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Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is a form of cancer that can be traced with exposure to asbestos, a naturally occurring mineral. The disease usually develops for years after exposure.

Doctors treat mesothelioma by using chemotherapy, radiation and surgery. Treatment can help patients live longer.

There are three kinds. The type of cancerous cell is responsible for the tumor and the stage of the tumor affects the prognosis.

What is mesothelioma?

Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that develops in the mesothelium a thin layer of tissue that covers organs within the body. It is caused by asbestos, which is a grouping of fibrous minerals.

Asbestos exposure occurs when people swallow or inhale stray asbestos fibers. The asbestos particles stick to organ linings, irritate them and cause tumors. The diagnosis of mesothelioma could be made by doctors after they look at the tumors and obtain a tissue sample, also known as biopsy. Mesothelioma is classified according to type depending on the type of cells seen in the tumors. The three mesothelioma types are epithelial (also called sarcomatoid), biphasic and sarcomatoid. Epithelial Mesothelioma accounts for about 50 percent of all diagnoses. Sarcomatoid Mesothelioma is 10% of all cases and has a lower prognosis compared to the epithelial. Biphasic mesothelioma is a mix of epithelial and Sarcomatoid cells, which is responsible for 30 to 40 percent of all diagnoses.

The signs of mesothelioma could include difficulty breathing, chest pain or pain in the abdomen. These symptoms may be similar to other ailments. It is imperative to see a doctor right away whenever you notice these symptoms.

Treatment for mesothelioma could alleviate symptoms, slow tumour growth and make it easier for patients to live longer. Treatment options include chemotherapy, surgery and radiation therapy. Palliative care is accessible to patients, and helps alleviate discomfort and pain.

Doctors continue to research ways to treat mesothelioma, and how it can spread. New treatments include immunotherapy, which relies on your body's immune system to fight cancer. This experimental treatment has shown promise in a few mesothelioma cases. Patients can also take part in clinical trials, which are studies of new therapies. Patients suffering from mesothelioma are usually treated at cancer centers with specialized doctors who treat the condition.

Diagnosis

A mesothelioma diagnosis is the initial step in receiving treatment that can extend your life. Your doctor will begin the process by examining your symptoms and health history and then determining the kind of mesothelioma you have. This information is essential because the three mesothelioma claim cells react differently to treatment.

The first test that your doctor might recommend is a chest X-ray or CT scan. In the procedure, you lie on a table as the X-ray or CT machine creates a detailed image of your chest and the organs around it. A small dose of dye, typically iodine, is usually given before the procedure. This makes the tissue of your abdomen or chest lighter, making it easier to observe. During this period, you might be asked to perform a breathing test.

If these tests reveal a possible tumor or mass that is cancerous, your doctor might order biopsy. A biopsy is the process of removing the tumor or mass, either surgically or by inserting needles into the region. The sample is examined under a microscope for mesothelioma.

In certain cases, our specialists use ultrasound to detect lymph nodes that have enlarged, which could be mesothelioma. This procedure is known as endobronchial ultrasound-guided needle biopsy, or EBNA. It is done on an outpatient basis, which means you can return home the same day.

A specialist in mesothelioma will also require the stage of the disease. The stages are determined based on how the cancer has spread, and the kind of mesothelioma you are suffering from. Receiving a precise diagnosis from a mesothelioma specialist is the best way to make sure that you get the right treatment.

Treatment

The mesothelioma patient's treatment plan is determined by the severity of the disease as well as their overall health. Mesothelioma patients usually receive multimodal therapy which consists of chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation.

The first step to treating mesothelioma is to undergo a physical exam and telling your doctor about any asbestos exposures you may have had in the past. Doctors may also recommend imaging scans or blood tests to check for mesothelioma, and to rule out other conditions. These include CT (computerized Tomography) scans, MRI (magnetic-resonance imaging) scans FDG-PET scans (fluorodeoxyglucose positron emissions tomography) and mediastinoscopy.

