Mesothelioma Diagnosis
A doctor can diagnose mesothelioma through a physical exam as well as imaging tests and lab tests. Doctors may also perform a biopsy, which involves taking tissue and then examining it 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 may result in false-negative results.
Diagnosis
It takes time to diagnose mesothelioma, as it is a rare type of cancer. The doctor will begin by conducting a medical history and doing a physical exam to look for symptoms. They will also inquire about any asbestos-related work you have done previously. Exposure to asbestos is the most common one factor that makes mesothelioma more probable.
The most common sign of mesothelioma is the accumulation of fluid around the lungs or abdomen. These fluids are called the pleural effusions or ascites. Doctors test the fluid to determine if it contains cancer cells.
A biopsy is the only way to diagnose mesothelioma. When a biopsy is performed, doctors remove an insignificant portion of the affected tissue to be tested in a laboratory. The mesothelioma cells are analyzed under microscopes to determine whether they are cancerous and the kind of mesothelioma. Doctors may also use other tests to determine how far the cancer has spread.
If mesothelioma is diagnosed by your doctor, they will discuss your treatment options with you. The treatment you receive will depend on the location of the mesothelioma and how far it's spread.
Your doctor may recommend radiation or chemotherapy as the initial treatment for mesothelioma. These treatments can shrink tumors, and reduce symptoms, as well as decrease the pain. They also aid patients to live longer.
Your doctor will discuss diet with you before starting treatment. Patients should maintain a healthy eating pattern while receiving radiation or chemotherapy. The diet is also important as it can help to prevent weight loss and malnutrition.
Your doctor will schedule follow-up appointments when they have identified the most effective treatment for you. Your first appointment may be with a doctor who specializes in lung diseases (pulmonologist) or abdominal problems (gastroenterologist). The nurses and doctors you meet at these appointments are part of your mesothelioma multidisciplinary team. They include X-ray specialists, also known as radiologists, as well as cancer specialists referred to as oncologists. The team meets weekly to discuss the results of your tests and plan your treatment. This team-based approach to mesothelioma care is the most effective way to ensure you receive the best possible care.
Symptoms
The symptoms of mesothelioma can vary according to where the tumors are located in the body. For example, people with pleural mesothelioma may feel chest pain and shortness of breath as well as mesothelioma in the peritoneal region may experience abdominal swelling or a feeling of bloating. The symptoms also depend on how far the mesothelioma has spread. Mesothelioma patients who are in the final stages of the disease generally have more painful and severe symptoms.
The first step to diagnose mesothelioma is an examination. A doctor will pay particular attention to the parts of the body that are exhibiting symptoms. Patients will be asked about their asbestos exposure history.
Chest X-rays are one of the most commonly used methods to detect mesothelioma. The X-ray can reveal abnormal thickening of the lung lining or calcium deposits, as well as fluid in the space (pleura) between the lungs due to mesothelioma.
Other diagnostic tests may include a CT scan or MRI. These tests can provide detailed images of the inside of the body and help doctors locate mesothelioma and other non-cancerous and cancerous growths. X-rays or MRIs can also be useful in determining the stage of mesothelioma. This will allow patients to better understand the treatment options available to them.
If a patient has severe symptoms, they must consult their physician immediately. It is important to make an appointment with a mesothelioma specialist so the doctor is able to accurately diagnose and treat the condition. Patients must bring a list of their symptoms to the appointment to ensure that the doctor has all the information 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 identify the condition at the earliest stages. Mesothelioma is a rare cancer that affects fewer than 3,000 people in the United States each year, and the majority of patients diagnosed are men who are over 50 years old.
Asbestos fibers may become lodged in lungs' smallest airways leading to irritation and the growth of cells. Tumors can develop. Mesothelioma can be extend to other organs, such as the stomach, the heart and testicles.
Treatment
When mesothelioma at its earliest stages is discovered, doctors can treat the disease to manage symptoms and prolong the duration of survival. The treatment plan depends on the type of mesothelioma, the location and how fast the cancer is growing.
Mesothelioma can be difficult to identify because the cells are similar to those of other types of cancer which can confuse doctors. To make the diagnosis, doctors perform a physical exam and order imaging scans, such as chest X-rays or CT scans, to look for abnormalities. They also take samples of tissue or biopsy, to check for mesothelioma-related cells in the body.
Surgery is typically the most effective way to reduce symptoms and improve the chance of survival for patients with pleural cancer. Operations include an extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP) that removes the affected lung and a portion of the diaphragm. Another option is a pleurectomy that includes decortication, which removes the pleura, but not the entire lung. Surgery for peritoneal mesothelioma may be less common but can help alleviate symptoms by draining the fluid accumulation from the abdomen or chest cavity.
Chemotherapy can be used to slow the growth of cancer cells or to kill them once the mesothelioma has been identified. Some of the most commonly prescribed drugs include pemetrexed, cisplatin and carboplatin. These are usually prescribed in conjunction with other treatments, including radiation and surgery.
In some instances the cancer can be spread to other parts of your body. This could affect the prognosis of the patient, and reduce the likelihood of finding a cure.
If mesothelioma is spreading, the doctor may recommend palliative care to improve quality of life and alleviate discomfort and other symptoms. This could involve a trial of an experimental drug or a combination of treatments. Alternative treatments such as yoga or acupuncture can help alleviate symptoms due to mesothelioma.
Patients with mesothelioma should keep in touch with their doctor regularly to assess the progress of their treatment. There isn't a standard schedule of follow-up appointments since each mesothelioma case is unique. However, a patient's doctor will work with them to create an appropriate follow-up plan. If the patient is interested in participating in a clinical study, they should speak to their doctor about their eligibility.
Prognosis
Mesothelioma prognosis is based on many factors, including stage and type of mesothelioma, the patient's overall health and age and how well they respond to treatment. A mesothelioma diagnosis does not determine how long a person will live. Many people have lived with mesothelioma over decades.
Doctors can help their patients to understand the mesothelioma diagnosis and what it means for them personally. The mesothelioma prognosis will tell a patient how they are likely to recover from the cancer, as well as their chances of recurrence. This can happen even years after the initial diagnosis.
In general, the more fit a person is the better the odds of surviving mesothelioma. People who are in good overall health and normal hemoglobin levels are more likely to survive as do non-smokers. mesothelioma attorney in philadelphia can be caused by asbestos exposure. People who have been exposed to asbestos fibers while at work are more likely to develop the disease.
Mesothelioma is a difficult cancer to treat and patients often experience side effects such as weight loss, fatigue, and pain. Doctors may recommend palliative treatment to reduce these symptoms and enhance the quality of life for patients.
If the cancer has not spread, surgery can be performed to eliminate the tumour. This is not always successful and doesn't cure the patient, but it can be effective in managing the symptoms of mesothelioma. Even if the cancer has spread to other organs, doctors are able to reduce the size of the tumour with chemotherapy or other treatment options.
Recurrence is common in mesothelioma, however the rate of recurrence is less than with other kinds of cancer. Patients should consult with mesothelioma experts and learn as much information about the cancer as they can.
A mesothelioma specialist will also determine if a patient has a low or high chance of recurrence of cancer based on the mesothelioma stage and grade. The more mesothelioma stages and grades a patient is diagnosed with the worse their outlook will be. The cancer is more difficult to treat if the cancer has returned or gotten worse.