Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma happens when asbestos fibers cause irritation to the tissue that surrounds a lot of your organs. Cancerous cells then develop.
The lining of the lung (pleura) is the most frequently affected site for mesothelioma. Other types are less common and affect the lining around the abdomen or around the testicles.
Doctors diagnose mesothelioma following a thorough examination of a tissue or fluid sample for cancerous cells. They may also order imaging tests and blood work.
Symptoms
Mesothelioma can affect the linings of different organs. The symptoms vary based on where the tumor forms, such as the pleura (lung liner) for pleural mesothelioma, or the peritoneum for peritoneal mesothelioma. The general symptoms are fever, unexplained weight loss and fatigue. Mesothelioma symptoms can also include pain and trouble breathing.
The first step in diagnosing mesothelioma involves a physical examination. Your doctor will inquire about your previous exposure to asbestos and any other factors that may increase the risk of mesothelioma. This includes any past history of asbestos exposure, for example, in shipbuilding, construction, or manufacturing industries.
In most cases mesothelioma is diagnosed by imaging scans of the abdomen or chest. These include X rays, CT scans (computer tomography), and MRIs (magnetic imaging). These tests offer doctors the opportunity to see the inside of your body, and look for
mesothelioma or other lung tumors or stomach.
The X-rays will reveal an increase in the thickness of the pleura or the accumulation of fluid in the space between your lungs and chest wall, which are both common symptoms of pleural mesothelioma. There is also a possibility of fluid in the abdominal cavity, which is often linked to peritoneal msothelioma.
Your doctor will order a biopsied if a mesothelioma tumor is found. In a biopsy, your doctor will remove a small amount of tissue from the tumor to check for mesothelioma cells. A surgeon may insert needles into the tumor, or perform the procedure surgically to remove the specimen.
In the case of pleural asbestosis, doctors drain the the chest cavity using the procedure known as pleurodesis. This involves making a small cut into the abdomen or chest, and then using a tube to drain fluid. In the final stages of pleural
mesothelioma claims, patients are often unable to breathe due to the buildup of fluid. Your doctor may try to reduce the amount of fluid in your pleura through the use of an indwelling catheter, or using ultrasound-guided needle aspiration.
In rare cases mesothelioma may spread to other parts of the body and causes symptoms such as abdominal pain weight loss and trouble breathing. These are referred to as metastatic symptoms since they occur in places other than the area of your original tumor.
Diagnosis
In most cases, doctors will first conduct a physical examination to look for signs such as chest discomfort and coughing. Patients are asked about their exposure to asbestos. Then, they'll request imaging tests to look for signs of tumors in the lungs and abdomen. These tests could include X radiographs, CT scans or MRIs.
Because mesothelioma is so rare it can be difficult for doctors to identify it correctly. Patients with mesothelioma are often misdiagnosed for common diseases like bronchitis or pneumonia. This can delay treatment and can cause the disease to spread before it is fully diagnosed.
If doctors discover a mesothelioma-related tumor, they will need to take an in-person sample of the fluid or tissue to test. These samples will confirm the nature of the cancer and if it has spread. The biopsy is a method by which doctors can take samples of mesothelioma. This can be accomplished by the removal of a small portion of tissue using surgery or inserting an instrument into the abdomen or chest to drain fluid.
These samples will be analyzed for cancerous cells. The type of mesothelioma the doctor finds will help determine the best treatment options.
Doctors may recommend laboratory tests to help understand the tumor. These tests can help identify particular proteins, genes, or other factors that are unique to the tumor.
Doctors will also need to know if the tumor has spread by staging. This lets them determine the size of the tumor and whether it has spread.
Once all test results are in the doctor will go over the results with you. They will also provide you with an estimate of your prognosis. This is based on averages of other mesothelioma sufferers with similar symptoms and stage. They will also explain how the prognosis could alter as the tumor grows, shrinks, or other treatments are employed. Get a second physician's opinion should you have any questions. This is an excellent way to make sure that you receive the best treatment.
Treatment
Being diagnosed with
mesothelioma law can be only the beginning of a long journey. Treatment options depend on a variety of factors, including the type and grade of mesothelioma (how quickly it grows). Doctors will also consider the person's age, general health and other medical ailments.
Mesothelioma is a rare condition, and it can be difficult for healthcare providers to identify. Combinations of tests, like 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, such as pleural thickening or fluid buildup. Tests of blood can also be conducted to determine the presence of certain proteins associated with mesothelioma.
A biopsy is generally done when a mesothelioma diagnosis is suspected. It involves inserting a needle in the affected area and removing tiny pieces of tissue for testing. A laboratory will analyze the tissue to determine if it is contaminated with cancer cells.
If a patient is diagnosed with Pleural Mesothelioma, doctors are able to eliminate the excess fluid through a procedure known as Thorcentesis. Patients can also undergo pleurodesis which can help prevent the buildup of fluid in the future. Pleurodesis is performed by placing a tube inside the chest to help drain the fluid, and it can be combined with medication to reduce the possibility of fluid accumulating again.
Radiation therapy is often used in conjunction with surgery or chemotherapy to treat mesothelioma. Doctors can choose to use traditional photon radiation or a more sophisticated method known as intensity-modulated radiotherapy. This sends the radiation in different angles to reduce damage to healthy tissues.
It can be used to aid in surgery by using chemotherapy drugs to destroy cancerous cells. Patients suffering from peritoneal msothelioma could also receive intraperitoneal chemotherapy, which is injected with heat into the abdomen. Some patients are eligible to take part in clinical trials of new mesothelioma treatments. These are usually done in larger medical centers, and can yield the most promising outcomes. Even after treatment, mesothelioma can occur again. If it does, treatment options will differ based on the location where mesothelioma developed and the previous treatments received.
Prognosis
In general, a person's mesothelioma prognosis is based on the type of cancer they have the stage at which they were diagnosed, their overall health and age. It is also dependent on the size of mesothelioma and how well the treatment can control the symptoms.
A doctor will perform a series of tests to determine the outlook of mesothelioma patients. These tests include imaging tests (a CT scan or X-ray) as well as blood tests, and the biopsy. A biopsy is when doctors remove a small sample of
Mesothelioma Legal Assistance tissue or tumor and study it under a microscope to check for cancerous cells.