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Mesothelioma Diagnosis A doctor can identify the condition through physical examination, imaging tests, and laboratory work. Doctors can also perform biopsy, which is the removal of tissue and examination under a magnifying glass. A chest X-ray, also known as a CT scan, is used to guide the needle through the lining of the lung. AccidentInjuryLawyers is invasive and has a chance of producing false-negative results. Diagnosis Mesothelioma is a rare cancer which means it takes time to establish an accurate diagnosis. Your doctor will begin by conducting a medical history and doing a physical exam to look for symptoms. They will also inquire about your previous asbestos exposure. Exposure to asbestos increases the risk of mesothelioma. Often, the first indication of mesothelioma is a fluid accumulation around the lungs or abdomen. These fluids are called pleural effusion or ascites. Doctors test this fluid to see whether it has cancerous cells. A biopsy is the only method to diagnose mesothelioma for sure. When a biopsy is performed, doctors remove an insignificant portion of the affected tissue for analysis in a laboratory. Under a microscope the mesothelioma will be examined to determine if it is cancerous and which type of mesothelioma it is. Doctors may also use other tests to determine how far the cancer has spread. Your doctor will discuss with you your options for treatment if mesothelioma is been identified. Based on the location where the mesothelioma is located and how far it has spread, your treatment may be more or less aggressive. The first treatment for mesothelioma that your doctor will suggest is usually chemotherapy or radiation. They can reduce the size of tumors, relieve symptoms and decrease the pain. They also can help patients live longer. Your doctor will discuss diet with you before starting treatment. It is essential for patients to adhere to an appropriate diet when they undergo chemotherapy or radiation. Diet is important to prevent weight loss and malnutrition. After your doctor has decided the best treatment option for you, they will arrange follow-up appointments. Your first appointment may be with a doctor who specializes in lung diseases (pulmonologist) or abdominal problems (gastroenterologist). The doctors and nurses you meet at these appointments are part of your mesothelioma multidisciplinary group. The team consists of radiologists, who are experts in Xrays, and oncologists, who are cancer specialists. The team meets weekly to discuss your test results and plan your care. This team approach to treating mesothelioma is the most effective method to ensure that you receive the best treatment. Signs and symptoms Mesothelioma symptoms vary by the location in the body where the tumors develop. For instance, patients with pleural mesothelioma may experience chest pain and breathlessness as well as mesothelioma in the peritoneal region may experience abdominal swelling or a feeling of bloating. The symptoms can also be influenced by the extent to which mesothelioma has spread. Mesothelioma patients who are in the latter stages of the disease usually have more severe and painful symptoms. A physical examination is the initial step to diagnosing mesothelioma. A doctor will pay special attention to the areas of the body in which patients are experiencing symptoms. Patients will be asked about their asbestos exposure history. A chest X-ray is among the most common tests used to detect mesothelioma. The X-ray could reveal abnormal thickness or calcium deposits on the lung lining and fluid in the lung space (pleura) caused by mesothelioma. Other diagnostic tests may include the CT scan or MRI. These tests can create detailed images of the inside of the body and help doctors locate mesothelioma and other cancerous and non-cancerous tumors. X-rays and MRIs can also assist doctors determine the stage of mesothelioma, which will help patients understand what to expect in terms of treatment options. If a patient experiences severe symptoms, they must visit their doctor right away. It is essential to make an appointment with a mesothelioma specialist to ensure the doctor is able to accurately diagnose and treat the condition. Patients should bring a list with their symptoms to the appointment to ensure that the doctor has all the details required to make an accurate diagnosis. The symptoms of mesothelioma are similar to those of other diseases which makes it difficult for doctors at the early stages of the disease. Mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer, affects less than 3,000 people every year. The majority of people diagnosed have reached the 50-year mark. Asbestos fibers can become lodged in the small airways in the lungs, damaging the lining of the lungs and causing cell growth that develops into tumors. Mesothelioma can also be spread to the linings of other organs such as the stomach, heart, and testicles. Treatment If mesothelioma is discovered in the earliest stages, doctors can treat it to manage symptoms and prolong survival. The treatment plan is determined by the type of cancer, the location, and the speed at which it is growing. It can be a challenge for doctors to identify mesothelioma because the cells look so similar to other types of cancer. This can cause confusion. Doctors conduct a physical examination and order imaging scans like chest X rays and CT scans to detect abnormalities. They also take an organ sample, or biopsy, to check for the presence of mesothelioma cells in the body. For pleural mesothelioma, surgery is usually the best option to relieve symptoms and improving survival. Operations include an extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP) that removes the affected lung as well as parts of the diaphragm. Another option is a pleurectomy and decortication which removes the pleura, but not the entire lung. Surgery for peritoneal msothelioma, though less frequent can help alleviate symptoms by draining fluid from the chest cavity or abdominal region. Chemotherapy can slow the growth of cancerous cells or kill them after the mesothelioma has been identified. Pemetrexed is among the most prescribed medications. They are typically prescribed along in conjunction with other treatments, like radiation and surgery. In some cases cancer may expand to other areas of your body. This can affect the prognosis of the patient and decrease the chances of getting cured. If mesothelioma has spread the doctor may suggest palliative treatment to improve the quality of life and relieve pain and other symptoms. This may include the possibility of a trial of an experimental drug or a combination of treatments. Alternative treatments such as yoga or acupuncture may help alleviate symptoms due to mesothelioma. Patients with mesothelioma should check up with their doctor regularly to assess how their treatment is progressing. There isn't a standard schedule of follow-up appointments since every mesothelioma situation is unique. The doctor will work with the patient to establish a schedule for follow-up appointments. If someone is interested in taking part in a clinical study they should talk to their doctor regarding the whether they are eligible. Prognosis Mesothelioma prognosis depends on various factors, including the type and stage of mesothelioma, a patient's overall health and age, and how they react to treatment. A mesothelioma diagnosis does not necessarily tell us the length of time a patient will live, and a lot of patients have survived mesothelioma for many years. Doctors can assist patients in understanding their mesothelioma prognosis and what it means for them personally. The mesothelioma prognosis will tell a patient how they are likely to recover from the cancer, as well as their likelihood of recurrence, which could occur years after the initial diagnosis. In general, the fitter an individual is, the better their mesothelioma-related survival rates will be. People who are in good overall health and normal hemoglobin levels tend to do better, as do non-smokers. Mesothelioma is a result of exposure to asbestos, and those who were exposed to the fibres at work are at greater chance of developing the disease. Mesothelioma can be a tough cancer to treat, and patients often experience side effects such as fatigue, weight loss and pain. Palliative care is often recommended by doctors to reduce these symptoms, and to improve the quality of life for their patients. If the cancer is not spreading, surgery may be performed to remove the tumor. Although it is not always successful and does not cure patients, it can be an effective method to treat symptoms of mesothelioma. Even if the cancer has spread to other organs, doctors can reduce the tumour size with chemotherapy or other treatment options. The recurrence of mesothelioma is quite common, but it is less frequent than other kinds. Patients should work with a mesothelioma expert and learn as much about the cancer as is possible. A mesothelioma specialist will also determine if the patient is at a high or low chance of the cancer recurring depending on their mesothelioma stage and grade. The worse a patient's outlook is, the more mesothelioma-related stages and grades they are. This is because the cancer can be harder to treat if it has returned and has grown.