Mesothelioma Cases

A specialist should be sought out for anyone diagnosed with mesothelioma. Doctors can offer a variety of treatment options depending on the location and size of the tumor.

Most mesothelioma cases occur in women and men who worked with asbestos materials. This includes miners, asbestos workers railway workers, auto repair and shipyard workers.

Diagnosis

A combination of tests is required to identify mesothelioma. Doctors review your medical history and conduct physical examinations to check for symptoms. They also conduct tests for imaging and blood tests to diagnose mesothelioma. A tissue biopsy is the only sure way to make a mesothelioma diagnosis however, it is usually not the first test that doctors conduct.

The majority of mesothelioma cases are found in the pleura, or the lining of the lungs and chest cavity. Pleural effusion is the most frequent sign of pleural cancer. This is visible on a chest X-ray or CT scan. It helps doctors work out where to biopsy the affected region.

For a mesothelioma biopsy doctors may use a needle or surgery to remove a small portion of the affected tissues. The biopsy is then examined under microscopes to determine if the cells present in the sample are cancerous. Mesothelioma can be classified into three types based on how the cells appear under a microscope: epithelioid, sarcomatoid and mixed (biphasic) mesothelioma.

Based on the type of mesothelioma you have and your symptoms, doctors might suggest a variety of blood tests or imaging scanners. A complete blood count (CBC) measures the levels of white and red blood cells as well as platelets. It can aid doctors in identifying mesothelioma-related symptoms, such as the presence of elevated levels of an enzyme called Lactate Dehydrogenase.

A specialized form ultrasound, an echocardiogram displays the heart's performance. It is commonly used to diagnose pericardial melanoma, which is a disease that affects the lining of the heart.

A chest CT scan is a painless, non-invasive scan that uses x-rays and computers to produce a picture of your lungs as well as the surrounding tissues. It can aid doctors in identifying mesothelioma tumors and determine the thickness of tissue.

A diagnosis of pleural mesothelioma may require a lung function test, or pulmonary function tests to determine if the lungs function. A flexible tube referred to as a "bronchoscope" is placed into the throat or mouth and down the airway. The bronchoscope is fitted with a camera and may be connected to a big monitor that allows doctors to observe the lungs and the surrounding area. The test usually takes between 30 and 60 minutes for the procedure.

Signs and symptoms

The symptoms of mesothelioma can vary according to the location and kind of cancer it is. The majority of mesothelioma cases are pleural, meaning they develop within the lining of the lung (pleura). About 10 percent of mesothelioma patients are peritoneal and originate in the lining of the abdomen. Both types of mesothelioma compensation may cause chest pain, fatigue or chest pain, and difficulty breathing.

Mesothelioma is a rare condition and many doctors aren't familiar with its signs and symptoms. This is why patients should bring a list with their symptoms to every appointment and inform their doctor about any history of exposure to asbestos. This will ensure that the patient receives an immediate diagnosis and treatment.

A doctor will start the process of diagnosing mesothelioma by asking about any asbestos exposure in the past and then performing a physical examination. A chest X-ray or CT scan will be ordered to check for mesothelioma and other lung problems or chest wall. A blood test can also be ordered to check the presence of antibodies that indicate mesothelioma or asbestos exposure.

Once mesothelioma has been diagnosed and confirmed, a biopsy will be taken to examine the tissues under a microscope and confirm the diagnosis. A biopsy can be done using VATS surgery (a minimally-invasive procedure) or by a CT guided needle aspiration.

The symptoms of pleural mesothelioma are back or chest discomfort, breathing difficulties and a dry throat. These symptoms could be mistaken for the flu, bronchitis, or lung cancer. A mesothelioma sufferer may also experience bloating or constipation, and an unidentified loss of weight. Peritoneal mesothelioma symptoms include pain in the abdomen and abdominal swelling and a feeling of fullness or a blockage in the stomach. Other symptoms that may be experienced include fever, loss of appetite and fatigue. Mesothelioma symptoms can be serious and life-threatening, particularly when it has advanced to a stage. It is essential to get a mesothelioma diagnosis, and to begin treatment as soon as possible. If you or someone close to you has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, consult a mesothelioma doctor today.

