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Mesothelioma Symptoms and Treatment When mesothelioma is first diagnosed doctors will order scans of the body to detect any cancerous growths on the abdomen or chest. Mesothelioma may mimic other diseases like lung cancer, pneumonia, or pneumonia and can cause 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 If mesothelioma is suspected, doctors will run several tests to confirm the diagnosis. These include a chest X-ray, CT scans and biopsies. The X-ray reveals a build-up of fluid on one side of the chest. This is known as pleural effusion and is often the first manifestation of mesothelioma. X-rays might not be the most reliable method of diagnosis. A chest CT scan is the next step. It creates a clear image of your organs and lungs. A doctor may inject you with a color, which will highlight areas of potential cancer. During the CT scan, you'll be passed through a doughnut-shaped scanner while lying on the bed. The procedure takes only a few moments and is not uncomfortable for those who feel claustrophobic. In certain instances doctors may also conduct an MRI. These scans produce high-quality images made of radio waves and powerful magnetic fields. If you have a mesothelioma affecting the diaphragm or the diaphragm, then an MRI can aid doctors in locating the disease and determine how advanced it is. Certain patients may also undergo a PET scan. In this test, you will be given a shot radioactive dye. Cancer cells absorb the dye more than healthy cells, which means they will show up more clearly on the pictures. A biopsy is the most definitive test to confirm mesothelioma. A doctor will remove an infected lining. The sample will be scrutinized under a microscope for cancer cells. This can be done under local or general anaesthesia and by using a CT scan or a needle. Your doctor will consider the results from the other tests to confirm that mesothelioma has been diagnosed. The stage identifies how far mesothelioma has spread and what types of treatment are appropriate for you. This guide includes an area titled Staging that will give you more information about staging. Treatment A variety of treatment options are available for mesothelioma. There are a variety of treatment options available. Certain treatments may improve the quality of life and extend life for a longer period of time than other. Mesothelioma patients must discuss their goals with their medical team to determine the most effective approach. Surgery is one method to treat mesothelioma. The surgeons attempt to eliminate all cancerous tissue during this procedure. If mesothelioma has reached an advanced stage, doctors may not be able of removing the tumor completely. Surgery can reduce symptoms. The most frequent mesothelioma form is mesothelioma of the pleura, which is formed in the lining surrounding the lung. In rare instances it is possible for a patient to develop mesothelioma that is located in the membrane around the heart (pericardial mesothelioma). Rarely, mesothelioma can affect the testicles. Mesothelioma is treated using chemotherapy and radiation. The treatments are usually given at mesothelioma centers that are specially staffed by experienced mesothelioma specialists. Chemotherapy employs drugs to kill mesothelioma tumor cells and stop their growth. The combination of pemetrexed and Cisplatin is the most common first-line treatment for pleural mesothelioma. Radiation therapy utilizes high-energy beams that kill cancerous cells. This type of treatment is typically utilized in combination with other mesothelioma treatments including surgery and chemotherapy. It is also a method to kill any residual microscopic mesothelioma that surgeons did not remove during surgery. Mesothelioma patients can suffer from many different side effects as a result of these treatments. They may experience nausea, fatigue and loss. A mesothelioma expert can help patients choose the best medication to fit their individual needs. They can also suggest different ways to enhance the quality of life for patients. This could include regular drainage of the pleura to ease breathing, or powerful painkillers. Patients should also make sure their medical team is aware of any other medications they are taking for example, supplements, herbs or over-the-counter drugs. This will help to avoid any potentially harmful interactions between these drugs. Prognosis Mesothelioma, also known as pleural mesothelioma is a tumor that causes cancer that affects the membrane that surrounds the internal cavities of our bodies such as the chest cavity and abdomen. When someone is diagnosed with mesothelioma malignant cells may develop within the tissue, which can spread to other areas of the body. They can also cause symptoms like breathing problems or pain. It is very important to have a mesothelioma diagnosis from a specialist doctor since this is the first step towards receiving treatment. There may be multiple steps to determine if mesothelioma is present, including a physical exam, lab tests and the biopsy. A biopsy is a small sample of the tumor or mass to check for mesothelioma. The consequences of a mesothelioma diagnosis error can be extremely dangerous because it could delay treatment and worsen the prognosis. Mesothelioma is often difficult to detect because the symptoms are similar to those of lung cancer bronchitis, or pneumonia. Because of this, mesothelioma can be mistakenly diagnosed as a respiratory disease. The outlook for mesothelioma's patients is contingent on the stage and type, along with age, general health, and medical history. There is no cure for mesothelioma however, the cancer can be controlled with chemotherapy, surgery, or radiation therapy. Patients are also able to receive palliative treatment to help control pain, fatigue and other symptoms. The stage of mesothelioma is a measure of how far the disease has spread, and how far it has already progressed. The doctor will make use of his or his best judgment when determining the stage, taking into consideration the symptoms and the rate of growth of the cancer. The chance of survival for mesothelioma depends on the stage of the patient and the type of cancer and location. vista mesothelioma attorney diagnosed with the less-common mesothelioma types have a lower chance of survival. Patients who suffer from peritoneal mesothelioma for example have a greater chance of living a longer life because it tends to shrink slower in the abdomen than pleural mesothelioma does in the chest. Patients with high tolerance to treatment might also live longer than patients with less tolerance. For instance, some patients with peritoneal cancer have had successful results with the combination of chemotherapy, surgical removal and radiation. Signs and symptoms When asbestos fibers are inhaled or swallowed they stick to the organ's lining and cause them to grow into tumors. Mesothelioma is most often found in the lung. However it can also be found in the chest, abdomen and testicles in men. The symptoms of mesothelioma are usually not likely to appear until 40-50 year after exposure. The first step to diagnose mesothelioma begins with taking a background on asbestos exposure. Your doctor will then conduct an examination and review your symptoms. A chest X-ray could show abnormal thickening or fluid in the space that separates the lungs from chest wall. A lung CT scan may also be used to test for mesothelioma or other cancers of the lungs. Blood tests can be done to determine how your kidneys and liver are functioning. The doctor might also recommend a chest MRI or a PET scan to look for other possible mesothelioma or cancers of the lungs, chest wall or abdomen. If a biopsy is necessary, doctors can take a sample of the tumor by surgery or with an instrument that is inserted through the chest wall while under local anesthesia. The doctor will then examine the area under magnifying glasses to determine if the tumor is malignant mesothelioma, or another type of cancer. Following a diagnosis of mesothelioma in the future, doctors will utilize the results of all tests to help them assess how advanced the cancer is. They will assign an appropriate staging number to mesothelioma. This can aid in planning your treatment. They are not cancerous, and they don't have the potential to grow back after removal surgically. They typically develop within the pleura and the abdominal lining. Because it affects the heart, mesothelioma that develops in the pericardium may be more difficult to treat. It may also recur after surgery. Mesothelioma can also spread to other parts of the body, like the lymph nodes or the bones that are outside the abdomen and chest. The symptoms of mesothelioma are similar to those of other, less serious conditions. This makes it difficult to determine the cause. This can lead to a incorrect diagnosis, which may delay your treatment. In the meantime, delay in treatment can cause complications and decrease the chance of surviving.