What is Mesothelioma?

The diagnosis of mesothelioma may be overwhelming. It's normal to feel stunned or confused, and even upset.

The pleura, which covers the lungs and the chest wall, is affected by pleural mesothelioma. This cancer causes fluid to build up in the lung which makes it difficult for the patient to breathe.

Asbestos exposure is the most common cause of mesothelioma. People who worked with asbestos or lived with a person who did are at risk.

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The mesothelioma cancerous form is a cancer that develops on the lining tissue, or mesothelium. This layer protects your chest abdominal, and heart, as well as most of your other organs. It has two layers that create a sac around inner layer of your body's organs, and is separated by fluid to permit organs to move freely. Mesothelioma cells become malignant, or cancerous, and grow into and destroy surrounding tissue. They can also grow and spread (metastasize) to other parts of the body.

Those who are most at risk of developing mesothelioma include those who have been exposed to asbestos while at work. Asbestos workers include plumbers, electricians welders asbestos miners and auto industry workers. Higher risk is also for those who live near asbestos-producing facilities like power and factories plants. Mesothelioma is diagnosed among people who have been exposed to asbestos between 20 and 60 years before the disease manifests.

Pleural mesothelioma can be found most often in the lung lining. This type of mesothelioma could cause chest pain, breathing issues and weight loss. It is most often affecting the lungs, but it may be affecting other organs such as the stomach and the heart. Patients with peritoneal mesothelioma a rare form of the disease that affects the lining of the abdominal cavity, can experience discomfort in the belly and abdomen, as well as difficulties eating.

Other types of mesothelioma are pericardial and tunica vaginalis mesothelioma, both of which occur in the tissue that covers the lining of the chest, abdomen or testicles, respectively. These mesothelioma types are usually not diagnosed and have a less of a chance of survival than other forms.

The prognosis of mesothelioma varies on the type, location and stage of the disease at the time of diagnosis as well as the general health status. Certain patients are successfully treated by chemotherapy, surgery and radiation. Patients with advanced mesothelioma will receive experimental treatments such as immunotherapy or gene therapy. In any scenario, the treatment options available can significantly increase a person's longevity.

Signs and symptoms

Mesothelioma is a rare type of cancer that most often occurs in the lining of the chest or abdominal cavity. The cancer is caused by asbestos, which was used in construction, shipbuilding and energy generation as well as home renovations up until it was banned in the year 1970. Exposure to asbestos is most often due to working in the asbestos-related industry. However, people who have washed their clothing that contained asbestos fibers or disturbed asbestos during renovating their homes are at risk of developing mesothelioma.

Most mesothelioma patients suffer from general symptoms, like fatigue, weight loss, coughing that has a change in frequency or intensity, chest pain, and so on. These symptoms could be caused by a number of illnesses, so patients must always speak with their doctor regarding their symptoms. Also, they should be sure to tell their doctor Vimeo if they've been exposed to asbestos.

In pleural mesothelioma, the symptoms usually occur due to the tumor that causes fluid build-up in the space around the lung. The build-up of fluid, which is called a "pleural effusion" is a source of pressure on the lungs, which makes breathing difficult. The volume of fluid inside the pleural cavity plays a role in the reduction of breathlessness.

Other symptoms of Mesothelioma are an increase in temperature, night sweats and abdominal pain. The reason for the fever is the body's temperature increasing as it fights the cancer. The body tries to cool itself down by producing sweating during the night as a reaction to the temperature. These symptoms are all indications that the cancer is becoming worse and causing the body to stress.

Other signs of mesothelioma are fatigue, stomach swelling and difficulty walking. Mesothelioma can also affect the tissue that surrounds the heart, causing problems with breathing and chest pain. Mesothelioma can also develop in the tissue that covers the testicles. This can cause swelling or a lump.

Since mesothelioma is a rare disease and difficult to diagnose early. The symptoms of mesothelioma can be similar to those of other illnesses and are often mistaken for a pneumonia or a flu. Mesothelioma can take up to years before symptoms are identified.

Diagnosis

Mesothelioma can be a challenging cancer. Before diagnosing mesothelioma, doctors must rule out any other conditions that have similar symptoms. After they have done this, they can decide the best treatment for you.

Your doctor will ask you about your symptoms and conduct an examination. Your doctor might request blood tests to see how well your organs function. One of these tests is a complete blood count (CBC) which looks at the amount of red and white blood cells, the extent to which your liver and kidneys are functioning, and other important information. Mesothelioma-related cells are frequently seen in these blood tests, but they can be difficult to detect because they appear similar to normal cells.

If your doctor suspects that you have mesothelioma they will likely order imaging tests to find the location and extent of any growths or fluid around the abdomen or lungs. A chest x-ray is the most common test, but if this does not show any abnormalities, the doctor may then order more detailed tests like an CT scan or an MRI.

These tests produce detailed pictures of the body through the combination of radio waves with powerful magnets. They can detect fluid or thickening of the pleura and peritoneum which can indicate mesothelioma. A CT scan can also reveal other health issues like a lung infection or pneumonia.

Doctors may be able to gain a better understanding of the type of mesothelioma that you have from a tissue sample taken during a biopsy. This is the only certain method of identifying mesothelioma. The samples are analyzed under a magnifying lens to determine the kind of mesothelioma, as well as the extent of the cancer's spread.

Some doctors may also inject dye into veins or perform other tests to identify the region where the cancer is located. This is known as staging mesothelioma and helps doctors understand how much the tumor has grown and the severity.

Treatment

Mesothelioma occurs in the cells that line the lung and other organs. The cells can grow beyond their limits, and eventually form tumors (masses). The cancer spreads to surrounding tissues due to the fact that the cells do not respond to signals that prevent them from growing too fast. It can also infiltrate blood vessels that supply the lungs with oxygen. This can result in breathing problems and cough.

Doctors can diagnose mesothelioma by looking at the symptoms of a person and their history of asbestos exposure. They may also request imaging and other lab tests to locate and detect tumors. For instance, Vimeo doctors may utilize chest X-rays to look for changes in the lungs, such as the pleural thickening, or pleural effusion, which is the accumulation of fluid. They may also order CT scans, MRI and a PET scan to determine where the tumors are located and to determine how much mesothelioma is spreading. They may also take fluid from the lungs (called a thoracentesis) to determine if mesothelioma is present and to relieve pressure on the lungs brought on by fluid accumulation.

Once a mesothelioma diagnosis is made, doctors can plan treatments to treat the disease. It is essential to discuss your goals for treatment with a mesothelioma specialist. Some people want aggressive treatment to extend their lives and increase their chances of the chances of survival, while others are comfortable with a less-intensive approach to reduce nausea, pain and other adverse effects.

Mesothelioma treatments can include radiation, surgery and chemotherapy. The type of treatment a person receives is determined by the stage of their mesothelioma and whether or not it's composed of epithelioid or sarcomatoid cells. The epithelioid cells are easier to remove through surgery and has a higher success rate than the sarcomatoid. Some patients are affected by both types, and suffer from less success than those who have only epithelioid cancer.

After treatment is completed, it is important to check in with your mesothelioma doctor regularly. This can keep the cancer from recurring. If it does recur, your mesothelioma team will create a new treatment strategy.

Patients suffering from mesothelioma can enroll in clinical trials to test new treatments. Clinical trials enable patients to be able to access cutting-edge treatments which have not yet been approved for use in general.