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Mesothelioma Asbestos fibers can cause mesothelioma because they cause irritation to the tissue around many of your internal organs. The cancerous cells begin to grow. The lung's lining (pleura) is the most frequent site for mesothelioma. Other types are less well-known and affect the lining in the abdomen or around the testicles. Doctors diagnose mesothelioma following a thorough examination of samples of tissue or fluid for cancerous cells. They can also order imaging tests and blood work. Symptoms Mesothelioma can affect the linings of several organs. The symptoms differ based on the location the tumor forms and the location, like the pleura (lung liner) for pleural mesothelioma and the peritoneum for peritoneal mesothelioma. Fatigue, fever, and an unproven weight loss are common symptoms. Mesothelioma symptoms can also include pain or difficulty breathing. The first step to diagnose mesothelioma involves a physical examination. Your doctor will ask about your previous exposure to asbestos and any other factors that may increase your risk of developing mesothelioma. This includes any past history of asbestos exposure, for example, in the construction, shipbuilding or manufacturing industries. Most mesothelioma cases are diagnosed through imaging scans of the chest or abdomen. These include X rays, CT scans (computer tomography), and MRIs (magnetic imaging). These tests offer doctors to look the inside of your body, and check for mesothelioma and other lung tumors or stomach. X-rays can reveal a thickening of the pleura or the accumulation of fluid in the space between your lungs and chest wall, which are both common symptoms of pleural mesothelioma. They will also detect any fluid in the abdominal cavity, which is often associated with peritoneal mesothelioma. Your doctor will recommend biopsy if mesothelioma tumor is detected. During the procedure, your doctor will take some of the tissue from the tumor to check for mesothelioma cancer cells. A surgeon may insert an instrument into the tumor, or perform an operation to remove the specimen. In the case of pleural asbestosis, doctors remove the fluid from the chest cavity using the procedure known as pleurodesis. This involves making a small cut into the abdomen or chest, and then using a tube to drain fluid. In indianapolis mesothelioma lawyer of pleural mesothelioma, patients are often unable to breathe because of the accumulation of fluid. Your doctor may attempt to reduce the amount of fluid in your pleura by insertion of an indwelling catheter or with ultrasound-guided needle aspiration. In rare cases, cancer may be spread to other areas of the body and cause symptoms like abdominal discomfort as well as weight loss and breathing difficulties. These are known as metastatic signs because they are present in locations other than the site of your original tumor. Diagnosis In the majority of cases, doctors will first conduct a physical examination to determine the cause of symptoms like chest pain and coughing. Patients are inquired about exposure to asbestos. They will then conduct imaging tests in order to detect tumors on the lungs and abdomen. These tests may include X radiations, CT scans or MRIs. It is often difficult for doctors to recognize mesothelioma correctly because it is so rare. People with mesothelioma often get mistakenly diagnosed with common diseases such as pneumonia and bronchitis. This can delay treatment and cause the disease to spread before it is properly diagnosed. Once doctors find a possible mesothelioma-related tumor, they will need to take samples of tissue or fluid for testing. These samples will help them determine the type of mesothelioma they found and whether it has spread to other parts of the body. The biopsy is one method doctors can collect mesothelioma specimens. These can be done by removing a small amount of tissue through surgery or inserting needles into the abdomen or chest to drain fluid. The samples will be examined to determine whether they have cancerous cells. The type of mesothelioma that the doctor finds will help determine the best treatment options. Doctors may recommend laboratory tests to better understand the tumor. These tests can identify specific genes, proteins, or other factors that are unique to the tumor. Then, doctors will need to know whether the tumor has sprang and is referred to as staging. This lets them determine the size of a tumor and whether it has gotten larger. Once all tests are completed the doctor will go over the results with you. You will also receive an estimate of your prognosis. It is based on the averages for other mesothelioma sufferers with similar symptoms and stages. Then, they will discuss how the prognosis will change as the tumor expands or shrinks and different treatments are used. Request a second doctor's opinion if you have any concerns. This is a great way to make sure you get the best possible care. Treatment The path to a mesothelioma diagnosis not over once you are diagnosed. Treatment options are based on many factors, including the type and severity of mesothelioma (how fast it grows). Doctors may also consider the general health of a person, age and other medical issues. It can be difficult to identify mesothelioma because it is a rare disease. The combination of tests, such as chest CT scans and Xrays, are frequently used to confirm the diagnosis of mesothelioma. These imaging studies can reveal changes in the lung linings as well as the abdomen, such as thickening of the pleura or accumulation of fluid. The blood tests can also be performed to determine the presence of specific proteins that are associated with mesothelioma. A biopsy is usually done when a mesothelioma diagnosis is suspected. This involves inserting a needle into the affected area to extract the tissue sample to be tested. A laboratory will analyze the tissue to determine if it is contaminated with cancerous cells. If a patient is diagnosed with Pleural Mesothelioma, doctors are able to remove the excess fluid using a procedure known as thoracentesis. They can also perform the procedure known as pleurodesis to stop the accumulation of fluid up in the future. Pleurodesis involves inserting a tube into the chest to assist in draining the fluid, and it can be combined with medications to decrease the likelihood of fluid building up again. Radiation can be used in conjunction with chemotherapy or surgery to treat mesothelioma. Doctors can use traditional photon radiation, or a new method known as intensity-modulated therapy, which sends the radiation at different angles to reduce the damage to healthy tissue. Chemotherapy uses drugs to kill cancer cells, and it can be used prior to or after surgery to make the procedure simpler. Patients suffering from peritoneal msothelioma could also receive intraperitoneal chemotherapy which is heated before being injected into the abdomen. Clinical trials of new treatments for mesothelioma are open to certain individuals. They are usually conducted at larger medical centers and may offer the most promising results. Even after treatment, mesothelioma could be recurrent. The treatment options vary depending on the area of the recurrence, as well as the treatment options previously used. 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 also depends on the extent of mesothelioma as well as how well the treatment will manage the symptoms. A doctor will employ a variety of tests to determine the prognosis of a patient which include imaging tests such as an CT scan or an X-ray, blood tests, and biopsy. A biopsy is when doctors collect small amounts of the mesothelioma tumor or mesothelioma and examine it under magnifying glasses to search for cancerous cells. Mesothelioma is a rare type of cancer that affects the lining of tissues around organs in the body, including the abdominal lining, the chest lining and testes. It is caused by exposure to asbestos. A mesothelioma diagnosis can be shocking, and can trigger feelings of fear, anger or anxiety. It is important to discuss these feelings with a trusted loved one mesothelioma group support group or mesothelioma lawyer. The outlook for mesothelioma is likely to be improved if the disease is identified in its earliest stages. If doctors can remove the tumor, or a significant portion of it, patients stand an increased chance of living a longer life. Another aspect is how fit a mesothelioma sufferer is. Those with a higher fitness level are able to handle more intense mesothelioma treatments and have better survival rates. A person's blood chemistry may also affect their mesothelioma prognosis. The better the prognosis of a patient is, the more normal their haemoglobin as well as white blood cell counts are. A mesothelioma which has not yet reached a critical stage may be treated by radiation therapy, chemotherapy or surgery. These treatments can make the cancer cells less likely to grow and spread. The treatments don't cure cancer. Many patients with mesothelioma have outlived their initial prognosis. Some have lived for years, or even a decade or more after being diagnosed with mesothelioma. Stephen Jay Gould, a paleontologist, fought off peritoneal mesothelioma for 20 years ago. He eventually died of cancer that was not related to mesothelioma.