What is Mesothelioma?

A diagnosis of Mesothelioma is an extremely devastating one. It's normal to feel stunned, angry and confused.

Pleural mesothelioma can be found in the pleura which covers the lungs and chest wall. This cancer causes the formation of fluid inside the lungs, making it difficult to breathe.

Asbestos is the most significant reason for mesothelioma. People at risk are those who have been exposed to asbestos, or lived with someone who has.

What is Mesothelioma?

Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that is found in the lining of tissues, known as the mesothelium. This lining wraps around and protects most of the organs of your body including your chest, heart and abdomen. It has 2 layers that create a sac around inner layer of your organs. It is separated by fluid to permit organs to move around easily. Mesothelioma cancer cell growth can destroy the surrounding tissue. They may also spread (metastasize) to other parts of the body.

Those who are most at risk of developing mesothelioma include those who have been exposed to asbestos at work. Asbestos-related workers include builders, plumbers, electricians, asbestos miners, welders, auto industry workers and others. The risk is higher for people who work or live near asbestos-related facilities, like power and factories plants. Patients diagnosed with mesothelioma have typically been exposed to asbestos for between 20 and 60 years prior to the time their illness appears.

The most commonly encountered mesothelioma type is called pleural mesothelioma, which occurs in the lining of the lung. This type of mesothelioma can cause chest pain, difficulty breathing, and weight loss. It usually affects the lungs, however it may be affecting other organs such as the heart and stomach. Peritoneal mesothelioma is an uncommon form of the disease that affects the lining within the abdominal cavity. It can cause pain and difficulty eating.

Other types of mesothelioma include mesothelioma of the pericardial and tunica vaginal both of which are found in the tissue that surrounds the tissue of the abdomen, chest or testicles,. These types of mesothelioma typically remain undiagnosed and have lower survival rates than other types of the disease.

The mesothelioma prognosis is contingent on the nature and location of the cancer as well as the stage of diagnosis and the general health of the patient. Some patients are treated successfully by undergoing surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. Other patients with mesothelioma more advanced may receive experimental treatments like immunotherapy or gene therapy. In either scenario, treatment options can increase the life expectancy of a patient.

Symptoms

Mesothelioma is a rare cancer that is most often found in the lining of the chest or abdominal cavity. It is caused by exposure to asbestos, a heat and fire-resistant mineral that was used in insulation, construction, shipbuilding power generation, home renovations prior to being banned in the 1970s. Exposure to asbestos is primarily due to working in the asbestos-related industry. However, people who have cleaned clothing that contained asbestos fibers or disturbed asbestos during renovating their homes are also at risk of developing mesothelioma.

The majority of patients with mesothelioma suffer from general symptoms, like fatigue and weight loss, coughing that has changes in frequency or intensity, chest pain, and so on. These symptoms could be caused by a variety of illnesses, so patients should always seek advice from their physician about their symptoms. Consult your physician whether you've been exposed asbestos.

In pleural mesothelioma, the symptoms typically occur due to the tumor causing fluid build-up within the space around the lung. This build-up, also known as a pleural effusion causes pressure on the lungs, making breathing difficult. The ability to control the amount of fluid in the pleural cavity may improve breathlessness.

Other symptoms of mesothelioma can include an increase in temperature, night sweats and abdominal pain. The fever is caused by the body's temperature increasing as it tries to fight the disease. The night sweats are a reaction to the fever and a strategy by the body to get cool. These symptoms are indicators that cancer is worsening and is causing stress to the body.

Less frequent mesothelioma law signs include a swollen abdomen and mesothelioma 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 in the testicles' lining, causing swelling or a lump on the testicles.

Since mesothelioma is a rare disease and difficult to diagnose early. The symptoms of mesothelioma are similar to those of other diseases and are often mistaken for pneumonia or a flu. Mesothelioma can take up to years before symptoms are identified.

Diagnosis

Mesothelioma is a gruelling cancer. Doctors must determine if there are other health diseases that share similar symptoms before diagnosing mesothelioma. Once this is done, they can determine the most effective treatment options for you.

Your doctor will ask you about your symptoms and perform an exam. Your doctor can request blood tests to see how well your organs work. A complete blood count (CBC) is a test that examines the number of white and red blood cells and how well your kidneys and liver are functioning, is an example of a test. Mesothelioma-related cells are frequently seen in these blood tests, however they are difficult to identify because they appear similar to normal cells.

If your doctor suspects that you have mesothelioma they will likely request imaging tests to determine the location and size of any growths or fluid in the lungs or abdomen. The most common test is a chest radiograph. If it doesn't reveal any abnormalities, the doctor might recommend more thorough tests, such as a CT or MRI.

These tests offer high-resolution images of the body by a combination of radio waves and powerful magnets to create precise images. They can detect fluid and thickening in the pleura or peritoneum, which can indicate mesothelioma. A CT scan can also reveal other health issues like lung infections or pneumonia.

Doctors can sometimes get a better idea of the type of mesothelioma you have from a tissue sample taken during the procedure of a biopsy. This is the only reliable way to diagnose mesothelioma. The samples are examined under a magnifying lens to determine the type of mesothelioma and the extent of the cancer's spread.

Some doctors may also inject dye into veins or perform other tests to identify the region where the cancer is located. This is known as staging mesothelioma. It helps doctors determine how much the tumor has spread and how severe.

Treatment

Mesothelioma is a type 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 don't respond to signals that keep them from expanding too rapidly. It can also infiltrate blood vessels that provide oxygen to the lungs. This can make breathing difficult and trigger coughing.

Doctors can diagnose mesothelioma by looking at the symptoms of an individual and their history of asbestos exposure. They may also order imaging and other lab tests in order to find and determine the presence of tumors. Chest X-rays, for instance can be used to look for lung conditions, such as the pleural thickening process and pleural effusion (fluid build-up). They can also request CT scans, an MRI and a PET scan to see where the tumors are located and determine how far mesothelioma has spread. They can also collect fluid from the lungs (called a thoracentesis) to check for mesothelioma and reduce pressure on the lung caused by fluid accumulation.

Once a mesothelioma-related diagnosis is confirmed, doctors can begin planning treatments to treat the disease. It is important to discuss treatment goals with your mesothelioma physician. Some people prefer aggressive treatment in order to improve their survival and prolong their lives, whereas others prefer a less intensive method of reducing adverse effects, like pain and nausea.

Treatments for mesothelioma include surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. The type of treatment one receives is determined by the stage of their mesothelioma, and whether or not it is comprised of epithelioid or sarcomatoid cells. The epithelioid cell is easier to remove through surgery and has a higher success rate than sarcomatoid. Certain patients suffer from both types and have a worse outcome than those with only epithelioid cancer.

It is essential to see your mesothelioma doctor regularly after the treatment. This will keep the cancer from recurring. If it recurrs the mesothelioma team will devise a new treatment plan.

Patients with mesothelioma may join clinical trials to test new treatments. Clinical trials let patients be able to access cutting-edge treatments that haven't yet been approved for general use.