Surgery is an option for the majority of pleural mesothelioma cases. A patient can undergo a minimally-invasive procedure referred to as video-assisted needle biopsy, or CT-guided thoracoscopic systolic surgical. Both surgeries can reduce symptoms and increase the life expectancy of a patient.

Chemotherapy, a treatment, uses drugs to eliminate cancerous cells and stop them from expanding. It is a standard mesothelioma treatment that can prolong the duration of survival. It is available as an intravenous drip (IV) or pill form.

Radiation is a mesothelioma therapy which can shrink tumors and kill cancer cells. It is offered at different stages of pleural mesothelioma as well as to relieve pain and allow patients to live longer.

In the last stages of mesothelioma treatment doctors concentrate on reducing symptoms to extend a patient's lifespan as much as is possible. Palliative care is a term used to describe the goal of this kind of treatment. Despite the low survival rate of mesothelioma there are still many survivors. Stephen Jay Gould was diagnosed with cancer of the peritoneal peritoneal area in 1982. He lived another 20 years before he passed away of complications from another illness.

Symptoms

Many people suffering from mesothelioma show symptoms for months or even years before they are diagnosed. Early symptoms could be misinterpreted as other illnesses or ignored. If you experience any of these symptoms it is essential to consult your doctor immediately.

Organs in your body are encased in a tissue layer called mesothelium. This layer stops them from rubbing together. Mesothelioma is a cancer that affects mesothelium, the cells that line your organs. The majority of cases of mesothelioma start in the lining surrounding the lungs, but it can also occur in the lining of your heart (pericardium) or abdomen (peritoneum) and within the lining surrounding your testicles (tunica vaginalis).

The first symptoms of mesothelioma include breathlessness, chest pain and fatigue. Mesothelioma can also cause fluid buildup in the chest wall or lungs which can cause an pleural effusion. Pleural effusions can place pressure on the lungs, leading to coughing difficulties and breathing problems.

Doctors diagnose mesothelioma through taking a patient's medical history and conducting an examination. They can request chest Xrays which may reveal signs of abnormalities like thickening the lung lining or fluid buildup in the chest wall. They can also order a CT scan, MRI or PET scan to get a better look at your lungs and other tissues. They can also make use of ultrasound-guided needles in order to drain fluid from the peritoneum and pleura.

A biopsy may help determine the type of mesothelioma that is forming the tumor, and how fast it is growing. This can help doctors decide on the best treatment options. Chemotherapy, radiation and surgery are the three main types of mesothelioma therapies that are common.

Prevention

Mesothelioma is not preventable, however you can reduce your risk by avoiding those who are exposed to asbestos, and avoiding it. Exposure to asbestos can lead to lung cancer, as well as other diseases that affect the organ linings. There are many types of mesothelioma and some are more severe than others. Certain types of mesothelioma may be easier to treat.

Asbestos is an assortment of minerals with microscopic fibers. Manufacturers used asbestos in construction and other industrial products without knowing of its potential dangers. Veterans and blue-collar workers were particularly exposed to asbestos. Asbestos has been proven to be a risk and should not be a part of an old factory or work in it.

Discuss with your doctor regular screenings if your family has a past background of asbestos exposure. X-rays, CT or MRI scanners can identify problems in your abdomen or lungs. A biopsy may also reveal an abnormality in the chest's lining or stomach. Doctors can then test a tissue sample from that area to see whether you are suffering from mesothelioma. It is possible that you have pleural mysothelioma which affects the lung's lining. Other kinds include testicular, pericardial or the peritoneal.

It could take years for mesothelioma cancer to develop following exposure to asbestos. Even then, it is difficult to detect. It often is misdiagnosed as another illness or condition such as lung cancer, pneumonia, or bronchitis. This could prevent you from receiving the right treatment. Researchers are working to improve diagnosis and design tests that can detect mesothelioma earlier. This could result in better treatments and a better survival rate. Genetic tests are used to determine the people most likely to develop the disease.