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Mesothelioma Symptoms and Treatment When mesothelioma-related symptoms are first diagnosed, doctors will perform imaging scans to determine whether the patient has possible cancerous growths on their chest or abdomen. Mesothelioma can mimic other illnesses like lung cancer, pneumonia, or pneumonia, leading to confusion in diagnosis. Doctors may also conduct a biopsy to identify mesothelioma. There are three mesothelioma types classified as epithelial (epidermal), the sarcomatoid (sarcoma) and biphasic. Each type responds to treatment differently and has a distinct impact on life expectancy. Diagnosis If mesothelioma is suspected doctors will run a variety of tests to confirm it. This could include a chest X ray, CT scans, and biopsies. The X-ray can reveal the presence of fluid on one side of the chest. This is known as the pleural effusion, and is usually the first sign of mesothelioma. X-rays might not be the most reliable method of diagnosis. The next step is the chest CT scan, which provides a detailed picture of your lungs as well as other organs. A doctor could inject you with a dye, which will highlight regions of potential cancer. During the CT scan, you'll be scanned through a doughnut-shaped scanner as you lie on a bed. The procedure takes just some minutes and isn't uncomfortable for those who feel claustrophobic. In certain instances doctors may also conduct an MRI. These tests make use of strong radio waves and magnetic fields to produce high-quality images of soft tissues, like lung tissues. If you suffer from mesothelioma affecting the diaphragm and the diaphragm, an MRI can assist doctors in locating it and determine how advanced it is. Certain patients may also undergo a PET scan. In this test, you'll be given a shot an irradiated dye. Cancer cells 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 an insignificant portion of the affected lining, which will be examined under a microscope in order to determine whether cancerous cells are present. This is done under local anaesthetic. It can be done with surgery or by inserting an instrument that guides the needle through the aid of a CT scan. If the biopsy results confirm mesothelioma the doctor will then consider the results of the other tests to determine the stage. This stage defines the severity of the mesothelioma, and what treatment is the best for you. You can learn more about staging by reading the section in this guide, titled Staging. Treatment Many treatment options are available for mesothelioma. Some treatments may improve the quality of life, or extend life for longer than others. Mesothelioma patients must discuss their goals with their medical team to determine the best method. Surgery is a method to treat mesothelioma. The surgeons attempt to eliminate all cancerous tissue during this operation. However, if mesothelioma is in an advanced stage, it's unlikely that doctors will be able to completely eliminate the tumor. However, surgeons can manage to reduce symptoms. The most commonly encountered mesothelioma type is mesothelioma of the pleura, which is formed in the lining surrounding the lung. In some cases there is a possibility that a person develops mesothelioma that is located in the membrane around the heart (pericardial mesothelioma). In rare cases, a person can also suffer from mesothelioma that affects the testicles (testicular mesothelioma). Mesothelioma can be treated with radiation therapy and chemotherapy. These treatments are typically administered by experts in mesothelioma at specialized centers. Chemotherapy is a therapy that uses drugs to kill the mesothelioma cancer cells and stop their growth. Pemetrexed and Cisplatin are the standard first-line drug combination for pleural mesothelioma. Radiation therapy utilizes high-energy beams to kill cancerous cells. This treatment is often used with other mesothelioma therapies, such as chemotherapy and surgery. This procedure can also be used to treat any mesothelioma left behind by the surgeons after surgery. Mesothelioma patients can suffer from many different adverse effects resulting from these treatments. They may experience nausea, fatigue, and hair loss. A mesothelioma expert can help a patient choose the right treatment for their specific needs. They can also suggest different ways to enhance a patient's quality of life. This could include regular pleural drainage to ease breathing, or powerful painkillers. Patients should inform their doctor know about any other medications, like herbal remedies, supplements or over-the-counter drugs. This helps to avoid any potentially harmful interactions with these drugs. Prognosis Mesothelioma, a form of cancer, affects the mesothelium, a membrane that lines our body's cavities like the abdominal cavity and chest. If a person is diagnosed with mesothelioma, malignant cells may develop within the tissue, and they can extend to other areas of the body and trigger symptoms such as breathing problems or pain. A specialist doctor's diagnosis of mesothelioma is crucial because it is the first step in receiving treatment. There may be multiple steps to identify mesothelioma including a physical exam and lab tests, as well as a biopsy. A biopsy will take a tiny sample of the tumor or mass to check for mesothelioma. A misdiagnosis of mesothelioma can be extremely dangerous because it could delay treatment and even worsen the likelihood of a positive outcome. Mesothelioma is often difficult to diagnose because the symptoms are similar to those of lung cancer, bronchitis, or pneumonia. Because of this, mesothelioma is often mistakenly identified as respiratory disorders. The prognosis of mesothelioma differs according to the type and the stage of mesothelioma, as well as the patient's age, general health and medical history. There is no cure for mesothelioma but the cancer can be controlled with chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation therapy. Palliative care is available to patients in order to manage symptoms such as fatigue, pain, and other symptoms. The mesothelioma stage is an indication of the extent to which the disease of a patient has spread and how much it has already progressed. hawthorne mesothelioma lawyer will employ their best judgment to determine the staging taking into consideration the symptoms and the speed at which the cancer is growing. The survival rate for mesothelioma depends on the patient's stage, the type of cancer and location. Patients diagnosed with less well-known mesothelioma types have a poorer prognosis. Patients who suffer from peritoneal mesothelioma for example has a higher probability 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. Patients who have high tolerance to treatment could also live longer than patients with a low tolerance. Some people with peritoneal msothelioma were able to achieve good results when they combined chemotherapy, surgery and radiation. Signs and symptoms When asbestos fibers are swallowed or inhaled they stick to the organ's lining and can cause them to form tumors. Mesothelioma typically occurs in the lungs. However it can also manifest in the chest, abdomen and testicles of men. Mesothelioma symptoms typically don't show until 40-50 years after exposure. The first step to diagnose mesothelioma begins with taking a history of asbestos exposure. The doctor will then conduct a physical exam and review your symptoms. A chest X-ray can reveal abnormal thickening or fluid in the space that separates the lungs from the chest wall. A lung CT scan can also be used to test for mesothelioma or other types of cancer of the lungs. You may undergo blood tests to check on the health of your kidneys and liver. The doctor could request an chest MRI, or a PET scan to check for other possible cancers or mesothelioma that is located in the lungs or the chest wall. If a biopsy is required doctors can remove a small sample of the tumor through surgery or the use of a needle through the chest wall while under local anesthesia. The doctor will examine the tissue with the magnifying glass to determine whether it is malignant mesothelioma, or a different kind of cancer. The results from the tests will allow doctors to determine the extent of the cancer after a mesothelioma diagnosis. They will assign a mesothelioma staging number, which is beneficial in planning your treatment. They aren't cancerous and they can't grow again if surgically removed. They usually form in the pleura or abdominal lining. Mesothelioma in the pericardium is more difficult to treat as it affects the heart. It can also recur after surgery. Mesothelioma is also able to spread to other areas of the body such as the bones or lymph nodes located outside the abdomen and chest. It is sometimes difficult to recognize mesothelioma due to the similarity of symptoms with other, less serious conditions. This can lead to a misdiagnosis, which could delay your treatment. A delay can lead to more complications, and reduce the chances of survival.