Mesothelioma Mesothelioma is a cancer associated with exposure to asbestos which is a mineral that occurs naturally The disease usually develops for years after exposure Doctors treat mesothelioma by using chemotherapy, radiation and surgery Treatment can help patients live longer There are three types The type of cell that composes the tumor, and its stage determines the prognosis What is Mesothelioma The mesothelioma-related cancer develops in the mesothelium a thin layer of tissue lining internal organs It is caused by asbestos, a grouping of fibrous minerals Asbestos exposure happens when people swallow or inhale stray asbestos fibers These asbestos particles adhere to the organ's linings, irritate them and cause tumors Mesothelioma is detected when doctors study the tumors and take an x-ray of the tissue, known as a biopsy Mesothelioma can be classified based on the kind of cells are located in the tumors The three mesothelioma types are epithelial also called sarcomatoid biphasic, sarcomatoid, and epithelial Epithelial mesothelioma has the highest popular type and accounts for 50 of all diagnoses Sarcomatoid cancer accounts for 10 percent of cases and has a poorer prognosis than epithelial mesothelioma Biphasic is a mesothelioma that is composed of epithelial as well as sarcomatoid cells, and can be found in 30 to 40 of all diagnoses https//vimeocom/705079584 of mesothelioma can include breathing problems or chest pain, or pain in the abdomen These symptoms are similar to symptoms of other conditions, and it is imperative to see a doctor if you have them Treatment for mesothelioma may improve symptoms, reduce tumour growth and allow patients to live longer Treatment options include chemotherapy, radiation therapy and surgery Patients may also receive palliative treatment, which helps reduce discomfort and pain Doctors continue to investigate ways to treat mesothelioma and how it grows New treatments include immunotherapy which utilizes your body's immune system to fight cancer This is a trial treatment that has shown promise for some mesothelioma patients Patients are also able to take part in clinical trials, which are studies on new therapies The majority of mesothelioma patients will be treated in specialist cancer centers, where they can find doctors with expertise in treating the disease Diagnosis The first step towards receiving treatment to extend your life span is to get a mesothelioma diagnosis Your doctor will begin by analyzing your health history and symptoms and determining the type of mesothelioma you have This is crucial as the three primary mesothelioma cell kinds respond differently to treatment Your doctor may order an X-ray of your chest or CT scan as the first test During the procedure, you'll lay on a table while the X-ray machine or CT scan creates a detailed image of your chest and surrounding organs Prior to the procedure, a small amount of dye, typically iodine, is given The dye makes the tissue in your chest and abdomen lighter, making it easier to observe You may be asked to take breath tests during this period of time If these tests reveal a possible cancerous tumor or mass your doctor will likely order the procedure of a biopsy A biopsy is the process of removing a sample of the mass or tumor, either surgically or by inserting needles into the area The sample is then tested under a microscope to look for mesothelioma-like cells In some instances, our specialists use ultrasound to find enlarged lymph nodes that could be mesothelioma This procedure is known as endobronchial ultrasound-guided aspiration, also known as EBNA It is performed on an outpatient basis so you can go home the same day A mesothelioma specialist will also need to determine your mesothelioma's stage The stages are determined by how far the cancer has spread and the kind of mesothelioma it is Receiving a precise diagnosis from a mesothelioma specialist the best way to ensure that you get the right treatment Treatment A patient's mesothelioma treatment plan depends on how much the disease has advanced and their overall health Mesothelioma patients usually receive multimodal therapy, which is a combination of chemotherapy, surgery and radiation The first step to treat mesothelioma is to undergo an examination on the body and advising the doctor about any past exposure to asbestos Doctors can also request imaging scans or blood tests to determine if mesothelioma is present and to 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 sample lymph nodes within the chest cavity Surgery is a viable option for the majority of pleural mesothelioma cases A patient can undergo a minimally-invasive procedure referred to as video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery VAT or a CT-guided needle biopsy Both surgeries can increase a patient’s life expectancy and reduce the symptoms Chemotherapy is a treatment that utilizes drugs to end cancerous cells and prevent them from expanding It is a common mesothelioma therapy and can extend survival It is available in intravenous IV drip or pill form Radiation is another mesothelioma therapy that can kill cancer cells and shrink tumors It is offered at different stages of pleural mesothelioma and also to ease the pain and make patients live longer In the later stages of mesothelioma, doctors usually focus on controlling symptoms and prolonging a patient's life for as long as is possible This type of treatment is called palliative treatment Despite the poor survival rate of mesothelioma cancer, there are still a lot of survivors Stephen Jay Gould was diagnosed with peritoneal peritoneal cancer in 1982 He lived for another 20 years, until he died due to complications from another illness Signs and symptoms Mesothelioma is a cancer that can manifest symptoms for weeks or even years prior to it is 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 Your body's organs are wrapped in a layer of tissue called mesothelium This layer keeps them from rubbing against one against one another Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that targets mesothelium, the cell that line your organs Most cases of mesothelioma begin in the lining around the lungs, but it could also occur in the lining of your heart pericardium or abdomen peritoneum and in the lining around testicles tunica vaginalis The first signs of mesothelioma can be chest pain, fatigue, and breathlessness Mesothelioma can also trigger fluid buildup in the lungs or chest wall that can lead to pleural effusion A pleural effusion can put pressure on the lungs, causing difficulty breathing and cough Doctors diagnose mesothelioma by taking an individual's medical history before doing an exam They may order chest X-rays to determine if there are any abnormalities, such as thickening in the lung's lining or fluid buildup on the chest wall You can also request a CT scan, MRI or PET scan to have a more detailed look at your lungs or other tissues They can also make use of ultrasound-guided needles to remove fluid from the peritoneum and pleura A biopsy can determine which mesothelioma types are forming the cancer and how they are growing This will allow doctors to decide on the best treatment options The three options of chemotherapy, radiation and surgery are the three main types of mesothelioma therapies that are common The following is a list of preventatives Mesothelioma is not preventable, but you can reduce the risk by avoiding people who are exposed to asbestos and avoiding the area Exposure to asbestos can lead to lung cancer, as well as other diseases that affect the lining of certain organs There are a variety of mesothelioma types, and some are more serious than others Certain types of mesothelioma are easier to treat Asbestos is made up of a group of minerals that have microscopic fibers Manufacturers used asbestos in the construction industry as well as other industrial products, without knowing about the dangers it poses Workers and veterans in blue collar jobs were the most susceptible to asbestos Asbestos is now known to be dangerous and you should not live in a house or work in an old factory that has asbestos Discuss with your doctor regular screenings if your family has a past history of asbestos exposure X-rays, CT or MRI scanners can detect problems in your lungs or abdomen A biopsy can help identify the presence of a tumor in the stomach lining or chest Doctors can then test the tissue samples from the same area to determine whether you suffer from mesothelioma You may have pleural mesothelioma, which affects the lung's lining Other types include peritoneal mesothelioma testicular mesothelioma, or pericardial meso It can take several years for mesothelioma cancer to develop following exposure to asbestos Even if it does, it can be difficult to identify It is often misdiagnosed as a condition or illness such as pneumonia, bronchitis or cancer This can prevent you getting the correct treatment Researchers are working on improving diagnosis and developing tests that detect mesothelioma earlier This could lead better treatments and a greater survival rate The study involves using genetic testing to identify those who are most likely to develop mesothelioma