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Mesothelioma Symptoms and Treatment When the first signs of mesothelioma are discovered, doctors will request imaging scans to determine whether the patient has potential cancerous growths in their abdomen or chest. Mesothelioma can be a sign of other illnesses like lung cancer, pneumonia, or pneumonia, leading to confusion in diagnosis. Doctors can also take a biopsy to identify mesothelioma. There are three mesothelioma cell types which include epithelial (epidermal), the sarcomatoid (sarcoma) and biphasic. Each type responds to treatment differently and has a distinct impact on the life expectancy. Diagnosis If mesothelioma is suspected doctors will run several tests to confirm it. These include a chest X-ray, CT scans and biopsies. The X-ray reveals an accumulation of fluid on one side of the chest. This is known as pleural effusion and is often the first sign of mesothelioma. X-rays aren't the most reliable method for diagnosis. The next step is an chest CT scan, which creates an exact picture of your lungs and other organs. A doctor will inject you with dye to identify any areas that may be cancerous. During the CT scanner, you'll be lying on a bed, and traversed through a doughnut-shaped scanner. The procedure takes just a few moments and isn't uncomfortable for people who are claustrophobic. In some cases doctors may also conduct an MRI test. These tests use powerful radio waves and magnetic fields to produce high-quality images soft tissues, such as the lungs. If you have mesothelioma affecting the diaphragm or the diaphragm, an MRI can assist doctors in locating it and determine how advanced it is. Some patients will also undergo an PET scan. In this test, you will be given a shot of a radioactive dye. Cancer cells absorb the dye significantly more than healthy ones, and thus appear brighter on the images. A biopsy is the most definitive test to confirm a mesothelioma diagnosis. A doctor will take a small amount of the lining that is affected, that will then be examined under a microscope, to determine whether cancerous cells are present. This can be done under local anaesthesia or by using a CT scan or a needle. Your doctor will refer to the results from other tests if the biopsy confirms that mesothelioma is present. This stage defines the severity of mesothelioma as well as which treatment is best for you. This guide includes an article titled Staging which will provide you with more information about staging. Treatment There are many options for treatment for mesothelioma. Certain treatments can enhance the quality of life, or extend life for longer than others. Patients with mesothelioma should discuss their goals and determine the best treatment plan. Surgery can be used to treat mesothelioma. During this operation surgeons try to eliminate all cancerous tissues. However when mesothelioma is at an advanced stage, it's unlikely surgeons will be able to completely remove the tumor. Surgeons can still reduce the symptoms. The most commonly-used mesothelioma is found within the lining that surrounds the lung. In some instances, a person may develop mesothelioma within the membrane that surrounds the heart (pericardial mesothelioma). In rare cases there is also the possibility that a person could suffer from mesothelioma that affects the testicles (testicular mesothelioma). Mesothelioma is treatable with chemotherapy and radiation therapy. The treatments are usually given in mesothelioma clinics that are specialized by mesothelioma specialists who are experienced. Chemotherapy is a method of treatment that employs drugs to kill mesothelioma cells and stop their growth. The combination of pemetrexed and Cisplatin is the most common first-line treatment for pleural mesothelioma. Radiation therapy uses high energy beams to kill cancerous cell. This type of treatment is typically utilized in conjunction with other mesothelioma treatment including surgery and chemotherapy. This procedure can also be applied to any mesothelioma that is microscopic left behind by the surgeons after surgery. These treatments may cause numerous adverse effects on mesothelioma patients. The symptoms include nausea, fatigue, and hair loss. A mesothelioma expert can assist patients choose the best medication for their requirements. They can also suggest additional methods to improve the patient's quality of living. This might include regular pleural drainage to help with breathing, or powerful painkillers. Patients should also make sure they inform their medical professional of any other medications they take such as supplements, herbs or over-the-counter drugs. This will help avoid risky interactions with these medications. Prognosis Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that affects the mesothelium, which is a membrane that lines our body's cavities, such as the chest and abdominal cavity. If a person is diagnosed with mesothelioma malignant cells grow in this tissue and can grow to other parts of the body and cause symptoms like pain and difficulty breathing. A specialist doctor's diagnosis of mesothelioma's is essential since it is the initial step to receive treatment. It could take a number of steps to determine if mesothelioma is present, which may include a physical examination along with lab tests and a biopsy. A biopsy takes a small sample of the tumor or mass in order to detect mesothelioma. A misdiagnosis for mesothelioma may be dangerous, as it could delay treatment or worsen the prognosis. Mesothelioma is often difficult to identify because the symptoms are similar to those of lung cancer, pneumonia, or bronchitis. Because of denver mesothelioma law firm , mesothelioma is frequently misdiagnosed as a respiratory condition. The prognosis for mesothelioma is based on the stage and type, as well as the patient's age, general health and medical history. There is no cure for mesothelioma, however, the cancer can be controlled through surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Palliative care can be provided to patients to control symptoms such as fatigue, pain and other signs. The stage of mesothelioma is an indication of how much the disease of a patient has spread and how far it has already advanced. The doctor will use his or his best judgment when determining the stage, taking into account the symptoms and the rate of growth of the cancer. The survival rate of mesothelioma is dependent on the stage and type, as well as the location of the cancer. The prognosis of those diagnosed with less common forms of mesothelioma is lower. Patients suffering 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 who have an increased tolerance to treatment might also live longer than those who have a low tolerance. People with peritoneal Msothelioma had good results when they combined chemotherapy, surgery and radiation. Signs and symptoms When asbestos fibers are inhaled or swallowed, they cling to the lining of organs and cause them to grow into tumors. Mesothelioma is most often found in the lungs, however it can also be found in the chest wall, abdomen and testicles (in males). Mesothelioma symptoms typically don't show until 40 to 50 years after exposure. The first step to diagnosing mesothelioma is taking a medical history about asbestos exposure. Your doctor will perform an examination and examine your symptoms. A chest X-ray can show abnormal thickening of the pleura and fluid in the space between the lung and the chest wall. A lung CT scan could also be used to check for mesothelioma or other cancers of the lungs. Blood tests can be done to determine how your liver and kidneys are working. The doctor can order an chest MRI, or an PET scan, to check for other possible cancers or mesothelioma of the lungs, or chest wall. If a biopsy is needed doctors can take a sample of the tumor through surgery or with an instrument that is inserted through the chest wall under local anesthesia. The doctor will then look at the tissue under microscope to determine whether it is malignant mesothelioma or a different cancer. When you've been diagnosed with mesothelioma in the future, doctors will utilize the results of all tests to determine how advanced the cancer is. They will assign a mesothelioma staging number, which is helpful in making plans for your treatment. Benign mesotheliomas aren't cancerous and can't grow back if they are completely removed surgically. They typically form within the pleura and the abdominal lining. Mesothelioma in 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 parts of the body, like the lymph nodes or the bones in the abdomen and chest. The symptoms of mesothelioma resemble the symptoms of other less serious conditions. This can make it difficult to determine the cause. This could lead to mistakes in diagnosis and delay treatment. Delay can cause more complications and reduce the chances of survival.