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Mesothelioma Asbestos fibers can cause mesothelioma if they irritate tissue surrounding many of your internal organs. The cancerous cells grow. The most prevalent mesothelioma type afflicts the lung lining (pleura). Other types are less well-known and affect the lining in the abdomen or around the testicles. Doctors can diagnose mesothelioma by looking at samples of fluid or tissue for cancerous cells. They may also request blood tests and imaging tests. Signs and symptoms Mesothelioma affects the organ lining in different parts of the body. The symptoms differ based on the location the tumor develops, such as the pleura (lung lining) for pleural mesothelioma and the peritoneum for peritoneal mesothelioma. The general symptoms are fever, unexplained weight loss and fatigue. Other symptoms of mesothelioma include difficulty breathing and pain. The first step to diagnose mesothelioma is a physical examination. Your doctor will ask about your past exposure to asbestos and any other factors that could increase your risk of mesothelioma. This includes the experience in an industry where asbestos exposure was common, like manufacturing, shipbuilding or construction. In most cases, mesothelioma is diagnosed through images of the chest or abdomen. These include X-rays, CT (computer tomography) scans and an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging). These tests allow doctors to look the inside of your body, and check for mesothelioma and other lung-related tumors or stomach. X-rays can reveal a thickening of the Pleura or a buildup of fluid in the lung space and chest wall, which are both common symptoms of pleural mesothelioma. They can also detect any fluid in the abdomen that is typically associated with peritoneal mesothelioma. If a mesothelioma tumor is identified the doctor will request an examination. During a biopsy your doctor will remove a tiny amount of tissue to determine if it is mesothelioma. A surgeon can either insert a needle into the tumor or perform a surgical procedure to extract the specimen. In the case of pleural asbestosis doctors remove the fluid from the chest cavity with the procedure called pleurodesis. This involves cutting a small incision in the chest or abdomen, and then using tubes to drain the fluid. Fluid buildup can cause difficulty breathing for patients suffering from pleural mesothelioma. new bedford mesothelioma attorney may attempt to reduce the amount of fluid in your pleura by inserting an indwelling catheter or ultrasound-guided needle aspiration. In rare instances mesothelioma may spread to other areas of the body. This can cause symptoms such as abdominal pain weight loss and trouble breathing. These symptoms are referred to as metastatic signs, since they are not related to the tumor that caused them. Diagnosis In most cases, doctors first evaluate symptoms like coughing or chest pains with a physical exam. Patients will be asked about their exposure to asbestos. They will then request imaging tests to detect lung cancer and abdomen. This could include X-rays CT scans, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), or the positron emission tomography (PET) scans. Because mesothelioma is so rare, it can be hard for doctors to identify it accurately. Mesothelioma is often misdiagnosed as common illnesses like pneumonia or bronchitis. This can delay treatment, and spread the disease before it is detected. If doctors discover a mesothelioma-related tumor, they will need to take samples of tissue or fluid for testing. These samples will help them confirm the type of mesothelioma they found and whether it has spread to other areas of the body. Doctors can collect mesothelioma specimens via biopsy. These can be done by the removal of a small portion of tissue using surgery or inserting needles into the chest or abdomen to draw out fluid. The samples will be analyzed to determine if they contain cancer cells. The type of mesothelioma a doctor detects will help them determine the best treatment options. Doctors may recommend laboratory tests to better understand the tumor. These tests can help identify genes, proteins and other elements that are unique to a tumor. The doctors also need to determine if the tumor has expanded. This is called staging. This allows them to determine the size of the tumor and whether it has spread. The doctor will go over the results with you once they are all in. They will also provide you with a prognosis. This is based upon the typical mesothelioma patients with similar symptoms and stage. Then, they will explain how the prognosis could alter as the tumor grows or shrinks and different treatments are employed. If you have questions, ask for an additional opinion from a different doctor. This is an excellent way to make sure you receive the best care. Treatment The path 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, as well as its severity (how quickly it expands). Doctors can also take into consideration the health of the person's overall and age, as well as other medical ailments. It can be difficult to identify mesothelioma because it is a rare disease. Combinations of tests, including chest CT scans and Xrays, are frequently used to confirm the diagnosis of mesothelioma. These imaging studies may reveal changes in the lung linings as well as the abdomen, including pleural thickening or fluid buildup. Tests of blood can also be performed to determine the presence of certain proteins associated with mesothelioma. A biopsy is typically performed when mesothelioma is suspected. A biopsy is done by inserting a needle into the affected area and then removing the tissue to be tested. The sample will be analyzed in a lab to determine if it contains any cancerous cells. Doctors can remove excess fluid from a patient suffering from pleural mesothelioma by a procedure called the thoracentesis. Also, they can use pleurodesis which can help prevent the buildup of fluid in the future. Pleurodesis involves inserting an incision into the chest to eliminate fluid. It is often combined with medications to decrease the chance that fluid will build up again. Radiation therapy is a different treatment for mesothelioma, and it can be used as a stand-alone treatment 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 tissue. It can be used to make surgery easier by using drugs that destroy cancerous cells. Patients suffering from peritoneal msothelioma could also receive intraperitoneal chemotherapy which is heated and injected into the abdomen. Some patients are eligible to participate in clinical trials of the latest mesothelioma treatment options. These are usually done in larger medical centers, and can yield the most promising results. Mesothelioma can recur or return, even after receiving treatment. When it does, the treatment options will vary depending on where the mesothelioma recurred and the treatment that was previously received. Prognosis The prognosis of mesothelioma depends on a variety of variables, including the stage and type of cancer, overall health and the age. It is also dependent on the size of mesothelioma as well as how well the treatment can control the symptoms. A doctor will use several tests to determine the prognosis of a mesothelioma patient, including imaging tests (a CT scan or X-ray), blood tests and a biopsy. A biopsy is the process of removing the mesothelioma tissue or tumor and study it under a microscope to check for cancer cells. Mesothelioma is a rare cancer that affects the lining of tissues around organs in the body such as the chest lining, abdominal lining and testes. It is caused by exposure to asbestos. A diagnosis of mesothelioma can be shocking and cause feelings of shock, anger and anxiety. Discussing these emotions with an experienced family member, mesothelioma organization or a lawyer is crucial. A timely diagnosis of mesothelioma could increase the likelihood of a successful outcome. If doctors are able to remove the tumor completely or a large portion of it, patients will have a better chance of a longer life. Another aspect is how fit a mesothelioma patient is. The ones who are more fit level are able to endure more rigorous mesothelioma treatment and have a higher rate of survival. A person's blood chemistry can be a factor in their mesothelioma prognosis. The better a person's prognosis is, the more normal their haemoglobin as well as white blood cell counts are. A mesothelioma that is not yet reached a critical stage may be treated with chemotherapy, radiation therapy or surgery. These treatments can make the cancer cells less likely to spread and grow. However, these treatments can not cure cancer. Many mesothelioma patients have lived beyond their initial prognosis. Some have lived for years or even a decade after being diagnosed with mesothelioma. For instance paleontologist Stephen Jay Gould survived his peritoneal mesothelioma for 20 years. He eventually died of cancer that was not connected to his mesothelioma.