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Mesothelioma Mesothelioma is a type of cancer correlated with exposure to asbestos an element that occurs naturally. The disease usually develops years after exposure. The treatment for mesothelioma is radiation, chemotherapy and surgery. Treatment can help patients live longer. There are three types of mesothelioma. The type of cell makes up the tumor and the stage of the tumor affects the prognosis. What is mesothelioma? Mesothelioma is a cancer that forms in the mesothelium, a thin layer of tissue that lines organs within the body. It is caused by asbestos, which is a grouping of fibrous minerals. The exposure to asbestos is usually when people inhale or swallow stray asbestos fibers. These asbestos particles adhere to the lining of organs and cause irritation, which leads to tumors. Mesothelioma is detected when doctors study these tumors and then take a sample of tissue, known as a biopsy. Mesothelioma is classified according to type depending on the type of cells seen in the tumors. The three types are epithelial, biphasic and sarcomatoid mesothelioma. Epithelial Mesothelioma comprises about 50% of all diagnoses. Sarcomatoid Mesothelioma makes up 10 percent of all cases, and has a poorer prognosis than epithelial. Biphasic Mesothelioma is a mix of epithelial cells and sarcomatoid. It is responsible for 30 to 40 percent of all diagnoses. Mesothelioma symptoms include abdominal pain, chest discomfort and breathing difficulties. These symptoms may be similar to those of other conditions. It is imperative to seek out a physician immediately in the event that you experience any of these. Treatment for mesothelioma could improve symptoms, slow tumour growth and make it easier for patients to live longer. Treatment options include surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Palliative treatment is available to patients and can help to manage discomfort and pain. Doctors are still looking for ways to treat mesothelioma, and how it expands. New treatments include immunotherapy which uses your body's immune system to fight cancer. This is an experimental treatment that has shown promise in certain mesothelioma patients. Patients are also able to participate in clinical trials, which are studies on new therapies. Patients with mesothelioma tend to be treated at cancer centers with specialized specialists who treat the condition. Diagnosis A mesothelioma diagnosis can be the first step towards receiving treatment that can extend your life span. Your doctor will begin the process by looking over your symptoms and health history, then determining the type of mesothelioma in your body. This is vital since the three main mesothelioma cells react differently to treatment. Your doctor may order an X-ray of the chest or CT scan as the first test. During this test, you lie on a table while the X-ray or CT machine takes a clear image of your chest as well as the organs around it. Prior to the procedure, a small dose of dye, typically iodine is given. This makes the tissues in your chest and abdomen lighter, making it easier to see. During this time, you could be asked to take an air test. If these tests reveal the possibility of a tumor, or mass that could be cancerous, your physician may decide to take biopsy. A biopsy is the process of removing the sample from the mass or tumor by surgical removal or by inserting a needle into the site. The specimen is then analyzed under a microscope, looking for mesothelioma tumor cells. Our doctors may employ ultrasound to detect lymph nodes that have enlarged that could be mesothelioma. This procedure is known as endobronchial ultrasound-guided needle biopsy or EBNA. This procedure is performed as an outpatient procedure, which means you can go home the same day. A mesothelioma specialist will also need to determine your mesothelioma's stage. The stages are determined by the extent to which the cancer has spread and what type of mesothelioma it is. A mesothelioma specialist can give you a precise diagnosis to ensure that you receive the appropriate treatment. Treatment The mesothelioma patient's treatment plan is determined by the severity of the disease and their general health. Mesothelioma patients typically undergo multimodal therapy which consists of chemotherapy, surgery and radiation. The first step in treating mesothelioma involves an examination and telling your doctor about any asbestos exposures you may have experienced in the past. Doctors may also request images and blood tests to determine if mesothelioma is present and rule out other conditions. These include CT (computerized tomography) scans; MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scans; FDG-PET (fluorodeoxyglucose Postron emission Tomography) scans and mediastinoscopy (used to examine and test lymph nodes in the chest cavity). The majority of mesothelioma-related pleural