Mesothelioma The Good The Bad And The Ugly

What is Mesothelioma?
The diagnosis of Mesothelioma can be a devastating one. It's natural to feel shocked, confused and upset.
The pleura, the area that surrounds the lungs and the chest wall, is afflicted by pleural mesothelioma. The cancer causes fluid accumulation in the lungs and makes breathing difficult.
Asbestos exposure is the primary cause of mesothelioma. People who worked with asbestos or lived with a person who did are at risk.
What is mesothelioma?
Mesothelioma, a form of cancer, develops in the lining of tissues, called the mesothelium. This lining covers and protects most of the organs of your body, including your heart, chest and abdomen. It has two layers that form a sac around the inner layer of your organs, and it is separated by fluid to permit the organs to move easily. Mesothelioma cancer cells develop into malignant or cancerous, and expand into and destroy surrounding tissues. They may also spread to other areas of your body (metastasize).
The people who are at the highest risk of developing mesothelioma are those who have been exposed to asbestos at work. Asbestos workers include plumbers, electricians, welders, asbestos miners, and auto industry workers. A higher risk is also present for people who live near asbestos plants like power and factories plants. Mesothelioma is diagnosed among people who have been exposed to asbestos between 20 and 60 year before the disease begins to manifest.
The most common type of mesothelioma is mesothelioma pleural, which is found in the lining that surrounds the lungs. This kind of mesothelioma may cause chest pain, trouble breathing, and weight loss. It typically affects the lungs, however it could also affect other organs such as the stomach and heart. Patients with peritoneal mesothelioma a rare type of the disease that affects the lining of the abdominal cavity, can suffer from pain in the belly and abdomen, as well as difficulty eating.
The pericardial mesothelioma as well as the tunica vaginalis are two other types of mesothelioma. They both occur in the tissue covering the tissues of the chest, abdomen or testicles. These mesothelioma types often remain undiagnosed and have lower survival rates than other forms of the disease.
The prognosis of mesothelioma varies on the type, location and stage of the disease at the moment of diagnosis as well as the general health status. Certain patients are successfully treated with chemotherapy, surgery and radiation. Others with advanced mesothelioma will receive experimental treatments such as immunotherapy or gene therapy. In mesothelioma attorneys , the treatment options available could dramatically increase a person's life duration.
Symptoms
Mesothelioma is a rare type of cancer that most often occurs in the lining of the chest or abdominal cavity. The cancer is caused by asbestos, which was used in shipbuilding, construction and energy generation as well as home renovations up until it was banned in 1970. Exposure to asbestos is primarily resulted from working in the asbestos-related field. However, those who have cleaned clothing that contained asbestos fibers or disturbed asbestos while renovating their homes are also at risk of developing mesothelioma.
The majority of patients with mesothelioma experience general symptoms such as tiredness, weight loss, coughing that changes in pattern or intensity, and chest pain. These symptoms could be caused by a number of illnesses, so patients should always seek advice from their physician regarding them. Tell your doctor whether you've been exposed asbestos.
In the case of pleural asbestosis symptoms, they are often caused by the tumor causing fluid to accumulate in the area around the lung. This build-up, referred to as a pleural effusion causes pressure on the lungs, making breathing difficult. The ability to control the amount of fluid in the pleural cavity can improve breathlessness.
Other symptoms of mesothelioma can include the night sweats, a fever, and abdominal pain. The fever is caused by the body's temperature rising as it fights the disease. The night sweats are a response to the fever and a strategy by the body to reduce its temperature. These symptoms indicate that cancer is advancing and causing stress on the body.
The less common mesothelioma symptoms are a swollen abdomen, fatigue and difficulty walking. Mesothelioma can also affect the tissue around the heart which can cause chest pain and difficulty breathing. It is also possible to develop mesothelioma within the testicles' lining and cause swelling or a lump in the testicles.
Mesothelioma can be difficult to detect early because it is extremely uncommon. The symptoms of mesothelioma are similar to those of other ailments, and can even be mistaken for a flu or pneumonia. As a result, mesothelioma symptoms may take from months to years to appear before they are properly diagnosed.
Diagnosis
Mesothelioma is a difficult cancer to detect. Doctors must rule out other health diseases that share similar symptoms before diagnosing mesothelioma. After they have done this, they are able to determine the best treatment option for you.
Your doctor will ask you about your symptoms and conduct a physical examination. Your doctor might also recommend blood tests to assess how well your organs are functioning. One of these tests is a complete blood count (CBC) that examines the amount of white and red blood cells, the extent to which your liver and kidneys are functioning, as well as other important information. These blood tests can detect mesothelioma, however it is difficult to detect because they appear similar to normal cells.
If your doctor suspects you have mesothelioma they'll likely order imaging to determine the size and location of any fluids or growths in the abdomen or lungs. A chest radiograph is the most commonly used test, but if it doesn't reveal any abnormalities, doctors can then order more detailed tests like an CT scan or an MRI.
These tests give high-resolution pictures of the body through a combination of radio waves and powerful magnets to create a series of detailed pictures. They can detect thickening or fluid of the pleura and peritoneum which can indicate mesothelioma. A CT scan can identify other health issues like lung infections or pneumonia.
Doctors can sometimes be able to determine the type of mesothelioma that you have by taking a tissue sample taken during a biopsy. This is the only sure method to identify mesothelioma. These samples are examined with a magnifying glass in order to determine the type of mesothelioma as well as the extent of the cancer's spread.
Some doctors may also inject a dye into a vein or perform other tests to identify the region in which the cancer is. This is known as mesothelioma staging, and it helps doctors determine how far the tumor has expanded.
Treatment
Mesothelioma develops in the cells that line the lungs and other organs. These cells can expand uncontrollably, forming tumors. The cancer spreads because the cells aren't able to respond to signals that prevent their growth from speeding up. It can also infiltrate blood vessels that supply oxygen to the lungs. This can make breathing difficult and cause a cough.
Doctors diagnose mesothelioma by looking at the patient's symptoms and his history of asbestos exposure. They may also request imaging and other lab tests in order to find and determine the presence of tumors. Chest X-rays, for instance, are a way to examine lung changes such as the thickening of the pleura and the pleural effusion (fluid build-up). They may also order CT scanning, an MRI or a PET scan in order to see the location of the tumors and determine the extent of mesothelioma's spread. They can also collect samples of the fluid surrounding the lungs, referred to as the thoracentesis, in order to look for mesothelioma tumors and to ease pressure on the lungs caused by fluid accumulation.
After mesothelioma has been diagnosed, doctors can plan treatment to treat the cancer. It is essential to discuss your goals for treatment with your mesothelioma physician. Some people prefer aggressive treatment in order to improve their survival and prolong their lives, while others prefer a less aggressive approach to reduce side effects, such as nausea and pain.
Treatments for mesothelioma can include surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. The type of treatment that a person receives is determined by the stage of their mesothelioma and whether or not it's composed of sarcomatoid or epithelioid cells. Epithelioid mesothelioid cancer cells are more straightforward to remove via surgery, and they are more likely to be successful than the sarcomatoid cells. Some patients are a mix of both types, and these patients generally have lower outcomes than those with epithelioid-only mesothelioma.
It is crucial to visit your mesothelioma physician regularly after completing the treatment. This can keep the cancer from recurring. The mesothelioma treatment team will devise an updated plan in case it does recur.
Some patients with mesothelioma are enrolled in clinical trials to try new treatments. Clinical trials allow patients access to advanced treatments that aren't yet approved for general use.