What is Mesothelioma?
A diagnosis of
mesothelioma can be overwhelming. It's normal to be shocked, confused and upset.
Pleural mesothelioma occurs in the pleura which surrounds the lungs and chest wall. The cancer causes fluid to build up in the lungs and makes it difficult to breathe.
Asbestos is the main cause of
mesothelioma. People at risk are those who have worked with asbestos, or lived with someone who has.
What is mesothelioma?
The mesothelioma cancerous form is a cancer that develops on the lining mesothelium, or the lining. This lining wraps around and protects the majority of organs of your body, including your chest, heart and abdomen. It is comprised of two layers, which form a sac, which surrounds the organs inside your body. The fluid between the layers permits organs to move freely.
mesothelioma compensation cells become malignant, or cancerous, and expand into and destroy surrounding tissues. They may also grow and spread (metastasize) to other areas of the body.
The most at-risk population for developing mesothelioma is people who have been working with asbestos. Asbestos workers are plumbers, electricians, welders, asbestos miners and auto industry workers. People who lived or worked near asbestos plants, such as power plants and factories, are also at risk. Mesothelioma is diagnosed among people who were exposed to asbestos between 20 and 60 years before the illness manifests.
Pleural mesothelioma occurs most commonly in the lung lining. This type of mesothelioma may cause chest pain, breathing difficulties and weight loss. It is typically found in the lungs, but it can also affect the stomach or the heart. Peritoneal mesothelioma can be a rare type of the disease that affects the lining of the abdominal cavity. It can cause pain and difficulty eating.
Other
mesothelioma law firms types are mesothelioma pericardial as well as tunica vaginal, both of which occur in the tissue that surrounds the tissues of the abdomen, chest or testicles,. These types of mesothelioma typically go undiagnosed, and they have lower survival rates than other types of the disease.
The prognosis for mesothelioma is based on the type, location and stage of the disease at the time of diagnosis as well as the general health status. Certain patients are successfully treated using radiation, surgery, and chemotherapy. Other patients with advanced mesothelioma will receive experimental treatments, such as immunotherapy or gene therapy. In either case the treatment options available may significantly improve a person's life duration.
Signs and symptoms
Mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer, typically occurs in the tissues of the chest cavity or abdomen. It is caused by exposure to asbestos, a heat - and fire-resistant mineral that was used in the construction industry, insulation ships, power generation, and home renovations prior to being banned in the 1970s. Exposure is primarily due to working in the asbestos industry, but people who have cleaned their the workwear with asbestos fibres or disturbed asbestos in home renovations may also be at risk of developing mesothelioma.
Most mesothelioma patients experience general symptoms, like fatigue, weight loss, coughing with changes in frequency or intensity, chest pain, and other such symptoms. These symptoms can be caused by a variety of conditions, so patients should always seek advice from their physician about them. It is also important to inform their doctor if they have been exposed to asbestos.
In pleural mesothelioma, the symptoms typically occur due to the tumor causing fluid build-up within the space around the lungs. This build-up of fluid, also known as a "pleural effusion" can put pressure on the lungs, which makes breathing difficult. The volume of fluid inside the pleural cavity plays a role in the reduction of breathlessness.
Other signs of mesothelioma are an increase in temperature, night sweats, and abdominal pain. The fever is caused by the body's temperature increasing in the fight against the cancer. The body tries to reduce its temperature by producing night sweats in response to the fever. These symptoms are all indications that the cancer is getting worse and causing the body to stress.
Other signs of mesothelioma are fatigue, stomach swelling and difficulty walking.
mesothelioma claims can also affect the tissue surrounding the heart, causing problems with breathing and chest pain. It is also possible to develop mesothelioma in the membrane surrounding the testicles which can cause swelling or an abnormal lump on the testicles.
Because mesothelioma is so rare it can be difficult to identify early. The symptoms of mesothelioma can be similar to those of other ailments, and can even be mistaken for pneumonia or flu. Mesothelioma can take up to years before symptoms are identified.
Diagnosis
Mesothelioma is a cancer that is difficult to diagnose. Doctors must determine if there are other health conditions with similar symptoms before determining mesothelioma. After they have done this, they are able to determine the best treatment option for you.
Your doctor will ask you about your symptoms and conduct an exam. Your doctor may request blood tests to see the efficiency of your organs. One such test is a complete blood count (CBC) that examines the amount of red and white blood cells, how well your kidneys and liver are working, and other vital information. Mesothelioma cells are often seen in these blood tests, however they are difficult to identify because they look so similar to normal cells.
If your doctor suspects you have mesothelioma, they'll likely order imaging tests to determine the location and extent of any growth or fluid in the lungs or abdomen. The most commonly used test is a chest x-ray. If the test does not reveal any abnormalities, your doctor might recommend more thorough tests, such as an CT or MRI.
These tests give high-resolution pictures of the body by a combination of magnetic fields and radio waves to produce precise images. They can detect thickening and fluid in the peritoneum or pleura, which can indicate mesothelioma. A CT scan can reveal other health issues like lung infections or pneumonia.
Doctors can sometimes gain a better understanding of the type of mesothelioma you have by examining a sample of your tissue taken during a biopsy. This is the only certain method of identifying mesothelioma. These samples are then examined under microscopes to determine mesothelioma's specific cell type, as well as how far the cancer has been able to spread.
Certain doctors inject dye into a vein or perform other tests to determine the area of the cancer. This is called staging mesothelioma, and it assists doctors in determining the extent to which the tumor has expanded.
Treatment
Mesothelioma develops in the cells that line the lung and other organs. The cells can grow beyond their limits, and eventually form tumors (masses). The cancer spreads to nearby tissues due to the fact that they do not respond to signals that keep them from growing too fast. It may also infiltrate the blood vessels that carry oxygen to the lung. This can lead to breathing problems and a cough.
Doctors diagnose mesothelioma on the basis of an individual's symptoms and previous exposure to asbestos. They can also order imaging and other lab tests to detect and determine the presence of tumors. For example, doctors utilize chest X-rays to look for lung changes like the pleural thickening, or pleural effusion, which is a build-up of fluid. They can also request CT scans, an MRI and a PET scan to see where the tumors are and determine how far
mesothelioma legal has gotten bigger. They can also draw fluid from the lung (called a Thoracentesis) to test for mesothelioma and relieve pressure on the lung caused by fluid accumulation.