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Mesothelioma Symptoms and Treatment When mesotheliomas first symptoms are identified doctors may order imaging scans to look for any cancerous growths on the chest or abdomen Mesothelioma signs can be mistaken for other illnesses like lung cancer or pneumonia Doctors may also conduct the biopsy to diagnose mesothelioma There are three mesothelioma types epithelial epidermal sarcomatoid sarcoma and biphasic Each type responds differently treatment and impacts the length of life Diagnosis Doctors will conduct a variety of tests if mesothelioma was suspected This includes chest X ray CT scans and biopsies The Xray reveals a buildup of fluid on one side of the chest This is referred to as pleural effusion and is usually the first indication of mesothelioma The Xrays arent always the most reliable method of diagnosis The next step is the chest CT scan which provides an image of your lungs as well as other organs A doctor will inject you with a dye to identify any areas that could be cancerous During the CT scanner you will be lying on a bed and moved through a doughnut scanner The procedure takes only several minutes and isnt too uncomfortable for those who are claustrophobic In some cases the doctor may perform an MRI test These tests use powerful magnetic fields and radio waves to produce highquality images soft tissues like those in the lungs An MRI can be used to detect a mesothelioma affecting the diaphragm and to determine its stage Certain patients may 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 ones which is why they appear brighter in the images A biopsy is the final test to confirm a mesothelioma diagnosis A doctor will remove a small amount of the affected lining The lining will then be scrutinized under a microscope for cancer cells This can be done under local or general anaesthesia and by using the CT scan or a needle If the biopsy confirms mesothelioma your doctor will then utilize the results of other tests to determine its stage This stage describes how far mesothelioma spread and what kinds of treatment are appropriate for you You can learn more about staging by reading the section in this guide titled Staging Treatment There are a variety of treatment options for mesothelioma Certain treatments can improve the quality of life or extend the life span of patients longer than other Mesothelioma patients should discuss their goals with their medical team to determine the best method Surgery is one option to treat mesothelioma Surgeons try to remove all cancerous tissues during this operation If mesothelioma has reached an advanced stage doctors may not be able to remove the cancer completely Surgeons can still reduce the symptoms hawaii mesothelioma lawsuit is found in the lining surrounding the lung In certain instances a person may develop mesothelioma in the membrane surrounding the heart pericardial mesothelioma Rarely mesothelioma can affect the testicles Mesothelioma is treatable with chemotherapy and radiation therapy The treatments are usually provided by experts in mesothelioma at specialist centers Chemotherapy employs drugs to kill mesothelioma tumor cells and stop their growth Cisplatin and pemetrexed are the preferred firstline treatment for pleural msothelioma Radiation therapy employs highenergy beams to kill cancerous cells This treatment is most often employed in combination with other mesothelioma treatments such as surgery and chemotherapy It can also be used to eliminate any microscopically residual mesothelioma that surgeons did not remove during surgery Mesothelioma patients can suffer from many different side effects from these treatments The symptoms include nausea fatigue and hair loss A mesothelioma specialist can assist patients choose the best medication for their requirements They can also suggest other ways to improve a patients quality of life This could include regular Pleural fluid drainage to help reduce breathing and strong painkillers Patients should also make sure they inform their medical professional of any other medications they are taking including supplements herbs or overthecounter drugs This helps avoid dangerous interactions with these drugs Prognosis Mesothelioma is a cancer that affects mesothelium which is a membrane that lines our bodys cavities like the abdominal and chest cavity When a person gets mesothelioma malignant cells grow in the mesothelium and expand to other parts of the body which can cause symptoms such as pain and difficulty breathing It is essential to receive a mesotheliomarelated diagnosis by a specialist physician since this is the first step in receiving treatment It could take a number of steps to determine mesothelioma including a physical exam along with lab tests and the biopsy A biopsy will take a tiny sample of the tumor or mass to check for mesothelioma The wrong diagnosis of mesothelioma can be risky as it could delay treatment or worsen the likelihood of a positive outcome Mesothelioma is a difficult cancer to detect because the symptoms may be similar to lung cancer or other common ailments like pneumonia or bronchitis Because of this mesothelioma could be misdiagnosed for respiratory conditions The prognosis for mesothelioma is based on the stage and type as well as age general health and medical history The cancer can be controlled by surgery chemotherapy and radiation therapy Patients can also receive palliative treatments to alleviate 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 employ 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 is dependent on the patients stage and kind of cancer and its location The prognosis of those diagnosed with less common forms of mesothelioma is less favorable Patients with peritoneal cancer for example have a higher chance of surviving longer due to the fact that it is more likely to develop in the abdomen than pleural mesothelioma does in the chest Patients with high tolerance to treatment could also live longer than patients with a low tolerance For instance some individuals who suffer from peritoneal mesothelioma have experienced positive results using a combination of surgical removal chemotherapy and radiation Symptoms Asbestos fibers can create tumors in organs if they are swallowed or inhaled Mesothelioma is the most common type of cancer in the lungs However it can also manifest in the chest wall abdomen and testicles in males The symptoms of mesothelioma are usually not likely to show up until about 40 to 50 years after exposure The first step in diagnosing mesothelioma is taking a background of exposure to asbestos Your doctor will then conduct an examination of your body and review your symptoms A chest Xray could detect abnormal thickening or fluid in the space that separates the lungs from the chest wall A lung CT scan can also be used to detect mesothelioma and other lung cancers You could have blood tests to check on the health of your kidneys and liver The doctor may also order a chest MRI or an PET scan to look for other mesothelioma and cancers of the lungs chest wall or abdomen If a biopsy is needed doctors can remove a small sample of the tumor with surgery or a needle that is inserted through the chest wall under local anesthesia The doctor will then study the tissue with microscope to determine whether it is malignant mesothelioma or another cancer Following a diagnosis of mesothelioma doctors use the information from all the tests to determine how advanced the cancer is They will assign a mesothelioma staging number that is useful in the planning of your treatment Benign mesotheliomas arent cancerous and will not grow back after theyve been completely removed surgically They typically occur in the abdominal lining of the pleura Mesothelioma that is located in the pericardium can be more difficult to treat because it affects the heart It may also recur after surgery Mesothelioma may also spread to other body parts like the lymph nodes or bones in the abdomen and chest It is sometimes difficult to recognize mesothelioma due to the similarity of symptoms with other conditions that are not as serious This can lead to a mistaken diagnosis which can delay treatment In the meantime delay in treatment can result in complications and lower the chances of surviving