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What is Mesothelioma?
The diagnosis of Mesothelioma can be an extremely devastating one. It's normal for people to be overwhelmed, confused, and upset.
Pleural mesothelioma is a cancer of the pleura that is the lung's protective wall. This cancer causes fluid buildup in the lungs and makes it difficult to breathe.
Asbestos is the primary cause of mesothelioma. At risk are people who have worked with asbestos or lived with someone who has.
What is Mesothelioma?
Mesothelioma is a cancer that is found in the lining of tissues, known as the mesothelium. The mesothelium lining protects your chest, abdominal, and heart as well as the majority of your other organs. It has 2 layers that create a sac around inner layer of your organs, and is separated by fluids to allow organs to move freely. Mesothelioma cancer cell growth can destroy the surrounding tissue. They can also spread to other areas of your body (metastasize).
The most at-risk group to develop mesothelioma is people who have worked with asbestos. Asbestos workers are plumbers, electricians welders asbestos miners and auto industry workers. People who live or work near asbestos facilities, such as factories and power plants, are also at higher risk. People diagnosed with mesothelioma have been exposed to asbestos for between 20 and 60 years prior their illness appears.
The most common type of mesothelioma is pleural mesothelioma, which occurs in the lining of the lung. This mesothelioma type can cause chest pain, difficulty breathing, and weight loss. It usually occurs in the lungs, but it can also affect the stomach or the heart. Peritoneal mesothelioma is an uncommon form of the disease which affects the lining in the abdominal cavity. It can cause pain and difficulty eating.
The pericardial mesothelioma as well as the tunica vaginalis are the two other forms of mesothelioma. They both develop in the tissues that cover the tissues of the chest, abdomen or testicles. These types of mesothelioma are often undiagnosed and have less survival rates than other types.
The mesothelioma treatment options depend on the nature and location of the disease as well as the stage of diagnosis and the general health of the patient. Some patients are successfully treated with radiation, surgery, and chemotherapy. Others with advanced mesothelioma will receive experimental treatments such as immunotherapy or gene therapy. In any situation the treatment options available can significantly increase a person's longevity.
Symptoms
Mesothelioma is a rare type of cancer, most commonly occurs in the chest cavity or abdomen. mesothelioma asbestos lawyer is caused by exposure to asbestos, which is a heat and fire-resistant mineral used in insulation, construction and shipbuilding, power generation, and home renovations before it was banned in the 1970s. Exposure to asbestos is primarily due to working in the asbestos-related industry. However, those who have cleaned work clothes with asbestos fibers or disturbed asbestos when renovating their homes are also at risk of developing mesothelioma.
The majority of patients suffering from mesothelioma suffer general symptoms such as tiredness as well as weight loss and coughing that fluctuates in intensity or frequency, and chest pain. These symptoms may be caused by a variety of conditions, so patients must always speak with their doctor about them. Inform your doctor if you have been exposed asbestos.
In pleural mesothelioma, symptoms usually occur due to the tumor that causes fluid build-up within the space around the lung. This build-up of fluid, also known as a "pleural effusion" is a source of pressure on the lungs, which makes breathing difficult. The volume of fluid in the pleural cavity is crucial in decreasing breathlessness.
Other symptoms of mesothelioma can include a fever, night sweats and abdominal pain. The body's temperature rises as it fights against the disease. This is what causes the fever. The night sweats are an ailment to the fever and a strategy by the body to get cool. These symptoms indicate that cancer is advancing and is causing stress to the body.
Less common mesothelioma symptoms include a swollen abdomen, fatigue and difficulty walking. Mesothelioma may also affect the tissue around the heart, causing chest pain and difficulty breathing. Mesothelioma can also form in the tissue that surrounds the testicles. This can result in swelling or a lump.
Because mesothelioma is so rare, it can be difficult to identify early. The symptoms of mesothelioma are similar to those of other diseases and are often mistaken for a flu or pneumonia. Mesothelioma can last for up to years before symptoms are identified.
Diagnosis
Mesothelioma is a challenging cancer to diagnose. Before diagnosing mesothelioma by doctors, they must determine if there are any other conditions that have similar symptoms. After they have done this, they are able to decide the best treatment for you.
The first step for mesothelioma diagnosis is to have your doctor inquire about your symptoms and perform a an examination. Your doctor can order blood tests to see the efficiency of your organs. One of these tests is a complete blood count (CBC) which looks at the number of red and white blood cells, the extent to which your kidneys and liver are functioning, and other important information. These tests can detect mesothelioma, however it's difficult to recognize them due to their similarity to normal cells.
If your doctor suspects that you have mesothelioma they may order an imaging to determine the size and location of any fluids or growth around the lungs or abdomen. A chest x-ray is the most frequent test, but if this does not show any abnormalities, the doctor may then order more detailed tests such as a CT scan or an MRI.
These tests produce detailed pictures of the body by combining radio waves with powerful magnets. They can detect thickening or fluid of the peritoneum or pleura which could indicate mesothelioma. A CT scan may also detect other health issues, such as a lung infection or pneumonia.
A biopsy can give doctors an idea of the type of cancer you have. This is the only certain way to diagnose mesothelioma. These samples are then examined under microscopes to determine the mesothelioma's type of cell, and how far the cancer has been able to spread.
Certain doctors may also inject dye into veins or perform other tests to identify the location where the cancer is located. This is referred to as mesothelioma staging, and it helps doctors determine how far the tumor has been able to spread.
Treatment
Mesothelioma occurs in the cells that line the lung and other organs. The cells can multiply rapidly, forming tumors. The cancer can spread to adjacent tissues because the cells don't respond to signals that prevent them from expanding too rapidly. It can also infiltrate blood vessels that supply oxygen to the lungs. This can make breathing difficult and trigger coughing.
Doctors diagnose mesothelioma by examining the symptoms of an individual and their history of asbestos exposure. They may also request imaging tests and other lab tests to detect and identify tumors. For example, doctors employ chest X-rays in order to look for lung changes like the pleural thickening, or the pleural effusion, which is the accumulation of fluid. They can also request CT scanning as well as an MRI or a PET scan in order to locate the site of tumors and determine the extent to which mesothelioma has spread. They can also collect samples of the fluid surrounding the lungs, referred to as a thoracentesis to check for mesothelioma-related cells and to relieve pressure on the lungs caused by the accumulation of fluid.
After mesothelioma has been diagnosed, doctors can plan treatment to manage the disease. It is important to discuss your goals for treatment with a mesothelioma specialist. Some patients require aggressive treatment in order to prolong their life and improve the chances of survival, while others are comfortable with moderate treatment to lessen pain, nausea and other adverse effects.
Mesothelioma treatment options include surgery, radiation and chemotherapy. The type of treatment that one receives is determined by the stage of their mesothelioma, and whether or not it's comprised of epithelioid or sarcomatoid cells. Epithelioid cells are simpler to remove through surgery, and they are more likely to be successful than the sarcomatoid cells. Certain patients have a combination of both kinds, and they usually have poorer outcomes than those who have only epithelioid mesothelioma.
It is essential to see your mesothelioma physician regularly after the treatment. This can help prevent the cancer from returning. If it recurrs, your mesothelioma team will devise a new treatment plan.
Some patients with mesothelioma enroll in clinical trials to test new treatments. Clinical trials allow people to gain access to cutting-edge treatments that have not yet been approved for general use.