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Mesothelioma Symptoms and Treatment When mesothelioma first becomes apparent doctors request imaging scans to look for any cancerous growths on the abdomen or chest. Mesothelioma may mimic other diseases like lung cancer or pneumonia and can cause confusion in diagnosis. A biopsy is performed by a doctor to determine mesothelioma. There are three major mesothelioma types which include epithelial (epidermal), Sarcomatoid (sarcoma) and biphasic. Each type responds to treatment differently and has a different impact on the length of life. Diagnosis If mesothelioma is suspected, doctors will run a variety of tests to confirm the diagnosis. This includes chest X-rays, CT scans and biopsies. The X-ray can reveal an increase in fluid to the chest on one side. This is referred to as pleural effusion and it is often the first indication of mesothelioma. X-rays aren't the most reliable method for diagnosis. A chest CT scan is the next step. This will create a detailed image of your organs and lungs. A doctor will inject you with a dye to identify the areas that are cancerous. During the CT scan, you will be scanned through a doughnut-shaped scanner while lying on a bed. The procedure takes just some minutes and isn't a problem for those who suffer from claustrophobia. In some cases doctors will also conduct an MRI. The scans produce high-quality images by using radio waves and strong magnetic fields. An MRI can be used to determine if there is a mesothelioma affecting the diaphragm and determine its stage. Certain patients might also require a PET scan. You will be given a radioactive dye during this test. Cancer cells absorb the dye more than healthy cells, which means they will show up brighter on the images. A biopsy is the most definitive test to confirm a mesothelioma diagnosis. A doctor will remove tiny portions of the affected lining, which will be examined under a microscope in order to determine if cancer cells are present. This can be done under local anaesthesia and by using the CT scan or a needle. If inglewood mesothelioma attorneys confirm mesothelioma your doctor will then utilize the results of other tests to determine its stage. This stage defines the severity of the mesothelioma, and what treatment is the best for you. You can find out more about staging by reading the section in this guide called Staging. Treatment Several treatment options are available for mesothelioma. There are a variety of treatment options available. Certain treatments can improve quality of life, or extend life longer than others. Patients with mesothelioma should discuss their goals and choose the best treatment strategy. Surgery is one way to treat mesothelioma. During this procedure surgeons attempt to remove all cancerous tissues. If mesothelioma reaches an advanced stage, doctors may not be able to eliminate the tumor completely. The surgeons can nevertheless reduce the symptoms. The most prevalent mesothelioma is found in the lining of the lung. The mesothelioma can develop around the lungs in a few cases (pericardial msothelioma). In rare instances it is possible to suffer from mesothelioma that affects the testicles (testicular mesothelioma). Mesothelioma is treated by chemotherapy and radiation. These treatments are typically delivered in mesothelioma clinics that are specialized by experienced mesothelioma specialists. Chemotherapy is a method of treatment that utilizes drugs to kill mesothelioma tumor cells and stop their growth. Cisplatin and pemetrexed are the standard first-line drug combination for pleural mesothelioma. Radiation therapy makes use of high energy beams to kill cancerous cells. This therapy is usually used alongside other mesothelioma treatments, like chemotherapy and surgery. It can also be used to kill any residual microscopic mesothelioma which surgeons could not remove during surgery. Mesothelioma patients can suffer from many diverse side effects as a result from these treatments. These symptoms include nausea fatigue and hair loss. A mesothelioma doctor can help a patient find the right treatment for their individual requirements. They can also suggest other methods to improve the quality of life of patients. This could include regular pleural fluid drainage to ease breathing or strong painkillers. Patients should also ensure that the medical team is aware of any other medications they are taking including supplements, herbal remedies or over-the-counter drugs. This will help avoid any potentially dangerous interactions between these medications. Prognosis Mesothelioma, also referred to as mesothelioma pleural is a cancerous tumor that affects the membrane that forms the cavities of our bodies like the chest cavity and abdomen. If someone develops mesothelioma, malignant cells develop within this tissue. They can grow to other parts of the body which can cause symptoms such as pain and difficulty breathing. A specialist doctor's diagnosis of mesothelioma is crucial because it is the first step towards receiving treatment. Mesothelioma is diagnosed in various ways, including physical examination, laboratory tests, and the procedure of a biopsy. A biopsy is a small sample taken from the mass or tumor to look for mesothelioma. The wrong diagnosis of mesothelioma can be dangerous as it can 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 is often misdiagnosed as a respiratory condition. The prognosis of mesothelioma differs depending on the type and stage of mesothelioma, aswell depending on the patient's age, general health and medical history. There is no cure for mesothelioma however, the cancer can be controlled by chemotherapy, surgery and radiation therapy. Palliative care can be provided to patients in order to control symptoms such as fatigue, pain and other symptoms. A person's mesothelioma stage refers to how the disease has advanced and how much has already been spread to other parts of the body. A doctor will make use of their best judgement to determine the stage, taking into account the symptoms and how fast the cancer is growing. The survival rate of mesothelioma is dependent on the stage and type, as well as the location of the cancer. Patients diagnosed with less common mesothelioma types have a less favorable prognosis. Patients with peritoneal mesothelioma, for example, have a better chance of living a longer life because it is more likely to grow faster in the abdomen than mesothelioma that is pleural in the chest. Patients with an increased tolerance to treatment could also live longer than those with a low tolerance. Some people with peritoneal msothelioma experienced good results when they combined surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. Symptoms Asbestos fibers can create tumors in organs when 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). The symptoms of mesothelioma are usually not likely to manifest until 40-50 years after exposure. The first step in determining mesothelioma involves taking a medical background of exposure to asbestos. Your doctor will conduct physical examination and then review your symptoms. A chest X-ray can show abnormal growth of the pleura, or fluid that is located between the lungs and the chest wall. A lung CT scan could be utilized to check for mesothelioma or other cancers of the lungs. You may undergo blood tests to determine the health of your liver and kidneys. The doctor might request an chest MRI or a PET scan to look for other possible cancers, or mesothelioma in the lungs or chest wall. If a biopsy of the tumor is required, doctors can remove it by surgery or by inserting a needle into the chest wall while under local anesthesia. The doctor will then study the tissue with microscope to determine whether it is malignant mesothelioma or a different cancer. Following a diagnosis of mesothelioma in the future, doctors will utilize the information gathered from all tests to determine how advanced the cancer is. They will assign a mesothelioma staging number, which can be important in planning your treatment. They are not cancerous, and they can't grow again after removal surgically. They typically develop in the pleura or abdominal lining. Mesothelioma of the pericardium is more difficult to treat because it affects the heart. It is also possible to recur after surgery. Mesothelioma can also spread to other body parts including the lymph nodes or bones that are located outside the chest and abdomen. It is sometimes difficult to diagnose mesothelioma because of the similarity of symptoms with other conditions that are not as serious. This could lead to confusion and delay treatment. Delay in treatment could cause complications and decrease the chances of surviving.