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Mesothelioma Symptoms and Treatment When mesothelioma is first diagnosed doctors order imaging scans to look for any cancerous growths on the chest or abdomen Mesothelioma signs can be mistaken for other diseases like pneumonia or lung cancer Doctors will also take an xray to determine mesothelioma There are three primary mesothelioma cell types that are epithelial epidermal and the sarcomatoid sarcoma and biphasic Each type responds differently treatment and has an impact on life expectancy Diagnosis Doctors will run several tests if mesothelioma was suspected These include a chest Xray CT scans and biopsies The Xray shows a buildup of fluid on one side of the chest This is referred to as pleural effusion and is often the first sign of mesothelioma However Xrays may not be the most reliable method to determine the severity of the disease A chest CT scan is the next step This will create a detailed image of your organs and lungs A doctor may inject you with a dye that will reveal areas of potential cancer During the CT scanner you will be lying on a bed and passing through a doughnutshaped scanner The procedure takes only some minutes and is not uncomfortable for people who are claustrophobic In certain situations a doctor will also conduct an MRI test These tests use powerful radio waves and magnetic fields to create highquality images of soft tissues like lung tissues An MRI can be used to detect a mesothelioma affecting the diaphragm and to determine the stage of the disease Certain patients might also require a PET scan In this test you will be given a shot radioactive dye Cancer cells absorb the dye more than healthy cells and they will show up more clearly on the pictures A biopsy is the most definitive test to confirm the diagnosis of mesothelioma A doctor will take a small amount of the affected lining The sample will be examined under a microscope to identify cancer cells This procedure is performed under local anaesthetic and can be done through surgery or by inserting needles guided by a CT scan If the biopsy confirms mesothelioma your doctor will use the results of other tests to determine the stage This stage indicates the extent to which mesothelioma spread and what types of treatment are most suitable for you You can learn more about staging by reading the section on this guide titled Staging Treatment There are several treatment options for mesothelioma Certain treatments 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 method Surgery is one option to treat mesothelioma The surgeons attempt to eliminate any cancerous tissue during this operation However when mesothelioma is at an advanced stage its unlikely that surgeons will be able completely remove the tumor However surgeons can reduce the symptoms The most frequent type of mesothelioma is pleural mesothelioma which forms within the lining of the lung In downey mesothelioma law firm is possible for a patient to develop mesothelioma inside the membrane surrounding the heart pericardial mesothelioma Rarely mesothelioma may affect the testicles Mesothelioma is treated by radiation and chemotherapy These treatments are usually administered at mesothelioma centers that are specially staffed by mesothelioma specialists with years of experience Chemotherapy uses drugs to kill mesothelioma cancer cells and inhibit their growth The drug combination of pemetrexed and cisplatin is the standard firstline treatment for pleural mesothelioma Radiation therapy employs highenergy beams to kill cancerous cells This type of treatment is typically employed in conjunction with other mesothelioma therapies like surgery or chemotherapy It is also a method to kill any residual microscopic mesothelioma which surgeons failed to remove during surgery Mesothelioma patients may experience many different side effects as a result of these treatments These include nausea fatigue and even hair loss A mesothelioma expert can assist patients choose the best medication for their needs They can also suggest other methods to improve a patients quality of life This could include regular lymphatic drainage to reduce breathing and strong painkillers Patients should also ensure they inform their medical professional of any other medications they take including supplements herbs or prescription medications This will help avoid any potentially hazardous interactions between these drugs Prognosis Mesothelioma also known as mesothelioma of the pleural region is a cancerous tumour that affects the membrane that surrounds the cavities of our bodies like the chest cavity and abdomen If someone has mesothelioma cancerous cells can develop in the tissue and they can be spread to other parts of the body causing symptoms such as breathing difficulties or pain It is very important to have a mesothelioma diagnosis from a specialist physician because this is the initial step to receiving treatment Mesothelioma is diagnosed in various ways including physical examination lab tests and a biopsy A biopsy collects a small sample of the tumor or mass to determine if it is mesothelioma The wrong diagnosis of mesothelioma can be dangerous since it can delay treatment or worsen the prognosis Mesothelioma is often difficult to identify because the symptoms are similar to those of lung cancer pneumonia or bronchitis Because of this mesothelioma is often misdiagnosed as a respiratory condition The prognosis for mesothelioma can vary by the type and stage of mesothelioma aswell as the patients age general health and medical history The cancer can be controlled through surgery chemotherapy and radiation therapy Palliative care may be provided for patients to manage symptoms such as fatigue pain and other signs The stage of mesothelioma is an indication of how far the disease of a patient has spread and how far it has already advanced A doctor will use their best judgment to determine the stage taking into account the symptoms and the speed at which the cancer is growing The survival rate for mesothelioma is dependent on the stage and type as well as the location of the cancer Patients diagnosed with less common mesothelioma forms have a lower chance of survival Patients with peritoneal mesothelioma are at an increased chance of living longer because it grows slower in the abdomen compared to mesothelioma pleural in the chest Patients with a high tolerance to treatment might also live longer than those who have an insufficient tolerance For instance some people with peritoneal cancer have had success with the combination of surgical removal chemotherapy and radiation Signs and symptoms When asbestos fibers are swallowed or inhaled they cling to the organs lining and cause them to grow into tumors Mesothelioma is the most common type of cancer in the lungs but it can also be found in the chest wall abdomen and testicles in males The symptoms of mesothelioma are usually not likely to appear until 4050 year after exposure The first step to diagnose mesothelioma is to take a background of exposure to asbestos Your doctor will conduct an examination and examine your symptoms A chest Xray may reveal abnormal thickening of the pleura and fluid that is located between the lungs and the chest wall A lung CT scan could be utilized to check for mesothelioma or other types of cancer of the lungs Blood tests can be conducted to assess how your kidneys and liver are working The doctor might order an chest MRI or a PET scan to look for other possible cancers or mesothelioma of the lungs or chest wall If a biopsy is needed doctors can take a sample of the tumor with surgery or with a needle that is inserted through the chest wall under local anesthesia The doctor will examine the tissue using magnifying glasses to determine if it is malignant mesothelioma or a different form of cancer When youve been diagnosed with mesothelioma in the future doctors will utilize the information from all the tests to help them assess how advanced the cancer is They will assign mesothelioma a staging number that is helpful in planning your treatment Theyre not cancerous and they cant grow again even if they are surgically removed They typically develop within the pleura and the abdominal lining Because it affects the heart mesothelioma which occurs in the pericardium could be more difficult to treat It can also recur after surgery Mesothelioma can also grow to other parts of the body such as the lymph nodes or bones located outside the chest and abdomen The symptoms of mesothelioma resemble the symptoms of other less serious illnesses This can make it difficult to identify This can lead to a misdiagnosis that could delay your treatment A delay can lead to more complications and lower the chances of survival