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Mesothelioma Symptoms and Treatment When mesothelioma-related symptoms are first discovered, doctors will request imaging scans to determine if a patient has any possible cancerous growths on their abdomen or chest. Mesothelioma symptoms may be mistaken for other illnesses such as pneumonia or lung cancer. A biopsy is performed by the doctor to identify mesothelioma. There are three mesothelioma cell types which include epithelial, Sarcomatoid and biphasic. Each type responds differently to treatment and has an impact on life expectancy. Diagnosis If mesothelioma has been identified, doctors will run several tests to confirm it. This includes chest X ray, CT scans, and biopsies. The Xrays reveal an increase in fluid to the chest's left side. This is referred to as pleural effusion and it is often the first sign of mesothelioma. However, X-rays aren't the most reliable method to diagnose the condition. A chest CT scan is the next step. This creates a detailed image of your organs and lungs. A doctor will inject you with dye to highlight any areas that might be cancerous. During the CT scan, you'll be guided through a doughnut scanner while lying on the bed. The procedure only takes several minutes and is not uncomfortable for people who are claustrophobic. In certain instances doctors may also perform an MRI. The scans produce high-quality pictures with radio waves and strong magnetic fields. An MRI can be used to identify a mesothelioma affecting the diaphragm as well as determine the stage of the disease. Some patients will also undergo an PET scan. In this test, you'll be given a shot of radioactive dye. Cancer cells absorb the dye in greater quantities than healthy cells, which is why they appear brighter in the images. A biopsy is the final test to confirm mesothelioma. A doctor will take an infected lining. The lining will then be examined under a microscope for cancer cells. This is done under local anaesthetic. It can be done with surgery or by inserting needles guided by a CT scan. Your doctor will use the results of other tests if the biopsy confirms that mesothelioma has been diagnosed. The stage identifies the extent of the mesothelioma, and what treatment is most suitable for you. You can find out more about staging by reading the section on the guide titled Staging. Treatment Several treatment options are available for mesothelioma. Some treatments may improve the quality of life or extend life longer than others. Mesothelioma patients must discuss their goals with their medical team to determine the best strategy. Surgery is one method to treat mesothelioma. In this procedure surgeons attempt to eliminate all cancerous tissues. However when mesothelioma is at an advanced stage, it's unlikely surgeons will be able completely remove the tumor. Surgery can reduce symptoms. The most commonly encountered mesothelioma form is mesothelioma pleural, which develops in the lining of the lungs. In some instances there is a possibility that a person develops mesothelioma in the membrane surrounding the heart (pericardial mesothelioma). Rarely, mesothelioma may affect the testicles. Mesothelioma is treatable with chemotherapy and radiation therapy. These treatments are usually administered by mesothelioma specialists at specialized centers. Chemotherapy is a treatment that employs drugs to kill mesothelioma cancerous cells and stop their growth. The drug combination of pemetrexed and Cisplatin is the most common first-line treatment of pleural mesothelioma. Radiation therapy employs high-energy beams that kill cancerous cells. This treatment is most often utilized in combination with other mesothelioma treatments like surgery and chemotherapy. It can also be used to kill any microscopic residual mesothelioma, which surgeons failed to remove during surgery. These treatments can cause a variety of side effects on mesothelioma patients. These include nausea, fatigue, and loss of hair. A mesothelioma specialist can assist patients find the best medication to meet their individual needs. They can also suggest other ways to improve a patient’s living quality. This could include regular pleural drainage to help with breathing, or strong painkillers. Patients should also make sure their medical team is aware of any other medications they are taking such as supplements, herbs or over-the-counter drugs. This will ensure that there aren't any potentially hazardous interactions between these drugs. Prognosis Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that affects the mesothelium, which is a membrane that line our body's cavities, such as the abdominal and chest cavity. When someone is diagnosed with mesothelioma cancerous cells can develop in the mesothelium, which may spread to other areas of the body and cause symptoms such as breathing problems or pain. It is very important to have a mesothelioma diagnosis by a specialist physician since this is the first step towards receiving treatment. Mesothelioma can be diagnosed in many ways, including a physical examination, lab tests and a biopsy. A biopsy takes a small sample of the tumor or mass to check for mesothelioma. If you are misdiagnosed with mesothelioma, it could be very dangerous as it can delay treatment and make it more difficult to predict. Mesothelioma is often difficult to recognize because the symptoms are similar to those of lung cancer, pneumonia, or bronchitis. Because of this, mesothelioma can be misdiagnosed for respiratory conditions. The prognosis for mesothelioma is determined depending on the type and severity 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 through chemotherapy, surgery, or radiation therapy. Palliative care is available to patients to manage symptoms such as fatigue, pain, and other signs and symptoms. The mesothelioma stage is a measure of how far the disease has spread, and how far it has already advanced. The doctor will apply his or her best judgment when determining the stage, taking into account the symptoms and the rate of growth of the cancer. The survival rate for mesothelioma depends on the patient's stage and type of cancer and the location. Patients who are diagnosed with less-common mesothelioma forms have a worse prognosis. Patients with peritoneal cancer, for instance have a greater chance of surviving longer due to the fact that it tends to grow slower in the abdomen than pleural mesothelioma can do in the chest. Patients who have high tolerance to treatment can live longer than those who have lower tolerance. For broken arrow mesothelioma law firm , a few patients with peritoneal mesothelioma's have had positive results using the combination of surgical removal, chemotherapy and radiation. Symptoms When asbestos fibers are inhaled or swallowed, they cling to organ linings and can cause them to form tumors. Mesothelioma is most often found in the lungs. However it can also manifest in the chest, abdomen and testicles of men. Mesothelioma symptoms generally don't appear until 40-50 years after exposure. The first step in determining mesothelioma is taking a medical history about asbestos exposure. The doctor will then conduct an examination and review your symptoms. A chest X-ray may show abnormal thickening or fluid in the space that separates the lungs and the chest wall. A lung CT scan is also used to identify mesothelioma as well as other lung cancers. You may undergo blood tests to check on the health of your kidneys and liver. The doctor may also order a chest MRI or an PET scan to determine other possible mesothelioma or cancers of the lungs, chest wall or abdomen. If you are required to take a biopsy of the tumor is required, the doctor can remove it through surgery or by inserting a needle through the chest wall while under local anesthesia. The doctor will then look at the tissue under microscope to determine whether it is malignant mesothelioma or another cancer. The information from the tests will assist doctors in determining the extent of the mesothelioma after a diagnosis. They will assign a staging number for mesothelioma. This will aid in planning your treatment. Benign mesotheliomas don't cause cancer and can't grow back if they are completely removed surgically. They typically develop in the pleura or abdominal lining. Because it affects the heart, mesothelioma that develops in the pericardium may be more difficult to treat. It is also possible to recur after surgery. Mesothelioma can also spread to other parts of the body such as lymph nodes or bones outside the chest and abdomen. It is sometimes difficult to diagnose mesothelioma because of the similarity of symptoms with other conditions that are less serious. This can lead misdiagnosis, which could delay treatment. Delay in treatment could cause complications and decrease the chance of surviving.