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Mesothelioma Symptoms and Treatment When the first signs of mesothelioma are diagnosed, doctors will perform imaging scans to determine if a patient has any possible cancerous growths on their chest or abdomen. Mesothelioma can mimic other illnesses like lung cancer or pneumonia which can lead to incorrect diagnosis. A biopsy is performed by a doctor in order to determine mesothelioma. There are three mesothelioma cell types that include epithelial, sarcomatoid, and biphasic. Each type responds differently treatment and affects life expectancy. Diagnosis Doctors will conduct a variety of tests if mesothelioma was suspected. This could include a 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 Pleural effusion. It is often the first sign of mesothelioma. X-rays aren't the most reliable method for diagnosis. The next step is a chest CT scan, which provides an image of your lungs as well as other organs. A doctor might inject you with a color that will reveal regions of potential cancer. During the CT scanner, you will be lying on a mattress and passed through a doughnut shaped scanner. The procedure takes just several minutes and isn't too uncomfortable for those who feel claustrophobic. In certain instances doctors may also conduct an MRI test. These scans use strong magnetic fields and radio waves to create high-quality images of soft tissues, like those in the lungs. An MRI can be used to detect mesothelioma of the diaphragm, and to determine the stage of the disease. Some patients may also have an PET scan. In this test, you'll be given a shot the radioactive dye. Cancer cells will absorb the dye in greater quantities than healthy ones and consequently appear brighter in the images. A biopsy is the most definitive test to confirm the diagnosis of mesothelioma. A doctor will remove an infected lining. The lining will then be examined under a microscope to identify cancer cells. The procedure is performed under local anaesthetic and can be done with surgery or by inserting needles guided by an CT scan. If the biopsy results show mesothelioma the doctor will then consider the results of the other tests to determine its stage. The stage is the measure of how far mesothelioma spread and what types of treatment are best for you. You can find out more about staging by reading the section in the 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 longer than others. Mesothelioma patients should discuss their goals with their medical team to determine the best method. Surgery is one way to treat mesothelioma. The surgeons attempt to eliminate all cancerous tissues during this procedure. However when mesothelioma has reached an advanced stage, it's unlikely that doctors will be able to completely remove the tumor. Surgeons can still reduce the symptoms. The most commonly encountered mesothelioma type is mesothelioma that is found in the lining surrounding the lung. The mesothelioma can develop around the heart in some cases (pericardial msothelioma). In rare instances, a person can also have mesothelioma in the testicles (testicular mesothelioma). Mesothelioma is treatable with radiation therapy and chemotherapy. The treatments are usually given in mesothelioma centres that are specially designed by mesothelioma specialists with years of experience. Chemotherapy uses drugs to kill mesothelioma cells and prevent their growth. The drug combination of pemetrexed and cisplatin is the standard first-line treatment option for pleural mesothelioma. Radiation therapy makes use of high energy beams to kill cancerous cell. This procedure is usually utilized in conjunction with other mesothelioma therapies like surgery or chemotherapy. It is also a method to eliminate any microscopically residual mesothelioma that surgeons did not remove during surgery. These treatments can cause various adverse effects on patients with mesothelioma. They may experience fatigue, nausea and hair loss. A mesothelioma expert can help patients select the right medication for their requirements. They can also suggest other methods to improve the quality of life for patients. These can include regular pleural fluid drainage to ease breathing, or powerful painkillers. Patients should inform their physicians know about any other medications, for example supplements, herbal remedies or over-the-counter medications. This helps to avoid any risky interactions with these medications. Prognosis Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that affects the mesothelium, which is a membrane that lines the body's cavities, including the abdominal cavity and the chest. If someone develops mesothelioma malignant cells grow in this tissue and can grow to other parts of the body that can cause symptoms such difficulty breathing and pain. A specialist doctor's diagnosis of mesothelioma is crucial as it is the first step towards receiving treatment. There may be multiple steps to identify mesothelioma including a physical exam as well as lab tests and the biopsy. A biopsy will take a tiny sample of the tumor or mass to check for mesothelioma. A misdiagnosis of mesothelioma could be dangerous as it could delay treatment or worsen the outlook. Mesothelioma can be difficult to recognize because the symptoms are similar to those of lung cancer, pneumonia, or bronchitis. Because of this, mesothelioma gets misdiagnosed as a respiratory condition. The prognosis for mesothelioma can vary depending on the type and 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 treated with chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation therapy. Patients are also able to receive palliative treatment to alleviate fatigue, pain, and other signs. The mesothelioma stage is an indication of how much the disease of a patient has spread and how much it has already advanced. The doctor will make use of his or her best judgment when determining the stage, taking into account the symptoms and the rate of growth of the cancer. The rate of survival for mesothelioma depends on the patient's stage, the type of cancer, and the location. Those diagnosed with the less-common mesothelioma types have a less favorable prognosis. Patients with peritoneal msothelioma stand a higher chance of living a longer life, as it grows more slowly in the abdomen compared to mesothelioma of the chest that is pleural. Additionally, those who have a good tolerance for treatment can be more successful than those with a low tolerance. For instance, some individuals who suffer from peritoneal mesothelioma have experienced good results after a combination of chemotherapy, surgical removal and radiation. Symptoms Asbestos fibers may cause tumors within organs when swallowed, inhaled or inhaled. Mesothelioma typically occurs in the lung. However, it can also occur in the abdomen, chest, and testicles of men. The symptoms of mesothelioma are usually not likely to develop until around 40-50 years after exposure. The first step to diagnose mesothelioma is to take a detailed history of asbestos exposure. Your doctor will conduct physical examination and then review your symptoms. A chest X-ray may reveal abnormal thickening of the lungs or fluid in the space that separates the lungs and the chest wall. A lung CT scan can also be used to test for mesothelioma, or other cancers of the lungs. You may undergo blood tests to check on the health of your liver and kidneys. The doctor may request a chest MRI or an PET scan to check for other possible cancers or mesothelioma in the lungs or chest wall. If you are required to take a biopsy of the tumor is needed, doctors can remove it with surgery or by insertion of a needle through the chest wall, while under local anesthesia. The doctor will examine the tissue with an magnifying glass to determine if it is malignant mesothelioma or a different form of cancer. Following a diagnosis of mesothelioma, doctors will use the information from all the tests to help them assess how advanced the cancer is. They will assign a mesothelioma staging number, which can be useful in planning your treatment. Benign mesotheliomas don't cause cancer and can't grow back if they are completely removed surgically. They usually form in the pleura or abdominal lining. Mesothelioma of the pericardium is more difficult to treat due to the fact that it affects the heart. It can also recur following surgery. Mesothelioma could also spread to other areas of the body, such as the lymph nodes or the bones in the abdomen and chest. The symptoms of mesothelioma are comparable to those of other, less severe conditions. This can make it difficult to identify. knoxville mesothelioma lawyer can lead to a mistaken diagnosis, which can delay your treatment. Delay can cause more complications, and reduce the chance of surviving.