Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that is associated with exposure to asbestos which is a mineral that occurs naturally. The disease usually develops for years after exposure.
Doctors treat mesothelioma with chemotherapy, radiation and surgery. Treatment can help patients live longer.
There are three kinds. The type of cell that is responsible for the tumor and its stage influences the prognosis.
What is mesothelioma?
The mesothelioma cancerous form forms in the mesothelium (a thin layer of tissue lining internal organs). It is caused by asbestos, a grouping of fibrous minerals.
Asbestos is a risk when people take in or breathe in stray fibers. These asbestos particles adhere to the organ's lining and irritate them, leading to tumors. Mesothelioma is diagnosed when doctors look at these tumors and then take samples of the tissues, known as biopsy. Mesothelioma is classified according to type by the type of cell found in the tumours. The three types of mesothelioma are epithelial (also known as sarcomatoid) triphasic, biphasic and sarcomatoid. Epithelial Mesothelioma comprises about 50 percent of all diagnoses. Sarcomatoid Mesothelioma makes up 10 percent of all cases and has a less favorable prognosis than the epithelial type. Biphasic Mesothelioma is a mixture of epithelial cells and sarcomatoid. It is responsible for 30-40% of all diagnoses.
Mesothelioma symptoms include chest pain, abdominal pain, and breathing problems. These symptoms are similar to those experienced by other conditions, and it is important to see an expert if you are suffering from these symptoms.
Treatment for mesothelioma might help alleviate symptoms, slow tumor growth and allow patients to live longer. Treatment options include surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Palliative treatment is available for patients and helps to manage discomfort and pain.
Doctors continue to explore ways to treat mesothelioma, and how it spreads. New treatments include immunotherapy, which uses your body's own immune system to fight cancer. This is a trial treatment that has shown promise for a few mesothelioma patients. Patients can also take part in clinical trials, which are studies of new treatments. Mesothelioma patients are typically treated in cancer centers that have physicians who treat this condition.
Diagnosis
The first step towards receiving treatment to prolong your life span is to get a mesothelioma diagnosis. Your doctor will look over your symptoms and medical history to determine the type of mesothelioma that you have. This information is essential because the three mesothelioma cells react differently to treatment.
Your doctor may order an X-ray chest scan or CT scan as the first test. During the test, you will lie on a table as the X-ray machine or CT scan creates a detailed image of your chest and surrounding organs. Before the procedure, a small injection of dye, typically Iodine, is administered. This makes the tissues in your chest and abdomen lighter, making it easier to see. During this time, you may be asked to perform an exercise to test your breathing.
If these tests reveal an indication of a cancerous tumor mass, your doctor will probably take the procedure of a biopsy. A biopsy involves the removal of the mass or tumor either surgically or by inserting needles into the area. The specimen is then examined under a microscope for mesothelioma.
Our doctors can employ ultrasound to identify lymph nodes that are swelling which could be mesothelioma. This procedure is known as endobronchial ultrasound-guided needle biopsy, or EBNA. It is done on an outpatient basis, which means you can return home the same day.
A mesothelioma expert will also need to determine your mesothelioma's stage. The stages are determined by how the cancer has spread, and what kind of mesothelioma is present. Getting an accurate diagnosis by a mesothelioma doctor is the best way to ensure that you receive the correct treatment.
Treatment
The treatment plan for mesothelioma patients is determined by the severity of the disease as well as their general health. Mesothelioma patients generally receive multimodal therapy which consists of surgery, chemotherapy and radiation.
The first step in treating mesothelioma is an examination and telling your doctor about any asbestos exposures you may have been exposed to in the past. Doctors may also recommend imaging scans or blood tests to check for mesothelioma, and rule out any other ailments. These include CT (computerized Tomography) scans, MRI (magnetic-resonance imaging) scans FDG-PET scans (fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography), and mediastinoscopy.
