What is Mesothelioma? The diagnosis of Mesothelioma can be an extremely devastating one. It's normal for people to be shocked, upset and confused. Pleural mesothelioma occurs in the pleura which covers the lungs and chest wall. This cancer causes the accumulation of fluid 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 did are at risk. What is mesothelioma? The mesothelioma cancerous form is a cancer that develops on the lining tissue, also known as mesothelium. The mesothelium layer protects your chest abdomen, and heart as well as the majority of your other organs. It is composed of two layers that create a sac around the inner layer of your organs, and is separated by fluids to allow organs to move around easily. Mesothelioma cells become malignant, or cancerous, and grow into and destroy surrounding tissue. They may also grow and spread (metastasize) to other parts of the body. Those who are most at risk of developing mesothelioma are those that have been exposed to asbestos while at work. Asbestos workers include plumbers, electricians, welders, asbestos miners and auto industry workers. The risk is higher for those who live or work near asbestos plants like power and factories plants. Mesothelioma patients have typically been exposed to asbestos for between 20 and 60 years before their illness appears. The most frequent type of mesothelioma is mesothelioma of the pleural region, which develops in the lining around the lungs. This kind of mesothelioma may cause chest pain, difficulty breathing, and weight loss. It is usually found in the lungs, but it can also affect the stomach or heart. Those with peritoneal mesothelioma, a rare type of the disease that affects the lining of the abdominal cavity, may experience pain in the belly and abdomen, and difficulty eating. Other types of mesothelioma are 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, respectively. https://vimeo.com of mesothelioma typically remain undiagnosed and have lower survival rates than other types of the disease. The prognosis of mesothelioma varies on the type, location and stage of the disease at the time of diagnosis as as the general health condition. Certain patients are successfully treated with radiation, surgery, and chemotherapy. Patients with mesothelioma that is more advanced may receive experimental treatments like immunotherapy and gene therapy. In any case, the treatment options available can significantly increase a person's longevity. Symptoms Mesothelioma is a rare type of cancer that usually occurs in the chest lining or abdominal cavity. It is caused by exposure to asbestos, a heat - and fire-resistant mineral used in construction, insulation and shipbuilding power generation, as well as home renovations before it was banned in the 1970s. The exposure is mostly due to working in the asbestos industry, but people who have cleaned up work clothes with asbestos fibres or disturbed asbestos during home renovations also risk developing mesothelioma. The majority of patients with mesothelioma have general symptoms such as fatigue or weight loss, coughing with a change in pattern or intensity, chest pain and so on. Patients should always consult their doctor if they notice any of these symptoms. They should also be sure to inform their doctor if they've been exposed to asbestos. In pleural asbestosis, symptoms are often caused by the tumor, causing fluid to build up in the area around the lung. This fluid build-up, also known as a pleural effusion, puts pressure on the lungs, which makes breathing difficult. Controlling the amount of fluid inside the pleural cavity may improve breathlessness. Other symptoms of Mesothelioma are the night sweats, a fever and abdominal pain. The body's temperature rises when it fights the disease. This can cause a fever. The night sweats are a response to the fever and a strategy by the body to get cool. These symptoms are all indications that the cancer is getting worse and causing body stress. The less common mesothelioma symptoms are a swollen abdomen, fatigue and difficulty walking. Mesothelioma can also affect the tissue surrounding the heart, which can cause difficulty breathing and chest pain. It is also possible to develop mesothelioma within the testicles' lining which can cause swelling or a lump on the testicles. Because mesothelioma is so rare it can be difficult to identify early. The symptoms of mesothelioma could be confused with other diseases, such as pneumonia or the flu. Mesothelioma may take as long as years before symptoms are recognized. Diagnosis Mesothelioma is a challenging cancer to detect. Doctors must determine if there are other health diseases that share similar symptoms before determining mesothelioma. Once this is done, they will determine the best treatment options for you. Your doctor will ask you about your symptoms, and then perform an exam. Your doctor can request blood tests to determine the efficiency of your organs. A complete blood count (CBC) that measures the number of white and red blood cells and how well your liver and kidneys are functioning, is a common test. These blood tests could detect mesothelioma, however it is difficult to identify them due to their similarity to normal cells. If your doctor suspects you have mesothelioma they will likely request imaging tests to find the location and extent of any growths or fluid around the lungs or abdomen. The most common test is a chest radiograph. If the test does not reveal any abnormalities, the doctor may recommend more specific tests, such as a CT or MRI. These tests offer high-resolution images of the body using a combination of magnetic fields and radio waves to create a series of high-quality images. They can detect the presence of fluid or thickening of the pleura and peritoneum that could be a sign of mesothelioma. A CT scan can also reveal other health problems such as a lung infection or pneumonia. Doctors may get a better idea of the type of mesothelioma that you have by examining a sample of your tissue taken during a biopsy. This is the only method to identify mesothelioma. The samples are then examined under microscopes to determine the mesothelioma's type of cell, and how far the cancer has taken over. Some doctors may inject dye into a vein or perform other tests, to identify the site of the cancer. This is called staging mesothelioma and aids doctors in determining how far the cancer has been able to spread. Treatment Mesothelioma occurs in the cells that line the lung and other organs. These cells can grow rapidly, forming tumors. The cancer can spread because the cells aren't able to respond to signals that prevent them from growing too quickly. It can also infiltrate blood vessels that provide oxygen to the lungs. This can cause breathing difficulties and a cough. Doctors diagnose mesothelioma based on the patient's symptoms and his history of asbestos exposure. They can also order imaging and other lab tests in order to find and detect tumors. For instance, doctors may utilize chest X-rays to look for changes in the lungs, such as pleural thickening or the pleural effusion, which is a build-up of fluid. They can also request CT scanning or an MRI or PET scan to locate the site of the tumors as well as determine the extent to which mesothelioma has spread. 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. After mesothelioma has been diagnosed, doctors can plan treatment to treat the cancer. It is crucial to discuss your treatment goals with a mesothelioma expert. Some patients want aggressive treatment to prolong their life and improve survival, while others are comfortable with moderate treatment to lessen pain, nausea and other adverse effects. The treatment options for mesothelioma are surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. The type of treatment that a patient receives is determined by the stage of mesothelioma as well as whether it's composed of epithelioid and sarcomatoid cells. The epithelioid cells are easier to remove through surgery and has a better chance of success than the sarcomatoid. Some patients are affected by both types, and suffer from a worse outcome than those who only have epithelioid cancer. After completing treatment after treatment, it is essential to follow up with your mesothelioma doctor regularly. This will help prevent the cancer from returning. Your mesothelioma treatment team will devise an alternative plan in the event that it does recur. Some patients with mesothelioma are enrolled in clinical trials to test new treatments. Clinical trials allow people to gain access to cutting-edge treatments that have not yet been approved for use in general.
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