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Mesothelioma Symptoms and Treatment When mesothelioma's first symptoms are identified doctors request scans of the body to detect any cancerous growths on the chest or abdomen. Mesothelioma can mimic other illnesses like pneumonia or lung cancer, leading to incorrect diagnosis. A biopsy is taken by the doctor to diagnose mesothelioma. There are three primary types of mesothelioma cells which include epithelial (epidermal) and the sarcomatoid (sarcoma) and biphasic. Each type responds to treatment differently and has a different impact on life expectancy. Diagnosis If mesothelioma is suspected, 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 can show a build-up of fluid on one side of the chest. This is referred to as pleural effusion, and it is often the first sign of mesothelioma. X-rays aren't the most reliable method for diagnosis. The next step is a chest CT scan, which produces an image of your lungs and other organs. A doctor might inject you with a dye which will show regions of potential cancer. During the CT scanner, you will be lying on a mattress and passing through a doughnut-shaped scanner. The procedure takes only less than a minute and isn't too uncomfortable, even for people who are claustrophobic. In some cases, a physician will also perform an MRI. The scans make use of powerful radio waves and magnetic fields to produce high-quality images soft tissues, including those in the lungs. An MRI can be used to determine if there is mesothelioma of the diaphragm and identify its stage. Certain patients may also undergo an PET scan. In this test, you will be given a shot of the radioactive dye. Cancer cells absorb the dye more than healthy cells, which means they will appear more prominently on the images. A biopsy is the last test to confirm the diagnosis of mesothelioma. A doctor will take a portion of the affected lining. It will be scrutinized under a microscope for cancer cells. This procedure is done under local anaesthetic and can be accomplished through surgery or by inserting an instrument that guides the needle through an CT scan. If the biopsy results confirm mesothelioma the doctor will then consider the results of the other tests to determine the stage. The stage identifies the extent to which mesothelioma spread and what kinds of treatment are appropriate for you. Learn more about staging by reading the section on this guide, titled Staging. Treatment Several treatment options are available for mesothelioma. Some can improve the quality of life and extend the duration of time than others. Patients with mesothelioma must discuss their goals and determine the most effective treatment plan. Surgery is one method to treat mesothelioma. During this operation surgeons try to eliminate all cancerous tissues. If mesothelioma has progressed to an advanced stage the doctors may not be able remove the tumor completely. Surgeons can still reduce the symptoms. The most well-known type of mesothelioma is pleural mesothelioma, which forms within the lining of the lungs. A person can develop mesothelioma around the heart in certain cases (pericardial mesothelioma). In rare instances it is possible to suffer from mesothelioma of the testicles (testicular mesothelioma). Mesothelioma is treated with chemotherapy and radiation. ontario mesothelioma lawsuit are typically administered by experts in mesothelioma at specialized centers. Chemotherapy is a method of treatment that makes use of drugs to kill mesothelioma cancer cells and stop their growth. Pemetrexed and cisplatin are most commonly used first-line drugs for pleural msothelioma. Radiation therapy employs high-energy beams to destroy cancerous cells. This type of treatment is typically utilized in conjunction with other mesothelioma therapies including surgery and chemotherapy. It is also a method to kill any residual microscopic mesothelioma that surgeons did not remove during surgery. These treatments can trigger numerous adverse effects on patients with mesothelioma. They may experience nausea, fatigue, and hair loss. A mesothelioma specialist can help patients choose the right medication that meets their specific needs. They can also recommend other methods to improve the quality of life of a patient. This could include regular drainage of the pleura to ease breathing, or powerful painkillers. Patients should inform their doctor know about any other medications, including herbal remedies, supplements or over-the counter drugs. This helps avoid potentially harmful interactions with these drugs. Prognosis Mesothelioma, also known as mesothelioma of the pleural region is a cancerous tumour that affects the membrane that surrounds the cavities of our bodies like the abdomen and chest cavity. When someone is diagnosed with mesothelioma malignant cells can form in the tissue, which can expand to other parts of the body and trigger symptoms like breathing difficulty or pain. It is essential to receive a mesothelioma diagnosis from a specialist physician because this is the first step towards receiving treatment. It may take multiple steps to identify mesothelioma including a physical exam and lab tests, as well as the biopsy. A biopsy is a small sample taken from the mass or tumor to look for mesothelioma. A misdiagnosis of mesothelioma could be dangerous, since it could delay treatment or worsen the outlook. Mesothelioma is often difficult to recognize because the symptoms are similar to those of lung cancer pneumonia, or bronchitis. Because of this, mesothelioma gets mistakenly interpreted as a respiratory illness. The prognosis for mesothelioma is determined according to the type and the stage of mesothelioma, as well as the patient's age and general health history. The cancer can be treated through surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Palliative treatment can be offered to patients in order to treat symptoms such as fatigue, pain, and other signs. The mesothelioma stage of a person is related to how the disease has advanced and how much has already spread to other parts of the body. A doctor will employ their best judgment to determine the staging by taking into consideration the symptoms and how quickly the cancer is growing. The rate of survival for mesothelioma depends on the stage and type, as well as the location of the cancer. The prognosis for patients diagnosed with less prevalent types of mesothelioma is less favorable. Patients with peritoneal cancer, for example have a greater chance of surviving longer due to the fact that it is more likely to develop in the abdomen than pleural mesothelioma does in the chest. Patients who have an increased tolerance to treatment can live longer than patients with less tolerance. For instance, some people with peritoneal mesothelioma's have had good results after a combination of chemotherapy, surgical removal and radiation. Symptoms When asbestos fibers are swallowed or inhaled, they cling to the organ's lining, and cause them to grow into tumors. Mesothelioma is the most common type of cancer in the lungs, however it can also manifest in the chest wall, abdomen, and testicles (in males). Mesothelioma symptoms are usually not evident until 40-50 years after exposure. The first step to diagnose mesothelioma is to take a detailed review of your history regarding asbestos exposure. Your doctor will perform a physical 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 may also be used to look for mesothelioma, or other cancers of the lungs. Blood tests can be conducted to check how your liver and kidneys are functioning. The doctor can order a chest MRI or a PET scan, to look for any other potential cancers or mesothelioma of the lungs, or chest wall. If a biopsy is necessary doctors can remove a portion of the tumor by surgery or by using an instrument that is inserted through the chest wall while under local anesthesia. The doctor will then study the tissue under a microscope to determine if it is malignant mesothelioma, or another cancer. If you are diagnosed with mesothelioma, doctors use the information from all tests to help them assess how advanced the cancer is. They will assign an estimated stage number to mesothelioma. This can aid in planning your treatment. Benign mesotheliomas don't cause cancer and can't be regrown if they are completely removed surgically. They typically develop in the pleura and in the abdominal lining. Mesothelioma that is located in the pericardium can be more difficult to treat as it affects the heart. It is also possible to recur after surgery. Mesothelioma is also able to spread to other body parts including the lymph nodes or bones located outside the abdomen and chest. It can be difficult to recognize mesothelioma due to the similarity of symptoms with other, less serious conditions. This could lead to misdiagnosis and delay your treatment. In the event of delay, treatment may result in complications and lower your chance of survival.