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Mesothelioma Symptoms and Treatment When mesothelioma-related symptoms are first noticed, doctors will order imaging scans to determine whether the patient has potential cancerous growths in their chest or abdomen. Mesothelioma symptoms may be misinterpreted as other illnesses such as pneumonia or lung cancer. Doctors may also perform a biopsy to diagnose mesothelioma. There are three major types of mesothelioma cells classified as epithelial (epidermal), Sarcomatoid (sarcoma) and biphasic. Each type reacts differently to treatment and impacts the length of life. Diagnosis If mesothelioma has been identified, doctors will run a variety of tests to confirm the diagnosis. This includes chest X-rays, CT scans and biopsies. The X-ray shows the accumulation of fluid on one side of the chest. This is called pleural effusion and is often the first sign of mesothelioma. The X-rays aren't always the most reliable method for diagnosis. The next step is the chest CT scan, which produces a detailed picture of your lungs and other organs. A doctor will inject you with a dye to identify any areas that could be cancerous. During the CT scanner, you will be lying on a bed, and passing through a doughnut-shaped scanner. The procedure is only a few minutes and isn't too uncomfortable, even for people who are claustrophobic. In some cases the doctor may also perform an MRI. The scans make use of powerful radio waves and magnetic fields to produce high-quality images of soft tissues, including lung tissues. An MRI can be used to locate mesothelioma that affects the diaphragm and identify its stage. Certain patients might also require an PET scan. You will be given a radioactive color in this test. Cancer cells will absorb the dye significantly more than healthy cells and thus appear brighter on the images. A biopsy is the most definitive test to confirm a mesothelioma diagnosis. A doctor will remove a small amount of the affected lining. The lining will then be examined under a microscope to detect cancer cells. This can be done under local anaesthesia and by using a CT scan or a needle. Your doctor will use the results of the other tests to determine that you have mesothelioma. The stage identifies the extent of mesothelioma and the treatment is most suitable for you. You can find out more about staging by reading the section in this guide titled Staging. Treatment Several treatment options are available for mesothelioma. There are a variety of treatment options available. Certain treatments can enhance the quality of life, or extend life longer than others. Patients suffering from mesothelioma should talk about their goals and determine the best treatment strategy. Surgery can be used to treat mesothelioma. Surgery is a method of removing all cancerous tissue during the procedure. If mesothelioma reaches an advanced stage the doctors may not be able remove the tumor completely. The surgeons can nevertheless reduce the symptoms. The most frequent mesothelioma form is found in the lining surrounding the lungs. In rare instances, a person may develop mesothelioma in the membrane surrounding the heart (pericardial mesothelioma). In rare cases there is also the possibility that a person could suffer from mesothelioma of the testicles (testicular mesothelioma). Mesothelioma can be treated using chemotherapy and radiation therapy. These treatments are usually administered by mesothelioma experts in specialized centers. Chemotherapy, a treatment, employs drugs to kill mesothelioma cancer cells and stop their growth. Pemetrexed and cisplatin are the standard first-line drug combination for pleural msothelioma. Radiation therapy employs high-energy beams to kill cancerous cell. This treatment is often used in conjunction with other mesothelioma treatments like chemotherapy and surgery. This treatment may also be used for any microscopic mesothelioma left by surgeons following surgery. These treatments may cause many adverse effects on mesothelioma patients. These include nausea, fatigue and hair loss. A mesothelioma expert can help patients choose the best medication to meet their individual needs. They can also suggest other methods to improve the patient's quality of living. These include regular pleural fluid drainage to reduce breathing and strong painkillers. Patients should also ensure that their medical team is aware of any other medications they take including supplements, herbal remedies or over-the-counter drugs. This will help to avoid any potentially harmful interactions between these drugs. Prognosis Mesothelioma is an illness that affects the mesothelium membrane that lines the body's cavities, including the abdominal and chest cavity. When lincoln mesothelioma law firm is diagnosed with mesothelioma, malignant cells form in this tissue and can spread to other parts of the body which can cause symptoms such as breathing difficulties and pain. A specialist doctor's diagnosis of mesothelioma is vital because it is the first step to receive treatment. Mesothelioma diagnosis can be made in multiple ways, including through physical examination, laboratory tests, and the biopsy. A biopsy collects a small sample of the tumor or mass to determine if it is mesothelioma. The wrong diagnosis of mesothelioma can be dangerous as it could delay treatment or worsen the prognosis. Mesothelioma is difficult to diagnose, as the symptoms can be similar to lung cancer or other common illnesses like pneumonia or bronchitis. Because of this, mesothelioma could be mistakenly diagnosed as respiratory diseases. The prognosis for mesothelioma can vary depending on the type and stage of mesothelioma as well as the patient's age and general health, as well as medical history. The cancer can be controlled by surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. Palliative treatment can be offered to patients to control symptoms such as fatigue, pain, and other signs. A person's mesothelioma stage refers to how the disease has progressed and how much has already moved to other areas of the body. The doctor will apply 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 is dependent on the stage and type as well as the location of the cancer. The prognosis of those diagnosed with less prevalent types of mesothelioma is less favorable. Patients who suffer from peritoneal mesothelioma for instance has a higher probability of living longer due to the fact that it is more likely to develop in the abdomen than pleural mesothelioma can do in the chest. Patients with high tolerance to treatment can live longer than those with a low tolerance. For instance, some people with peritoneal mesothelioma's have had success with a combination of surgical removal, chemotherapy and radiation. Signs and symptoms When asbestos fibers are swallowed or inhaled, they cling to the lining of organs and cause them to develop tumors. Mesothelioma most commonly occurs in the lungs. However it can also be found in the abdomen, chest, and testicles of men. Symptoms of mesothelioma usually don't manifest until 40-50 years after exposure. The first step to diagnose mesothelioma is to take a history of exposure to asbestos. The doctor will then conduct an examination and review your symptoms. A chest Xray can reveal abnormal growth of the pleura, or fluid in the space between the lung and the chest wall. A lung CT scan can also be used to look for mesothelioma or other cancers of the lungs. Blood tests can be conducted to see how your kidneys and liver are working. The doctor may also order a chest MRI or an PET scan to look for any other mesothelioma or cancers of the lungs, chest wall or abdomen. If a biopsy is necessary doctors can remove a small sample of the tumor through surgical procedures or using the use of a needle through the chest wall while under local anesthesia. The doctor will then examine the tissue using the magnifying glass to determine if it is malignant mesothelioma, or a different form of cancer. When you've been diagnosed with mesothelioma, doctors use the information gathered from 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. They are not cancerous and they don't have the potential to grow back if surgically removed. They typically form within the pleura and the abdominal lining. Because it affects the heart, mesothelioma that occurs in the pericardium could be more difficult to treat. It is also possible to recur after surgery. Mesothelioma may also spread to other parts of the body, such as the lymph nodes and bones located outside the chest and abdomen. It is sometimes difficult to determine if you have mesothelioma based on the similarity of symptoms to other less serious diseases. This could lead to incorrect diagnosis and delay treatment. In the event of delay, treatment may result in complications and lower the chances of surviving.