What is Mesothelioma?
A diagnosis of mesothelioma could be overwhelming. It's normal to be shocked or confused, and even upset.
The pleura, which covers the lungs and chest wall, is afflicted by mesothelioma pleural. This cancer causes fluid buildup in the lungs making it difficult to breathe.
Asbestos exposure is the main cause of mesothelioma. At risk are people who have been exposed to asbestos, or who lived with someone who has.
What is mesothelioma?
The mesothelioma cancerous form forms on the lining of the mesothelium, or the lining. This lining protects your chest, abdominal, and heart and a majority of your other organs. It is comprised of two layers that create an enveloping sac that surrounds the organs in your body. The fluid that flows between the layers allows the organs to move freely. Mesothelioma cancer cells grow and destroy tissue around them. They can also spread (metastasize) to other areas of the body.
People who are the most at risk of developing mesothelioma are those who have been exposed to asbestos while at work. Asbestos workers include construction workers plumbers, electricians and plumbers asbestos miners, welders, auto industry workers, and many more. People who live or work near asbestos plants like factories and power plants, are also at risk. People diagnosed with mesothelioma have been exposed to asbestos for between 20 and
Asbestos litigation 60 years prior to the time their disease manifests.
Pleural mesothelioma is most often found in the lung lining. This type of mesothelioma may cause chest pain, breathing issues and weight loss. It typically affects the lungs, however it may also affect other organs, such as the stomach and the heart. Peritoneal mesothelioma can be a rare type of the disease which affects the lining of the abdominal cavity. It can cause pain and difficulty eating.
Other types of mesothelioma include pericardial and tunica vaginalis mesothelioma, both of which occur in the tissue that covers the tissues of the abdomen, chest or testicles, respectively. These mesothelioma types are usually not diagnosed and have a a lower survival rate than other forms.
The mesothelioma treatment options depend on the nature and location of the cancer and the stage at which it was diagnosed and general patient health. Some patients can be successfully treated by chemotherapy, surgery and radiation. Other patients with mesothelioma more advanced might be treated with experimental therapies like immunotherapy or gene therapy. In any situation the treatment options available can significantly improve a person's life duration.
Signs and symptoms
Mesothelioma is a rare cancer that is most often found in the chest's lining or abdominal cavity. It is caused by exposure to
Asbestos litigation, a heat and fire-resistant mineral used in insulation, construction ships power generation, as well as home renovations before it was banned in the 1970s. The exposure is mostly due to working in the asbestos industry, but those who have cleaned up the workwear with asbestos fibres or disturbed
asbestos lawsuit during home renovations also risk developing mesothelioma.
Most patients with mesothelioma experience general symptoms like fatigue and weight loss, coughing that changes in intensity or pattern and chest pain. These symptoms may be caused by a variety of conditions, so patients should always seek advice from their physician regarding them. Consult your physician that you've been exposed to asbestos.
In pleural mesothelioma, symptoms typically occur due to the tumor causing fluid accumulation within the space around the lung. This build-up, referred to as a pleural effusion, causes pressure on the lungs and can make breathing difficult. The volume of fluid in the pleural cavity plays a role in the reduction of breathlessness.
Other symptoms of mesothelioma can include an increase in temperature, night sweats and abdominal pain. The fever is caused by the body's temperature rising as it fights the cancer. The night sweats are a response to the fever and a strategy by the body to reduce its temperature. These symptoms indicate that cancer is getting worse and causing stress to the body.
The less common mesothelioma symptoms are a swollen abdomen, fatigue and difficulty walking. Mesothelioma can also affect the tissue that surrounds the heart, causing difficulty breathing and chest pain. It is also possible to develop mesothelioma in the testicles' lining, causing swelling or a lump in the testicles.
Since mesothelioma is a rare disease and difficult to identify early. The symptoms of mesothelioma are comparable to those of other ailments and may be mistaken for flu or pneumonia. This is why mesothelioma signs can take anywhere from months or even years to manifest before they are diagnosed.
Diagnosis
Mesothelioma is a cancer that is difficult to diagnose. Doctors must exclude other diseases that share similar symptoms prior to diagnosing mesothelioma. Once this is done, they can determine the most effective treatment options for you.
Your doctor will ask you about your symptoms, and then perform a physical exam. Your doctor might conduct blood tests to determine the efficiency of your organs. A complete blood count (CBC), which examines the number of red and white blood cells, as well as how your liver and kidneys are functioning, is one such test. These tests can detect mesothelioma. However, it is difficult to detect them due to their similarity to normal cells.
If your doctor suspects you have mesothelioma, they will likely order imaging tests to determine the location and size of any growth or fluid that is forming around the lungs or abdomen. A chest x-ray is the most common test, but if this doesn't reveal any abnormalities, doctors may request more thorough tests like an CT scan or an MRI.
These tests produce detailed images of the body through the combination of radio waves with powerful magnets. They can detect the presence of fluid and thickening in the peritoneum and pleura, which can indicate mesothelioma. A CT scan can also reveal other health issues like lung infections or pneumonia.
Doctors may be able to determine the type of mesothelioma that you have from a tissue sample taken during an examination. This is the only method to identify mesothelioma. These samples are then examined under microscopes to determine the mesothelioma's type of cell, and how far the cancer has spread.
Some doctors may inject dye into a vein or perform other tests to identify the location where the cancer is located. This is referred to as staging mesothelioma and helps doctors determine how far the cancer has expanded.
Treatment
Mesothelioma is a form of cancer that develops in the cells lining the lungs and organs. These cells can expand rapidly, forming tumors. The cancer spreads because the cells aren't able to respond to signals that stop their growth from speeding up. It can also invade blood vessels that provide oxygen to the lungs. This can lead to breathing problems and a cough.
Doctors diagnose mesothelioma based on the patient's symptoms and his history of asbestos exposure. They may also request imaging tests and other lab tests to help find and detect tumors. Chest X-rays, for instance, can be used to check lung changes, including the pleural thickening process and the development of pleural effusion (fluid build-up). They may also recommend CT scanning or an MRI or a PET scan in order to determine the location of tumors and determine the extent to which mesothelioma has spread. They can also collect fluid from the lungs (called a Thoracentesis) to determine if mesothelioma is present and reduce pressure on the lungs caused by fluid accumulation.
Once a mesothelioma-related diagnosis is made, doctors can plan treatments to control the disease.