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Mesothelioma Symptoms and Treatment When mesothelioma is first diagnosed doctors may order imaging scans to determine if there are any cancerous growths on the abdomen or chest Mesothelioma can mimic other illnesses like lung cancer or pneumonia and can cause confusion in diagnosis A biopsy will be performed by the doctor to diagnose mesothelioma There are three primary mesothelioma cell types which include epithelial epidermal sarcomatoid sarcoma and biphasic Each type responds to treatment differently and has a different impact on life expectancy Diagnosis Doctors will run several tests if mesothelioma is suspected These include chest Xrays CT scans and biopsies The Xray shows the accumulation of fluid on one side of the chest This is called an effusion of the pleura and is usually the first manifestation of mesothelioma Xrays may not be the most reliable method for diagnosis A chest CT scan is the next step This produces a precise image of your organs and lungs A doctor can inject you with a color that will reveal areas of cancer that may be present During the CT scan you will be taken through a doughnutshaped scanner as you lie on a bed The procedure takes just some minutes and isnt uncomfortable for those who suffer from claustrophobia In certain instances the doctor may also conduct an MRI These scans use strong magnetic fields and radio waves to produce highquality images of soft tissues such as the lungs An MRI can be used to detect mesothelioma in the diaphragm and identify its stage Some patients will also undergo an PET scan You will be given a radioactive dye during this test Cancer cells absorb the dye more than healthy cells Therefore they will appear brighter in the images A biopsy is the most definitive test to confirm mesothelioma A doctor will take a sample of the affected lining It will be examined under a microscope to detect cancer cells This can be done under local or general anaesthesia and by using a CT scan or a needle If the biopsy confirms mesothelioma the doctor will then consider the results of other tests to determine the stage The stage identifies how far mesothelioma has spread and what kinds of treatment are appropriate for you Learn more about staging by reading the section on the guide titled Staging Treatment There are a variety of treatment options for mesothelioma Some can improve the quality of life and prolong life for a longer amount of time than other Mesothelioma patients must discuss their goals with their medical team to determine the most effective approach Surgery can be used to treat mesothelioma During this procedure surgeons attempt to remove all cancerous tissues If mesothelioma has reached an advanced stage the doctors may not be able to eliminate the tumor completely Surgeons can still reduce the symptoms mission viejo mesothelioma attorneys encountered type of mesothelioma is mesothelioma that is found in the lining surrounding the lungs In rare instances there is a possibility that a person develops mesothelioma that is located in the membrane around the heart pericardial mesothelioma In rare instances one may also suffer from mesothelioma that affects the testicles testicular mesothelioma Mesothelioma is treated with radiation and chemotherapy These treatments are typically administered by mesothelioma experts at specialist centers Chemotherapy is a therapy that uses drugs to kill the mesothelioma cancer cells and stop their growth Cisplatin and pemetrexed are the standard firstline drug combination for pleural mesothelioma Radiation therapy uses high energy beams to kill cancerous cell This method is often used in combination with other mesothelioma treatments including surgery and chemotherapy This treatment can also be applied to any mesothelioma that is microscopic left behind by the surgeons after surgery Mesothelioma patients may experience many different side effects from these treatments These symptoms include nausea fatigue and hair loss A mesothelioma expert can help patients choose the right medication that meets their specific needs They may also suggest other ways to improve a patients quality of living These could include regular drainage of the pleural fluid to ease breathing or strong painkillers Patients should also ensure that the medical team is aware of any other medications they take for example supplements herbs or prescription drugs This will help to avoid any potentially harmful interactions between these drugs Prognosis Mesothelioma also known as pleural mesothelioma is a cancerous tumor that affects the membrane that surrounds the internal cavities of our bodies such as the abdomen and chest cavity If someone develops mesothelioma malignant cells form in this tissue and spread to other parts of the body and cause symptoms like pain and difficulty breathing It is essential to receive a mesotheliomarelated diagnosis from a specialist doctor since this is the initial step to receiving treatment There may be multiple steps to identify mesothelioma which may include a physical examination lab tests and biopsy A biopsy is a small sample of the tumor or mass to determine if it is mesothelioma If you are misdiagnosed with mesothelioma it could be very dangerous as it could delay treatment and make it more difficult to predict Mesothelioma can be difficult to diagnose 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 for mesothelioma is based on the type and stage along with age general health and medical history There is no cure for mesothelioma but the cancer can be controlled with chemotherapy surgery and radiation therapy Patients can also receive palliative care to ease pain fatigue and other symptoms The mesothelioma stage is an indication of the extent to which the disease has spread and how far it has already advanced The doctor will make use of his or his 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 contingent on the stage type and location of the cancer The prognosis of patients diagnosed with less common forms of mesothelioma is less favorable Patients with peritoneal msothelioma have higher odds of living longer because it grows slower in the abdomen compared to mesothelioma pleural in the chest Patients who have an increased tolerance to treatment can live longer than those with lower tolerance People with peritoneal Msothelioma have had excellent results when they combined chemotherapy surgery and radiation Signs and symptoms Asbestos fibers can cause cancer in organs if they are taken inhaled or swallowed Mesothelioma is most common in the lungs but it can also develop in the chest wall abdomen and testicles in males Mesothelioma symptoms are usually not evident until 40 to 50 years after exposure The first step in diagnosing mesothelioma is taking a history of exposure to asbestos Your doctor will conduct an examination and review your symptoms A chest Xray can 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 check for mesothelioma or other cancers of the lungs A blood test can be ordered to determine how your liver and kidneys are working The doctor might also recommend a chest MRI or an PET scan to look for other mesotheliomarelated cancers or mesothelio of the chest wall lungs or abdomen If you are required to take a biopsy of the tumor is required the doctor can remove it by surgery or by inserting a needle in the chest wall while under local anesthesia The doctor will then study the tissue with microscope to determine if it is malignant mesothelioma or another cancer The information from the tests will help doctors determine the extent of the cancer after a mesothelioma diagnosis They will assign a mesothelioma staging number which is useful in the planning of your treatment They arent cancerous and they wont recur when surgically removed They usually form in the abdominal lining or pleura Because it affects the heart mesothelioma that occurs in the pericardium could be more difficult to treat It can also recur following surgery Mesothelioma can also spread other areas of the body such as the lymph nodes or bones outside the chest and abdomen It can be difficult to diagnose mesothelioma because of the similarity of symptoms with other less serious conditions This can lead incorrect diagnosis which may delay your treatment Delay can cause more complications and reduce your chances of survival