What is Mesothelioma?

The diagnosis of mesothelioma may be overwhelming. It's normal to feel stunned, confused and upset.

Pleural mesothelioma occurs in the pleura that covers the lungs and chest wall. The cancer causes fluid to build up in the lungs, making it difficult to breathe.

Asbestos exposure is the most common cause of mesothelioma. People who worked with asbestos or lived with a person who did are at risk.

What is Mesothelioma?

The cancerous mesothelioma is a cancer that develops on the lining tissue, also known as mesothelium. The mesothelium lining protects your chest, heart, and abdomen and a majority of your other organs. It is composed of two layers that create a sac around the inner layer of your body's organs. It is separated by fluid to permit organs to move freely. Mesothelioma cancer cells develop into malignant or cancerous, and grow into and destroy nearby tissue. They may also spread to other areas of your body (metastasize).

Those who are most at risk of developing mesothelioma are those that have been exposed to asbestos while at work. Asbestos-related workers include builders plumbers, electricians and plumbers welders, asbestos miners, auto industry workers, and many more. The risk is higher for people who live or work near asbestos-related facilities, such as factories and power plants. Mesothelioma is diagnosed among people who have been exposed to asbestos between 20 and 60 year before the illness manifests.

The most common mesothelioma type is pleural mesothelioma, which occurs in the lining of the lung. This type of mesothelioma may cause chest pain, breathing difficulties and weight loss. It is typically found in the lungs but can also affect the stomach or the heart. Peritoneal mesothelioma can be a rare type of the disease which affects the lining within the abdominal cavity. It can cause pain and difficulty eating.

Other mesothelioma law types are mesothelioma of the pericardial and tunica vaginal, both of which occur in the tissue that surrounds the tissue of the chest, abdomen or testicles, respectively. These mesothelioma types are often undiagnosed and have a lower survival rate than other types.

The prognosis of mesothelioma depends on the type, location and stage of the disease at the moment of diagnosis as well as the general health condition. Some patients are treated successfully by chemotherapy, surgery and radiation. Other patients with advanced mesothelioma may receive experimental treatments such as immunotherapy or gene therapy. In any situation the treatment options available can significantly improve a person's life expectancy.

Signs and symptoms

Mesothelioma is a rare cancer that is most often found in the chest's lining 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 1970. The exposure to asbestos is mostly resulted from working in the asbestos-related field. However, people who have washed their clothing that contained asbestos fibers or disturbed asbestos while renovating their homes are also at risk of developing mesothelioma.

Most patients with mesothelioma experience general symptoms like fatigue, weight loss and coughing that alters in pattern or intensity, and chest pain. These symptoms could be caused by a variety of conditions, so patients should always seek advice from their physician about their symptoms. They should also be sure to inform their doctor if they have been exposed to asbestos.

In pleural asbestosis, symptoms are usually caused by the tumor that causes fluid to build up in the region around the lungs. This fluid build-up, also known as a "pleural effusion" can put pressure on the lungs, making breathing difficult. The volume of fluid in the pleural cavity is important in the reduction of breathlessness.

Other symptoms of Mesothelioma include an increase in temperature, night sweats and abdominal pain. The body's temperature increases as it fights against the disease. This causes the fever. The body attempts to cool itself down by producing sweating during the night as a reaction to the fever. These symptoms are signs that cancer is getting worse and causing stress to the body.

Other signs of mesothelioma are fatigue, stomach swelling and a difficulty walking. Mesothelioma can also affect the tissues surrounding the heart, causing chest pain and difficulty breathing. Mesothelioma may also grow in the membrane that covers the testicles. This can result in swelling or a lump.

Mesothelioma can be difficult detect early because it is extremely uncommon. The symptoms of mesothelioma can be similar to those of other illnesses and are often mistaken for pneumonia or flu. Mesothelioma may take as long as years before symptoms are detected.

Diagnosis

Mesothelioma can be a challenging cancer. Doctors must rule out other health conditions that have similar symptoms before determining mesothelioma. After they have done this, they can decide the best treatment for you.

The first step to mesothelioma diagnosis is to see your doctor inquire about your symptoms and do a physical exam. Your doctor may order blood tests to see how well your organs function. One such test is the complete blood count (CBC) which examines the amount of white and red blood cells, how well your liver and kidneys are working, and other important information. These blood tests could 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 will likely order imaging to determine the extent and the location of any fluid or growths around the lungs or abdomen. A chest radiograph is the most commonly used test, however if it does not reveal any abnormalities, doctors may decide to order more specific tests, such as a CT scan or an MRI.

These tests create detailed images of the body through the combination of radio waves with powerful magnets. They can detect thickening and fluid in the peritoneum or pleura which could indicate mesothelioma. A CT scan may also detect other health issues, such as pneumonia or lung infections.

Doctors may be able to gain a better understanding of the type of mesothelioma that you have from a tissue sample taken during a biopsy. This is the only certain way to diagnose mesothelioma. The samples are then examined under microscopes to determine the mesothelioma's specific cell type, as well as how far the cancer has taken over.

Some doctors may inject dye into a vein or conduct other tests to determine the region in which the cancer is. This is known as staging mesothelioma, and it assists doctors in determining the extent to which the tumor has spread.

Treatment

Mesothelioma is a form of cancer that is a result of the lung's cells and organs. The cells can multiply uncontrollably, forming tumors. The cancer spreads to nearby tissues due to the fact that they do not respond to signals that prevent them from expanding too rapidly. It can also infiltrate blood vessels that provide 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 asbestos exposure. They may also request imaging tests and other lab tests in order to find and identify tumors. Chest X-rays, for example are a way to examine lung conditions, such as pleural thickening and the development of pleural effusion (fluid build-up). They may also order CT scanning as well as an MRI or PET scan in order to determine the location of tumors and determine the extent of mesothelioma's spread. They can also collect fluid from the lung (called a thoracentesis) to test for mesothelioma and relieve pressure on the lungs brought on by the accumulation of fluid.

Once a mesothelioma diagnosis is made, doctors can plan treatment options to manage the disease. It is important to discuss the treatment options with your mesothelioma physician. Some people choose aggressive treatment to increase their chances of survival and prolong their lives, while others prefer a less intensive method to minimize side effects, such as nausea and mesothelioma litigation pain.

Mesothelioma treatments can include radiation, surgery, and chemotherapy. The kind of treatment a patient receives depends on the stage of mesothelioma as well as whether it is comprised of epithelioid and sarcomatoid cells. Epithelioid cells are easier to remove via surgery and are more likely to be successful than sarcomatoid cells. Certain patients suffer from both types and have a worse outcome than those with only epithelioid cancer.

After treatment is completed, it is important to keep in touch with your Mesothelioma Law Firm physician regularly. This can help in preventing the cancer from returning. Your mesothelioma team will develop a new plan if it occurs again.

Patients with mesothelioma may be enrolled in clinical trials for the latest treatments. Clinical trials provide patients access to cutting-edge treatments that are not yet approved for general use.