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Mesothelioma Mesothelioma occurs when asbestos fibers irritate the tissues that surround many of your organs. The cancerous cells then grow. The lung's lining (pleura) is the most frequently affected site for mesothelioma. Other types are less well-known and affect the lining in the abdomen or around the testicles. Doctors diagnose mesothelioma by examining the tissue or a sample of fluid for cancerous cells. They can also order blood tests and imaging tests. Symptoms Mesothelioma affects the organ lining in different parts of the body. The symptoms vary based on where the tumor develops and the location, like the pleura (lung liner) for pleural mesothelioma and the peritoneum for peritoneal mesothelioma. The general symptoms are fever, unexplained weight loss and fatigue. Mesothelioma symptoms can also include pain and difficulty breathing. The first step in determining mesothelioma involves a physical examination. Your doctor will inquire about your prior exposure to asbestos and any other factors that may increase your risk of developing mesothelioma. This includes your experience in an industry where asbestos usage was common, like manufacturing, shipbuilding or construction. In most cases mesothelioma is diagnosed by images of the chest or abdomen. These include X rays, CT scans (computer tomography) and MRIs (magnetic imaging). These tests allow doctors to see the inside of your body and look for mesothelioma or other masses in the lung or stomach. X-rays can reveal a thickening of the Pleura or a buildup of fluid in the lung space and chest wall, which are common symptoms of pleural mesothelioma. They can also reveal any abdominal fluid that is typically associated with mesothelioma of the peritoneal region. If a mesothelioma-like mass is identified the doctor will request a biopsy. When you undergo a biopsy, your doctor will take some of the tissue from the tumor to test for mesothelioma cancer cells. A surgeon will either insert needles into the tumor, or perform the procedure surgically to remove the sample. For pleural mesothelioma, doctors will drain the fluid within the chest cavity through pleurodesis, a procedure. This involves making a small incision in the chest or abdomen and then using a tube to drain the fluid. Fluid buildup can cause difficulty breathing in patients with mesothelioma pleural. Your doctor may use an indwelling needle aspirator or indwelling cathode to try and manage the buildup of fluid in your pleura. In rare cases, cancer can expand to other parts of the body and cause symptoms like abdominal pain weight loss, abdominal discomfort, and breathing difficulties. These symptoms are called metastatic symptoms because they are not associated with the original tumor. Diagnosis In the majority of instances, doctors will first look at symptoms such as coughing and chest pains by performing physical examination. They also ask patients about their history of asbestos exposure. They will then order imaging tests to check for tumors on the lungs and abdomen. These could include X-rays CT scans magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), or Postron emission Tomography (PET) scans. It is often difficult for doctors to identify mesothelioma accurately due to its rarity. Patients with mesothelioma are often mistakenly diagnosed with common diseases such as bronchitis or pneumonia. This can delay treatment and cause the disease to spread before it is fully diagnosed. Once doctors find a possible mesothelioma tumor, they will have to collect an in-person sample of the fluid or tissue to test. These samples can help them confirm the type of mesothelioma they found and whether it has spread to other areas of the body. The biopsy is one way doctors can take samples of mesothelioma. These can be performed by removing a small amount of tissue through surgery or inserting a needle into the chest or abdominal area to remove fluid. These samples will be analyzed for cancerous cells. The type of mesothelioma the doctor discovers can help them determine the best treatment options. Doctors can also recommend lab tests on a tumor to understand how the tumor works. These tests can reveal specific proteins, genes, or other factors that are unique to the tumor. Doctors will also need to know whether the tumor has spread and is referred to as staging. This allows them to describe the size of a tumor and whether it has spread. When all of the tests are completed the doctor will discuss them with you. They will also give you an estimate of your prognosis. It is based on the averages of other mesothelioma sufferers with similar symptoms and stage. peoria mesothelioma attorneys will then explain how the prognosis could change as the tumor grows or shrinks and different treatments are utilized. If you have any concerns then seek an additional opinion from a different doctor. This is an excellent way to ensure that you receive the best treatment. Treatment Getting diagnosed with mesothelioma is just the beginning of a long and difficult road. The treatment options will depend on a number of factors, including the type of mesothelioma as well as its grade (how fast it grows). Doctors will also consider the person's age as well as general health and other medical ailments. It is often difficult to identify mesothelioma because it is a rare disease. A combination of tests, such as chest CT scans and Xrays, are frequently used to confirm the diagnosis of mesothelioma. These imaging studies can reveal changes in the lung linings and abdomen, such as pleural thickening or fluid buildup. Blood tests can also be conducted to check for elevated levels of certain proteins associated with mesothelioma. A biopsy is usually done when mesothelioma is suspected. This involves inserting a needle in the affected area to remove the tissue sample for testing. The sample will be analyzed in a lab to determine if it contains any cancer cells. Doctors can remove excess fluid from a patient with pleural mesothelioma using the procedure known as thoracentesis. Patients can also undergo pleurodesis, a procedure that helps prevent fluid buildup in the future. Pleurodesis is performed by inserting a tube into the chest to help drain the fluid, and it can also be combined with medication to reduce the likelihood of fluid accumulating again. Radiation therapy is another popular treatment for mesothelioma. it can be used alone or in conjunction with chemotherapy or surgery. Doctors can choose to use traditional photon radiation or an advanced method called intensity-modulated radiotherapy. The radiation is emitted in various angles to minimize the damage to healthy tissue. It can be used to make surgery easier by using chemotherapy drugs to kill cancerous cells. It can also be heated and injected directly into the abdomen (intraperitoneal chemotherapy) for patients suffering from mesothelioma peritoneal. Some people are eligible to participate in clinical trials for new mesothelioma treatments. These are typically done at larger medical centers and could provide the most promising outcomes. Mesothelioma can recur, or come back, even after treatment. If it does, the treatment options will vary depending on the location where mesothelioma developed and the previous treatments received. Prognosis In general the mesothelioma prognosis of a patient depends on the kind of cancer they suffer the stage at the time they were diagnosed, their overall health and the age of the patient. It is also dependent on the extent to which the mesothelioma spreads and how much the treatment can help them manage their symptoms. A doctor will use several tests to determine a patient's prognosis and this includes imaging tests like the CT scan or X-ray, blood tests, and biopsy. A biopsy is when a doctor removes the mesothelioma tissue or tumor and examine it under a microscope to check for cancerous cells. Mesothelioma is a rare type of cancer that affects the lining of tissues surrounding organs in the body including the abdominal lining, chest lining, and testes. It is caused by exposure to asbestos. A diagnosis of mesothelioma can be a shock and may trigger feelings of fear, anger or anxiety. Talking about these emotions with a trusted family member, mesothelioma association or a lawyer is crucial. A timely diagnosis of mesothelioma could increase the likelihood of a successful outcome. If doctors can remove an entire tumor or a significant part of it, the patient will have greater chance of an extended life span. Another aspect is how fit a mesothelioma sufferer is. Fitness levels are associated with better survival rates for mesothelioma patients. A person's blood chemistry may also affect their mesothelioma prognosis. The better a person's prognosis, the more normal their haemoglobin and white blood cell counts are. Mesothelioma can be treated even if it has not reached the point of critical. It can be treated by chemo, radiation therapy, or surgery. These treatments can lower the likelihood of cancer cells spreading and growing. However, these treatments will not cure the cancer. Many patients with mesothelioma have outlived their initial prognosis. Some have lived years or even a decade after receiving their mesothelioma diagnosis. For example, paleontologist Stephen Jay Gould survived his mesothelioma peritoneal for over 20 years. He later died of cancer that was not related to mesothelioma.