What is Mesothelioma?
The diagnosis of mesothelioma may be overwhelming. It's natural to feel shocked or confused, and even upset.
Pleural mesothelioma occurs in the pleura that surrounds the lungs and chest wall. This cancer causes fluid buildup in the lungs, making it difficult to breathe.
Asbestos exposure is the main cause of mesothelioma. Anyone who has worked with asbestos or lived with a person who was exposed are at risk.
What is mesothelioma?
Mesothelioma is a cancer that is found in the lining of tissues, known as the mesothelium. This lining wraps around and protects the majority of organs of your body including your chest, heart and abdomen. It has 2 layers that create a sac around the inner layer of your organs, and it is separated by fluid to allow the organs to move easily. Mesothelioma cancer cells grow and destroy the surrounding tissue. They may also spread to other areas of your body (metastasize).
The most at-risk group for developing
mesothelioma is those who have worked with asbestos. Asbestos-related workers include plumbers electricians, welders, asbestos miners and
mesothelioma auto industry workers. The risk is higher for those who live near asbestos-producing facilities like power and factories plants. Mesothelioma is diagnosed among people who have been exposed to asbestos between 20 and 60 years before the illness manifests.
The most frequent mesothelioma type is called mesothelioma pleural, which is found in the lining of the lungs. This kind of mesothelioma may cause chest pain, trouble breathing, and weight loss. It usually occurs in the lungs, but can also affect the heart or stomach. Those with peritoneal mesothelioma, a rare type of disease that affects the lining of the abdominal cavity, may feel discomfort in the belly and abdomen, and difficulty eating.
Other mesothelioma types are
mesothelioma litigation of the pericardial and tunica vaginal, both of which occur in the tissue that surrounds the tissues of the abdomen, chest or testicles, respectively. These types of mesothelioma typically go undiagnosed, and they have lower survival rates than other types of the disease.
The mesothelioma prognosis is contingent on the nature and location of the disease and the stage at which it was diagnosed and the general health of the patient. Some patients can be successfully treated using surgery, chemo and radiation. Patients with mesothelioma that is more advanced may be offered experimental treatments like immunotherapy or gene therapy. In any case, the treatment options available may significantly increase a person's duration.
Symptoms
Mesothelioma is a rare type of cancer that most often occurs in the chest's lining or abdominal cavity. It is caused by exposure to asbestos, a heat and fire-resistant mineral used in insulation, construction and shipbuilding power generation, as well as home renovations prior to being banned in the 1970s. Exposure to asbestos is primarily caused by working in the asbestos-related field. However, people who have washed their work clothes with
asbestos claim fibers or disturbed asbestos while renovating their homes are at risk of developing mesothelioma.
The majority of patients with mesothelioma experience general symptoms like fatigue, weight loss, coughing that changes in intensity or pattern and chest pain. Patients should consult their physician if they experience any of these symptoms. Consult your physician whether you've been exposed asbestos.
In the case of pleural asbestosis symptoms, they are often caused by the tumor, causing fluid to build up in the region around the lung. This build-up, known as a pleural effusion, puts pressure on the lungs and makes breathing difficult. The volume of fluid inside the pleural cavity plays a role in reducing breathlessness.
Other signs of Mesothelioma include 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 night sweats are a reaction to the fever and a strategy by the body to get cool. These symptoms are indicators that cancer is advancing and is causing stress to the body.
Less frequent mesothelioma signs include a swollen abdomen, fatigue and difficulty walking. Mesothelioma may also affect the tissue surrounding the heart which can cause chest pain and difficulty breathing. Mesothelioma may also grow in the tissue that surrounds the testicles. This can lead to swelling or the appearance of a lump.
Mesothelioma is difficult to identify early because it is extremely uncommon. The symptoms of mesothelioma are similar to those of other illnesses and may be mistaken for a flu or pneumonia. Mesothelioma may take as long as years before symptoms are recognized.
Diagnosis
Mesothelioma is a difficult cancer to identify. Doctors must rule out other health conditions that have similar symptoms prior to diagnosing mesothelioma. Once they have done this, they can determine the best treatment for you.
The first step in mesothelioma diagnosis is to see your doctor inquire about your symptoms and perform a an examination. Your doctor might order blood tests to determine the efficiency of your organs. A complete blood count (CBC) that determines the amount of red and white blood cells as well as how your kidneys and liver are functioning, is a common test. Mesothelioma cells often show up in these blood tests, but they are difficult to identify because they look so like normal cells.
If your doctor suspects that you have mesothelioma they will likely order imaging tests to find the location and extent of any growths or fluid around the lungs or abdomen. The most commonly used test is a chest xray. If it doesn't reveal any abnormalities, the doctor may recommend more specific tests, including an CT or MRI.
These tests produce detailed pictures of the body through the combination of radio waves with powerful magnets. They can detect fluid and thickening in the pleura or peritoneum which could be a sign of mesothelioma. A CT scan can also reveal other health issues like lung infections or pneumonia.
Doctors may be able to get a better idea of the type of mesothelioma you have by examining a sample of your tissue taken during the procedure of a biopsy. This is the only sure way to diagnose mesothelioma. The samples are examined with a magnifying glass in order to determine the kind of mesothelioma, as well as the extent of the cancer's spread.
Some doctors may also inject dye into a vein or
mesothelioma conduct other tests to determine the location where the cancer is located. This is known as staging mesothelioma and helps doctors understand how far the tumor has spread and how severe.
Treatment
Mesothelioma develops in the cells that line the lung and other organs. These cells can grow beyond their limits, and eventually form tumors (masses). The cancer spreads because cells don't respond to signals that stop them from growing too quickly. It can also invade the blood vessels that supply oxygen to the lung. This can lead to breathing problems and cough.
Doctors diagnose mesothelioma through examining the symptoms of an individual and their history of exposure to asbestos. They may also order scans and other tests to detect and detect tumors. Chest X-rays, for instance can be used to check lung changes such as the thickening of the pleura and the development of pleural effusion (fluid build-up). They may also order CT scanning or an MRI or PET scan to locate the site of the tumors and determine the extent to which mesothelioma has spread. They may also take samples of the fluid surrounding the lungs, called the thoracentesis, in order to look for mesothelioma cells and to relieve the pressure on the lungs caused by fluid build-up.
When mesothelioma is discovered doctors can design treatment to manage the disease.