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Mesothelioma Symptoms and Treatment When mesothelioma first becomes apparent doctors request scans of the body to detect any cancerous growths on the abdomen or chest. Mesothelioma may mimic other diseases such as lung cancer or pneumonia, leading to the wrong diagnosis. Doctors will also take a biopsy to identify mesothelioma. There are three mesothelioma cell types: epithelial, sarcomatoid and biphasic. Each type reacts differently to treatment and impacts the length of life. Diagnosis Doctors will run several tests if mesothelioma has been suspected. This includes chest X-ray, CT scans, and biopsies. The X-ray shows the accumulation of fluid on one side of the chest. This is known as pleural effusion and is usually the first sign of mesothelioma. X-rays might not be the most reliable method for diagnosis. The next step is an 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 might be cancerous. During the CT scanner, you'll be lying on a bed and moved through a doughnut scanner. The procedure takes only about a minute and isn't particularly uncomfortable, even for those who feel claustrophobic. In certain instances, a doctor might perform an MRI test. These scans produce high-quality images by using radio waves and strong magnetic fields. If you suffer from mesothelioma that is affecting the diaphragm and the diaphragm, an MRI will help doctors find the cancer and determine how advanced it is. Some patients could also have an PET scan. In this test, you will receive a shot of a radioactive dye. Cancer cells will absorb the dye much more than healthy ones, and thus appear brighter on the images. A biopsy is the most definitive test to confirm the diagnosis of mesothelioma. A doctor will remove a portion of the affected lining. The sample will be examined under a microscope to identify cancerous cells. This is done under local anaesthetic. The procedure can be done with surgery or by inserting a needle guided by an CT scan. Your doctor will use the results of the other tests if the biopsy confirms that mesothelioma is present. The stage is the measurement of the size of mesothelioma as well as which treatment is most suitable for you. Learn more about staging by reading the section in this guide called Staging. Treatment Many treatment options are available for mesothelioma. There are a variety of treatment options available. Certain treatments can improve quality of life or extend life for longer than others. tennessee mesothelioma law firm suffering from mesothelioma should talk about their goals and decide on the most effective treatment plan. Surgery is a method to treat mesothelioma. Surgeons strive to remove all cancerous tissue during the operation. If mesothelioma has reached an advanced stage, doctors may not be able to eliminate the cancer completely. Surgeons can still reduce the symptoms. The most commonly encountered type of mesothelioma is mesothelioma pleural, which develops within the lining of the lungs. In some cases, a person may develop mesothelioma within the membrane that surrounds the heart (pericardial mesothelioma). In rare cases one may also suffer from mesothelioma of the testicles (testicular mesothelioma). Mesothelioma is treatable with radiation therapy and chemotherapy. These treatments are usually provided in mesothelioma centres that are specially designed by highly experienced mesothelioma experts. Chemotherapy, a treatment, makes use of drugs to kill mesothelioma cells and stop their growth. Cisplatin and pemetrexed are the most commonly used first-line drugs for pleural mesothelioma. Radiation therapy utilizes high-energy beams to kill cancerous cells. This method is often used in combination with other mesothelioma treatments like surgery and chemotherapy. It is also a method to eliminate any microscopically residual mesothelioma which surgeons could not remove during surgery. Mesothelioma patients may experience many different adverse effects resulting from these treatments. They may experience nausea, fatigue, and even hair loss. A mesothelioma doctor can help patients find the best medication to fit their individual requirements. They can also suggest alternative ways to enhance a patient's quality of life. This could include regular lymphatic drainage to ease breathing, or powerful painkillers. Patients should let their doctors know about any other medications, for example supplements, herbal remedies or over-the-counter medications. This will help to avoid any potentially hazardous interactions between these medications. Prognosis Mesothelioma, also called pleural mesothelioma, is a cancerous tumor that affects the membrane that forms the cavities of our bodies such as the abdomen and chest cavity. If someone has mesothelioma malignant cells can form in the mesothelium, which may expand to other parts of the body and trigger symptoms like pain or difficulty breathing. A specialist doctor's diagnosis of mesothelioma's is essential as it is the first step in receiving treatment. There may be multiple steps to diagnose mesothelioma, which may include a physical examination along with lab tests and a biopsy. A biopsy collects a small sample of the tumor or mass to check for mesothelioma. A misdiagnosis of mesothelioma could be dangerous as it can delay treatment or make it more difficult to predict the outcome. Mesothelioma is difficult to identify because the symptoms may mimic lung cancer or common illnesses such as pneumonia or bronchitis. Due to this, mesothelioma may be mistakenly diagnosed as respiratory diseases. The prognosis for mesothelioma is based on the type and stage, along with the age, general health and medical history. The cancer can be controlled by surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. Patients may also receive palliative care to manage fatigue, pain and other symptoms. The mesothelioma level of a patient is a reference to how far the disease has progressed and how much has already spread to other parts of the body. The doctor will make use of his or their 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 patient's stage and the kind of cancer and its location. The prognosis for those diagnosed with less frequent types of mesothelioma are less favorable. Patients with peritoneal cancer, for instance has a higher probability of living longer due to the fact that it tends to shrink slower in the abdomen than mesothelioma that is pleural in the chest. In addition, patients who are tolerant for treatment can be more successful than those with a low tolerance. People with peritoneal Msothelioma have had excellent results when they combined chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation. Symptoms Asbestos fibers can cause cancer in organs if they are taken inhaled or swallowed. Mesothelioma is most often found in the lungs, however it can also occur in the chest wall, abdomen and testicles (in males). Mesothelioma symptoms generally don't appear until 40-50 years after exposure. The first step to diagnose mesothelioma begins with a thorough history of exposure to asbestos. Your doctor will conduct an examination and examine your symptoms. A chest X-ray could reveal abnormal thickening of the pleura or fluid that is located between the lungs and the chest wall. A lung CT scan may also be used to detect mesothelioma and other lung cancers. Blood tests can be conducted to see how your liver and kidneys are working. The doctor could also suggest a chest MRI or an PET scan to determine any other mesothelioma or cancers of the chest wall, lungs or abdomen. If an examination of the tumor is needed, doctors can remove it through surgery or by inserting a needle 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 results of these tests will allow doctors to determine the extent of mesothelioma cancer following a mesothelioma. They will assign a mesothelioma staging number that is helpful in planning your treatment. They're not cancerous and they don't have the potential to grow back after removal surgically. They typically develop in the pleura and in the abdominal lining. Because it affects the heart, mesothelioma which develops in the pericardium might be more difficult to treat. It is also possible to recur after surgery. Mesothelioma is also able to spread to other parts of the body such as bones or lymph nodes that are located outside the chest and abdomen. It can be hard to determine if you have mesothelioma based on the similarity of symptoms to other, less serious conditions. This can result in confusion and delay treatment. The delay can cause more complications, and reduce your chances of surviving.