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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 can mimic other illnesses such as lung cancer or pneumonia that can lead to the wrong diagnosis. Doctors may also perform an x-ray to determine mesothelioma. There are three primary mesothelioma cell types which include epithelial (epidermal) and Sarcomatoid (sarcoma) and biphasic. Each type reacts differently to treatment and can affect the life expectancy. Diagnosis If mesothelioma has been identified, doctors will run a variety of tests to confirm it. This could include a chest X ray, CT scans, and biopsies. The X-ray reveals a buildup of fluid to the chest on one side. This is called Pleural effusion. It is often the first sign of mesothelioma. However, Xrays aren't the most reliable method to diagnose the condition. A chest CT scan is the next step. It creates a clear image of your lungs and organs. A doctor may inject you with a dye that will reveal areas of cancer that may be present. During the CT scanner, you'll be lying on a bed and passed through a doughnut shaped scanner. The procedure takes only several minutes and isn't uncomfortable for those who are claustrophobic. In certain situations doctors may also perform an MRI. The scans make use of powerful magnetic fields and radio waves to produce high-quality images soft tissues like the lungs. An MRI can be used to locate mesothelioma of the diaphragm and determine the stage of the disease. Certain patients may also undergo an PET scan. You will receive a radioactive substance in this test. Cancer cells absorb dye more than healthy cells, so they will show up brighter on the images. A biopsy is the last test to confirm a mesothelioma diagnosis. A doctor will remove a small amount of the lining affected, which will be examined under a microscope in order to determine whether cancerous cells are present. This can be performed under local anaesthesia, and by using the CT scan or a needle. If the biopsy results confirm mesothelioma the doctor will then consider the results of the other tests to determine its stage. This stage describes the extent of mesothelioma and the treatment is best for you. The guide has an article titled Staging which will help you understand more about staging. Treatment There are several treatment options for mesothelioma. Some treatments may improve the quality of life or prolong the life span of patients longer than other. Mesothelioma patients must discuss their goals with their medical team to determine the most effective method of treatment. Surgery is one option to treat mesothelioma. During this operation surgeons try to eliminate all cancerous tissues. However when mesothelioma is at an advanced stage, it's unlikely doctors will be able to completely eliminate the tumor. Regardless, surgeons can still reduce the symptoms. The most prevalent mesothelioma is found in the lining around the lungs. The mesothelioma can develop around the heart in a few cases (pericardial mesothelioma). In rare cases one may also suffer from mesothelioma of the testicles (testicular mesothelioma). Mesothelioma is treatable with radiation therapy and chemotherapy. These treatments are typically administered by mesothelioma experts at specialized centers. Chemotherapy uses drugs to kill mesothelioma tumor cells and stop their growth. Pemetrexed and Cisplatin are the preferred first-line treatment for pleural mesothelioma. Radiation therapy utilizes high-energy beams of energy to kill cancerous cells. This procedure is typically used in conjunction with other mesothelioma treatments like chemotherapy and surgery. This treatment can also be applied to any mesothelioma with a microscopic size left behind by the surgeons after surgery. These treatments can cause various adverse effects for patients suffering from mesothelioma. These include nausea, fatigue, and even hair loss. A mesothelioma specialist can help patients choose the best medication that meets their specific requirements. They can also suggest other ways to help improve a patient's quality of life. This could include regular lymphatic drainage to alleviate breathing problems or powerful painkillers. Patients should also ensure that they inform their medical professional of any other medications they are taking including supplements, herbal remedies or prescription drugs. This helps avoid dangers from interactions with these drugs. Prognosis Mesothelioma is an illness that affects the mesothelium, which is a membrane that lines our body's cavities, such as the abdominal and chest cavity. If someone develops mesothelioma, malignant cells develop within this tissue. They can be spread to other areas of the body, causing symptoms such as discomfort and breathing problems. A specialist doctor's diagnosis of mesothelioma's is essential since it is the initial step in receiving treatment. Mesothelioma diagnosis can be made in many ways, including an examination of the body, lab tests, and a biopsy. A biopsy is a small sample taken from the tumor or mass to test for mesothelioma. Getting a mesothelioma misdiagnosis can be very risky because it could delay treatment and even worsen the likelihood of a positive outcome. Mesothelioma can be difficult to recognize because the symptoms are similar to those of lung cancer, pneumonia, or bronchitis. Because of this, mesothelioma is frequently mistakenly interpreted as a respiratory illness. The prognosis for mesothelioma is based on the type and stage as well as age, general health, and medical history. The cancer can be treated through chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation therapy. Patients can also receive palliative care to ease fatigue, pain, and other symptoms. The mesothelioma level of a patient is a reference to how far the disease has progressed and how much has already expanded to other parts of the body. A doctor will use their best judgment to determine the staging taking into consideration the symptoms and the speed at which the cancer is growing. The chance of survival for mesothelioma is contingent on the patient's stage and the type of cancer and the location. The prognosis of those diagnosed with less common forms of mesothelioma is lower. Patients with peritoneal msothelioma have an increased chance of living a longer life, as it develops slower in the abdomen, compared to pleural msothelioma that is found in the chest. Patients with high tolerance to treatment can have a longer life span than those with less tolerance. For instance, a few patients 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 within organs when swallowed, inhaled or inhaled. Mesothelioma is most often found in the lung. However, it can also occur in the chest, abdomen, and testicles of men. Symptoms of mesothelioma usually don't manifest until 40-50 years after exposure. The first step to determine if you have mesothelioma involves taking a medical background of exposure to asbestos. Your doctor will perform physical examination and then examine your symptoms. A chest X-ray can show abnormal growth of the pleura, or fluid in the space between the lung and the chest wall. A lung CT scan may also be used to check for mesothelioma, or other cancers of the lungs. A blood test can be ordered to check how your kidneys and liver are functioning. The doctor could request a chest MRI or a PET scan to check for any other potential cancers or mesothelioma within the lungs or chest wall. If a biopsy is needed, doctors can remove a small sample of the tumor by surgery or with a needle that is inserted through the chest wall while under local anesthesia. The doctor will then examine the tissue under microscopes to determine if it is malignant mesothelioma or another cancer. The results of the tests will allow doctors to determine the extent of cancer after a mesothelioma diagnosis. They will assign a mesothelioma staging number, which can be helpful in planning your treatment. Benign mesotheliomas aren't cancerous, and won't recur after they've been completely removed surgically. They typically occur in the abdominal lining, or pleura. Because it affects the heart, mesothelioma which occurs in the pericardium could be more difficult to treat. It is also prone to recur following surgery. Mesothelioma can also spread to other areas of the body such as the lymph nodes and bones located outside the abdomen and chest. It can be hard to identify mesothelioma due the similarity of symptoms with other, less serious conditions. This can result in mistakes in diagnosis and delay treatment. In camden mesothelioma lawsuit , delay in treatment can lead to complications and reduce the chance of surviving.