What is Mesothelioma?

The diagnosis of Mesothelioma can be a devastating one. It's normal for people to be stunned, angry and confused.

The pleura, which covers the lungs and the chest wall, is affected by mesothelioma of the pleural region. This cancer causes fluid buildup in the lungs and makes it difficult to breathe.

Asbestos is the primary reason for mesothelioma. At risk are people who have been exposed to asbestos, or who lived with someone who has.

What is mesothelioma?

Mesothelioma is a cancer that develops in the lining of tissues, called the mesothelium. The mesothelium lining covers and protects the majority of organs in your body, including your chest, heart and abdomen. It has two layers that create a sac around inner layer of your body's organs, and it is separated by fluids to allow organs to move around easily. Mesothelioma cells become malignant, or cancerous, and expand into and destroy nearby tissue. They can also grow and spread (metastasize) to other parts of the body.

The most at-risk group to develop mesothelioma are those who have worked with asbestos. Asbestos workers include plumbers, electricians welders asbestos miners and auto industry workers. A higher risk is also present for people who work or live near asbestos-related facilities, such as factories and power plants. Mesothelioma can be diagnosed in those who were exposed to asbestos between 20 and 60 years before the illness manifests.

The most commonly encountered mesothelioma type is mesothelioma of the pleural region, which develops in the lining of the lung. This mesothelioma type can cause chest pain, trouble breathing, and weight loss. It usually occurs in the lungs but can also affect the stomach or heart. Peritoneal mesothelioma is an uncommon form of the disease that affects the lining of the abdominal cavity. It can cause pain and difficulty eating.

Other Mesothelioma litigation types are pericardial and tunica vaginalis mesothelioma and tunica vaginalis mesothelioma, both of which are in the tissue that surrounds the lining of the chest, abdomen or testicles, respectively. These mesothelioma types often remain undiagnosed and have lower survival rates than other types of the disease.

The prognosis of mesothelioma depends on the type, location and stage of the disease at the time of diagnosis as well as the general health status. Some patients can be successfully treated using chemotherapy, surgery and radiation. Other patients with mesothelioma more advanced may be offered experimental treatments like immunotherapy and gene therapy. In either case the treatment options available can significantly increase a person's longevity.

Signs and symptoms

Mesothelioma is a rare type of cancer that most often occurs in the lining of the chest or abdominal cavity. The cancer is caused by asbestos, which was utilized in construction, shipbuilding and energy generation as well as home renovations until it was banned in the year 1970. The exposure to asbestos legal is mostly caused by working in the asbestos-related field. However, people who have had to wash work clothes with asbestos case fibers or disturbed asbestos when renovating their homes are also at risk of developing mesothelioma.

Most mesothelioma patients have general symptoms like fatigue or weight loss, coughing that has a change in pattern or intensity, chest pain, and the list goes on. These symptoms may be caused by a variety of ailments, and patients must always speak with their doctor regarding their symptoms. Inform your doctor if you have been exposed asbestos.

In pleural mesothelioma, the symptoms usually occur due to the tumor causing fluid accumulation within the space around the lung. This build-up of fluid, also called a "pleural effusion" is a source of pressure on the lungs, making breathing difficult. The ability to control the volume of fluid that is in the pleural cavity may improve breathlessness.

Other symptoms of Mesothelioma are an increase in temperature, night sweats and abdominal pain. The body's temperature rises as it fights against the disease. This can cause a fever. The night sweats are a reaction to the fever and a strategy by the body to get cool. These symptoms are all signs that the cancer is becoming worse and causing body stress.

Less frequent mesothelioma signs include an abdominal swelling and fatigue as well as difficulty walking. Mesothelioma may also affect the tissue surrounding the heart that can cause chest pain as well as difficulty breathing. It is also possible to develop mesothelioma inside the testicles' lining and cause swelling or a lump on the testicles.

Because mesothelioma can be so rare it can be difficult to detect early. The symptoms of mesothelioma are similar to those of other illnesses, and can even be mistaken for pneumonia or flu. Mesothelioma can take up to years before symptoms are identified.

Diagnosis

Mesothelioma is a difficult cancer to identify. Before diagnosing mesothelioma, doctors need to rule out any other conditions with similar symptoms. Once this is done, they will determine the best treatment options for you.

Your doctor will ask you about your symptoms and conduct an examination. Your doctor can order blood tests to determine how well your organs work. A complete blood count (CBC), which examines the number of red and white blood cells and how well your kidneys and liver are functioning, is a common test. These tests can reveal mesothelioma, but it is difficult to detect them because they look similar to normal cells.

If your doctor suspects that you have mesothelioma, they'll likely order imaging tests to determine the location and extent of any growth or fluid around the abdomen or lungs. A chest radiograph is the most commonly used test, however if it does not show any abnormalities, doctors can decide to order more specific tests, such as an CT scan or an MRI.

These tests offer high-resolution images of the body using magnetic fields and radio waves to produce high-quality images. They can detect the presence of fluid and thickening in the peritoneum and pleura which could indicate mesothelioma. A CT scan can also identify other health issues like pneumonia or lung infections.

Doctors can sometimes be able to determine the type of mesothelioma you have by examining a sample of your tissue taken during a biopsy. This is the only sure way to diagnose mesothelioma. The samples are then examined under a microscope to determine the mesothelioma's type of cell, and how far the cancer has spread.

Some doctors may inject dye into a vein or conduct other tests to determine the region in which the cancer is. This is referred to as mesothelioma staging, and it aids doctors in determining how far the cancer has expanded.

Treatment

Mesothelioma is a cancer that is a result of the cells lining the lungs and organs. These cells can grow out of control, forming tumors (masses). The cancer can spread because the cells aren't able to respond to signals that prevent them from growing too quickly. It can also infiltrate blood vessels that carry oxygen to the lung. This can lead to breathing problems and a cough.

Doctors diagnose mesothelioma through examining the symptoms of a person and their history of exposure to asbestos. They may also request imaging tests as well as other tests to help identify tumors. For example, doctors employ chest X-rays in order to look for lung changes like pleural thickening or the pleural effusion, which is the accumulation of fluid. They may also order CT scans, an MRI and a PET scan to see where the tumors are and determine how far mesothelioma has spread. They may also take an ounce of fluid from the lungs, known as a thoracentesis, to test for mesothelioma tumors and to relieve pressure on the lungs brought on by fluid accumulation.

Once a mesothelioma diagnosis is established, doctors can design treatments to control the disease. It is crucial to discuss your treatment goals with a mesothelioma expert. Some people want aggressive treatment to extend their lives and improve their chances of survival, while others are comfortable with a less-intensive approach to reduce pain, nausea and other adverse effects.

Mesothelioma treatments include surgery, radiation and chemotherapy. The type of treatment that a patient receives depends on the stage of mesothelioma as well as whether it is comprised of epithelioid or sarcomatoid cells. Epithelioid cells are simpler to remove surgically and are more likely to be successful than sarcomatoid cells. Some patients are affected by a combination of both types and mesothelioma litigation have less success than those who have only epithelioid cancer.

After treatment is completed, it is important to keep in touch with your mesothelioma doctor regularly. This will help to prevent the cancer from returning. Your mesothelioma team will develop an updated plan in case it occurs again.

Patients with mesothelioma may join clinical trials for the latest treatments. Clinical trials allow people to gain access to cutting-edge treatments that haven't yet been approved for use in general.