Five Killer Quora Answers On Mesothelioma
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Mesothelioma is a condition that occurs when asbestos fibers irritate the tissues that surround many of your organs. The cancerous cells begin to grow.
The most well-known mesothelioma type afflicts the lung lining (pleura). Less-common forms affect the abdomen's lining and the lining around the testicles.
Doctors diagnose mesothelioma by examining the tissue or a sample of fluid for cancerous cells. They can also order imaging tests and blood work.
Symptoms
Mesothelioma affects the organ lining in different parts of the body. The symptoms can vary based on the site of the tumor, like in the peritoneum or pleura (lung lining) for the peritoneal and pleural cancers. General symptoms include an unintentional loss of weight, fever and fatigue. Other symptoms of mesothelioma include difficulty breathing and pain.
The first step in diagnosing mesothelioma is a physical examination. Your doctor will inquire about any past asbestos exposure and other factors that could increase the likelihood of developing mesothelioma. This includes a past history of asbestos exposure, such as in shipbuilding, construction or manufacturing industries.
The majority of mesothelioma cases are identified by imaging scans of the abdomen or chest. These include X rays, CT scans (computer tomography) and MRIs (magnetic imaging). These tests give doctors the opportunity to see the inside of your body, and detect mesothelioma as well as other lung-related tumors or stomach.
X-rays can reveal a thickening of the pleura or a buildup of fluid in the space between your lungs and chest wall, which are both common symptoms of mesothelioma of the pleura. It is also possible to detect fluid in the abdominal cavity, which is most often associated with peritoneal mesothelioma.
If a mesothelioma tumor is identified, your doctor will order an examination. When you undergo a biopsy, your doctor will take small amounts of tissue to test for mesothelioma. A surgeon will insert a needle or perform a surgical procedure to extract the specimen.
For mesothelioma pleural, doctors drain the fluid within the chest cavity through the procedure known as pleurodesis. This involves cutting a small incision in the chest or abdomen and then using tubes to drain the fluid. The buildup of fluid can cause difficulties breathing in patients with pleural mesothelioma claims. Your doctor might try to reduce the amount of fluid in your pleura by insertion of an indwelling catheter or with ultrasound-guided needle aspiration.
In rare instances mesothelioma may spread to other areas of the body and causes symptoms such as abdominal pain weight loss and trouble breathing. These symptoms are called metastatic signs, since they occur outside of the original tumor.
Diagnosis
In most cases, doctors will first conduct a physical exam to determine the cause of symptoms like chest pain and coughing. Patients will be asked about asbestos exposure. They will then order imaging tests to look for signs of tumors in the lungs and abdomen. These may include X-rays, CT scans magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), or Postron emission Tomography (PET) scans.
It is often difficult for doctors to diagnose mesothelioma properly because it is a rare. Patients with mesothelioma are often mistakenly diagnosed with common diseases such as bronchitis and pneumonia. This can delay treatment and spread the disease before it is fully diagnosed.
If doctors discover a mesothelioma tumor, they will require an in-person sample of the tissue or fluid for testing. These samples will allow them to determine the type of mesothelioma they found and whether it has spread to other parts of the body. Doctors can collect mesothelioma samples via a biopsy. This can be accomplished by removing a small amount of tissue via surgery or by inserting a needle in the abdominal or chest area to remove fluid.
These samples will be analyzed for cancerous cells. The type of mesothelioma the doctor detects will help determine the most effective treatment options.
Doctors may recommend laboratory tests to help understand the tumor. These tests can reveal specific genes, proteins or other elements that are unique to the tumor.
Finally, doctors will be looking to determine whether the tumor has sprang by staging. This will help them determine the size of the tumor as well as whether it has spread to other organs.
When all of the test results are available the doctor will go over them with you. You will also receive a prognosis. This is based upon the averages for other mesothelioma sufferers with similar symptoms and stages. They will also explain how the prognosis may change as the tumor grows shrinks, shrinks, or when other treatments are used. Ask for a second doctor's opinion should you have any questions. This is a great way to ensure that you receive the best treatment.
