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Mesothelioma Symptoms and Treatment When mesothelioma is first diagnosed doctors request scans of the body to detect any cancerous growths on the chest or abdomen. Mesothelioma can mimic other illnesses such as lung cancer or pneumonia that can lead to misdiagnosis. Doctors may also perform the biopsy to diagnose mesothelioma. There are three mesothelioma cell types which include epithelial, Sarcomatoid and biphasic. Each type responds to treatment differently and has a different impact on life expectancy. Diagnosis Doctors will perform several tests if mesothelioma has been suspected. These include chest Xrays, CT scans and biopsies. The X-ray shows an accumulation of fluid on the chest on one side. This is known as the pleural effusion, and is usually the first indication of mesothelioma. However, Xrays aren't the most reliable way to diagnose the condition. A chest CT scan is the next step. This produces a precise image of your organs and lungs. A doctor will inject you with dye to identify the areas that are cancerous. During the CT scanner, you'll be lying on a bed, and traversed through a doughnut-shaped scanner. The procedure takes just several minutes and isn't uncomfortable for those who suffer from claustrophobia. In certain instances, a doctor might perform an MRI test. The scans produce high-quality images by using radio waves and strong magnetic fields. An MRI can be used to locate mesothelioma of the diaphragm as well as determine the stage of the disease. Some patients may also have an PET scan. In this test, you will be given a shot the radioactive dye. Cancer cells will absorb the dye significantly more than healthy ones 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 affected lining which is then examined under a microscope in order to determine whether cancerous cells are present. This procedure is performed under local anaesthetic. It can be accomplished through surgery or by inserting needles guided by an CT scan. Your doctor will use the results from other tests if the biopsy confirms that you have mesothelioma. The stage is the measure of how far the mesothelioma has spread and what types of treatment are appropriate for you. You can learn more about staging by reading the section on this guide called Staging. Treatment There are a variety of treatment options available for mesothelioma. Certain treatments can improve quality of life, or extend the duration of life more than others. Patients with mesothelioma need to discuss their goals and decide on the best treatment plan. Surgery is one method to treat mesothelioma. Surgeons strive to remove all cancerous tissue during the operation. If mesothelioma reaches an advanced stage the doctors may not be able to remove the cancer completely. Regardless, surgeons can still minimize the symptoms. The most commonly-used mesothelioma type is found within the lining that surrounds the lungs. The mesothelioma can develop around the heart in certain cases (pericardial msothelioma). In rare instances it is possible to have mesothelioma affecting the testicles (testicular mesothelioma). Mesothelioma is treatable with radiation therapy and chemotherapy. These treatments are usually delivered by mesothelioma specialists at specific centers. denver mesothelioma law firm uses drugs to kill mesothelioma cells, and to stop their growth. The drug combination of pemetrexed with cisplatin is the standard first-line treatment for pleural mesothelioma. Radiation therapy uses high energy beams to kill cancerous cell. This treatment is often used with other mesothelioma therapies, such as chemotherapy and surgery. It can also be used to kill any microscopic residual mesothelioma that surgeons were unable to remove during surgery. Mesothelioma patients can experience many different side effects from these treatments. The symptoms include fatigue, nausea and hair loss. A mesothelioma expert can help patients choose the best medication for their requirements. They can also suggest different ways to enhance the quality of life of patients. These could include regular Pleural fluid drainage to help ease breathing, or powerful painkillers. Patients should also ensure their medical team is aware of any other medications they take including supplements, herbal remedies or prescription medications. This will help avoid potentially harmful interactions with these drugs. Prognosis Mesothelioma, also known as mesothelioma in the pleural area is a tumor that causes cancer that affects the membrane that forms the internal cavities of our bodies such as the chest cavity and abdomen. If someone has mesothelioma malignant cells can grow in the tissue, and they can spread to other areas of the body and trigger symptoms such as breathing problems or pain. It is vital to receive a mesothelioma diagnosis by a specialist physician since this is the first step towards receiving treatment. It may take multiple steps to diagnose mesothelioma, which may include a physical examination and lab tests, as well as the biopsy. A biopsy will take a tiny sample of the tumor or mass in order to detect mesothelioma. The wrong diagnosis of mesothelioma can be dangerous, since it could delay treatment or worsen the prognosis. Mesothelioma is often difficult to identify because the symptoms are similar to those of lung cancer, bronchitis, or pneumonia. Because of this, mesothelioma is frequently mistakenly diagnosed as a respiratory disease. The prognosis of mesothelioma depends on the type and stage, as well as the patient's age, general health and medical history. There is no cure for mesothelioma, however, the cancer can be treated with chemotherapy, surgery, or radiation therapy. Patients can also receive palliative care to alleviate pain, fatigue and other signs. The mesothelioma stage is an indication of how much a person's disease has spread and how much it has already advanced. 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 mesothelioma survival rate depends on the stage of the patient and the kind of cancer and its location. Patients diagnosed with less well-known mesothelioma types have a poorer prognosis. Patients with peritoneal msothelioma have an increased chance of living longer due to the fact that it is less invasive in the abdomen, compared to pleural msothelioma that is found in the chest. Additionally, those who have a high tolerance for treatment could live longer than those with lower tolerance. A few patients with peritoneal mesothelioma had good results when they combined chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation. Signs and symptoms When asbestos fibers are inhaled or swallowed they stick to organ linings and cause them to develop tumors. Mesothelioma typically occurs in the lungs. However it can also manifest in the chest, abdomen and testicles of males. Mesothelioma symptoms usually don't manifest until 40-50 years after exposure. The first step in diagnosing mesothelioma involves taking a medical background of exposure to asbestos. Your doctor will then perform a physical exam and review your symptoms. A chest X-ray could reveal abnormal thickening or fluid in the space that separates the lungs from the chest wall. A lung CT scan can also be used to check for mesothelioma or other cancers of the lungs. A blood test can be ordered to assess how your liver and kidneys are working. The doctor could request a chest MRI, or an PET scan to check for other possible cancers, or mesothelioma in the lungs or chest wall. If a biopsy is required, doctors can take a sample of the tumor with surgery or a needle 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. The information from the tests will help doctors determine the extent of cancer after a mesothelioma diagnosis. They will assign a mesothelioma staging number that is beneficial in the planning of your treatment. Benign mesotheliomas do not cause cancer and can't be regrown if they are completely removed surgically. They typically form in the abdominal lining of the pleura. Mesothelioma in the pericardium is more difficult to treat since it affects the heart. It can also recur following surgery. Mesothelioma can also spread to other areas of the body including the lymph nodes or bones located outside the abdomen and chest. It can be hard to recognize mesothelioma due to the similarity of symptoms with other less serious diseases. This could lead to a misdiagnosis that could delay your treatment. In the meantime, delay in treatment can result in complications and lower your chances of surviving.