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Mesothelioma Symptoms and Treatment When mesothelioma's first symptoms are identified, doctors order imaging scans to look for any cancerous growths on the chest or abdomen. Mesothelioma symptoms may be misinterpreted as a sign of other illnesses such as lung cancer or pneumonia. Doctors will also take an x-ray to determine mesothelioma. There are three main mesothelioma types: epithelial (epidermal), the sarcomatoid (sarcoma) and biphasic. Each type responds to treatment differently and has a distinct impact on life expectancy. Diagnosis Doctors will conduct a variety of tests when mesothelioma is suspected. These include chest Xrays, CT scans and biopsies. The X-ray can show a build-up of fluid on one side of the chest. This is known as pleural effusion and is often the first indication of mesothelioma. However, X-rays aren't the most reliable way to identify the disease. A chest CT scan is the next step. This produces a precise image of your organs and lungs. A doctor will inject you with a dye to identify any areas that could be cancerous. During the CT scan, you will be scanned through a doughnut-shaped scanner as you lie on the mattress. The procedure is only a few minutes and isn't particularly uncomfortable, even for people who are claustrophobic. In some instances doctors may also conduct an MRI test. These scans produce high-quality images with radio waves and strong magnetic fields. An MRI can be used to determine if there is a mesothelioma affecting the diaphragm, and to determine the stage of the disease. Certain patients may also undergo a PET scan. In this test, you'll be given a shot of the radioactive dye. Cancer cells absorb dye more than healthy cells. Therefore, they will show up more clearly on the pictures. A biopsy is the last test to confirm mesothelioma. A doctor will remove a small amount of the affected lining. The lining will then be examined under a microscope for cancerous cells. This can be done under local anaesthesia and by using the CT scan or a needle. Your doctor will consider the results of the other tests to determine that you have mesothelioma. This stage indicates the extent to which mesothelioma spread and what kinds of treatment are the most appropriate for you. You can find out more about staging by reading the section in this guide called Staging. Treatment Many treatment options are available for mesothelioma. Certain treatments can improve the quality of life and prolong life for a longer period of time than other. Patients with mesothelioma must discuss their goals and determine the most effective treatment plan. Surgery is one way to treat mesothelioma. In this operation surgeons try to eliminate all cancerous tissues. However when mesothelioma has reached an advanced stage, it's unlikely surgeons will be able to completely remove the tumor. But, surgeons are able to reduce symptoms. The most prevalent mesothelioma type is found in the lining surrounding the lung. In some cases it is possible for a patient to develop mesothelioma inside the membrane surrounding the heart (pericardial mesothelioma). In rare cases one may also suffer from mesothelioma of the testicles (testicular mesothelioma). Mesothelioma can be treated using radiation therapy and chemotherapy. The treatments are usually provided by mesothelioma specialists at special centers. Chemotherapy employs drugs to kill mesothelioma tumor cells and stop their growth. Pemetrexed and cisplatin are most commonly used first-line drugs for pleural msothelioma. Radiation therapy employs high-energy beams to kill cancerous cell. This procedure is usually used in combination with other mesothelioma treatments like surgery and chemotherapy. It can also be used to kill any residual microscopic mesothelioma that surgeons were unable to remove during surgery. Mesothelioma patients can experience many different side effects as a result of these treatments. The symptoms include nausea, fatigue, and hair loss. A mesothelioma specialist can assist a patient find the right medication to fit their individual needs. They may also suggest other ways to improve a patient's quality of living. This might include regular pleural drainage to ease breathing, or strong painkillers. Patients should also ensure that their medical team knows about any other medications they are taking, including supplements, herbs or prescription medications. This will allow them to avoid any potentially harmful interactions between these drugs. Prognosis Mesothelioma, a form of cancer, affects the mesothelium, a membrane that line our body's cavities such as the abdominal cavity and chest. If someone develops mesothelioma, malignant cells develop in this tissue and can be spread to other areas of the body and cause symptoms like breathing difficulties and pain. It is very important to have a mesothelioma diagnosis from a specialist doctor since this is the first step in receiving treatment. Mesothelioma diagnosis can be made in multiple ways, including through an examination of the body, lab tests, and a biopsy. A biopsy will take a tiny sample of the tumor or mass in order to detect mesothelioma. The wrong diagnosis of mesothelioma can be risky, as it can delay treatment or worsen the outlook. Mesothelioma can be difficult to diagnose because the symptoms are similar to those of lung cancer pneumonia, or bronchitis. Because of this, mesothelioma gets misdiagnosed as a respiratory condition. The outlook for mesothelioma's patients is contingent on the type and stage, as well as the age, general health and medical history. The cancer can be treated by surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. Palliative care is available to patients in order to manage symptoms like fatigue, pain and other symptoms. The mesothelioma staging stage of a patient refers to how far the disease has progressed and how much of it has already moved to other areas of the body. The doctor will use his or their 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 varies based on the stage, type and location of the cancer. Patients diagnosed with less well-known types of mesothelioma have poorer prognosis. Patients with peritoneal msothelioma have a higher chance of living a longer life, as it is less invasive in the abdomen as compared to mesothelioma of the chest that is pleural. Patients with a high tolerance to treatment could also live longer than those with less tolerance. For instance, some individuals with peritoneal mesothelioma's have had positive results using a combination of surgical removal, chemotherapy and radiation. Signs and symptoms Asbestos fibers can cause tumors in organs when they are swallowed or inhaled. Mesothelioma is the most common type of cancer in the lungs, but it can also develop in the chest wall, abdomen and testicles (in males). The signs of mesothelioma generally don't appear until 40-50 year after exposure. The first step to diagnose mesothelioma is to take a detailed review of your history regarding asbestos exposure. Your doctor will then conduct an examination of your body and review your symptoms. A chest X-ray can show abnormal thickening of the pleura and fluid in the space between the lung and the chest wall. A lung CT scan may also be used to detect mesothelioma and other cancers in the lungs. lawrence mesothelioma attorneys can be done to determine how your liver and kidneys are working. The doctor could order a chest MRI or a PET scan, to check for other possible cancers, or mesothelioma within the lungs or the chest wall. If a biopsy is necessary doctors can take a sample of the tumor by surgical procedures or using a needle that is inserted through the chest wall under local anesthesia. The doctor will then look at the tissue with microscope to determine whether it is malignant mesothelioma or another cancer. If you are 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 a mesothelioma staging number that is useful in the planning of your treatment. Benign mesotheliomas don't cause cancer and won't recur in the event that they are removed completely surgically. They usually develop within the pleura and the abdominal lining. Mesothelioma of the pericardium is more difficult to treat because it affects the heart. It can also recur after surgery. Mesothelioma may also spread to other parts of the body, such as the lymph nodes or bones outside the chest and abdomen. The symptoms of mesothelioma can be similar to the symptoms of other less serious conditions. This can make it difficult to recognize. This could lead to misdiagnosis and delay your treatment. A delay can lead to more complications, and reduce your chances of survival.