5 Killer Quora Answers On Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma happens when asbestos fibers cause irritation to the tissues that surround many of your organs. The cancerous cells will then develop.

The lining of the lung (pleura) is the most common site of mesothelioma. Less common types affect the lining of the abdomen and the lining around the testicles.

Doctors diagnose mesothelioma through examining a sample of tissue or fluid for cancerous cells. They may also order blood tests or imaging tests.

Signs and symptoms

Mesothelioma can affect the linings of various organs. The symptoms can vary based on the location of the tumor, for example, in the pleura or peritoneum (lung lining) as well as the peritoneal and pleural cancers. Fever, fatigue and unexplained weight loss are common symptoms. Other signs of mesothelioma are breathing difficulties and pain.

A physical exam is the first step towards diagnosing mesothelioma. Your doctor will ask about your previous exposure to asbestos as well as any other factors that could increase your risk of developing mesothelioma. This includes your experience in an industry where asbestos usage was prevalent, such as manufacturing, shipbuilding or construction.

In the majority of cases mesothelioma can be diagnosed with images of the abdomen or chest. These include X rays, CT scans (computer tomography), and MRIs (magnetic imaging). These tests allow doctors to look the inside of your body, and check for mesothelioma and other lung-related tumors or stomach.

X-rays may show the presence of fluid or a thickening in the space between the lungs and the chest wall. These are signs of the pleural cancer. They will also identify any abdominal fluid which is usually associated with mesothelioma of the peritoneal region.

Your doctor will recommend an examination for mesothelioma if a tumor is discovered. When you undergo the procedure, your doctor will take a small amount of tissue from the tumor to check for mesothelioma cells. A surgeon can either insert a needle into the tumor or perform the procedure surgically to remove the sample.

In the case of pleural asbestosis doctors drain the fluid from the chest cavity by the procedure called pleurodesis. This involves cutting a small incision in the chest or abdomen and then using a tube to drain fluid. In the latter stages of pleural mesothelioma patients often have trouble breathing because of fluid buildup. Your doctor might try to stop the buildup of fluid in your pleura by inserting an indwelling catheter, or using ultrasound-guided needle aspiration.

In rare cases, cancer may spread to other parts of the body, causing symptoms such as abdominal pain weight loss, abdominal discomfort, and breathing problems. These are known as metastatic symptoms because they are present in locations other than the area of the tumor that you originally had.

Diagnosis

In most instances, doctors first assess symptoms like coughing or chest pains with physical examination. They also inquire with patients about any previous asbestos exposure. Then, they will request imaging tests to look for tumors in the abdomen and lungs. These tests can include X radiographs, CT scans or MRIs.

It can be challenging for doctors to diagnose mesothelioma properly due to its rarity. Mesothelioma is often misdiagnosed as common diseases such as bronchitis or pneumonia. This can delay treatment, and cause the disease to spread before it is properly detected.

If doctors find a mesothelioma tumour, they will require a sample of tissue or fluid to test. These samples will determine the nature of the cancer and if it has spread. The biopsy is one way doctors can take samples of mesothelioma. They can be done by removing a tiny amount of tissue through surgery or inserting an needle in the abdominal or chest area to remove fluid.

These samples will be evaluated for cancer cells. The type of mesothelioma lawyer the doctor detects will help determine the most effective treatment options.

Doctors may also suggest lab tests on a tumor to understand how the tumor operates. These tests can reveal particular proteins, genes or other elements that are specific to the tumor.

Then, doctors will be looking to determine whether the tumor has sprang, which is called staging. This will help them determine the size of the tumor and whether it has spread to other organs.

After all test results are in the doctor will discuss them with you. You will also be given a prognosis. This is based on averages of mesothelioma sufferers with similar symptoms and staging. Then, they will discuss how the prognosis could change as the tumor expands or shrinks and other treatments are employed. Get a second physician's opinion should you have any questions. This is an excellent method to ensure that you receive the highest quality treatment.

Treatment

The path to a mesothelioma diagnosis is not over once you've been diagnosed. Treatment options are dependent on many factors including the type and degree of mesothelioma (how quickly it grows). Doctors also take into consideration the person's age, general health and other medical conditions.

It is often difficult to determine mesothelioma's diagnosis, because it is a rare condition. A combination of tests are often used to confirm a mesothelioma diagnosis like chest X-rays as well as CT scans. These imaging studies can show changes in the lung lining or abdomen, such as thickening of the pleura as well as fluid accumulation. Blood tests can be conducted to detect mesothelioma's high levels.

A biopsy is generally performed when a mesothelioma diagnosis is suspected. A biopsy is performed by inserting a needle into the affected area and then removing some of the tissue to be examined. A laboratory will analyze the tissue to determine if it is contaminated with cancerous cells.

Doctors can remove excess fluid from patients suffering from pleural mesothelioma by a procedure known as the thoracentesis. They can also perform the procedure known as pleurodesis to aid in preventing fluid from building up in the future. Pleurodesis works by placing a tube in the chest to aid in draining the fluid. It can also be combined with medication to reduce the chance of fluid accumulating again.

Radiation therapy can be utilized in combination with chemotherapy or surgery to treat mesothelioma. Doctors can opt for traditional photon radiation or a more advanced method known as intensity-modulated radiation therapy, which sends the radiation at different angles in order to limit the damage to healthy tissues.

It can be utilized to facilitate surgery by using drugs that kill cancerous cells. Patients suffering from peritoneal mesothelioma may also receive intraperitoneal chemotherapy which is injected with heat into the abdomen. Clinical trials of new mesothelioma treatments are available to a select group of people. These are usually done in larger medical centers, and could yield the most promising outcomes. Even after treatment, mesothelioma may be recurrent. The treatment options vary depending on the site of the recurrence as well as the previous treatments.

Prognosis

The prognosis for mesothelioma is based on a variety of variables that include the stage and type of cancer, overall health, and age. It is also dependent on the extent to which the mesothelioma spreads and how much the treatment will help them control symptoms.

A doctor will conduct a series of tests to determine the outlook of a mesothelioma patient, including imaging tests (a CT scan or X-ray) as well as blood tests and a biopsy. A biopsy is the process of removing a small sample of mesothelioma tumor or tissue and study it under a microscope to check for cancerous cells.

Mesothelioma is a rare type of cancer that affects the lining of tissues around organs of the body, like the abdominal lining, the chest lining, and the testes. It is caused by exposure to asbestos.

A mesothelioma diagnosis can be shocking and can trigger feelings of anger, fear or anxiety. Talking about these emotions with a trusted family member, mesothelioma organization or lawyer is important.

Early detection of mesothelioma will increase the likelihood of a successful outcome. If doctors can eliminate the tumor, or at least a large part of it, the patient stands a better chance at a longer lifespan.

Fitness is another factor. People who are at a higher fitness level are able to withstand more intense mesothelioma treatments and have a higher rate of survival. A person's blood chemistry can also play a role in their mesothelioma prognosis. The better a person's prognosis is, the more normal their haemoglobin and white blood cells counts are.

Mesothelioma can be treated if it has not reached a critical phase. It can be treated through chemotherapy, radiation therapy or surgery. These treatments can lower the possibility of cancer cells spreading and growing. The treatments don't treat cancer. Many mesothelioma patients have outlived their initial prognosis. Some have lived for years, or even a decade after their mesothelioma diagnosis. For example paleontologist Stephen Jay Gould survived his mesothelioma of the peritoneal for more than 20 years. But, he died from cancer that was not related to his mesothelioma.