Mesothelioma Diagnosis
A doctor can identify mesothelioma by a physical exam and imaging tests as well as lab tests. Doctors may also perform biopsy, which is the removal of tissue and examination under a magnifying glass.
A chest X-ray, or CT scan is used to guide the needle through the lung's lining. The procedure is injurious and can produce false-negative results.
Diagnosis
Mesothelioma is a rare type of cancer that is why it takes time to make an official diagnosis. Your doctor will begin by taking your medical history and conducting an examination to look for signs. They will also inquire about your previous work experience with asbestos. Exposure to asbestos increases the risk of mesothelioma.
Fluid accumulation around the abdomen or the lungs is often the first sign of Mesothelioma. These fluids are referred to as the pleural effusion or ascites. Doctors test the fluid to determine if it contains any cancer cells.
A biopsy is the only method of diagnosing mesothelioma. In a biopsy the doctor will remove a small piece of the affected tissue to be tested in a laboratory. Under microscopes, the mesothelioma is examined to determine if it is cancerous and what type of mesothelioma it's. Accident Injury Lawyers can also use other tests to determine the extent at which the cancer's spread.
If mesothelioma is found to be a possibility, your doctor will discuss treatment options with you. The treatment you receive will depend on the location of the mesothelioma and the extent to which it has spread.
The first mesothelioma treatment your doctor will recommend is usually chemotherapy or radiation. These can reduce the size of tumors, relieve symptoms, and reduce pain. They can also help patients live longer.
Before you begin treatment your doctor will inform you about the diet you should follow. It is important for patients to adhere to an appropriate diet when they receive chemotherapy or radiation. Diet is important to prevent weight loss and malnutrition.
Your doctor will schedule follow-up appointments once they have decided on the best course of action for you. Your first appointment may be with a doctor who specializes in lung diseases (pulmonologist) or abdominal problems (gastroenterologist). These doctors and nurses are part of the multidisciplinary mesothelioma team. They include X-ray specialists, also known as radiologists, as well as cancer specialists referred to as oncologists. The team meets each week to discuss your results from tests and plan your care. This team-based approach to treating mesothelioma is the most effective way to ensure you receive the highest quality of care.
Signs and symptoms
Mesothelioma symptoms vary by where in the body the tumors begin to grow. For instance, those with pleural mesothelioma can suffer from chest pain and breathlessness and shortness of breath, while those suffering from peritoneal mesothelioma may notice swelling in the abdomen or a bloated feeling. The symptoms also depend on how far the mesothelioma spread. Mesothelioma patients who are in the latter stages of the disease generally experience more severe and painful symptoms.
A physical examination is the first step in determining mesothelioma's diagnosis. A doctor will pay special attention to the areas of the body where patients are suffering from symptoms. Patients will be asked about their history of exposure to asbestos.
Chest Xrays are among the most commonly used methods to detect mesothelioma. The X-ray can reveal abnormal lung lining thickening or calcium deposits, as well as fluid in the space (pleura) between the lungs due to mesothelioma.
Other diagnostic tests include CT scan or an MRI. These tests can create detailed images of the inside of the body and aid doctors in identifying mesothelioma as well as other cancerous and non-cancerous growths. X-rays or MRIs can also be useful in determining the stage of mesothelioma. This can help patients better understand the treatment options available to them.
Patients with severe symptoms should consult their doctor right away. Arrange an appointment with mesothelioma specialists so that the doctor can diagnose and treat your condition. Patients should bring a list with their symptoms to the appointment to ensure that the doctor has all the data necessary to make an accurate diagnosis.
The symptoms of mesothelioma may resemble those of many other illnesses which is why it's often difficult for doctors to recognize the condition at the earliest stages. Mesothelioma is a rare type of cancer, affects fewer than 3,000 Americans each year. The majority of people diagnosed have reached the 50-year mark.
Asbestos fibers can get lodged in the smallest airways of the lungs which can cause irritation and cell growth. Tumors can form. Mesothelioma can also be spread to the linings of organs such as the heart, stomach and testicles.
Treatment
When mesothelioma in its early stages is diagnosed, doctors can treat the disease to reduce symptoms and prolong the duration of survival. The treatment plan is based on the type of mesothelioma, the location, and how fast the cancer is growing.
It can be difficult for doctors to recognize mesothelioma since the cells appear so similar to other types of cancer. This can lead to confusion. Doctors conduct a physical exam and request imaging scans, such as chest X-rays or CT scans to look for abnormalities. They also take a sample of tissue, also known as a biopsy, to test for mesothelioma cancer cells.
For pleural mesothelioma surgery is usually the best option to relieve symptoms and improving survival. Operations include an extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP) which eliminates the affected lung and parts of the diaphragm, or a pleurectomy and decortication which removes the pleura, but not the entire lung. Surgery for peritoneal mesothelioma is less common but can help alleviate symptoms by draining the excess fluid from the chest cavity or abdomen.
Chemotherapy is a method to slow the growth of cancerous cells or to kill them once the mesothelioma has been identified. Some of the most frequently prescribed drugs are pemetrexed carboplatin, and cisplatin. These drugs are often prescribed in combination with other treatments such as radiation and surgery.
In some cases cancer may be spread to other parts of your body. This may reduce the chance for a cure and affects the person's prognosis.
If mesothelioma is in advanced stages, the doctor will recommend palliative therapy to improve the quality of life, ease pain and other symptoms. This could include the possibility of a trial of an experimental drug or a combination of treatments. Alternative treatments like yoga or acupuncture can provide relief from symptoms related to mesothelioma.
Patients with mesothelioma should follow regularly with their doctor to assess how their treatment is going. There is no standard schedule for follow-up appointments as each mesothelioma case is different. However, the doctor of the patient will work with them to establish an appropriate schedule for follow-up. If a patient wants to participate in a clinical trial, they should talk with their physician about the eligibility.
Prognosis
The prognosis for mesothelioma is based on a variety of factors, including the type and stage of cancer, age and overall health, and the degree to which a patient responds to treatment. A mesothelioma diagnosis cannot indicate how long someone will live. Many people have lived with mesothelioma over decades.
Doctors can help their patients understand the mesothelioma diagnosis and what it means for them personally. The prognosis for mesothelioma will tell the patient how likely they are of regaining their health from the cancer, and whether they are likely to experience having a recurrence. This could happen several years after the initial diagnoses.
In general, the healthier an individual is, the higher the chance of being able to beat mesothelioma. People who have good overall health and normal haemoglobin levels are more likely to survive, as do non-smokers. Mesothelioma can result from asbestos exposure. People who have been exposed to asbestos fibers while at work are more likely to develop the disease.
Patients are often affected by side effects, such as fatigue, pain, and weight loss. Palliative care is often advised by doctors to decrease these symptoms, and to improve the quality of life for their patients.
If the cancer has not progressed, surgery can be used to remove the tumour. While it's not always effective and is not a cure for patients, it is a good way to manage symptoms of mesothelioma. If the cancer has spread, doctors can often still shrink the size of the tumor by using chemotherapy or other treatments.
Recurrence of mesothelioma is common however, it is less common than other kinds. Patients should work with mesothelioma experts and learn as much about the disease as possible.
A mesothelioma physician will also assess whether the patient is at a low or high risk of the cancer returning according to their mesothelioma staging and grade. The worse a patient's chance of survival is, the higher mesothelioma-related stages and grades they are. This is because the cancer can be more difficult to manage if it has recurred and has grown.