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Mesothelioma Mesothelioma, a cancerous condition caused by asbestos exposure is a natural-occurring cancer. The disease usually develops years after exposure. The treatment of mesothelioma by doctors is chemotherapy, radiation and surgery. Treatment can help patients live longer. There are three kinds of mesothelioma. The stage and type of cells that make up the tumor affect the prognosis. What is Mesothelioma? The mesothelioma that is cancerous forms in the mesothelium (a thin layer of tissue that encloses organs within the body). It is caused by asbestos, which is a grouping of fibrous minerals. Exposure to asbestos usually occurs when people swallow or inhale asbestos fibers. These asbestos particles adhere to the organ's linings and cause irritation. They can also cause tumors. The diagnosis of mesothelioma is able to be made by doctors after they have examined the tumors and collect a tissue sample, also known as a biopsy. Mesothelioma is classified by type based on the type of cells that are found in the tumours. The three types are epithelial, sarcomatoid and biphasic mesothelioma. Epithelial Mesothelioma accounts for about 50 percent of all diagnoses. Sarcomatoid mesothelioma represents 10 percent of all cases, and has a worse prognosis than epithelial. Biphasic Mesothelioma can be described as a mix of epithelial cells and sarcomatoid ones. It is responsible for 30-40 percent of all diagnoses. Mesothelioma symptoms include chest pain, abdominal pain and difficulty breathing. These symptoms are similar to those experienced by other conditions, so it is essential to consult the doctor if you experience these symptoms. The treatment for mesothelioma can help alleviate symptoms, slow tumour growth and allow patients to live longer. Treatment options include surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Palliative care is available to patients and can help manage pain and discomfort. Doctors continue to research ways to treat mesothelioma and how it expands. The latest treatments include immunotherapy, which relies on your body's immune system to fight cancer. This is a trial treatment that has shown promise for a few mesothelioma patients. Patients can also try clinical trials, which are research studies of new treatments. Patients suffering from mesothelioma are usually treated at cancer centers that have doctors who treat the disease. Diagnosis A mesothelioma diagnosis is the initial step in receiving treatment that will prolong your life. Your doctor will review your symptoms and medical history to determine the type of mesothelioma you have. This information is important because the three primary mesothelioma cell kinds respond differently to treatment. The doctor may suggest an X-ray chest scan or CT scan as the initial test. During the test, you lie on a table as the X-ray machine or CT scan produces a detailed image of your chest and surrounding organs. Prior to the procedure, a small injection of dye, usually iodine, is given. This makes the tissues in your chest or abdomen lighter, making it easier to see. During this time, you may be asked to take an exercise to test your breathing. If these tests reveal the possibility of a tumor or a mass that could be cancerous, your doctor might decide to take biopsy. A biopsy involves the removal of samples from the tumor or mass through surgery or by inserting an needle into the region. The specimen is then examined under a microscope in order to look for mesothelioma-like cells. In some instances our specialists utilize ultrasound to identify enlarged lymph nodes that could be mesothelioma. This procedure is referred to as endobronchial ultrasonography-guided needle biopsy or EBNA. This procedure is carried out as an outpatient, so you are able to return home the same day. A mesothelioma specialist will also need to know your stage of the disease. The stages are determined based on how the cancer has spread and what type of mesothelioma you have. Getting an accurate diagnosis from a mesothelioma specialist the best way to make sure that you receive the proper treatment. Treatment The mesothelioma treatment for a patient will depend on how far the disease has progressed and their overall health. Patients with mesothelioma typically receive multimodal treatment that includes surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation. The first step to treat mesothelioma involves undergoing an examination for physical health and telling the doctor about your previous exposure to asbestos. Doctors will also order scans of the blood and imaging to detect mesothelioma and rule out other diseases. These include CT (computerized tomography) scans; MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scans FDG-PET (fluorodeoxyglucose Postron emission tomography) scans and mediastinoscopy (used to study and sample lymph nodes in the chest