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Mesothelioma Asbestos fibers can cause mesothelioma when they irritate tissue surrounding many of your internal organs. The cancerous cells then grow. The most well-known type of mesothelioma affects the lung lining (pleura). Other types are less common and affect the lining of the abdomen or around the testicles. Doctors diagnose mesothelioma after examining the tissue or a sample of fluid for cancerous cells. They may also order imaging tests and blood work. Signs and symptoms Mesothelioma can affect the linings of various organs. The symptoms can vary based on the area of the tumor like in the pleura or peritoneum (lung lining), for pleural and peritoneal cancers. Fatigue, fever, and an unproven weight loss are typical symptoms. Mesothelioma symptoms could also include pain and trouble breathing. A physical examination is the first step towards diagnosing mesothelioma. Your doctor will ask about your previous exposure to asbestos and any other factors that may increase your risk of mesothelioma. This includes a history of asbestos exposure like in the construction, shipbuilding, or manufacturing industries. The majority of the time mesothelioma can be diagnosed with images of the chest or abdomen. These include X radiations, CT scans (computer tomography) and MRIs (magnetic imaging). These tests allow doctors to look at the inside of your body and check for mesothelioma and other tumors in the lung or stomach. X-rays will show a thickening of the pleura or a buildup of fluid in the space between your lungs and chest wall, which are both common symptoms of mesothelioma of the pleura. There is also a possibility of fluid in the abdominal cavity, which is often linked to peritoneal msothelioma. If a mesothelioma mass is found the doctor will request an examination. In mcallen mesothelioma attorneys , your physician will remove a small amount of tissue from the tumor to test for mesothelioma cells. A surgeon will insert a needle or perform a surgical procedure to extract the specimen. In the case of pleural asbestosis doctors remove the the chest cavity by the procedure known as pleurodesis. This involves making a small cut into the abdomen or chest, and then using tubes to drain the fluid. In the later stages of pleural cancer, 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 by inserting an indwelling catheter or ultrasound-guided needle aspiration. In rare instances, the cancer can be spread to other areas of the body which can cause symptoms such as abdominal pain, weight loss, and breathing difficulties. These are known as metastatic symptoms, because they are not associated with the original tumor. Diagnosis In the majority of instances, doctors first assess symptoms such as coughing and chest pains by performing physical examination. Patients will be asked about asbestos exposure. They will then conduct imaging tests to look for lung tumors and abdomen. These could include X-rays CT scans, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or the positron emission tomography (PET) scans. Since mesothelioma is a rare cancer it can be difficult for doctors to identify it accurately. Patients with mesothelioma are often mistakenly diagnosed with common diseases such as pneumonia and bronchitis. This can delay treatment and spread the disease before it is detected. Once doctors find a possible mesothelioma-related tumor, they will require a sample of fluid or tissue to test. These samples will help determine the kind of cancer and if it has spread. The biopsy is one method doctors can collect mesothelioma samples. They can be done by removing a tiny amount of tissue by surgery or inserting an needle into the abdomen or chest area to remove fluid. These samples will be analyzed for cancerous cells. The type of mesothelioma that the doctor detects will aid in determining the best treatment options. Doctors may recommend lab tests to understand the tumor. These tests can reveal specific genes, proteins, or other factors that are unique to the tumor. Finally, doctors will be looking to determine whether the tumor has spread and is referred to as staging. This allows them to determine the size of the tumor and whether it has expanded to other organs. When all of the test results are in, the doctor will discuss them with you. The doctor will also give you an estimate of your prognosis. This is based on the averages of mesothelioma sufferers with similar symptoms and staging. They will also explain how the prognosis may alter as the tumor grows shrinks, shrinks, or when other treatments are utilized. If you have questions, ask for an opinion from another doctor. This is an excellent way to ensure that you receive the highest quality treatment. Treatment The journey to a mesothelioma diagnosis is not over once you've been diagnosed. The treatment options are based on many factors, including the kind of mesothelioma and its grade (how quickly it develops). Doctors also take into consideration the patient's age, general health and other medical conditions. It can be difficult to diagnose mesothelioma, because it is a rare condition. The combination of tests, such as chest CT scans and X-rays are often used to confirm the diagnosis of mesothelioma. These imaging studies can reveal changes in the lung's lining or abdomen, such as the thickening of the pleura and the accumulation of fluid. Blood tests can be performed to detect mesothelioma-related high levels. A biopsy is typically performed when a mesothelioma diagnosis is made. A biopsy is done by inserting a needle in the affected area and removing the tissue to be tested. The sample will then be examined in a lab to determine if the sample contains any cancer cells. If a patient has mesothelioma pleural, doctors can eliminate the excess fluid through the procedure known as Thorcentesis. They can also perform a procedure called pleurodesis to stop the accumulation of fluid up in the future. Pleurodesis involves placing a tube in the chest to help drain the fluid. It can also be combined with medication to lower the possibility of fluid building up again. Radiation therapy is a different treatment for mesothelioma, and it can be used as a stand-alone treatment or in conjunction with chemotherapy or surgery. Doctors can opt for traditional photon radiation, or a new method known as intensity-modulated therapy, which sends the radiation at different angles in order to limit the damage to healthy tissue. It can be used to aid in surgery by using chemotherapy drugs to kill cancerous cells. It can be heated and injected directly into the abdomen (intraperitoneal chemotherapy) for patients with mesothelioma of the peritoneal region. Clinical trials of new treatments for mesothelioma are open to certain people. These trials are typically conducted in larger medical facilities, and can yield the most promising results. Even after treatment, mesothelioma could recur. If it does, treatment options will differ based on the area where mesothelioma recurred and the prior treatments received. Prognosis In general the mesothelioma prognosis of a patient is based on the type of cancer they suffer from the stage at the time they were diagnosed, as well as their overall health and age. It is also dependent on how far the mesothelioma spreads and how much treatment will help them control symptoms. A doctor will perform a series of tests to determine the outlook of a mesothelioma patient, including imaging tests (a CT scan or X-ray), blood tests and the biopsy. A biopsy is when doctors remove an insignificant amount of mesothelioma tumor or tissue and examine it under a microscope in order to check for cancerous cells. Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer, affects the organs' surrounding tissues like the lining of the chest, abdomen, and the testes. It is caused by exposure to asbestos. A diagnosis of mesothelioma can be shocking and may trigger feelings of anger, fear or anxiety. It is important to talk about these feelings with a trusted family member mesothelioma group support group or mesothelioma lawyer. A timely diagnosis of mesothelioma could improve the prognosis. If doctors are able to remove a tumor or a large portion of it, the patient has a better chance at living longer. Another factor is how fit a mesothelioma patient is. The level of fitness is linked to better survival rates for mesothelioma patients. A person's blood chemistry can also play a role in their mesothelioma prognosis. The more normal a person's haemoglobin levels and white blood cell and platelet counts are, the better their prognosis. A mesothelioma that is not yet reached a critical point can be treated by radiation therapy, chemotherapy or surgery. These treatments can lower the likelihood of cancer cells spreading and growing. However, these treatments can not cure cancer. Many patients with mesothelioma have outlived their initial prognosis. Some mesothelioma survivors have lived for years or even a decade, after their diagnosis. For instance, paleontologist Stephen Jay Gould survived his peritoneal mesothelioma for 20 years. He eventually died of cancer unrelated to his mesothelioma.