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Mesothelioma Mesothelioma happens when asbestos fibers cause irritation to the tissues that surround many of your organs. The cancerous cells grow. The lung's lining (pleura) is the most frequently affected site for mesothelioma. Other types are less common and affect the lining in the abdomen or around the testicles. Doctors diagnose mesothelioma by examining a sample of fluid or tissue for cancerous cells. They may also order blood tests or imaging tests. Signs and symptoms Mesothelioma can affect the linings of various organs. Symptoms vary depending on where the tumor is located and the location, like the pleura (lung lining) for pleural mesothelioma, or the peritoneum for peritoneal mesothelioma. General symptoms include an unintentional loss of weight, fever and fatigue. Other signs of mesothelioma are difficulty breathing and pain. A physical examination is the first step in diagnosing mesothelioma. Your doctor will inquire about your past exposure to asbestos and other factors that may increase your likelihood of developing mesothelioma. This includes a history of asbestos exposure, like in shipbuilding, construction, or manufacturing industries. The majority of mesothelioma cases are identified through imaging scans of the chest or abdomen. These include X radiographs, CT scans (computer tomography) and MRIs (magnetic imaging). These tests allow doctors to view the inside of your body and check for mesothelioma or other masses in the lung or stomach. X-rays may show the presence of fluid or a thickening in the space between the lungs and the chest wall. These are signs of pleural cancer. It is also possible to detect fluid in the abdominal cavity, which is most often linked to peritoneal msothelioma. Your doctor will order a biopsied if a mesothelioma tumor is detected. When you undergo a biopsy, your doctor will extract a tiny amount of tissue in order to check for mesothelioma. A surgeon will insert a needle or perform a surgical procedure to remove the sample. For pleural mesothelioma, doctors drain the fluid in the chest cavity with a procedure called pleurodesis. This involves making a small cut into the abdomen or chest, and then using a tube to drain fluid. The buildup of fluid can cause difficulties breathing for patients suffering from mesothelioma of the pleura. Your doctor might recommend an indwelling needle or an indwelling catheter to try and control the fluid buildup in your pleura. In rare instances, mesothelioma spreads to other parts of the body. This can cause symptoms such as abdominal pain, weight loss and difficulty breathing. These are known as metastatic signs because they occur in places other than the area of the original tumor. Diagnosis In the majority of instances, doctors will perform a physical examination to look for signs such as chest discomfort and coughing. Patients will be asked about their exposure to asbestos. They will then request imaging tests in order to look for tumors on the lungs and abdomen. This could include X-rays CT scans, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), or the positron emission tomography (PET) scans. It is often difficult for doctors to identify mesothelioma accurately due to its rarity. Patients with mesothelioma can be misdiagnosed for common diseases like pneumonia and bronchitis. This can delay treatment, and cause the disease to spread before it is properly detected. If doctors discover a mesothelioma tumor, they will need to take samples of tissue or fluid for testing. These samples will determine the type of cancer and whether it has spread. Doctors can take mesothelioma samples through the procedure of a biopsy. They can do this by the removal of a small portion of tissue through surgery or by inserting needles into the abdomen or chest to withdraw fluid. These samples will be analyzed for cancer cells. The type of mesothelioma that the doctor discovers will help determine the best treatment options. Doctors can also recommend tests on a tumor to understand how the tumor works. These tests can identify genes, proteins and other specific factors to a tumor. Finally, doctors will want to know whether the tumor has spread by staging. This lets them determine the size of the tumor and whether it has spread. The doctor will go over the results with you after they are all in. You will also be given an estimate of your prognosis. This is based on the averages of other mesothelioma patients with similar symptoms and staging. Then, they will explain how the prognosis will alter as the tumor grows or shrinks, and what other treatments are used. Get a second physician's opinion in case you have concerns. This is an excellent way to make sure you receive the best care. Treatment The road to a mesothelioma diagnosis not over once you've been diagnosed. The treatment options depend on a variety of factors, including the type of mesothelioma and its grade (how fast it grows). Doctors can also take into consideration a person's general health as well as age and other medical issues. It is often difficult to diagnose mesothelioma, because it is a rare condition. A combination of tests is typically used to confirm a mesothelioma diagnosis including chest X-rays and CT scans. These imaging studies could reveal changes in the linings of the lungs and abdomen, like the pleural thickening process or the accumulation of fluid. The blood tests can also be conducted to check for elevated levels of certain proteins linked to mesothelioma. A biopsy is typically done when a mesothelioma diagnosis is suspected. This involves inserting a needle into the affected area to remove the tissue sample to test. The sample will be analyzed in a lab to determine if the sample contains any cancerous cells. Doctors can remove excess fluid from patients with pleural mesothelioma through a procedure known as the thoracentesis. They can also perform pleurodesis, a procedure that can stop the accumulation of fluid up in the future. Pleurodesis involves inserting tubes inside the chest to eliminate fluid. It can be used in conjunction with medication to lower the risk that fluid builds up again. Radiation is another common treatment for mesothelioma, and it can be used by itself or in conjunction with chemotherapy or surgery. Doctors can use traditional photon radiation or an advanced method known as intensity-modulated therapy, which sends the radiation at different angles to decrease the damage to healthy tissues. It can be utilized to facilitate surgery by using chemotherapy drugs to kill cancerous cells. rochester hills mesothelioma law firm can be heated and injecting directly into the abdomen (intraperitoneal chemotherapy) for patients with peritoneal mesothelioma. Certain patients are able to take part in clinical trials of the latest mesothelioma treatments. These are typically done at larger medical centers and could offer the most promising outcomes. Mesothelioma can recur or come back, even after receiving treatment. If it does, the treatment options will vary depending on the area where mesothelioma recurred and the previous treatments received. Prognosis The prognosis for mesothelioma is based on a variety of factors such as the type and stage of cancer, overall health, and age. It also depends on the extent of mesothelioma as well as how well treatment will manage the symptoms. A doctor may use a variety of tests to determine the prognosis of a patient which include imaging tests such as an CT scan or an X-ray, blood tests, and biopsy. A biopsy is when doctors take small amounts of the mesothelioma tumor or mesothelioma and examine it under an magnifying glass to detect cancerous cells. Mesothelioma is a rare type of cancer, affects the organs' surrounding tissues, such as the lining around the abdomen, chest, and testes. It is caused by exposure to asbestos. A mesothelioma diagnose can be a shock and may trigger feelings of fear, anger, or anxiety. It is crucial to discuss these emotions with a trusted family member mesothelioma support group, mesothelioma lawyer. The prognosis for mesothelioma can be improved if it is discovered in its earliest stages. If doctors can eliminate a tumor or a large part of it, the patient will have an increased chance of having an extended life span. Fitness is another factor. Fitness levels are associated with higher survival rates for mesothelioma patients. The blood chemical makeup of a person may influence their mesothelioma outcomes. The better the prognosis of a patient is, the more normal their haemoglobin as well as white blood cell counts are. A mesothelioma that is not yet reached a critical stage can be treated with radiation therapy, chemotherapy or surgery. These treatments can make cancer cells less likely to grow and spread. These treatments do not treat cancer. Many mesothelioma patients have lived beyond their initial prognosis. Some have lived years or even a decade or more after being diagnosed with mesothelioma. For example paleontologist Stephen Jay Gould survived his peritoneal mesothelioma for 20 years. However, he passed away from cancer not linked to his mesothelioma.