Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma is a type of cancer correlated with exposure to asbestos the mineral that occurs naturally. The disease usually manifests for decades after the exposure.
The treatment of mesothelioma by doctors is chemotherapy, radiation and surgery. Treatment can help patients live longer.
There are three types of mesothelioma. The type of cancerous cell is responsible for the tumor and its stage determines the prognosis.
What is Mesothelioma?
athens mesothelioma lawyer in the mesothelium (a thin layer of tissue that encloses organs inside). It is caused by exposure to asbestos which is a group of fibrous minerals.
Asbestos exposure occurs when people swallow or inhale stray asbestos fibers. The asbestos particles stick to the organ's linings and cause irritation. They can also cause tumors. Mesothelioma is diagnosed when doctors look at the tumors and collect samples of the tissues, known as a biopsy. Mesothelioma is classified based on the type of cells are identified in the tumors. The three mesothelioma types are epithelial (also known as sarcomatoid) triphasic, biphasic and sarcomatoid. Epithelial mesothelioma is the most popular type and accounts for 50 percent of all diagnoses. Sarcomatoid cancer accounts for 10 percent of cases, and has a worse prognosis than epithelial mesothelioma. Biphasic mesothelioma has a mixture of epithelial and Sarcomatoid cells, which is responsible for between 30% and 40% of all diagnoses.
Mesothelioma symptoms include abdominal pain, chest pain and difficulty breathing. These symptoms may be similar to other illnesses. It is imperative to consult a doctor immediately if you experience them.
Treatment for mesothelioma can help alleviate symptoms, slow tumor growth and allow patients to live longer. Treatment options include surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Patients may also receive palliative care to help reduce discomfort and pain.
Doctors continue to explore ways to treat mesothelioma and how it can spread. New treatments include immunotherapy, which relies on your body's immune system to fight cancer. This experimental treatment has shown promise in some mesothelioma cases. Patients may also participate in clinical trials, which are studies of new treatments. Often, mesothelioma patients are treated at specialist cancer centers, where they can access doctors who have experience treating the disease.
Diagnosis
The first step in receiving treatment to prolong your life is a mesothelioma diagnose. Your doctors will begin by analyzing your symptoms and health history and determining the type of mesothelioma that you have. This information is important because the three primary mesothelioma cell kinds respond differently to treatment.
The first test your doctor might suggest is a chest X-ray or CT scan. In this test, you lay on a table as the X-ray or CT machine produces a precise image of your chest as well as the organs that surround it. A small dose of a dye, typically iodine, is typically administered prior the procedure. The dye makes the tissue in your chest or abdomen lighter and easier to be able to. During this period, you might be asked to perform an air test.
If these tests show an indication of a cancerous tumor mass the doctor will most likely require the procedure of a biopsy. A biopsy is the process of removing an area of tissue from the mass or tumor, either by surgery or by inserting an needle into the site. The sample is then examined under a microscope for mesothelioma.
In certain cases our specialists employ ultrasound to identify enlarged lymph nodes that could be mesothelioma. This procedure is called endobronchial ultrasound-guided aspiration, also known as EBNA. This procedure is performed as an outpatient procedure, which means you can return home on the same day.
A specialist in mesothelioma will also require the stage of the cancer. The stages are determined based on how far the cancer has spread and what kind of mesothelioma you are suffering from. A precise diagnosis from a mesothelioma expert is the best way to make sure that you receive the right treatment.
Treatment
A patient's mesothelioma treatment program will depend on how far the disease has progressed and their overall health. Patients with mesothelioma typically receive multimodal treatments, which include chemotherapy, surgery and radiation.
The first step in treating mesothelioma is to undergo physical examination and advising your doctor about any asbestos exposure you might have been exposed to in the past. Doctors can also request blood tests or imaging scans to look for mesothelioma and to rule out other ailments. These include CT (computerized tomography) scans; MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scans FDG-PET (fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography) scans; and mediastinoscopy (used to examine and test lymph nodes inside the chest cavity).
