Mesothelioma The thin layer of tissue that covers most of your organs can develop malignant mesothelioma The majority of mesothelioma cases take place in the lining pleura of the lung Other, rarer forms form in the lining around the testicles or heart Treatments for mesothelioma can help to slow down the spread of cancer, and relieve symptoms Your doctor will decide which treatment options you need depending on the stage of mesothelioma What is mesothelioma Mesothelioma, a form of cancer, grows on the linings of organs inside the body It is caused by exposure to asbestos fibers People who have been exposed to mesothelioma include those working in various trades, such as construction, shipbuilding and auto repair Veterans of the military are often mesothelioma patients who were exposed to asbestos while in the military The first signs of mesothelioma include fatigue and difficulty breathing The condition can also cause pain when tumors press against nerves and organs Tumors can also trigger the accumulation of fluid, a complication that is sometimes mistaken as lung cancer or other respiratory conditions It is important to have regular medical tests for asbestos exposure and other diseases to prevent mesothelioma from developing But, doctors typically do not discover the disease until it has advanced This can lead to a lot of suffering for patients because they can't receive treatment until the last stages of mesothelioma Once mesothelioma is found, it's treated with radiation, chemotherapy or surgery The specific treatment depends on where the cancer is located and the stage at which it is https//wwwlungcancermesotheliomatop/ are epithelioid, biphasic mesothelioma and sarcomatoid me Each type has a different survival rate, but they are all difficult to treat Researchers are seeking ways to identify mesothelioma earlier One test could be able to measure the release of a biomarker by mesothelioma into the bloodstream This could help doctors find the condition sooner and get patients on the correct treatment plan There is no currently a recommended screening test for Mesothelioma X-rays and CT scans may reveal suspicious lumps or swelling, however, a biopsy is required to determine if they are mesothelioma or a different illness Signs and symptoms Inhaling asbestos fibers may cause irritation to the lung's lining pleura As time passes the pleura can develop cancerous tumors Cancer cells may also spread to other parts of the body Most commonly, they will reach the abdomen or the heart Benign mesothelioma which is not a cancer but may cause symptoms similar to malignant mesothelioma is not a cancer Breathing problems, back or chest fatigue and pain are the most frequently reported symptoms of mesothelioma Symptoms depend on where the tumor starts in the pleura and the type of mesothelioma About half of all mesothelioma cases begin in the lungs pleural mesothelioma The remainder begin in the abdomen peritoneal mesothelioma or in the reproductive organs of men and women pericardial mesothelioma Doctors can diagnose mesothelioma by using imaging tests such as CT scans, PET scans, and MRIs A biopsy is necessary to confirm the diagnosis of mesothelioma and determine the kind of cells A biopsy is performed by inserting a needle in the tumor and then removing the tissue sample to be tested under a microscope If diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma, doctors can help patients manage their symptoms by draining fluid around the lungs This is done using a procedure called thoracentesis In some cases, doctors can place a small tube in the chest that allows patients to drain extra fluid at home with the help of instructions from their doctor Pleurodesis, which seals the layers of the pleura to prevent excess fluid buildup, can also help patients breathe easier In addition, patients who need relief from pleural effusions can be placed on a peritoneal mesothelioma trial to see if a treatment can help them manage their symptoms The American Cancer Society also has a database of mesothelioma support resources, including patient lodging programs and ride-to-treatment services Diagnosis The first step in obtaining mesothelioma diagnosed is to visit a physician for symptoms, such as chest pain or breathing difficulties Your doctor will ask you about your asbestos exposure history, and then perform a physical examination They might also request imaging scans to look for abnormalities in your abdomen or chest It is often difficult to identify mesothelioma since it is so uncommon Many mesothelioma signs and symptoms are similar to those of other diseases It is essential to be examined by a specialist to get the right treatment A biopsy is the only way to confirm mesothelioma A surgeon or another healthcare professional takes a small amount of tissue or fluid from the affected area in order to examine it under microscope The skin of the patient is numbed before the procedure Mesothelioma patients who have an accumulation of fluid in their chest pleural effusion could undergo a pleural biopsy, which is the most frequent type of mesothelioma biopsy This involves injecting a local anesthetic into the area affected before inserting a needle to take a sample of tissue or fluid Other kinds of mesothelioma biopsies are a camera- or video-assisted biopsy, as well as an open surgical biopsy If the pleura is afflicted with cancer, doctors can use a technique called laparoscopy or thoracoscopy In these procedures, doctors insert a camera into the affected area They then take diagnostic samples and ease the symptoms of fluid accumulation in the lung A peritoneal biopsies is also performed to check for mesothelioma within the abdominal cavity Patients with mesothelioma often suffer from nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain Doctors can also drain the abdomen of a patient using an indwelling drain Treatment Mesothelioma is a difficult cancer to treat however there are treatment options Your doctor will choose the best treatment plan appropriate for you You may want to improve your quality of living or eliminate cancer as a goal of treatment The type of mesothelioma you are suffering from, where it is located in your body, and your general health all determine the treatment options you have When mesothelioma is detected in the early stages it can be treated through surgery In certain cases this procedure can be able to be the cure for the cancer Surgery can also be used to relieve symptoms and reduce the risk of cancer spreading after being diagnosed For mesothelioma which isn't removed with surgery chemotherapy a medication that eliminates cancerous cells is usually used by itself or with radiation therapy Radiation therapy is a form of therapy that uses high-energy radiation that kill cancer cells or aid your immune system in eliminating them If you're suffering from mesothelioma that is advanced, your doctor may recommend immunotherapy to increase or restore your immune system's ability to fight the cancer Two kinds of immunotherapy can be used to treat mesothelioma nivolumab, also known as Opdivo Opdivo, and ipilimumab, or Yervoy Yervoy New treatments are being developed constantly in the event that your mesothelioma recurs after initial treatment You may want to consider participating in a clinical trial of a novel or better mesothelioma treatment There are mesothelioma support organizations that can connect you with specialists who have experience treating people who suffer from this condition Having a strong support network can help you deal with the negative side effects of mesothelioma treatment and also keep track of appointments Having a good attitude and staying positive can increase the chances of surviving Prognosis The prognosis for mesothelioma is dependent on a variety of factors The kind of cancer and its stage as well as the way it spreads are all factors Survival is also affected by the treatment plan as well as the overall health of an individual Mesothelioma doctors use a staging system to help determine a person's outlook and mesothelioma treatment options The stage of mesothelioma is based on the results of a physical exam, biopsy and imaging tests A person's stage is given a number from I 1 to IV 4, with the lower numbers meaning less of the cancer has spread A person's mesothelioma is also classified based on whether the tumor is epithelioid, sarcomatoid or biphasic Epithelioid mesotheliomas are easier for doctors to recognize and treat, while sarcomatoid mesothelioma is more difficult to treat and has a worse prognosis than biphasic mesothelioma A person's mesothelioma may recur after treatment Recurrence can occur in the same area of the body as the original mesothelioma or it can be spread to a different part of the body Mesothelioma recurrence is treated by chemotherapy or other kinds of treatments, based on where the mesothelioma recurs The quality of a mesothelioma patient's life is impacted by symptoms like breathlessness and chest pain In certain cases, these symptoms can be alleviated with surgery This is typically an invasive procedure that is known as VATS video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery If you are not able to undergo surgery, you will likely receive supportive care, which includes medications to ease symptoms and decrease fatigue These medications can either be ingested or delivered via tubes called a "pleural drain" in the chest The pleural drain is drained 1-2 times a week to prevent the accumulation of fluid and to improve breathing