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Mesothelioma Symptoms and Treatment When mesothelioma signs are first noticed, doctors will order imaging scans to determine whether the patient has potential cancerous growths in their abdomen or chest. Mesothelioma symptoms can be misinterpreted as other illnesses like lung cancer or pneumonia. Doctors may also conduct a biopsy to diagnose mesothelioma. There are three main mesothelioma cells: epithelial, sarcomatoid and biphasic. Each type responds to treatment differently and has a different impact on life expectancy. Diagnosis If mesothelioma may be a possibility, doctors will run a variety of tests to confirm the diagnosis. This could include a chest X-ray, CT scans, and biopsies. The X-ray reveals a buildup of fluid to the chest's left side. This is referred to as an effusion of the pleura and is usually the first indication of mesothelioma. However, X-rays aren't the most reliable way to diagnose the condition. The next step is a chest CT scan, which will give you a an image of your lungs as well as other organs. A doctor will inject you with dye to identify any areas that may be cancerous. During the CT scan, you will be guided through a doughnut scanner while lying on the bed. The procedure only takes several minutes and isn't too uncomfortable for those who suffer from claustrophobia. In some instances the doctor may perform an MRI test. These scans use strong radio waves and magnetic fields to create high-quality pictures of soft tissues like those in the lungs. If you have a mesothelioma of the diaphragm or the diaphragm, then an MRI can help doctors locate it and determine how advanced it is. Some patients might also undergo an PET scan. You will receive a radioactive dye in this test. Cancer cells absorb the dye more than healthy cells, and they will appear brighter in the images. A biopsy is the last test to confirm a mesothelioma diagnosis. A doctor will remove tiny portions of the affected lining which will be examined under a microscope, to determine if cancer cells are present. This procedure is performed under local anaesthetic. It can be performed using surgery or by inserting the needle using an CT scan. st charles mesothelioma attorney will rely on the results of the other tests to confirm that you have mesothelioma. This stage describes the extent of mesothelioma and the treatment is best for you. You can find out more about staging by reading the section in the guide titled Staging. Treatment Several treatment options are available for mesothelioma. There are a variety of treatment options available. Some can improve the quality of life and extend life for a longer amount of time than other. Mesothelioma patients should 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. If mesothelioma has progressed to an advanced stage the doctors may not be able of removing the cancer completely. The surgeons can nevertheless reduce the symptoms. The most common mesothelioma type is found within the lining that surrounds the lung. In rare instances there is a possibility that a person develops mesothelioma within the membrane that surrounds the heart (pericardial mesothelioma). In rare cases it is possible to suffer from mesothelioma that affects the testicles (testicular mesothelioma). Mesothelioma can be treated using radiation therapy and chemotherapy. These treatments are usually provided at mesothelioma centers that are specially staffed by experienced mesothelioma specialists. Chemotherapy utilizes drugs to kill mesothelioma cells and prevent their growth. The drug combination of pemetrexed with Cisplatin is the first-line treatment for pleural mesothelioma. Radiation therapy employs high-energy beams to kill cancerous cell. This treatment is most often utilized in conjunction with other mesothelioma treatments including surgery and chemotherapy. This treatment is also applied to any mesothelioma that is microscopic left by surgeons following surgery. Mesothelioma patients are susceptible to different side effects from these treatments. The symptoms include nausea, fatigue and hair loss. A mesothelioma doctor can help patients choose the right medication to meet their individual needs. They can also suggest other ways to enhance a patient's living quality. These could include regular pleural fluid drainage to reduce breathing and strong painkillers. Patients should also ensure that the medical team is aware of any other medications they are taking including supplements, herbal remedies or prescription drugs. This will help avoid potentially harmful interactions with these drugs. Prognosis Mesothelioma is a cancer that affects the mesothelium membrane that line our body's cavities such as the abdominal cavity and chest. If a person is diagnosed with mesothelioma, malignant cells can form in the tissues, which could expand to other parts of the body, causing symptoms like pain or difficulty breathing. A specialist doctor's diagnosis of mesothelioma's is essential as it is the first step towards receiving treatment. Mesothelioma diagnosis can be made in many ways, including physical examination, laboratory tests, and the biopsy. A biopsy is a tiny sample taken from the mass or tumor to check for mesothelioma. A misdiagnosis of mesothelioma could be dangerous, since it could delay treatment or worsen the likelihood of a positive outcome. Mesothelioma is a difficult cancer to detect due to the fact that its symptoms could be similar to lung cancer or other common ailments like pneumonia or bronchitis. Due to this, mesothelioma can be misdiagnosed for respiratory conditions. The prognosis of mesothelioma varies on the stage and type, along with the age, general health and medical history. The cancer can be controlled through surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Palliative treatment can be offered for patients to manage symptoms like fatigue, pain, and other symptoms. A person's mesothelioma stage refers to how the disease has progressed and how much of it has already spread to other parts of the body. A doctor will use their best judgment to determine the staging, taking into account the symptoms and how quickly the cancer is growing. The mesothelioma survival rate is contingent on the patient's stage, the type of cancer, and the location. Patients who are diagnosed with less-common types of mesothelioma have a less favorable prognosis. Patients with peritoneal cancer, for example, have a better chance of living longer because it tends to shrink slower in the abdomen than pleural mesothelioma does in the chest. Additionally, those who have a good tolerance for treatment can live longer than patients with an intolerant. For instance, some individuals with peritoneal mesothelioma's have had positive results using the combination of surgical removal, chemotherapy and radiation. Symptoms When asbestos fibers are swallowed or inhaled, they cling to organ linings and cause them to grow into tumors. Mesothelioma is most often found in the lungs, but it can also be found in the chest wall, abdomen and testicles (in men). Mesothelioma symptoms typically don't show until 40 to 50 years after exposure. The first step to diagnose mesothelioma involves taking a history of asbestos exposure. Your doctor will perform an examination of your body and review your symptoms. A chest X ray can detect abnormal thickening or fluid in the space that divides the lungs from the chest wall. A lung CT scan may also be used to detect mesothelioma and other cancers in the lungs. You could have blood tests to check on the health of your kidneys and liver. The doctor might recommend a chest MRI, or an PET scan to check for any other cancers that could be present or mesothelioma within the lungs or the chest wall. If a biopsy of the tumor is required, the doctor can remove it by surgery or by inserting a needle through the chest wall under local anesthesia. The doctor will examine the tissue using a magnifying glass to determine if the tumor is malignant mesothelioma or a different form of cancer. The results of these tests will help doctors determine the extent of the cancer after a mesothelioma diagnosis. They will assign a staging number to mesothelioma. This can help you plan your treatment. Benign mesotheliomas do not cause cancer and can't be regrown after they've been completely removed surgically. They typically develop in the abdominal lining, or pleura. Because it affects the heart, mesothelioma that develops in the pericardium might be more difficult to treat. It may also recur after surgery. Mesothelioma is also able to spread to other areas of the body including the lymph nodes and bones in the abdomen and chest. It can be hard to identify mesothelioma due the similarity of symptoms to other, less serious conditions. This could lead to confusion and delay treatment. The delay can cause more complications and decrease the chances of survival.