Treatment
Being diagnosed with mesothelioma (click through the next website page) is only the beginning of a long road. Treatment options are dependent on many factors, including the type and severity of mesothelioma (how quickly it develops). Doctors also take into consideration the patient's age as well as general health and other medical issues.
It can be difficult to determine mesothelioma's diagnosis, because it is a rare condition. A combination of tests are often used to confirm a mesothelioma diagnosis, such as chest X-rays and CT scans. These imaging studies can reveal changes in the lung lining or abdomen, for instance the thickening of the pleura and the accumulation of fluid. Tests of blood can also be performed to look for high levels of specific proteins that are associated with mesothelioma.
A biopsy is usually performed when a mesothelioma diagnosis is suspected. This involves inserting a needle in the affected area to remove the tissue sample to test. The sample will be analyzed in a lab to determine if the sample contains any cancerous cells.
If a patient is diagnosed with mesothelioma pleural, doctors can drain the excess fluid with a procedure known as Thorcentesis. It is also possible to use a procedure called pleurodesis to help prevent fluid from building up in the future. Pleurodesis works by placing a tube inside the chest to aid in draining the fluid. It can be combined with medications to decrease the chance of fluid accumulating again.
Radiation therapy is often used in conjunction with surgery or chemotherapy to treat mesothelioma. Doctors can opt for traditional photon radiation, or a more sophisticated method known as intensity-modulated radiotherapy. This sends the radiation at different angles to limit the damage to healthy tissue.
It can be used to aid in surgery by using drugs that kill cancerous cells. It can also be heated before being injected directly into the abdomen (intraperitoneal chemotherapy) for patients suffering from mesothelioma peritoneal. Some patients are eligible to participate in clinical trials for new mesothelioma treatments. These are typically done at larger medical centers and may yield the most promising outcomes. Even after treatment, mesothelioma can be recurrent. The treatment options vary depending on the location of the recurrence and the previous treatments.
Prognosis
In general the prognosis of a mesothelioma patient depends on the type of cancer they suffer from and the stage at when they were diagnosed, their overall health and age. It also depends on the extent of mesothelioma as well as how well treatment will reduce the symptoms.
A doctor will use several tests to determine the prognosis of a patient which include imaging tests such as an CT scan or an X-ray, blood tests or biopsy. A biopsy is when a doctor removes a small sample of mesothelioma or other tissue and examine it under a microscope to check for cancerous cells.
Mesothelioma is a rare type of cancer, affects the tissues that surround organs, such as the lining of the chest, abdomen, and testes. It is caused by exposure to asbestos.
A diagnosis of mesothelioma can be shocking and may trigger feelings of fear, anger or anxiety. It is important to discuss these feelings with a trusted loved one mesothelioma group support group or mesothelioma lawyer.
Early detection of mesothelioma will improve the chances of survival. If doctors are able to remove the tumor completely or a large portion of it, patients have greater chance of having being able to live for longer.
Fitness is another factor. People who are at a higher fitness level are able to endure more rigorous mesothelioma litigation treatment and have a higher rate of survival. A person's blood chemistry can be a factor in their mesothelioma prognosis. The more normal one's haemoglobin levels as well as platelet and white blood cell counts are, the better their prognosis.
Mesothelioma can be treated even if it is not in a critical phase. It can be treated by radiation therapy, chemotherapy or surgery. These treatments can reduce the chance of cancer cells growing and spreading. These treatments do not eliminate cancer. Many mesothelioma sufferers have outlived their initial prognoses. Some have lived for years, or even a decade after their mesothelioma diagnosis. For example paleontologist Stephen Jay Gould survived his mesothelioma claims peritoneal for over 20 years. He later died of cancer unrelated to his mesothelioma.