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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 typically develops years after exposure.

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

There are three types of mesothelioma. The type of cancerous cell forms the tumor and the stage of the tumor affects the prognosis.

What is Mesothelioma?

The cancerous mesothelioma forms in the mesothelium (a thin layer of tissue that lines internal organs). It is caused by exposure to asbestos, which is a group of fibrous minerals.

The exposure to asbestos typically occurs when people inhale or swallow stray asbestos fibers. These asbestos particles adhere to the organ's lining and irritate them, leading to tumors. The diagnosis of mesothelioma is able to be made by a doctor after they examine the tumors, and obtain a tissue sample, also called a biopsy. Mesothelioma can be classified based on the type of cells are identified in the tumors. The three types are epithelial sarcomatoid and biphasic mesothelioma. Epithelial mesothelioma is by far the most popular type, accounting for around 50 percent of all diagnoses. Sarcomatoid mesothelioma makes up 10% of cases and has a poorer prognosis than epithelial mesothelioma. Biphasic mesothelioma has a mixture of both epithelial and sarcomatoid cells, and accounts for 30% to 40 percent of all diagnoses.

Mesothelioma symptoms can include difficulty breathing and chest pain or discomfort in the abdomen. These symptoms may be similar to other ailments. It is essential to see a doctor right away if you experience them.

Treatment for mesothelioma may reduce symptoms, slow tumor growth and make it easier for patients to live longer. Treatment options include radiation therapy, chemotherapy and surgery. Palliative care is available to patients and can help to manage discomfort and pain.

Doctors continue to research ways to treat mesothelioma and the ways it expands. New treatments include immunotherapy which uses your body's own immune system to fight cancer. This is an experimental treatment that has shown promise for certain mesothelioma patients. Patients are also able to participate in clinical trials, which are research studies of new therapies. Most often, mesothelioma patients get treated in specialist cancer centers where they have the opportunity to access doctors who have experience treating the disease.

Diagnosis

A mesothelioma diagnosis can be the first step to receiving treatment that could prolong your life. Your doctors will begin the process by looking over your symptoms and health history and determining the type of mesothelioma that you have. This is vital because the three main mesothelioma cells types respond differently to treatment.

Your doctor may order an X-ray chest scan or CT scan as the initial test. In this test, you lie on tables while the Xray or CT machine produces a precise image of your chest as well as the organs that surround it. A small amount of dye, usually iodine is usually administered prior to the procedure. This will make the tissue in your abdomen and chest lighter, making it easier to see. You might also be asked to perform a the test of breathing at this period of time.

If these tests reveal the possibility of a tumor, or mass that is cancerous, your doctor could request biopsy. A biopsy is the removal samples from the tumor or mass via surgery or by inserting a needle into the region. The sample is examined under a microscope for mesothelioma.

Our specialists can use ultrasound to identify the presence of lymph nodes that are swelling which could be mesothelioma. This procedure is referred to as endobronchial ultrasonography-guided needle biopsy or EBNA. It is done as an outpatient procedure, so you can return home the next day.

A mesothelioma doctor will also need to determine your stage of mesothelioma. The stages are determined by the extent the cancer has spread and what kind of mesothelioma is it. Finding a reliable diagnosis from a mesothelioma specialist the best way to make sure that you get the right treatment.

Treatment

The mesothelioma treatment for a patient will depend on how far the disease has progressed and their overall health. Mesothelioma patients typically undergo multimodal therapy which consists of chemotherapy, surgery and radiation.

alameda mesothelioma law firm in treating mesothelioma is to undergo a physical exam and telling your doctor about any asbestos exposures you have been exposed to in the past. Doctors may also recommend imaging scans or blood tests to determine if mesothelioma is present and to rule out other illnesses. These include CT (computerized Tomography) scans, MRI (magnetic-resonance imaging) scans, FDG-PET scans (fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography) and mediastinoscopy.