cases can be treated surgically. A patient can undergo a minimally-invasive procedure referred to as video-assisted needle biopsy or CT-guided thoracoscopic systolic surgical. Both surgeries can boost the life expectancy of a patient and alleviate symptoms. Chemotherapy, a treatment, makes use of drugs to destroy cancerous cells and stop them from growing. It is a standard mesothelioma treatment that can prolong the duration of survival. It is available as an intravenous drip (IV) or in pill form. Radiation therapy is a mesothelioma treatment which can shrink tumors and kill cancerous cells. It can be used to treat pleural tumors at various stages, and also to relieve pain and prolong the life of patients. In the last stages of mesothelioma doctors usually focus on controlling symptoms and prolonging the life of patients for as long as is possible. Palliative care is the name of this kind of treatment. Despite the low survival rate of mesothelioma, there are still many survivors. For instance paleontologist Stephen Jay Gould, who was diagnosed with mesothelioma of the peritoneal region in 1982, lived for another 20 years before dying from complications from another illness. Symptoms Mesothelioma can cause symptoms weeks or even years prior to an official diagnosis is made. The initial symptoms are similar to those triggered by other diseases, and it is easy to ignore or confuse them for minor illnesses. If you do experience any of these symptoms, it is crucial to see your doctor right away. The organs of your body are covered in a tissue layer called the mesothelium. This layer helps keep them from rubbing against one against one another. Mesothelioma is a cancer that targets mesothelium, the cell that line your organs. The lining that surrounds your lungs is the most common area where mesothelioma first appears. However, it can develop in the heart (pericardium), abdomen (peritoneum) as well as the surrounding lining of your testicles (tunica vulginalis). The earliest symptoms of mesothelioma may include breathlessness and chest pain as well as fatigue. Mesothelioma can also cause fluid accumulation in the chest wall or lungs and cause an pleural effusion. A pleural effusion can place pressure on the lungs leading to coughing and breathing problems. Doctors diagnose mesothelioma by taking the medical history of the patient and doing an exam. They may ask for chest X-rays, which can show signs of abnormalities like thickening the lung lining, or the accumulation of fluid in the chest wall. They may also request a CT scan, MRI or PET scan to gain a better view at your lungs as well as other tissues. hawaii mesothelioma lawyer can also remove any fluid that accumulates in the pleura or peritoneum with an ultrasound-guided needle aspiration procedure. A biopsy may help determine the type of mesothelioma that is forming the tumor, and how it is advancing. This can help doctors decide on the best treatment options. Chemotherapy, radiation and surgery are the three types of mesothelioma treatments that are standard. The following is a list of preventatives. Mesothelioma is not preventable, but you can lower your chance of developing it by avoiding people who are exposed to asbestos and avoiding the area. Exposure to asbestos can lead to lung cancer and other diseases that can affect the lining of certain organs. There are a variety of mesothelioma types and some are more severe than others. Certain types of mesothelioma may be more manageable. Asbestos is made up of a group of minerals with microscopic fibers. Manufacturers used asbestos in the construction industry and other products, without knowing about the dangers it poses. Veterans and blue-collar workers were especially exposed to asbestos. Asbestos is known to be a risk and you should not live in a house or work in an old factory that has asbestos. Consult your physician about regular screenings, especially if you have an antecedent history of exposure to asbestos. X-rays as well as CT or MRI scans can help spot issues with your lungs or abdomen. A biopsy may also help identify cancer in the chest's lining or stomach. Doctors can then examine the tissue sample taken from that area to see whether you suffer from mesothelioma. You may have pleural mesothelioma that affects your lungs' membrane. Other types include testicular, pericardial or the peritoneal. It can take several years for mesothelioma's growth to manifest after exposure to asbestos. Even then, it's difficult to identify. It is often misdiagnosed as another illness or condition like lung cancer, pneumonia or bronchitis. This could prevent you from receiving the appropriate treatment. Researchers are working on improving the diagnosis of cancer and developing tests to detect mesothelioma sooner. This could lead to better treatment and a higher survival rate. Genetic tests are used to determine those most likely to develop the disease.