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Mesothelioma Mesothelioma is a cancer associated with exposure to asbestos an element that occurs naturally. The disease is usually diagnosed years after exposure. Doctors treat mesothelioma with radiation, chemotherapy and surgery. Treatment can help patients live longer. There are three kinds. The stage and type of cells that compose the tumor affect the prognosis. What is Mesothelioma? The mesothelioma-related cancer develops in the mesothelium (a thin layer of tissue that line internal organs). It is caused by asbestos, which is a grouping of fibrous minerals. Asbestos exposure happens when people swallow or inhale small fibers. The asbestos particles stick to organ linings and cause irritation. They can also cause tumors. Mesothelioma is identified when doctors examine the tumors and take a sample of tissue, called a biopsy. Mesothelioma is classified according to type based on the type of cell found in the tumors. The three types are epithelial, biphasic and sarcomatoid mesothelioma. Epithelial Mesothelioma makes up about 50 percent of all diagnoses. Sarcomatoid mesothelioma is the cause of 10 percent of cases and has a worse prognosis than epithelial mesothelioma. Biphasic mesothelioma has a mixture of epithelial as well as sarcomatoid cells, which is responsible for between 30% and 40 percent of all diagnoses. Mesothelioma symptoms include chest pain, abdominal discomfort and breathing difficulties. These symptoms can be similar to other conditions. It is imperative to consult your doctor immediately in the event that you experience any of these. The treatment for mesothelioma can help alleviate symptoms, slow tumour growth and make it easier for patients to live longer. Treatment options include surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Patients can also get palliative care, which helps to manage discomfort and pain. Doctors continue to study ways to treat mesothelioma, and how it expands. Immunotherapy is a novel treatment that relies on your own immune system to fight the cancer. This is an experimental treatment that has shown promise for a few mesothelioma patients. Patients are also able to participate in clinical trials, which are research studies of new treatments. Patients with mesothelioma are often treated at cancer centers that have specialized specialists who treat the condition. Diagnosis The first step in receiving treatment to extend your life span is a mesothelioma-related diagnosis. Your doctor will look over your medical history and symptoms to determine the type of mesothelioma that you have. This is vital because the three main mesothelioma cells react differently to treatment. The doctor may suggest a chest X ray or CT scan as the first test. During the test, you lay on a table while the X-ray machine or CT scan produces a detailed image of your chest as well as the surrounding organs. A small amount of dye, most often iodine is usually administered prior to the procedure. This makes the tissue in your chest or abdomen lighter and makes it easier to observe. During this time, you could be asked to do breathing tests. If these tests show the possibility of a tumor that is cancerous or mass the doctor will most likely take a biopsy. A biopsy is the removal of samples from the mass or tumor, either by surgery or by inserting a needle into the region. The sample is then examined under a microscope for mesothelioma. In some cases our experts use ultrasound to identify lymph nodes that are enlarged and could be mesothelioma. This procedure is known as endobronchial ultrasound guided needle aspiration or EBNA. This procedure is performed as an outpatient procedure, meaning you are able to return home the same day. A specialist in mesothelioma will also require the stage of the disease. The stages are determined by how the cancer has spread and the kind of mesothelioma is present. A mesothelioma specialist can provide you with an accurate diagnosis to ensure that you receive the correct treatment. Treatment The treatment plan for mesothelioma patients is determined by the extent of the disease and their overall health. Patients with mesothelioma generally receive multimodal treatment, which can include surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. The first step in treating mesothelioma is an examination of the body and telling your doctor about any asbestos exposures you may have experienced in the past. Doctors may also recommend blood tests or imaging scans to detect mesothelioma and to rule out other illnesses. These include CT (computerized tomography) scans; MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scans and FDG-PET (fluorodeoxyglucose Postron emission Tomography) scans; and mediastinoscopy (used to study and sample lymph nodes in the chest