Mesothelioma
Asbestos fibers can cause mesothelioma if they irritate tissue surrounding many of your internal organs. The cancerous cells will then develop.
The lining of the lung (pleura) is the most common site of mesothelioma. Other types are less common and affect the lining in the abdomen or around the testicles.
Doctors diagnose mesothelioma through examining samples of fluid or tissue for cancerous cells. They can also order blood tests and imaging tests.
Symptoms
Mesothelioma can affect the linings of several organs. Symptoms vary depending on where the tumor develops and the location, like the pleura (lung lining) for pleural mesothelioma and the peritoneum for mesothelioma of the peritoneal. Fatigue, fever, and an unproven weight loss are typical symptoms. Mesothelioma symptoms could also include pain or difficulty breathing.
A physical exam is the first step in diagnosing mesothelioma. Your doctor will inquire about any past asbestos exposure and other factors that could increase the likelihood of developing mesothelioma. This includes a history of working in an industry where asbestos use was prevalent, such as construction, shipbuilding or manufacturing.
In most cases mesothelioma can be diagnosed with images of the abdomen or chest. These include X-rays, CT (computer tomography) scans, and MRI (magnetic resonance imaging). These tests allow doctors to look at the inside of your body, and also check for mesothelioma or other masses in the lung or stomach.
X-rays can reveal the presence of fluid or a thickening in the space between the lungs and the chest wall. These are signs of Pleural cancer. They can also detect any abdominal fluid, which is more commonly associated with peritoneal mesothelioma.
Your doctor will recommend a biopsied if a mesothelioma tumor is found. During a biopsy your doctor will remove a small amount of tissue in order to check for mesothelioma. A surgeon may insert an instrument into the tumor or perform a surgical procedure to extract the specimen.
In the case of pleural asbestosis doctors remove the fluid from the chest cavity with the procedure known as pleurodesis. This involves cutting a small incision within the abdomen or chest, and then using a tube to drain fluid. In the final stages of pleural mesothelioma patients are often unable to breathe due to the buildup of fluid. Your doctor may recommend an indwelling needle aspirator or an indwelling cathode to reduce the amount of fluid that builds up in your pleura.
In rare instances, the cancer can spread to other parts of the body which can cause symptoms such as abdominal pain as well as weight loss and breathing difficulties. These are known as metastatic signs because they can occur in different places than the region of your original tumor.
Diagnosis
In most instances, doctors will conduct a physical exam to evaluate symptoms such as coughing and chest discomfort. They also ask patients about their history of asbestos exposure. They will then conduct imaging tests in order to look for tumors on the lungs and abdomen. These tests can include X rays, CT scans or MRIs.
Because mesothelioma can be so rare, it can be hard for doctors to diagnose it correctly. Patients with mesothelioma can be misdiagnosed for common diseases like pneumonia and bronchitis. This can delay treatment and cause the disease to progress before it is properly diagnosed.
If doctors discover a mesothelioma tumor, they will have to collect samples of fluid or tissue for testing. These samples will confirm the nature of the cancer and if it has spread. The biopsy is one method doctors can take mesothelioma samples. They can do this by removing a small amount of tissue through surgery or inserting an instrument into the abdomen or chest to drain fluid.
These samples will then be analyzed to determine if they contain cancer cells. The type of mesothelioma that the doctor detects will aid them in determining the most effective treatment options.
Doctors may suggest lab tests to better understand the tumor. These tests can help identify particular proteins, genes or other factors that are specific to the tumor.
Then, doctors will need to know if the tumor has spread, which is called staging. This helps them describe the size of the tumor as well as if it has expanded to other organs.
The doctor will review the results with you after they are all in. You will also be given an estimate of your prognosis. This is based on typical mesothelioma patients with similar symptoms and stage. They will then explain how the prognosis could change as the tumor expands or shrinks and different treatments are employed. If you have any questions you may want to seek an opinion from another doctor. This is a great way to ensure that you receive the best treatment.
Treatment
Being diagnosed with mesothelioma can be only the beginning of a long road. The treatment options will depend on many factors, including the kind of mesothelioma, as well as its severity (how fast it grows). Doctors will also consider the person's age, general health and any other medical conditions.
Mesothelioma is a rare condition and can be difficult for healthcare providers to recognize. A combination of tests, including chest CT scans and X-rays, are frequently used to confirm the diagnosis of mesothelioma. These imaging studies may reveal changes in the lung's lining or abdomen, such as thickening of the pleura as well as fluid accumulation. Blood tests can be conducted to check for mesothelioma's high levels.
A biopsy is usually performed after a mesothelioma is suspected. A biopsy is performed by inserting a needle in the affected area and then removing the tissue to be tested. A lab will analyze the sample to see if it contains cancer cells.
If a patient has Pleural Mesothelioma, doctors are able to remove the excess fluid using a procedure known as Thorcentesis. They can also use the procedure known as pleurodesis to help prevent fluid from building up in the future. Pleurodesis involves inserting an incision into the chest to drain fluid. It is often combined with medications to reduce the likelihood that fluid builds up again.
Radiation can be used in conjunction with surgery or chemotherapy to treat mesothelioma. Doctors can use traditional photon radiation or a more advanced method known as intensity-modulated radiation therapy, which delivers radiation at different angles to decrease healthy tissue damage.
Chemotherapy uses drugs to kill cancerous cells. It is used prior to or after surgery to make the operation easier. Patients with peritoneal msothelioma can also receive intraperitoneal chemotherapy which is heated and injected into the abdomen. Some people are eligible to participate in clinical trials for new mesothelioma treatment options. They are typically conducted in larger medical centers and may provide the most promising results. Mesothelioma can recur or return, even after receiving treatment. When it does, the treatment options will vary depending on the area where mesothelioma recurred and the prior treatments received.
Prognosis
In general the mesothelioma prognosis of a patient is based on the type of cancer they suffer from the stage at which they were diagnosed, their overall health and their age. It is also dependent on the severity of mesothelioma as well as how well the treatment can manage the symptoms.
kentucky mesothelioma attorneys will conduct a series of tests to determine the prognosis of a mesothelioma patient, including imaging tests (a CT scan or X-ray) as well as blood tests, and the biopsy. A biopsy is the process of taking small portions of the mesothelioma tumor or mesothelioma and examine it using an magnifying glass to search for cancerous cells.
Mesothelioma is a rare type of cancer, affects organs' tissues like the lining of the abdomen, chest, and the testes. It is caused by exposure to asbestos.
A diagnosis of mesothelioma can be shocking and can trigger feelings of anger, shock and anxiety. Talking about these emotions with a trusted family member, mesothelioma association or lawyer is important.
Early detection of mesothelioma will improve the chances of survival. If doctors can eliminate the tumor, or at least a large portion of it, the patient has greater chance of a longer lifespan.
Fitness is another factor. Those with a higher fitness level are able to withstand more rigorous mesothelioma treatment and have higher survival rates. The blood chemistry of a person can also play a role in their mesothelioma prognosis. The better the prognosis of a patient, the more normal their haemoglobin and white blood cells counts are.
Mesothelioma is treatable if it has not reached the point of critical. It can be treated through chemotherapy, radiation therapy or surgery. These treatments make cancer cells less likely to multiply and spread. However, these treatments will not cure cancer. Many mesothelioma patients have lived beyond their initial prognosis. Some have lived for years, or even a decade after receiving their mesothelioma diagnosis. For instance, paleontologist Stephen Jay Gould survived his peritoneal mesothelioma for 20 years. He died from cancer unrelated to his mesothelioma.