Mesothelioma Symptoms and Treatment When mesothelioma symptoms are first diagnosed, doctors will perform imaging scans to determine whether a patient is suffering from possible cancerous growths on their chest or abdomen Mesothelioma may mimic other diseases like pneumonia or lung cancer and can cause confusion in diagnosis A biopsy will be performed by a doctor in order to determine mesothelioma There are three main mesothelioma cell types that include epithelial, sarcomatoid, and biphasic Each type responds to treatment differently and has a different impact on the length of life Diagnosis If mesothelioma is suspected doctors will run several tests to confirm it These include a chest X-ray, CT scans and biopsies The X-ray shows the presence of fluid on one side of the chest This is referred to as pleural effusion and is usually the first sign of mesothelioma X-rays might not be the most reliable method for diagnosis The next step is the chest CT scan, which provides an exact picture of your lungs as well as other organs A doctor can inject you with a color that will reveal regions of potential cancer During the CT scan, you'll be taken through a doughnut-shaped scanner as you lie on the mattress The procedure is only just a few minutes and isn't terribly uncomfortable, even for people who are fearful of heights In some cases the doctor may also conduct an MRI These scans produce high-quality images using radio waves and strong magnetic fields If you have a mesothelioma of the diaphragm, an MRI can help doctors locate the cancer and determine how advanced it is Certain patients may also undergo a PET scan In this test, you'll be given a shot of radioactive dye Cancer cells absorb dye more than healthy cells Therefore, they will appear brighter on the images A biopsy is the last test to confirm a mesothelioma diagnosis A doctor will take a small amount of the affected lining The lining will then be examined under a microscope to detect cancer cells This procedure is done under local anaesthetic It can be done through surgery or by inserting a needle guided by an CT scan Your doctor will consider the results of the other tests to determine that you have mesothelioma https//vimeocom/705042193 is the measure of how far the mesothelioma has spread and what kinds of treatment are most suitable for you This guide contains an article titled Staging which will give you more information about staging Treatment There are several treatment options for mesothelioma Some may improve quality of life and extend life for a longer amount of time than others Patients with mesothelioma need to discuss their goals and choose the best treatment strategy Surgery is one way to treat mesothelioma During this operation surgeons attempt to eliminate all cancerous tissues If mesothelioma has progressed to an advanced stage the doctors may not be able of removing the tumor completely Regardless, surgeons can still reduce the symptoms The most well-known type of mesothelioma is mesothelioma of the pleura, which is formed within the lining of the lungs In certain instances people, they may develop mesothelioma inside the membrane surrounding the heart pericardial mesothelioma In rare instances there is also the possibility that a person could suffer from mesothelioma that affects the testicles testicular mesothelioma Mesothelioma can be treated using radiation therapy and chemotherapy These treatments are typically administered by experts in mesothelioma at specialized centers Chemotherapy employs drugs to kill mesothelioma cells, and to stop their growth Cisplatin and pemetrexed are the standard first-line drug combination for pleural msothelioma Radiation therapy uses high-energy beams of energy to kill cancerous cells This type of treatment is typically employed in conjunction with other mesothelioma treatments like surgery or chemotherapy This treatment is also used to treat any mesothelioma left behind by the surgeons after surgery Mesothelioma patients can suffer from many different side effects as a result of these treatments The symptoms include fatigue, nausea and hair loss A mesothelioma expert can help patients select the right treatment for their specific requirements They can also suggest other ways to help improve the quality of life of a patient This could include regular Pleural fluid drainage to help reduce breathing and strong painkillers Patients should inform their physicians know about any other medications, such as supplements, herbal remedies or over-the-counter medications This can help prevent potentially harmful interactions with these drugs Prognosis Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that affects the mesothelium membrane that lines our body's cavities such as the abdominal and chest cavity If someone develops mesothelioma malignant cells grow in this tissue and can expand to other parts of the body that can cause symptoms such difficulty breathing and pain A specialist doctor's diagnosis of mesothelioma's is essential since it is the initial step to receiving treatment There may be multiple steps to diagnose mesothelioma, which may include a physical examination as well as lab tests and a biopsy A biopsy takes a small sample of the tumor or mass to test for mesothelioma The wrong diagnosis of mesothelioma can be dangerous, as it can delay treatment or worsen the likelihood of a positive outcome Mesothelioma is often difficult to detect because the symptoms are similar to those of lung cancer, pneumonia, or bronchitis Due to this, mesothelioma may be mistakenly identified as respiratory disorders The prognosis for mesothelioma can vary according to the type and the stage of mesothelioma, aswell as the patient's age and general health history The cancer can be treated by surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy Palliative care may be provided for patients to manage symptoms like fatigue, pain and other signs and symptoms The mesothelioma stage is an indication of how far a person's disease has spread and how much it has already advanced A doctor will employ their best judgment to determine the stage by taking into consideration the symptoms and how quickly the cancer is growing The survival rate of mesothelioma depends on the stage and type as well as the location of the cancer Those diagnosed with the less-common mesothelioma types have a lower chance of survival Patients who suffer from peritoneal mesothelioma for example have a greater chance of living longer because it is more likely to develop in the abdomen than pleural mesothelioma can do in the chest Patients who have an increased tolerance to treatment can live longer than those who have an insufficient tolerance For instance, some individuals with peritoneal mesothelioma have had success with a combination of surgical removal, chemotherapy and radiation Signs and symptoms When asbestos fibers are inhaled or swallowed, they cling to the lining of organs and cause them tumors Mesothelioma is most often found in the lungs However it can also be found in the chest, abdomen and testicles of males The symptoms of mesothelioma typically don't develop until around 40-50 years after exposure The first step in determining mesothelioma is taking a medical background on asbestos exposure Your doctor will then perform an examination and review your symptoms A chest X-ray may reveal abnormal thickening or fluid in the space that separates the lungs from chest wall A lung CT scan may also be used to detect mesothelioma and other lung cancers Blood tests can be conducted to check how your liver and kidneys are working The doctor could also suggest an abdominal MRI or a PET scan to check for other mesothelioma and cancers of the lungs, chest wall or abdomen If a biopsy is required, doctors can remove a small sample of the tumor with surgery or the use of a needle through the chest wall under local anesthesia The doctor will then examine the tissue with a microscope to determine if it is malignant mesothelioma or another cancer The information from the tests will assist doctors in determining the extent of mesothelioma cancer following a mesothelioma They will assign a staging number for mesothelioma This can aid in planning your treatment Benign mesotheliomas do not cause cancer and will not grow back if they are completely removed surgically They typically develop in the pleura as well as in the abdominal lining Mesothelioma in the pericardium is more difficult to treat as it affects the heart It can also recur following surgery Mesothelioma could also spread to other parts of the body like the lymph nodes and bones outside the chest and abdomen The symptoms of mesothelioma are similar to the symptoms of other less serious illnesses This makes it difficult to determine the cause This can lead incorrect diagnosis, which may delay treatment Delay in treatment could cause complications and decrease your chance of survival