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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 chest or abdomen. Mesothelioma can mimic other illnesses like pneumonia or lung cancer, leading to misdiagnosis. Doctors can also take a biopsy to diagnose mesothelioma. There are three mesothelioma types which include epithelial (epidermal) and sarcomatoid (sarcoma) and biphasic. Each type responds to treatment differently and has a distinct impact on the life expectancy. Diagnosis If mesothelioma may be a possibility, doctors will run several tests to confirm it. This includes chest X-rays, CT scans and biopsies. The X-ray reveals the presence of fluid on the chest on one side. This is known as Pleural effusion. It is often the first manifestation of mesothelioma. However, X-rays aren't the most reliable way to diagnose the condition. 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 dye to identify any areas that may be cancerous. During the CT scan, you'll be taken through a doughnut-shaped scanner while lying on the bed. The procedure takes only just a few minutes and is not particularly uncomfortable, even for those who are claustrophobic. In certain instances the doctor may conduct an MRI test. These scans produce high-quality images made of radio waves and powerful magnetic fields. If you have a mesothelioma that is affecting the diaphragm or the diaphragm, then an MRI will help doctors find it and determine how advanced it is. Certain patients may also undergo a PET scan. You will be given a radioactive color during this test. Cancer cells will absorb the dye significantly more than healthy cells and therefore appear brighter in the images. A biopsy is the last test to confirm the diagnosis of mesothelioma. A doctor will take a small sample of the lining that is affected, which is then examined under a microscope to see if cancer cells are present. This procedure is done with a local anaesthetic. It may be done through surgery or by inserting the needle using an CT scan. If the biopsy confirms mesothelioma your doctor will use the results of other tests to determine its stage. The stage identifies the extent to which mesothelioma spread and what kinds of treatment are most suitable for you. You can find out more about staging by reading the section on this guide, titled Staging. Treatment There are many options for treatment for mesothelioma. Certain treatments can improve quality of life, or extend the duration of life more than others. Mesothelioma patients must discuss their goals with their medical team to determine the best method of treatment. Surgery can be used to treat mesothelioma. winston salem mesothelioma lawyer is a method of removing any cancerous tissue during this procedure. However, if mesothelioma is in an advanced stage, it's unlikely that doctors will be able to completely eliminate the tumor. However, surgeons can reduce symptoms. The most frequent mesothelioma is found within the lining that surrounds the lungs. In certain instances people, they may develop mesothelioma that is located in the membrane around the heart (pericardial mesothelioma). In rare instances there is also the possibility that a person could have mesothelioma affecting the testicles (testicular mesothelioma). Mesothelioma is treated with chemotherapy and radiation. These treatments are typically administered by mesothelioma experts in special centers. Chemotherapy uses drugs to kill mesothelioma cells and prevent their growth. Pemetrexed and cisplatin are common first-line combination of drugs for pleural msothelioma. Radiation therapy makes use of high energy beams to kill cancerous cells. This procedure is typically used alongside other mesothelioma therapies like chemotherapy and surgery. This treatment is also applied to any mesothelioma that is microscopic left behind by the surgeons after surgery. These treatments can have many adverse effects for patients suffering from mesothelioma. These include nausea, fatigue and loss. A mesothelioma specialist can help patients select the right medication for their requirements. They can also suggest additional ways to improve a patient’s quality of living. This might include regular pleural drainage to help with breathing, or powerful painkillers. Patients should also make sure they inform their medical professional of any other medications they take for example, supplements, herbs or over-the-counter drugs. This can help prevent dangers from interactions with these drugs. Prognosis Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that affects mesothelium which is a membrane that line our body's cavities like the abdominal cavity and chest. When a person gets mesothelioma cells that are malignant form in this tissue and expand to other parts of the body, causing symptoms such as breathing difficulties and pain. It is essential to receive a mesothelioma diagnosis from a specialist doctor since this is the first step towards receiving treatment. It could take a number of steps to determine if mesothelioma is present, which may include a physical examination and lab tests, as well as biopsy. A biopsy will take a tiny sample of the tumor or mass in order to detect mesothelioma. A misdiagnosis for mesothelioma may be dangerous, as it could delay treatment or worsen the outlook. Mesothelioma is often difficult to detect because the symptoms are similar to the symptoms of lung cancer, pneumonia, or bronchitis. Because of this, mesothelioma is often mistakenly diagnosed as a respiratory disease. The prognosis for mesothelioma is determined according to the type and the stage of mesothelioma. It also depends on factors such depending on the patient's age and general health history. There is no cure for mesothelioma however, the cancer can be controlled by chemotherapy, surgery and radiation therapy. Palliative care is available to patients to manage symptoms such as fatigue, pain, and other signs. A person's mesothelioma stage refers to how far the disease has progressed and how much of it has already been spread to other parts of the body. A doctor will use their best judgment to determine the stage by taking into consideration the symptoms and how quickly the cancer is growing. The survival rate for mesothelioma depends on the stage, type and location of the cancer. Patients diagnosed with less well-known mesothelioma forms have a worse prognosis. Patients suffering from peritoneal mesothelioma for instance have a greater chance of living longer because it tends to shrink slower in the abdomen than pleural mesothelioma does in the chest. Patients with a high tolerance to treatment might also live longer than those with an insufficient tolerance. For instance, some patients with peritoneal mesothelioma's have had successful results with a combination of chemotherapy, surgical removal and radiation. Symptoms When asbestos fibers are inhaled or swallowed they stick to the organ's lining, and can cause them to form tumors. Mesothelioma is the most common type of cancer in the lungs, however it can also develop in the chest wall, abdomen and testicles (in men). The signs of mesothelioma generally don't manifest until 40-50 years after exposure. The first step to diagnosing mesothelioma involves taking a review of your history regarding asbestos exposure. Your doctor will conduct an examination of your body and review your symptoms. A chest X-ray could reveal abnormal swelling of the pleura or fluid in the space between the lung and the chest wall. A lung CT scan may also be used to detect mesothelioma and other lung cancers. You can have blood tests done to determine the health of your kidneys and liver. The doctor may also order an abdominal MRI or a PET scan to check for other possible mesothelioma or cancers of the chest wall, lungs or abdomen. If a biopsy is needed doctors can remove a small sample of the tumor with surgery or with the use of a needle 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 by a doctor, they will utilize the information from all tests to determine how advanced the cancer is. They will assign a mesothelioma staging number, which can be useful in making plans for your treatment. Benign mesotheliomas do not cause cancer and won't recur in the event that they are removed completely surgically. They typically develop in the pleura, and also in the abdominal lining. Mesothelioma that is located in the pericardium can be more difficult to treat because it affects the heart. It is also prone to recur following surgery. Mesothelioma may also spread to other parts of the body including the lymph nodes and bones that are located outside the chest and abdomen. The symptoms of mesothelioma are similar to the symptoms of other less severe conditions. This can make it difficult to identify. This can lead to a incorrect diagnosis, which may delay treatment. The delay can cause more complications and decrease your chances of survival.