What is Mesothelioma?
A diagnosis of Mesothelioma is an extremely devastating one. It's normal to feel stunned and confused. You may also be upset and angry.
The pleura, the area that surrounds the lungs and the chest wall, is afflicted by mesothelioma of the pleural region. The cancer causes fluid to build up in the lung and makes it difficult to breathe.
Asbestos exposure is the main cause of mesothelioma. At risk are people who have been exposed to asbestos, or lived with someone who has.
What is Mesothelioma?
The cancerous
mesothelioma litigation is a cancer that develops on the lining mesothelium, or the lining. This lining wraps around and protects the majority of organs of your body including your heart, chest and abdomen. It is composed of two layers that form a sac around the inner layer of your organs. It is separated by fluids to allow organs to move around easily. Mesothelioma cancer cells grow and destroy the surrounding tissue. They may also grow and spread (metastasize) to other areas of the body.
The most at-risk group to develop mesothelioma is people who have worked with asbestos.
asbestos law workers include plumbers, electricians, welders, asbestos miners, and auto industry workers. Higher risk is also for those who live near asbestos-related facilities, like power and factories plants. Patients diagnosed with mesothelioma are typically exposed to asbestos for between 20 and 60 years before their disease manifests.
Pleural mesothelioma occurs most commonly in the lining of the lungs. This type of mesothelioma could cause chest pain, breathing difficulties and weight loss. It is usually found in the lungs, but can also affect the stomach or heart. People with peritoneal mesothelioma a rare form of the disease that affects the abdominal lining cavity, can feel pain in the belly and abdomen, as well as difficulties eating.
The pericardial mesothelioma as well as the tunica vaginalis are two different types of mesothelioma. They both develop in the tissue covering the linings of the abdomen, chest, or testicles. These mesothelioma types are usually not diagnosed and have a less of a chance of survival than other forms.
The prognosis for mesothelioma is based on the type, location and stage of the disease at the time of diagnosis as well in the general health status. Certain patients are successfully treated with surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. Others with advanced mesothelioma will receive experimental treatments, such as gene therapy or immunotherapy. In either scenario, the treatment options available could dramatically increase a person's life expectancy.
Symptoms
Mesothelioma is a rare cancer that most often occurs in the lining of the chest or abdominal cavity. It is caused by exposure to
asbestos litigation, a heat and fire-resistant mineral that was used in insulation, construction, shipbuilding power generation, home renovations before it was banned in the 1970s. The exposure is mostly due to working in the asbestos industry, but people who have cleaned up work clothes with asbestos fibres or disturbed asbestos during home renovations are also at risk of developing mesothelioma.
The majority of patients with mesothelioma experience general symptoms, like fatigue or weight loss, coughing with a change in frequency or intensity, chest pain, and so on. Patients should always consult their doctor if they notice any of these symptoms. Consult your physician whether you've been exposed asbestos.
In pleural mesothelioma, the symptoms often occur as a result of the tumor causing fluid build-up within the space around the lung. This build-up,
mesothelioma litigation referred to as a pleural effusion causes pressure on the lungs and makes breathing difficult. The volume of fluid in the pleural cavity is crucial in decreasing breathlessness.
Other symptoms of Mesothelioma include an increase in temperature, night sweats and abdominal pain. The body's temperature rises as it fights against the disease. This is what causes the fever. The night sweats are a response to the fever and a strategy by the body to get cool. These symptoms are all indications that the cancer is getting worse and causing body stress.
Other signs of mesothelioma are an enlarged stomach, fatigue and difficulty walking. Mesothelioma can also affect the tissue surrounding the heart, causing problems with breathing and chest pain. It is also possible to develop mesothelioma within the membrane surrounding the testicles and cause swelling or a lump in the testicles.
Mesothelioma is difficult to detect early because it is so rare. The symptoms of mesothelioma are comparable to those of other diseases, and can even be mistaken for pneumonia or a flu. This is why mesothelioma symptoms may take from months to years to show before they are properly diagnosed.
Diagnosis
Mesothelioma is a cancer that is difficult to identify. Doctors must determine if there are other health conditions that have similar symptoms prior to diagnosing mesothelioma. Once they have done this, they can determine the best treatment for you.
Your doctor will inquire about your symptoms and perform an examination. Your doctor may also order blood tests to assess how well your organs are functioning. One such test is the complete blood count (CBC) which looks at the number of white and red blood cells, how well your kidneys and liver are functioning, and other important information. These blood tests can detect mesothelioma,
Mesothelioma litigation however it is difficult to detect because they appear similar to normal cells.
If your doctor suspects you may have mesothelioma, they'll likely order imaging to determine the extent and location of any fluids or growths in the lungs or abdomen. The most common test is a chest xray. If this does not detect any abnormalities, the doctor may recommend more specific tests, such as an CT or MRI.
These tests create detailed images of the body through the combination of radio waves with powerful magnets. They can detect thickening or fluid of the pleura and peritoneum which could indicate mesothelioma. A CT scan can identify other health issues like lung infections or pneumonia.
A biopsy can give doctors an idea of the type of cancer you are suffering from. This is the only reliable method to identify mesothelioma. These samples are examined under a magnifying lens to determine the type of mesothelioma as well as the extent of the cancer's spread.
Certain doctors may also inject dye into veins or conduct other tests to determine the location where the cancer is located. This is called staging mesothelioma and aids doctors in determining how far the tumor has spread.
Treatment
Mesothelioma is a cancer that develops in the cells that line the lungs and other organs. The cells can expand out of control, forming tumors (masses). The cancer can spread because the cells aren't able to respond to signals that prevent them from growing too quickly. It can also invade the blood vessels that provide oxygen to the lungs. This can result in breathing problems and a cough.
Doctors diagnose mesothelioma by examining the symptoms of an individual and their history of exposure to asbestos. They can also order imaging tests and other lab tests to detect and determine the presence of tumors. Chest X-rays, for instance can be used to check lung changes such as pleural thickening and the development of pleural effusion (fluid build-up). They may also order CT scans, an MRI and a PET scan to see where the tumors are located and to determine how much mesothelioma is spreading. They may also take fluid from the lung (called a Thoracentesis) to determine if mesothelioma is present and reduce pressure on the lungs caused by fluid accumulation.
When a mesothelioma diagnosis has been made, doctors can plan treatment options to manage the disease.