cavity). The majority of mesothelioma pleural cases can be treated surgically. Patients may undergo a minimally-invasive procedure known as video-assisted surgery (VAT) or a CT-guided needle biopsy. Both surgeries can enhance the lifespan of patients and reduce symptoms. Chemotherapy is a method of treatment that uses drugs to eliminate cancerous cells and stop them from expanding. It is a standard treatment for mesothelioma and can extend the duration of survival. It is available in intravenous (IV) drip or in pill form. Radiation is another mesothelioma treatment that can kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. It is used to treat pleural tumors at various stages, and also to ease pain and prolong the lives of patients. In the later stages of mesothelioma patients, doctors typically focus on controlling symptoms and prolonging a patient's life for as long as is possible. This kind of treatment is called palliative care. Despite the low rate of survival of mesothelioma there are still a lot of survivors. For instance paleontologist Stephen Jay Gould, who was diagnosed with mesothelioma of the peritoneal region in 1982, lived for another 20 years before passing away due to complications from a different illness. Symptoms Many patients with mesothelioma experience symptoms for months or years before they are diagnosed. Early symptoms could be mistaken for other illnesses or ignored. If you do experience any of these symptoms, it's vital to see your doctor as soon as possible. Organs in your body are encased in a layer of tissue known as mesothelium. This layer protects them from rubbing together. Mesothelioma is a cancer that affects mesothelium- the cells that line your organs. The lining of your lung is the most commonly location where mesothelioma develops. However, it may also develop in your heart (pericardium) as well as in your abdomen (peritoneum) as well as the skin around your testicles (tunica vulginalis). The first symptoms of mesothelioma are often breathlessness and chest pain as well as fatigue. Mesothelioma may also cause fluid buildup in the chest wall or lungs that can lead to an effusion of the pleural cavity. A pleural effusion could put pressure on lungs, which can cause coughing and breathing difficulties. Doctors diagnose mesothelioma after taking a patient's medical history and conducting an examination. They may also order chest X-rays to look for signs of abnormalities like thickening in the lung's lining, or fluid buildup on the chest wall. They may also request an MRI, CT scan or PET scan to take an examination of the lung or other tissues of your body. They can also remove the fluid that collects in the pleura or the peritoneum with an ultrasound-guided needle aspiration procedure. aurora mesothelioma law firm may help determine the type of mesothelioma that is forming the tumor and the rate at which it is growing. This will allow doctors to choose the most effective treatment options. Chemotherapy, radiation and surgery are the three kinds of standard mesothelioma treatments. The following is a list of preventatives. Mesothelioma is not preventable However, you can reduce the risk by abstaining from asbestos and staying away from those who suffer from it. Exposure to asbestos can lead to lung cancer or other illnesses that affect organ linings. Many types of mesothelioma exist and some are more severe than others. Certain types are easier to treat than others. Asbestos is an assortment of minerals that have thin micro-sized fibers. Manufacturers used asbestos in the construction industry as well as other industrial products, without knowing about its potential dangers. Blue-collar and veteran workers were the most exposed to asbestos. Asbestos is now recognized to be dangerous and you should not live in a home or work in an old factory that has asbestos. Consult your physician about regular screenings, especially if you have an antecedent history of asbestos exposure. X-rays, CT or MRI scanners can reveal problems in your lungs, abdomen or stomach. A biopsy can also reveal the presence of a tumor in the lining of your chest or stomach. Doctors will then examine a tissue sample from that region to determine whether you are suffering from mesothelioma. You may have pleural mesothelioma that affects your lungs' lining. Other types include testicular, pericardial or the peritoneal. It can take years for mesothelioma cancer to develop following exposure to asbestos. Even then, it can be difficult to identify. It's often misdiagnosed as a different illness or condition such as lung cancer, pneumonia, or bronchitis. This can hinder you from receiving the correct treatment. Researchers are trying to improve diagnosis and create tests that detect mesothelioma earlier. This could lead to better treatments and a higher survival rate. The research involves genetic testing to identify who is most likely to develop mesothelioma.