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Mesothelioma Symptoms and Treatment When mesothelioma is diagnosed for the first time doctors may order imaging scans to determine if there are any cancerous growths on the abdomen or chest. Mesothelioma can mimic other illnesses such as lung cancer or pneumonia, leading to misdiagnosis. A biopsy is taken by a doctor in order to determine mesothelioma. There are three main mesothelioma cell types: epithelial, sarcomatoid and biphasic. Each type responds to treatment differently and has a different impact on the length of life. Diagnosis Doctors will perform several tests if mesothelioma was suspected. These include a chest X-ray, CT scans and biopsies. The X-ray can reveal a buildup of 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 may not be the most reliable method of diagnosis. A chest CT scan is the next step. This produces a precise image of your lungs and organs. A doctor might inject you with a color which will show areas of potential cancer. During the CT scanner, you will be lying on a bed, and traversed through a doughnut-shaped scanner. The procedure takes only minutes and isn't a problem for people who are claustrophobic. In certain situations the doctor may also perform an MRI. The scans make use of powerful magnetic fields and radio waves to produce high-quality images of soft tissues like those in the lungs. An MRI can be used to determine if there is mesothelioma of the diaphragm, and to determine its stage. Certain patients may also undergo a PET scan. In this test, you will receive a shot of radioactive dye. Cancer cells absorb dye more than healthy cells, so they will show up more clearly on the pictures. A biopsy is the final test to confirm mesothelioma. A doctor will remove tiny portions of the lining that is affected, which will then be tested under a microscope to see if cancer cells are present. This procedure is done under local anaesthetic. It can be done with surgery or by inserting an instrument that guides the needle through a CT scan. Your doctor will use the results of other tests to confirm that you have mesothelioma. The stage identifies how far mesothelioma spread and what kinds of treatment are most suitable for you. You can learn more about staging by reading the section on this guide, titled Staging. Treatment There are several treatment options for mesothelioma. Some may improve quality of life and prolong life for a longer period of time than other. Patients with mesothelioma need to discuss their goals and determine the best treatment option. Surgery is one way to treat mesothelioma. During this operation surgeons attempt to eliminate all cancerous tissues. If mesothelioma is at an advanced stage the doctors may not be able remove the cancer completely. Regardless, surgeons can still reduce symptoms. The most frequent mesothelioma is found in the lining around the lung. In rare instances people, they may develop mesothelioma in the membrane surrounding the heart (pericardial mesothelioma). Rarely, mesothelioma may affect the testicles. Mesothelioma is treated with chemotherapy and radiation. The treatments are usually given in mesothelioma centres that are specially designed by highly experienced mesothelioma experts. Chemotherapy uses drugs to kill mesothelioma cancer cells and inhibit their growth. Pemetrexed and cisplatin are the standard first-line drug combination for pleural mesothelioma. Radiation therapy uses high energy beams to kill cancerous cell. This method is often used in conjunction with other mesothelioma therapies including surgery and chemotherapy. This procedure can also be applied to any mesothelioma with a microscopic size left behind by the surgeons following surgery. These treatments may cause many adverse effects on mesothelioma patients. These symptoms include nausea, fatigue, and loss of hair. A mesothelioma specialist can help patients select the right medication for their requirements. They can also recommend different ways to enhance the quality of life for patients. This might include regular pleural drainage to ease breathing, or strong painkillers. Patients should inform their physicians know about any other medications, like herbal remedies, supplements, or prescription drugs. This will ensure that there aren't any potentially hazardous interactions between these medications. Prognosis Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that affects the mesothelium membrane that lines the body's cavities, including the chest and abdominal cavity. If a person is diagnosed with mesothelioma, malignant cells can form in the tissues, which could extend to other areas of the body and trigger symptoms like pain or difficulty breathing. It is vital to receive a mesothelioma-related diagnosis from a specialist doctor since this is the first step in receiving treatment. There may be multiple steps to determine mesothelioma which may include a physical examination as well as lab tests and biopsy. A biopsy is a tiny sample taken from the mass or tumor to look for mesothelioma. A misdiagnosis of mesothelioma could be very dangerous as it can delay treatment and even worsen the likelihood of a positive outcome. Mesothelioma is difficult to recognize, as the symptoms can be similar to lung cancer or other common ailments like pneumonia or bronchitis. Because of this, mesothelioma can be mistakenly identified as a respiratory issue. The prognosis of mesothelioma differs according to the type and the stage of mesothelioma as well as 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. Patients are also able to receive palliative treatment to alleviate pain, fatigue and other symptoms. The mesothelioma stage of a person is related to how the disease has advanced and how much of it has already expanded to other parts of the body. The doctor will employ his or his best judgment when determining the stage, taking into account the symptoms and the rate of growth of the cancer. The survival rate of mesothelioma depends on the stage and type, as well as the location of the cancer. Patients diagnosed with less well-known mesothelioma forms have a poorer prognosis. Patients with peritoneal cancer, for example have a greater chance of living longer due to the fact that it is more likely to grow faster in the abdomen than mesothelioma that is pleural in the chest. In addition, patients who are tolerant for treatment could live longer than those with lower tolerance. For maryland mesothelioma lawyer , a few patients with peritoneal mesothelioma have had success with a combination of surgical removal, chemotherapy and radiation. Symptoms Asbestos fibers may cause tumors in organs when inhaled, or swallowed. Mesothelioma is most common in the lungs. However, it can also manifest in the chest wall, abdomen and testicles (in males). Mesothelioma symptoms are usually not evident until 40-50 years after exposure. The first step to diagnose mesothelioma is to take a background of exposure to asbestos. Your doctor will perform an examination and examine your symptoms. A chest X-ray may reveal abnormal swelling of the pleura or fluid in the space between the lung and the chest wall. A lung CT scan is also used to detect mesothelioma and other cancers in the lungs. You could have blood tests to determine the health of your kidneys and liver. The doctor may require a chest MRI, or a PET scan to check for any other cancers that could be present or mesothelioma within the lungs or chest wall. If a biopsy is needed, doctors can remove a portion of the tumor by surgery or by using the use of a needle through the chest wall under local anesthesia. The doctor will examine the area under a magnifying glass to determine if it is malignant mesothelioma, or a different kind of cancer. The results of these tests will assist doctors in determining the extent of the mesothelioma cancer following a mesothelioma. They will assign an appropriate staging number to the mesothelioma, which can be useful in planning your treatment. They're not cancerous and they don't have the potential to grow back if surgically removed. They typically form within the pleura and the abdominal lining. Mesothelioma of the pericardium is more difficult to treat since it affects the heart. It can also recur following surgery. Mesothelioma can also spread other areas of the body, like the lymph nodes or bones that are located outside the chest and abdomen. It is sometimes difficult to identify mesothelioma due the similarity of symptoms to other conditions that are less serious. This can lead to a misdiagnosis that could delay your treatment. Delay can cause more complications, and reduce your chances of surviving.