Surgery is a viable option for the majority of pleural mesothelioma cases. Patients can undergo a minimally-invasive procedure known as video-assisted needle biopsy or CT-guided thoracoscopic surgical. Both surgeries can boost the lifespan of patients and reduce symptoms.
Chemotherapy utilizes drugs to kill cancerous cells and stop their growth. It is a common mesothelioma treatment that can prolong the time of treatment. It is available in intravenous (IV) drip or pill form.
Radiation is a mesothelioma therapy that shrinks tumors and kill cancer cells. It is used to treat pleural tumors at various stages, and also to reduce pain and prolong the life of patients.
In the last stages of mesothelioma treatment, doctors focus on controlling symptoms to extend the lifespan of a patient as long as possible. This kind of treatment is called palliative treatment. Despite the low survival rate of mesothelioma there are still many survivors. For instance paleontologist Stephen Jay Gould, who was diagnosed with peritoneal mesothelioma in 1982, remained alive for 20 years before he died due to complications from a different illness.
Signs and symptoms
A lot of people with mesothelioma suffer symptoms for months or years before they are diagnosed. Early symptoms can be misinterpreted as other illnesses or ignored. However, if you have any of these symptoms, it's crucial to see your doctor as soon as possible.
Your body's organs are wrapped in a layer of tissue known as the mesothelium. This layer protects them from rubbing against one other. Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that affects mesothelium, the cells that line your organs. The majority of cases of mesothelioma occur in the lining surrounding your lungs, but it can also occur in the lining of your heart (pericardium) or abdomen (peritoneum) and in the lining of your testicles (tunica vaginalis).
The first signs of mesothelioma are chest pain, fatigue and breathlessness. Mesothelioma can also cause an accumulation of fluid in the chest wall or lungs which can cause an effusion in the pleura. A pleural effusion could cause pressure on the lungs, making coughing difficult and difficult breathing.
The diagnosis of mesothelioma is made after a thorough medical exam and taking the patient's history. They may order chest X-rays to detect abnormalities such as thickening of the lung's lining or the buildup of fluid on the chest wall. They can also order an MRI, CT scan or PET scan to take an in-depth look at your lung or other tissues in your body. They can also remove any fluid that collects in the pleura, or the peritoneum through an ultrasound-guided aspiration procedure.
A biopsy can assist in determining the type of mesothelioma that is forming the tumor, and how fast it is growing. This will allow doctors to determine the best treatment options. Surgery, radiation and chemotherapy are the three types of standard mesothelioma treatments.
The following is a list of preventatives.
Mesothelioma is not curable however you can reduce the risk by not consuming asbestos and staying away from those who suffer from it. Exposure to asbestos could cause lung cancer or other illnesses that affect organ linings. There are many types of mesothelioma. Some are more dangerous than others. Certain types are simpler to treat than others.
Asbestos is a group of minerals that have thin micro-sized fibers. It was used in industrial and construction materials by companies who were not aware of the risks. Veterans and blue-collar workers were especially exposed to asbestos. Asbestos has been shown to be hazardous and you shouldn't be living in an old factory or work in it.
Discuss with your doctor regular screenings if there is a past exposure to asbestos. X-rays and CT or MRI scans can help spot issues with your lungs or abdomen. A biopsy can identify the presence of a tumor in the lining of your stomach or chest. Doctors will then examine a tissue sample from that region to determine whether you suffer from mesothelioma. There is a possibility that you have pleural mesothelioma, which affects the lining of your lungs. Other types include peritoneal mesothelioma, testicular mesothelioma, or pericardial meso.
It can take years for mesothelioma to develop after exposure to asbestos. Even if it does, it can be hard to diagnose. It's often misdiagnosed as another illness or condition such as lung cancer, pneumonia or bronchitis. This can mean that you are not getting the appropriate treatment. Researchers are trying to improve diagnosis, and are developing tests that detect mesothelioma earlier. This could lead to better treatment and a higher survival rate. The study involves using genetic testing to identify the people most likely to develop mesothelioma.