest other ways to enhance a patients living quality kentucky mesothelioma attorney may 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 take including supplements herbal remedies or overthecounter drugs This will help avoid potentially harmful interactions with these drugs Prognosis Mesothelioma a form of cancer affects the mesothelium which is a membrane that line our bodys cavities such as the chest and abdominal cavity When someone is diagnosed with mesothelioma malignant cells may develop within the tissue which can be spread to other parts of the body They can also cause symptoms such as breathing difficulty or pain A specialist doctors diagnosis of mesotheliomas importance because its the first step to receive treatment There may be multiple steps to identify mesothelioma which may include a physical examination along with lab tests and biopsy A biopsy is a small sample of the tumor or mass to test for mesothelioma A misdiagnosis of mesothelioma can be dangerous as it can delay treatment or worsen the outlook Mesothelioma is difficult to diagnose because the symptoms can mimic lung cancer or common illnesses like pneumonia or bronchitis Because of this mesothelioma is frequently mistakenly identified as a respiratory issue The prognosis of mesothelioma differs depending on the type and stage of mesothelioma as well as the patients age and general health history There is no cure for mesothelioma but the cancer can be treated with chemotherapy surgery and radiation therapy Patients can also receive palliative treatments to alleviate fatigue pain and other signs The mesothelioma stage is an indication of how much the disease has spread and how much it has already advanced The doctor will apply his or his best judgment when determining the stage taking into account the symptoms and the rate of growth of the cancer The rate of survival for mesothelioma depends on the stage and type as well as the location of the cancer Those diagnosed with the lesscommon mesothelioma types have a poorer prognosis Patients with peritoneal mesothelioma for example has a higher probability of living longer because it is more likely to grow faster in the abdomen than pleural mesothelioma does in the chest Patients who have a high tolerance to treatment might also live longer than those with less tolerance For instance a few patients with peritoneal mesotheliomas have had success with a combination of chemotherapy surgical removal and radiation Signs and symptoms Asbestos fibers can create tumors in organs if they are taken inhaled or swallowed Mesothelioma is most often found in the lungs However it can also occur in the abdomen chest and testicles in men Mesothelioma symptoms typically dont show until 40 to 50 years after exposure The first step to diagnose mesothelioma involves taking a medical history of exposure to asbestos Your doctor will perform physical examination and then examine your symptoms A chest Xray could show abnormal thickening or fluid in the space that separates the lungs from the chest wall A lung CT scan is also used to identify mesothelioma as well as other cancers in the lungs Blood tests can be conducted to determine how your liver and kidneys are functioning The doctor could also suggest an abdominal MRI or an PET scan to look for other mesotheliomarelated cancers or mesothelio of the chest wall lungs or abdomen If a biopsy is needed doctors can remove a sample of the tumor by surgery or with a needle that is inserted through the chest wall under local anesthesia The doctor will examine the tissue with a magnifying glass to determine whether it is malignant mesothelioma or another type of cancer When youve been diagnosed with mesothelioma by a doctor they will utilize the information from all tests to determine how advanced the cancer is They will assign mesothelioma a staging number which can be helpful in planning your treatment Benign mesotheliomas arent cancerous and cant grow back after theyve been completely removed surgically They typically occur in the abdominal lining of the pleura Mesothelioma in the pericardium is more difficult to treat because it affects the heart It may also recur after surgery Mesothelioma may also spread to other areas of the body like the lymph nodes or bones that are outside the abdomen and chest It can be hard to identify mesothelioma due the similarity of symptoms to other less serious conditions This could lead to incorrect diagnosis and delay treatment A delay can lead to more complications and lower the chances of survival