Treatment

The treatment options for mesothelioma are dependent on the type and stage of cancer. Patients should select mesothelioma experts who are experienced with the disease and who can discuss their needs for treatment. This is referred to as shared decision-making.

Chest X-rays are typically the first imaging test the doctor of a patient orders. These can show changes in the lung lining, including thickening or the build-up of fluid. They can also tell whether the mesothelioma tumor has spread to other areas of the body. Other tests include a CT scan, an MRI and an PET (positron emission tomography) scan. Blood tests can also detect the presence of certain chemicals that are linked to mesothelioma.

After a mesothelioma diagnosis, doctors will request an invasive biopsy. This is the process of removing one small portion of the lining of the body to study under microscope for mesothelioma cell. Doctors can obtain a tissue sample through VATS (video assisted thoracoscopic surgical) which is a type of keyhole surgery. It is also possible to use a CT guided core biopsy that makes use of a needle that is guided by images of a CT scan. A biopsy can be used to determine the type of cells in mesothelioma. This can affect the way that cancer responds. Epithelioid mesothelioma cells respond best to treatment, while mixed cell and sarcomatoid types don't.

The most popular treatment for mesothelioma is chemotherapy, radiation therapy and Mesothelioma surgery. These treatments can increase the lifespan of a patient by 30-40 percent. Doctors may recommend immunotherapy in a few cases. These drugs encourage the body's immune system to attack the cancer. They are often used in conjunction with other treatments, including chemotherapy and surgery.

Patients suffering from mesothelioma should consider taking part in a clinical trial. This can lead to improved and more experimental treatments. These trials are conducted by scientists in order to discover new methods to treat mesothelioma and improve patients' quality of life.

Treatment for mesothelioma that is advanced is designed to minimize symptoms and to keep them under control. The symptoms include pain, breathlessness, and swelling. Breathing difficulties can be helped by surgical procedures like an pleura drain. For those who are unable to undergo surgery, a home treatment such as TTFields might be suggested.

Prognosis

If doctors can determine the stage of a person's mesothelioma they can formulate better treatment plans. The prognosis is based on the nature and location of the cancer, which part of the body it affects and the general state of the patient's health. Patients with advanced mesothelioma can live less than a year after being diagnosed. Treatments can prolong survival.

Mesothelioma develops by asbestos fibers that are brittle and loose can cause irritation to the lining in the abdomen or lungs. The cancer may develop as a single tumor or it can spread as it grows and spreads to other tissues. In advanced stages, mesothelioma may cause fluid buildup in the chest cavity or stomach, leading to a cough or other respiratory problems, and abdominal pain swelling and weight loss.

Doctors use a combination of procedures and tests to detect mesothelioma. They may perform a physical exam, take an in-situ sample of a mesothelioma tumor for testing and look over a person's medical history. Mesothelioma patients typically have an exposure history to asbestos, which is the main risk factor for the disease.

A biopsy is the most precise method of confirming mesothelioma. It is the process of removing tissue or fluids from a mesothelioma with cancer and analyzes the cells for malignant ones. Doctors also examine blood samples to see if the mesothelioma has various types of cells. The most common cells are epithelioid, which respond well to treatment. Sarcomatoid cells, which are seen in less cases, are more difficult to treat.

If pleural mesothelioma is diagnosed, doctors may treat the buildup of fluid in the chest cavity with a procedure called a pleurodesis. This involves scarring the lung lining with a chemical and stopping the buildup of fluid. They can also drain the fluid using tubes placed in the chest (percutaneous thoracostomy).

Doctors cannot accurately predict the prognosis of patients suffering from peritoneal cancer since this type cancer develops on the abdomen's lining. The prognosis for peritoneal cancer is higher than that of other types, mesothelioma since it responds well to treatment and spreads less quickly.