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Mesothelioma Symptoms and Treatment When mesothelioma's first symptoms are identified doctors may order imaging scans to determine if there are any cancerous growths on the abdomen or chest. Mesothelioma symptoms could be misinterpreted as other illnesses like lung cancer or pneumonia. Doctors may also perform an x-ray to determine mesothelioma. There are three mesothelioma types that include epithelial, sarcomatoid, and biphasic. Each one responds differently to treatment and has an impact on life expectancy. Diagnosis Doctors may perform a variety of tests if mesothelioma is 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 referred to as pleural effusion and is often the first indication of mesothelioma. However, X-rays aren't the most reliable way to diagnose the condition. A chest CT scan is the next step. This creates a detailed image of your lungs and organs. A doctor might inject you with a color, which will highlight areas of potential cancer. During the CT scanner, you'll be lying on a bed, and passed through a doughnut shaped scanner. The procedure only takes several minutes and isn't a problem for people who are claustrophobic. In certain instances doctors may also conduct an MRI test. The scans make use of powerful magnetic fields and radio waves to create high-quality pictures of soft tissues, such as the lungs. If you suffer from mesothelioma affecting the diaphragm, an MRI can assist doctors in locating it and determine the extent to which it is. Certain patients might also require an PET scan. In this test, you will be given a shot the radioactive dye. Cancer cells absorb the dye significantly more than healthy cells, and consequently appear brighter in the images. A biopsy is the most definitive test to confirm a mesothelioma diagnosis. A doctor will remove an insignificant portion of the lining affected, which is then examined under a microscope to see if cancer cells are present. This is done under local anaesthetic. The procedure can be accomplished through surgery or by inserting needles guided by the aid of a CT scan. If the biopsy confirms mesothelioma your doctor will use the results of the other tests to determine the stage. The stage is the measure of how far mesothelioma has spread and what kinds of treatment are the most appropriate for you. You can find out more about staging by reading the section on the guide titled Staging. Treatment Many treatment options are available for mesothelioma. There are a variety of treatment options available. Some may improve quality of life and extend the duration of time than others. portland mesothelioma attorney should discuss their goals with their medical team to determine the best method. Surgery can be used to treat mesothelioma. During this operation surgeons try to eliminate all cancerous tissues. However the mesothelioma that is in an advanced stage, it's unlikely doctors will be able to completely eliminate the tumor. However, surgeons can reduce the symptoms. The most frequent mesothelioma form is mesothelioma that is found in the lining of the lungs. In some instances it is possible for a patient to develop mesothelioma in the membrane surrounding the heart (pericardial mesothelioma). In rare instances, mesothelioma could affect the testicles. Mesothelioma can be treated with radiation therapy and chemotherapy. The treatments are usually given at specialized mesothelioma centers by highly experienced mesothelioma experts. Chemotherapy uses drugs to kill mesothelioma cells, and to stop their growth. The combination of pemetrexed and cisplatin is the standard first-line treatment for pleural mesothelioma. Radiation therapy employs high-energy beams of energy to kill cancerous cells. This therapy is usually used alongside other mesothelioma therapies such as chemotherapy and surgery. This treatment may also be used to treat any mesothelioma left behind by the surgeons after surgery. These treatments can have a variety of side consequences for patients suffering from mesothelioma. These include nausea, fatigue, and hair loss. A mesothelioma specialist can assist a patient choose the right treatment for their specific needs. They can also recommend other methods to improve the quality of life of patients. This could include regular pleural fluid drainage to ease breathing or strong painkillers. Patients should inform their doctors know about any other medications, for example herbal remedies, supplements, or over-the-counter drugs. This can help prevent risky interactions with these medications. Prognosis Mesothelioma, also known as pleural mesothelioma is a cancerous tumour that affects the membrane that lines the cavities of our bodies such as the chest cavity and abdomen. If someone has mesothelioma malignant cells may develop within the tissue, and they can spread to other areas of the body, causing symptoms such as breathing problems or pain. It is vital to receive a mesothelioma diagnosis from a specialist doctor because this is the first step towards receiving treatment. Mesothelioma diagnosis can be made in many ways, including a physical examination, lab tests, and the biopsy. A biopsy is a small sample taken from the tumor or mass to look for mesothelioma. The consequences of a mesothelioma diagnosis error could be very dangerous as it can delay treatment and make it more difficult to predict. Mesothelioma is often difficult to identify because the symptoms are similar to those of lung cancer, pneumonia, or bronchitis. Due to this, mesothelioma could be mistakenly identified as respiratory disorders. The prognosis for mesothelioma can vary depending on the type and severity 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 surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Patients can also receive palliative treatments to alleviate fatigue, pain and other signs. The mesothelioma stage of a person is related to how far the disease has progressed and how much of it has already moved to other areas of the body. A doctor will use their best judgment to determine the staging taking into consideration the symptoms and how fast the cancer is growing. The chance of survival for mesothelioma depends on the stage of the patient and type of cancer, and the location. Patients diagnosed with less common types of mesothelioma have lower chance of survival. Patients with peritoneal mesothelioma, for instance have a higher chance of living longer due to the fact that it tends to shrink slower in the abdomen than pleural mesothelioma does in the chest. Additionally, those who have a good tolerance for treatment may live longer than patients with less tolerance. For instance, some patients with peritoneal cancer have had good results after the combination of surgical removal, chemotherapy and radiation. Signs and symptoms When asbestos fibers are inhaled or swallowed they adhere to the organ's lining, and can cause them to form tumors. Mesothelioma is the most common type of cancer in the lungs. However, it can also be found in the chest wall, abdomen and testicles (in men). Symptoms of mesothelioma usually don't manifest until 40-50 years after exposure. The first step in diagnosing mesothelioma begins with taking a history about asbestos exposure. The doctor will then conduct an examination of your body and review your symptoms. A chest X-ray may reveal abnormal thickening of the pleura and fluid that is located between the lung and the chest wall. A lung CT scan may also be used to look for mesothelioma and other cancers of the lungs. A blood test can be ordered to see how your kidneys and liver are working. The doctor could recommend an chest MRI, or a PET scan, to look for any other potential cancers or mesothelioma that is located in the lungs or chest wall. If you are required to take a biopsy of the tumor is required, doctors will remove it through surgery or by inserting a needle through the chest wall while under local anesthesia. The doctor will then examine the area under an magnifying glass to determine if the tumor is malignant mesothelioma, or a different form of cancer. After a diagnosis of mesothelioma in the future, doctors will utilize the information from all the tests to determine how advanced the cancer is. They will assign mesothelioma a staging number that is important in the planning of your treatment. Benign mesotheliomas don't cause cancer and will not grow back if they are completely removed surgically. They typically occur in the abdominal lining, or pleura. Because it affects the heart, mesothelioma which occurs in the pericardium could be more difficult to treat. It can also recur following surgery. Mesothelioma can also spread other areas of the body, like the lymph nodes that are in the abdomen and chest. It can be hard to diagnose mesothelioma because of the similarity of symptoms to other conditions that are less serious. This could lead to a misdiagnosis that could delay your treatment. In the event of delay, treatment may lead to complications and reduce your chance of survival.