What is Mesothelioma?

A diagnosis of mesothelioma could be overwhelming. It's normal to feel stunned, confused and upset.

Pleural mesothelioma is a cancer of the pleura that covers the lungs and chest wall. This cancer causes fluid buildup in the lungs, making breathing difficult.

Asbestos exposure is the most common cause of mesothelioma. Anyone who has worked with asbestos claim or lived with someone who did are at risk.

What is Mesothelioma?

Mesothelioma is a cancer that is found in the lining of tissues, called the mesothelium. The mesothelium lining covers and protects most of the organs in your body including your chest, heart and abdomen. It is comprised of two layers, which form the sac, which covers the organs inside your body. The fluid between the layers allows organs to move around freely. Mesothelioma cells become malignant, or cancerous, and expand into and destroy surrounding tissue. They can also spread to other areas of your body (metastasize).

Those who are most at risk of developing mesothelioma are those that have been exposed to asbestos in their work. Asbestos workers include builders, plumbers, electricians, welders, asbestos miners, auto industry workers and others. Workers who live or work near asbestos; this, plants like factories and power plants are also at risk. Patients diagnosed with mesothelioma are typically exposed to asbestos for between 20 and 60 years prior their illness manifests.

Pleural mesothelioma occurs most commonly in the lung lining. This type of mesothelioma may cause chest pain, breathing issues and weight loss. It usually occurs in the lungs, but can also affect the stomach or heart. Peritoneal mesothelioma can be a rare type of the disease that affects the lining in the abdominal cavity. It can cause pain and difficulty eating.

Other types of mesothelioma are mesothelioma pericardial as well as tunica vaginal both of which are found in the tissue that covers the tissue of the abdomen, chest or testicles,. These mesothelioma types often go undiagnosed, and they have lower survival rates than other forms of the disease.

The prognosis of mesothelioma depends on the type, location and stage of the disease at the time of diagnosis as well in the general health status. Certain patients are successfully treated using radiation, surgery, and chemotherapy. Other patients with mesothelioma more advanced may receive experimental treatments like immunotherapy and gene therapy. In any situation the treatment options available may significantly improve a person's life longevity.

Symptoms

Mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer, most commonly occurs in the tissues of the chest cavity or abdomen. It is caused by exposure to asbestos, a heat - and fire-resistant mineral used in insulation, construction and shipbuilding, power generation, and home renovations prior to being banned in the 1970s. Exposure is primarily due to working in the asbestos industry, however, people who have cleaned up work clothes with asbestos fibres or disturbed asbestos during home renovations also risk developing mesothelioma.

The majority of patients suffering from mesothelioma suffer general symptoms such as tiredness as well as weight loss, coughing that changes in pattern or intensity and chest pain. These symptoms may be caused by a variety of conditions, so patients should always seek advice from their physician about them. It is also important to inform their doctor if they've been exposed to asbestos.

In pleural asbestosis, symptoms are usually caused by the tumor that causes fluid to build up in the area around the lung. This build-up, known as a pleural effusion causes pressure on the lungs and makes breathing difficult. The amount of fluid within the pleural cavity plays a role in decreasing breathlessness.

Other symptoms of Mesothelioma are the night sweats, a fever and abdominal pain. The body's temperature increases as it fights against the disease. This causes the fever. The body attempts to reduce its temperature by producing night sweats in response to the temperature. These symptoms are indicators that cancer is getting worse and causing stress to the body.

Other symptoms of mesothelioma include fatigue, a swollen stomach and difficulty walking. Mesothelioma can also affect the tissue surrounding the heart, causing problems with breathing and chest pain. Mesothelioma can also develop in the tissue that covers the testicles. This can lead to swelling or a lump.

Mesothelioma is difficult to detect early because it is extremely rare. The symptoms of mesothelioma are similar to those of other diseases, and can even be mistaken for flu or pneumonia. This is why mesothelioma symptoms can take months to years to show before they are properly diagnosed.

Diagnosis

Mesothelioma is a difficult cancer to identify. Doctors must determine if there are other health conditions with similar symptoms before determining mesothelioma. Once this is done, they can determine the most effective treatment options for you.

Your doctor will ask you about your symptoms and perform an examination. Your doctor might conduct blood tests to determine how well your organs work. A complete blood count (CBC) is a test that measures the number of red and white blood cells, as well as how your kidneys and liver are functioning, is one such test. Mesothelioma cells are often seen in these blood tests, however they are difficult to identify because they look so similar to normal cells.

If your doctor suspects you have mesothelioma they may order an imaging to determine the amount and the location of any fluid or growths in the abdomen or lungs. A chest radiograph is the most commonly used test, but if this does not reveal any abnormalities, the doctor may then order more detailed tests, such as 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 the presence of fluid or thickening of the pleura and peritoneum that could be a sign of mesothelioma. A CT scan can identify other health issues, such as pneumonia or a lung infection.

Doctors may be able to determine the type of mesothelioma you have by examining a sample of your tissue taken during an examination. This is the only way to determine mesothelioma. The samples are analyzed under a magnifying lens to determine the type of mesothelioma, as well as the extent of the cancer's spread.

Some doctors may also inject a dye into a vein or conduct other tests to determine the region where the cancer is located. This is known as staging mesothelioma and aids doctors in determining how far the cancer has spread.

Treatment

Mesothelioma develops 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 because the cells are unable to respond to signals that keep them from growing too quickly. It can also infiltrate blood vessels that provide oxygen to the lungs. This can make breathing difficult and trigger coughing.

Doctors diagnose mesothelioma based on the symptoms of an individual and their history of asbestos exposure. They can also order imaging tests as well as other tests to help detect tumors. For instance, doctors can employ chest X-rays in order to look for lung changes like pleural thickening or the pleural effusion, asbestos which is the accumulation of fluid. They can also request CT scanning as well as an MRI or PET scan to determine the location of the tumors and determine the extent to which mesothelioma has spread. They can also collect samples of the fluid surrounding the lungs, referred to as a thoracentesis to check for mesothelioma cells and to relieve the pressure on the lungs caused by the accumulation of fluid.

Once a mesothelioma-related diagnosis is confirmed, doctors can begin planning treatment options to manage the disease. It is crucial to discuss your goals for treatment with your mesothelioma doctor. Some patients want aggressive treatment to extend their life and improve the chances of survival, while others are comfortable with moderate treatment to lessen nausea, pain and other adverse effects.

Treatments for mesothelioma can include chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation. The kind of treatment a patient receives depends on the stage of mesothelioma as well as whether it's composed of epithelioid or sarcomatoid cell. The epithelioid cells are easier to remove surgically and has a higher success rate than the sarcomatoid. Some patients are affected by both types, and suffer from an even worse outcome than those who only have epithelioid cancer.

After treatment is completed after treatment, it is essential to follow up with your mesothelioma physician regularly. This will prevent the cancer from returning. The mesothelioma treatment team will devise an alternative plan in the event that it does recur.

Patients with mesothelioma may enroll in clinical trials to test new treatments. Clinical trials allow patients access to cutting-edge treatments that are not yet approved for use in general.