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Mesothelioma Symptoms and Treatment When mesothelioma is diagnosed for the first time doctors request imaging scans to look for any cancerous growths on the chest or abdomen. Mesothelioma signs can be misinterpreted as other illnesses such as pneumonia or lung cancer. A biopsy will be taken by a doctor to determine mesothelioma. There are three mesothelioma cell types: epithelial, sarcomatoid and biphasic. naperville mesothelioma attorneys responds differently to treatment and has an impact on life expectancy. Diagnosis Doctors may perform a variety of tests if mesothelioma was suspected. This could include a chest X ray, CT scans, and biopsies. The Xrays reveal the presence of fluid on the chest on one side. This is referred to as the pleural effusion, and is usually the first indication of mesothelioma. X-rays may not be the most reliable method for diagnosis. A chest CT scan is the next step. This will create a detailed image of your lungs and organs. A doctor will inject you with dye to highlight any areas that may be cancerous. During the CT scanner, you will be lying on a bed, and passing through a doughnut-shaped scanner. The procedure only takes several minutes and isn't a problem for those who suffer from claustrophobia. In certain instances doctors may also conduct an MRI. These scans use strong magnetic fields and radio waves to create high-quality pictures of soft tissues, including those in the lungs. If you suffer from mesothelioma that affects the diaphragm, an MRI can assist doctors in locating the cancer and determine how advanced it is. Certain patients may also undergo a PET scan. In this test, you'll be given a shot of radioactive dye. Cancer cells absorb the dye more than healthy cells, which means they will appear more clearly on the pictures. A biopsy is the final test to confirm mesothelioma. A doctor will remove a small amount of the affected lining, which will be examined under a microscope, to determine if cancer cells are present. The procedure is performed under local anaesthetic and can be performed using surgery or by inserting a needle guided by an CT scan. Your doctor will refer to the results from other tests if the biopsy confirms that you have mesothelioma. The stage is the measurement of the size of mesothelioma as well as which treatment is the best for you. You can find out more about staging by reading the section on this guide titled Staging. Treatment Many treatment options are available for mesothelioma. Some can improve the quality of life and extend the life span of time than others. Patients suffering from mesothelioma should talk about their goals and determine the most effective treatment plan. Surgery is one of the ways to treat mesothelioma. The surgeons attempt to eliminate all cancerous tissues during this procedure. However when mesothelioma is at an advanced stage, it's unlikely surgeons will be able to completely remove the tumor. However, surgeons can manage to reduce symptoms. The most commonly encountered mesothelioma type is called mesothelioma of the pleura, which is formed in the lining around the lungs. Mesothelioma can form around the heart in some instances (pericardial mesothelioma). In rare cases there is also the possibility that a person could suffer from mesothelioma of the testicles (testicular mesothelioma). Mesothelioma is treatable with chemotherapy and radiation therapy. The treatments are usually given at specialized mesothelioma centers by experienced mesothelioma specialists. Chemotherapy employs drugs to kill mesothelioma tumor cells and stop their growth. Pemetrexed and cisplatin are preferred first-line treatment for pleural mesothelioma. Radiation therapy utilizes high-energy beams to destroy cancerous cells. This method is often employed in conjunction with other mesothelioma treatments, such as surgery and chemotherapy. This procedure can also be used to treat any mesothelioma left by surgeons after surgery. Mesothelioma patients may experience many different adverse effects resulting from these treatments. These symptoms include nausea, fatigue and hair loss. A mesothelioma specialist can help a patient choose the right treatment for their specific needs. They can also recommend alternative ways to improve the quality of life for patients. These could include regular Pleural fluid drainage to help ease breathing or strong painkillers. Patients should inform their doctors know about any other medications, like supplements, herbal remedies or prescription drugs. This will ensure that there aren't any potentially hazardous interactions between these drugs. Prognosis Mesothelioma, also referred to as mesothelioma of the pleural region, is a cancerous tumor that affects the membrane that forms the body's cavities like the chest cavity and abdomen. When someone is diagnosed with mesothelioma malignant cells can grow in the tissue, and they can be spread to other parts of the body, causing symptoms such as pain or difficulty breathing. A specialist doctor's diagnosis of mesothelioma's is essential because it is the first step to receive treatment. There are a variety of steps to diagnose mesothelioma, which may include a physical examination as well as lab tests and biopsy. A biopsy is a small sample taken from the tumor or mass to determine if mesothelioma is present. If you are misdiagnosed with mesothelioma, it can be very risky because it can delay treatment and worsen the prognosis. Mesothelioma can be difficult to detect because the symptoms are similar to the symptoms of lung cancer, pneumonia, or bronchitis. Due to this, mesothelioma is often misdiagnosed for respiratory conditions. The prognosis for mesothelioma is based on the type and stage, along with the patient's age, general health and medical history. The cancer can be treated by chemotherapy, surgery and radiation therapy. Patients can also receive palliative care to help control pain, fatigue and other symptoms. The mesothelioma stage is an indication of how much the disease has spread, and how far it has already advanced. The doctor will use his or his best judgment when determining the stage, taking into consideration the symptoms and the rate of growth of the cancer. The survival rate for mesothelioma is contingent on the stage and type as well as the location of the cancer. The prognosis of patients diagnosed with less frequent types of mesothelioma is poorer. Patients suffering from peritoneal mesothelioma for example have a higher 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 high tolerance for treatment might live longer than those who have an intolerant. Certain patients with peritoneal msothelioma have had excellent results when they combined chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation. Signs and symptoms Asbestos fibers can cause cancer in organs if they are swallowed, inhaled or inhaled. Mesothelioma most commonly occurs in the lungs. However it can also manifest in the chest, abdomen and testicles of males. Mesothelioma symptoms typically don't show until 40-50 years after exposure. The first step in determining mesothelioma begins with taking a history of asbestos exposure. Your doctor will perform an examination of your body and review your symptoms. A chest X-ray may reveal abnormal thickening of the pleura or fluid in the space between the lung and the chest wall. A lung CT scan may also be used to identify mesothelioma as well as other cancers in the lungs. You could have blood tests to determine the health of your liver and kidneys. The doctor may also order an abdominal MRI or an PET scan to check for other possible mesothelioma or cancers of the chest wall, lungs or abdomen. If it is determined that a biopsy is required, doctors can remove it by surgery or by inserting a needle into the chest wall while under local anesthesia. The doctor will then examine the tissue with a microscope to determine if it is malignant mesothelioma, or another cancer. If you are diagnosed with mesothelioma by a doctor, they will utilize the information gathered from all tests to help them assess how advanced the cancer is. They will assign a staging number for mesothelioma that can be helpful for planning your treatment. Benign mesotheliomas don't cause cancer and can't be regrown after they've been completely removed surgically. They typically form in the abdominal lining of the pleura. Because it affects the heart, mesothelioma which develops in the pericardium may be more difficult to treat. It may also recur after surgery. Mesothelioma can also spread other parts of the body, like the lymph nodes and bones located outside the abdomen and chest. The symptoms of mesothelioma resemble the symptoms of other less serious illnesses. This can make it difficult to determine the cause. This could lead to a misdiagnosis that could delay your treatment. In the event of delay, treatment may cause complications and decrease your chances of surviving.