The majority of mesothelioma cases that are pleural can be treated through surgery. Patients can undergo a minimally-invasive procedure known as video-assisted surgery (VAT) or a CT-guided needle biopsy. Both surgeries are able to reduce symptoms and improve the patient's life expectancy.
Chemotherapy is a method of treatment that makes use of drugs to eliminate cancerous cells and stop them from growing. It is a common mesothelioma treatment, and can prolong the duration of survival. It is available as an intravenous drip (IV) or pill form.
Radiation is another mesothelioma therapy that can kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. It can be used to treat pleural cancers at various stages, and also to alleviate pain and extend the lives of patients.
In the later stages of mesothelioma, doctors usually focus on reducing symptoms and prolonging the patient's life for as long as possible. Palliative care is the term used to describe the process for this type of treatment. Despite the poor survival rate of mesothelioma there are still many survivors. For example, paleontologist Stephen Jay Gould, who was diagnosed with mesothelioma of the peritoneal region in 1982, lived for another 20 years before passing away from complications of another illness.
Symptoms
Many people with mesothelioma have symptoms for months or even years before they are diagnosed. Early symptoms may be mistaken for other illnesses or overlooked. If you experience any of these symptoms, it's vital to see your physician immediately.
The organs in your body are protected by mesothelium, a layer. This layer keeps them from colliding with each and rubbing against each other. Mesothelioma can be described as a cancer that affects mesothelium, the cells that line your organs. The lining of your lung is the most frequent place where mesothelioma begins. But, it can develop in the heart (pericardium) or abdomen (peritoneum) as well as the tissue around your testicles (tunica vulginalis).
The first symptoms of mesothelioma can be chest pain, fatigue, and breathlessness. Mesothelioma can also cause fluid to build up inside the chest wall and lungs resulting in pleural effusion. A pleural effusion could put pressure on the lungs, which can cause difficulty breathing and cough.
Doctors can diagnose mesothelioma by looking over a patient's medical history and doing an exam. They may order chest Xrays to look for signs of abnormalities such as thickening in the lung's lining, or the buildup of fluid on the chest wall. They can also request an MRI, CT scan or PET scan to get an in-depth look at the lung or other tissues in your body. They can also flush any fluid that collects in the pleura or the peritoneum using an ultrasound-guided needle aspiration procedure.
A biopsy can determine which mesothelioma type of cells are forming the tumor and the way they grow. This can help doctors choose the most effective treatment options. The three types of mesothelioma treatment are surgery, radiation and chemotherapy.
The following is a list of precautions.
Mesothelioma is not preventable, but you can reduce the chance of developing it by avoiding people who are exposed to asbestos, and avoiding it. Exposure to asbestos may cause lung cancer as well as other ailments that affect organ linings. There are a variety of types of mesothelioma, some more serious than others. Some types of mesothelioma are more manageable.
Asbestos is made up of a group of minerals that have microscopic fibers. Manufacturers employed it in construction and other industrial products without knowing about the dangers it poses. yakima mesothelioma attorney and veterans in blue collar jobs were particularly exposed to asbestos. Asbestos has been proven to be hazardous, and you should not live in a home or work in an old factory which has asbestos.
If you have a history of exposure to asbestos, talk with your doctor about having regular screening. X-rays and CT or MRI scans can help spot problems with your lungs and abdomen. A biopsy may also reveal cancer in the chest or stomach. Doctors can then analyze the tissue samples from that area to see whether you are suffering from mesothelioma. It is possible that you have pleural mysothelioma, which affects the lung's lining. Other types include peritoneal mesothelioma, testicular mesothelioma and pericardial mesot.
It can take a long time for mesothelioma cancer to develop following exposure to asbestos. Even so, it can be difficult to recognize. It is often mistakenly diagnosed as a different condition or illness such as lung cancer, pneumonia, or bronchitis. This can mean that you are not getting the correct treatment. Researchers are working on improving diagnosis and creating tests that detect mesothelioma sooner. This could result in better treatments and a better survival rate. The research includes using genetic tests to determine those most likely develop mesothelioma.