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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 symptoms could be mistaken for other diseases such as pneumonia or lung cancer. A biopsy will be performed by a doctor in order to determine mesothelioma. There are three main mesothelioma cell types classified as 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 several tests to confirm the diagnosis. This may include chest X-ray, CT scans, and biopsies. The X-ray shows a build-up of fluid on one side of the chest. This is called an effusion of the pleura and is usually the first manifestation of mesothelioma. However, X-rays may not be the most reliable method to diagnose the condition. A chest CT scan is the next step. This creates a detailed image of your lungs and organs. A doctor may inject you with a color that will reveal regions of potential cancer. During midland mesothelioma attorneys , you will be scanned through a doughnut-shaped scanner while lying on a bed. The procedure is only some minutes and is not uncomfortable for those who feel claustrophobic. In certain instances doctors may also perform an MRI. These tests use powerful radio waves and magnetic fields to produce high-quality images of soft tissues, including the lungs. An MRI can be used to locate mesothelioma in the diaphragm as well as determine the stage of the disease. Some patients could also have a PET scan. In this test, you'll receive a shot of the radioactive dye. Cancer cells will absorb the dye in greater quantities than healthy ones, and thus appear brighter on the images. A biopsy is the last test to confirm a mesothelioma diagnosis. A doctor will remove a portion of the affected lining. This will be scrutinized under a microscope for cancerous cells. This is done under local anaesthetic and can be done through surgery or by inserting needles guided by a CT scan. If the biopsy confirms mesothelioma your doctor will use the results of the other tests to determine the stage. The stage identifies the extent of the mesothelioma, and what treatment is the best for you. Learn more about staging by reading the section in this guide titled Staging. Treatment There are a variety of treatment options available for mesothelioma. Certain treatments can enhance the quality of life or prolong life for longer than others. Mesothelioma patients must discuss their goals with their medical team to determine the most effective strategy. Surgery is one way to treat mesothelioma. During this procedure surgeons attempt to remove all cancerous tissues. However when mesothelioma has reached an advanced stage, it's unlikely surgeons will be able completely remove the tumor. However, surgeons can manage to reduce symptoms. The most prevalent form of mesothelioma occurs within the lining that surrounds the lung. Mesothelioma can form around the heart in some cases (pericardial msothelioma). Rarely, mesothelioma affects the testicles. Mesothelioma is treatable with radiation therapy and chemotherapy. These treatments are usually administered by experts in mesothelioma at special centers. Chemotherapy is a treatment that uses drugs to kill the mesothelioma cells and stop their growth. The drug combination of pemetrexed and cisplatin is the standard first-line treatment of pleural mesothelioma. Radiation therapy employs high-energy beams to destroy cancerous cells. This procedure is typically used in conjunction with other mesothelioma treatments like chemotherapy and surgery. It is also a method to kill any remaining microscopic mesothelioma, which surgeons failed to remove during surgery. Mesothelioma patients can experience many different side effects from these treatments. The symptoms include nausea, fatigue, and hair loss. A mesothelioma expert can assist patients choose the best medication for their needs. They may also suggest other methods to improve the patient's quality of life. These include regular drainage of the pleural fluid to reduce breathing and strong painkillers. Patients should also ensure that their medical team is aware of any other medications they take, including supplements, herbs or over-the-counter drugs. This will help avoid potentially harmful interactions with these drugs. Prognosis Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that affects the mesothelium, a membrane that line our body's cavities, such as the chest and abdominal cavity. If a person is diagnosed with mesothelioma, malignant cells can form in the tissues, which could be spread to other parts of the body and cause symptoms like pain or difficulty breathing. It is vital to receive a mesothelioma diagnosis from a specialist doctor since this is the initial step to receiving treatment. Mesothelioma can be diagnosed multiple ways, including through an examination of the body, lab tests and the biopsy. A biopsy takes a small sample of the tumor or mass in order to detect mesothelioma. A misdiagnosis of mesothelioma can be dangerous, since it could delay treatment or make it more difficult to predict the outcome. Mesothelioma is difficult to identify because the symptoms can be similar to lung cancer or other common illnesses like pneumonia or bronchitis. Because of this, mesothelioma can be mistakenly interpreted as a respiratory illness. The outlook for mesothelioma's patients is contingent on the stage and type, along with the patient's age, general health and medical history. There is no cure for mesothelioma but the cancer can be controlled by chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation therapy. Palliative care is available to patients to manage symptoms like fatigue, pain, and other symptoms. The mesothelioma stage of a person is related to how far the disease has progressed and how much has already been spread to other parts of the body. The doctor will employ his or their best judgment when determining the stage, taking into consideration the symptoms and the rate of growth of the cancer. The rate of survival for mesothelioma depends on the stage of the patient and the type of cancer, and the location. The prognosis for patients diagnosed with less frequent types of mesothelioma is less favorable. Patients who suffer from peritoneal mesothelioma for instance have a higher chance of living a longer life because it is more likely to grow faster in the abdomen than pleural mesothelioma grows in the chest. Patients with a high tolerance to treatment can live longer than those who have less tolerance. For instance, some individuals with peritoneal mesothelioma have had good results after a combination of surgical removal, chemotherapy and radiation. Signs and symptoms When asbestos fibers are inhaled or swallowed they stick to the organ's lining and cause them to develop tumors. Mesothelioma is most prevalent in the lungs, however it can also be found in the chest wall, abdomen and testicles (in men). Mesothelioma symptoms usually don't manifest until 40 to 50 years after exposure. The first step to determine if you have mesothelioma is taking a history of exposure to asbestos. Your doctor will perform physical examination and then 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 identify mesothelioma as well as other cancers in the lungs. The blood tests can be performed to determine how your liver and kidneys are functioning. The doctor may request a chest MRI, or a PET scan, to look for any other cancers that could be present or mesothelioma of the lungs, or chest wall. If a biopsy is required doctors can take a sample of the tumor with surgical procedures or using an instrument that is inserted through the chest wall under local anesthesia. The doctor will then look at the tissue under microscopes to determine if it is malignant mesothelioma or another cancer. Following a diagnosis of mesothelioma by a doctor, they will utilize the information from all the tests to help them assess how advanced the cancer is. They will assign a staging number to mesothelioma. This will be useful in planning your treatment. Benign mesotheliomas aren't cancerous and won't recur if they are completely removed surgically. They typically form in the pleura as well as in the abdominal lining. Mesothelioma of the pericardium is more difficult to treat because it affects the heart. It may also recur after surgery. Mesothelioma can also grow to other areas of the body such as the lymph nodes or bones outside the chest and abdomen. It is sometimes difficult to recognize mesothelioma due to the similarity of symptoms to other conditions that are not as serious. This can result in misdiagnosis and delay your treatment. A delay could lead to more complications and lower the chances of survival.