The majority of mesothelioma-related pleural cases are treated surgically. A patient can undergo a minimally-invasive procedure called video-assisted needle biopsy or CT-guided surgical thoracoscopic. Both surgeries can improve the lifespan of patients and alleviate symptoms.

Chemotherapy is a method of treatment that utilizes drugs to destroy cancerous cells and stop them from expanding. It is a common mesothelioma treatment, and can prolong the time of treatment. It is administered via intravenous (IV) drip or pill form.

Radiation is a mesothelioma therapy which can shrink tumors and kill cancerous cells. It is used to treat pleural cancer at various stages, and to relieve pain and prolong the lives of patients.

In the latter stage of mesothelioma treatment doctors concentrate on reducing symptoms to prolong the lifespan of patients as long as is possible. This type of treatment is known as palliative care. Despite the low survival rate of mesothelioma, there's still a lot of survivors. For instance paleontologist Stephen Jay Gould, who was diagnosed with mesothelioma of the peritoneal region in 1982, lived for another 20 years until he passed away from complications from another illness.

Signs and symptoms

Mesothelioma can trigger symptoms for that last for months or even years before an official diagnosis is made. Initial symptoms may be misinterpreted as a sign of other ailments or ignored. If you experience any of these symptoms, it is essential to consult your physician immediately.

Your body's organs are wrapped in a tissue layer known as mesothelium. This layer stops them from coming into contact. Mesothelioma affects mesothelium cells that make up the lining of many of your organs. The lining of your lung is the most commonly site where mesothelioma starts. However, it can also develop in your heart (pericardium) and abdomen (peritoneum) or the lining around your testicles (tunica vulginalis).

The initial signs of mesothelioma may include breathlessness or chest pain, as well as fatigue. Mesothelioma can also cause fluid to build up inside the lungs and chest wall leading to the formation of pleural effusion. Pleural effusions can put pressure on the lungs, which can cause coughing and breathing difficulties.

Doctors diagnose mesothelioma after taking an individual's medical history before conducting an examination. They may request chest X-rays which may reveal signs of abnormalities like thickening the lung lining or a buildup of fluid in the chest wall. They may also request an MRI, CT scan or PET scan to get more detailed pictures of the lung or other tissues in your body. They can also flush any fluid that has accumulated in the pleura, or the peritoneum through an ultrasound-guided aspiration procedure.

A biopsy can assist in determining the type of mesothelioma cell that is forming the tumor, and the rate at which it is growing. This will allow doctors to determine the best treatment options. Chemotherapy, radiation and surgery are the three different types of mesothelioma treatment that are commonly used.

Prevention

Mesothelioma is not preventable, however you can lower your risk by avoiding those who are exposed to asbestos, and avoiding it. Exposure to asbestos could cause lung cancer and other illnesses that affect the lining of certain organs. There are many types of mesothelioma and some are more serious than others. Certain types are more straightforward to treat than others.

Asbestos is an assortment of minerals that have thin micro-sized fibers. It was utilized in industrial and construction materials by companies who were not aware of the dangers. Workers and veterans in blue collar jobs were particularly exposed to asbestos. Asbestos is now known to be a risk and should not live in a house or work in an old factory that contains it.

If you have any history of exposure to asbestos or asbestos-related diseases, speak with your physician about getting regular screening. X-rays and CT or MRI scans can help spot issues with your lungs, or abdomen. A biopsy may also reveal an abnormality in the chest or stomach. Doctors will test samples of tissue from this area to determine if you're suffering from mesothelioma. You may have pleural mesothelioma, which affects the lung's lining. Other types include peritoneal mesothelioma, pericardial mesothelioma or testicular mesothelioma.

After asbestos exposure it may take many years before mesothelioma begins to develop. Even then, it's difficult to diagnose. It often is misdiagnosed as another illness or condition such as lung cancer, pneumonia, or bronchitis. This can prevent you getting the appropriate treatment. Researchers are trying to improve diagnosis, and are developing tests that detect mesothelioma sooner. This could lead to better treatment and a higher rate of survival. The study involves using genetic testing to identify those who are most likely to develop mesothelioma.