Mesothelioma Symptoms and Treatment When mesothelioma's first symptoms are identified doctors will order scans of the body to detect any cancerous growths on the chest or abdomen Mesothelioma symptoms may be mistaken for other diseases like pneumonia or lung cancer A biopsy will be performed by the doctor to identify mesothelioma There are three main mesothelioma cell types which include epithelial epidermal and sarcomatoid sarcoma and biphasic Each type responds to treatment differently and has a different impact on life expectancy https//vimeocom/704982459 If mesothelioma may be a possibility, doctors will run a variety of tests to confirm it This may include chest X-rays, CT scans and biopsies The X-ray shows a build-up of fluid on one side of the chest This is called the pleural effusion, and is usually the first manifestation of mesothelioma X-rays might not be the most reliable method of diagnosis The next step is an chest CT scan, which creates an image of your lungs as well as other organs A doctor may inject you with a color that highlights regions of potential cancer During the CT scanner, you'll be lying on a mattress and passing through a doughnut-shaped scanner The procedure is only less than a minute and isn't particularly uncomfortable, even for people who are claustrophobic In some cases doctors may also conduct an MRI test The scans make use of powerful magnetic fields and radio waves to create high-quality pictures of soft tissues, like the lungs If you suffer from mesothelioma that affects the diaphragm and the diaphragm, an MRI can help doctors locate it and determine the extent to which it is Certain patients may also undergo a PET scan You will be given a radioactive dye in this test Cancer cells absorb the dye in greater quantities than healthy cells which is why they appear brighter in the images A biopsy is the final test to confirm the diagnosis of mesothelioma A doctor will remove a small amount of the affected lining The sample will be examined under a microscope for cancer cells This procedure is done with a local anaesthetic It may be performed using surgery or by inserting an instrument that guides the needle through an CT scan If the biopsy results show mesothelioma your doctor will use the results of other tests to determine the stage This stage describes the extent to which mesothelioma spread and what kinds of treatment are appropriate for you You can learn more about staging by reading the section on this guide, titled Staging Treatment Many treatment options are available for mesothelioma Some may improve quality of life and extend life for a longer period of time than others Mesothelioma patients must discuss their goals with their medical team to determine the best approach Surgery can be used to treat mesothelioma Surgeons try to remove all cancerous tissue during the procedure If mesothelioma is at an advanced stage it is possible that doctors will not be able remove the tumor completely But, surgeons are able to minimize the symptoms The most common mesothelioma is found in the lining surrounding the lungs Mesothelioma can form around the lungs in a few instances pericardial msothelioma In rare cases one may also suffer from mesothelioma of the testicles testicular mesothelioma Mesothelioma can be treated with radiation therapy and chemotherapy These treatments are typically administered by mesothelioma experts in specialist centers Chemotherapy is a method of treatment that employs drugs to kill mesothelioma cancerous cells and stop their growth Pemetrexed and cisplatin are most commonly used first-line drugs for pleural msothelioma Radiation therapy uses high-energy beams to kill cancerous cells This procedure is typically used in conjunction with other mesothelioma treatments such as chemotherapy and surgery This treatment is also used to treat any mesothelioma left by surgeons after surgery Mesothelioma patients may experience many diverse side effects as a result from these treatments These include nausea, fatigue and hair loss A mesothelioma expert can assist patients select the appropriate medication for their needs They can also suggest alternative ways to improve the quality of life of a patient This could include regular drainage of the pleura to ease breathing, or powerful painkillers Patients should also make sure the medical team is aware of any other medications they take including supplements, herbal remedies or over-the-counter drugs This will help to avoid any potentially hazardous interactions between these drugs Prognosis Mesothelioma, also referred to as mesothelioma pleural is a cancerous tumor that affects the membrane that surrounds the internal cavities of our bodies like the abdomen and chest cavity When someone is diagnosed with mesothelioma cancerous cells can develop in the tissues, which could spread to other areas of the body and cause symptoms such as breathing difficulties or pain A specialist doctor's diagnosis of mesothelioma's importance because it is the first step to receive treatment Mesothelioma is diagnosed in many ways, including a physical examination, lab tests, and a biopsy A biopsy takes a small sample of the tumor or mass to test for mesothelioma A misdiagnosis for mesothelioma may be dangerous, since it could delay treatment or worsen the prognosis Mesothelioma is a difficult cancer to detect because the symptoms may mimic lung cancer or common illnesses like pneumonia or bronchitis Due to this, mesothelioma can be misdiagnosed for respiratory conditions The prognosis for mesothelioma varies according to the type and the stage of mesothelioma as well depending on the patient's age and general health, as well as medical history There is no cure for mesothelioma however, the cancer can be controlled through surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy Patients can also receive palliative treatments to help control fatigue, pain and other signs The mesothelioma stage is an indication of how much the disease of a patient has spread, and how far it has already advanced The doctor will use his or their best judgment when determining the stage, taking into account the symptoms and the rate of growth of the cancer The chance of survival for mesothelioma depends on the patient's stage, the type of cancer and location The prognosis of patients diagnosed with less prevalent types of mesothelioma is poorer Patients with peritoneal msothelioma stand higher odds of living longer, because it grows more slowly in the abdomen, compared to mesothelioma of the chest that is pleural Patients with a high tolerance to treatment may also live longer than those who have less tolerance For instance, a few patients who suffer from peritoneal mesothelioma have experienced positive results using the combination of surgical removal, chemotherapy and radiation Symptoms When asbestos fibers are inhaled or swallowed, they cling to the lining of organs and cause them tumors Mesothelioma usually occurs in the lungs However it can also be found in the abdomen, chest and testicles of males The signs of mesothelioma generally don't manifest until 40-50 years after exposure The first step to diagnose mesothelioma involves taking a medical history of exposure to asbestos Your doctor will perform physical examination and then examine your symptoms A chest X-ray could reveal abnormal thickening of the lungs or fluid in the space that divides the lungs from the chest wall A lung CT scan is also used to identify mesothelioma as well as other cancers in the lungs You can have blood tests done to assess the health of your kidneys and liver The doctor can also request an abdominal MRI or a PET scan to check for other possible mesothelioma or cancers of the lungs, chest wall or abdomen If a biopsy is needed, doctors can take a sample of the tumor through surgery or by using the use of a needle through the chest wall while under local anesthesia The doctor will then examine the tissue with a microscope to determine if it is malignant mesothelioma or another cancer If you are diagnosed with mesothelioma in the future, doctors will utilize the information from all tests to help them assess how advanced the cancer is They will assign a mesothelioma staging number, which is helpful in making plans for your treatment Benign mesotheliomas don't cause cancer and can't grow back if they are completely removed surgically They typically develop in the pleura or abdominal lining Mesothelioma in the pericardium is more difficult to treat as it affects the heart It is also prone to recur following surgery Mesothelioma may also spread to other parts of the body, like the lymph nodes or the bones that are outside the abdomen and chest The symptoms of mesothelioma are similar to those of other, less severe conditions This makes it difficult to identify This can lead to a incorrect diagnosis, which may delay your treatment A delay in treatment can result in complications and reduce your chance of survival