cavity). The majority of mesothelioma pleural cases are treated surgically. A patient may undergo a minimally invasive procedure referred to as video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VAT) or a CT-guided needle biopsy. Both surgeries can enhance the lifespan of patients and reduce symptoms. Chemotherapy utilizes drugs to kill cancer cells and prevent their growth. It is a standard treatment for mesothelioma and can improve survival. It is administered via intravenous (IV) drip or pill form. Radiation is another mesothelioma treatment that can kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. It can be used to treat pleural cancers at different stages, as well as to ease pain and prolong the life of patients. In the final stages of mesothelioma patients, doctors typically focus on reducing symptoms and prolonging the patient's life for as long as they can. This type of treatment is known as palliative treatment. Despite the low rate of survival of mesothelioma, there are still a lot of survivors. For example, paleontologist Stephen Jay Gould, who was diagnosed with peritoneal mesothelioma in 1982, lived for an additional 20 years until he passed away from complications of another illness. Symptoms Mesothelioma is a cancer that can manifest symptoms for weeks or even years prior to the diagnosis is made. Early symptoms can be mistaken for other ailments or ignored. If you do experience any of these symptoms, it's vital to see your doctor as soon as possible. The organs of your body are covered in mesothelium, which is a layer of skin. This layer stops them from coming into contact. Mesothelioma affects the mesothelium cells which form the lining of several of your organs. Most mesothelioma cases begin within the lining of your lungs, however it can also occur in the lining of your heart (pericardium) or abdomen (peritoneum) and in the lining around your testicles (tunica vaginalis). The initial symptoms of mesothelioma are fatigue, chest pain, and breathlessness. Mesothelioma can also cause fluid to build up in the lungs and chest wall and cause the formation of pleural effusion. Pleural effusions can put pressure on the lungs, leading to difficulty breathing and a cough. The diagnosis of mesothelioma is made after a thorough medical examination and taking the patient's medical history. They may order chest X-rays to detect abnormalities such as thickening of the lung's lining or fluid accumulation on the chest wall. They can also request an MRI, CT scan or PET scan to take an examination of your lung or other tissues of your body. They can also flush any fluid that accumulates in the pleura or the peritoneum using an ultrasound-guided needle aspiration procedure. A biopsy can help identify the mesothelioma type that is forming the tumor, and how it is advancing. nampa mesothelioma lawyer will allow doctors to decide on the best treatment options. Chemotherapy, radiation and surgery are the three types of mesothelioma therapies that are common. Prevention Mesothelioma is not preventable, however you can reduce your risk by avoiding individuals who are exposed to asbestos and avoiding them. Exposure to asbestos could cause lung cancer, as well as other diseases that affect organ linings. There are many types of mesothelioma and some of them are more serious than others. Certain types are simpler to treat than others. Asbestos is an assortment of minerals with microscopic fibers. Manufacturers used it in the construction industry and other products without knowing of its potential dangers. Blue-collar and veteran workers were especially exposed to asbestos. Asbestos is known as a hazard and you should not live in a house or work in an old plant that contains it. Discuss with your doctor regular screenings if your family has an antecedent history of exposure to asbestos. X-rays, CT or MRI scanners will reveal any issues in your lungs or abdomen. A biopsy can also identify the presence of a tumor in the chest's lining or stomach. Doctors can then analyze the tissue sample taken from the same area to determine whether you are suffering from mesothelioma. You could have pleural msothelioma that affects the lungs' interior. Other kinds include peritoneal mysothelioma, testicular mesothelioma and pericardial mesot. After exposure to asbestos, it can take many years before mesothelioma starts to manifest. Even then, it can be difficult to identify. It often is misdiagnosed as a condition or illness such as lung cancer, pneumonia, or bronchitis. This can hinder you from receiving the correct treatment. Researchers are working on improving the diagnosis and developing tests to detect mesothelioma sooner. This could lead to better treatments and a greater chance of survival. Genetic testing is used to identify those who are most likely the disease.