Mesothelioma - What is Mesothelioma?There are many conditions that can cause chest discomfort or breath shortness. Because of this, the first step to diagnose mesothelioma is to rule out other conditions.Doctors perform this by taking samples of fluid around the stomach or around the lung. They can also perform tests such as the CT, MRI or a PET scan.CausesMesothelioma occurs in the chest's tissues (pleural esothelioma) and the abdomen (peritoneal esothelioma) and the heart (peritoneal esothelioma). Exposure to asbestos, a material which was extensively employed in construction, shipbuilding and other industries, is the main cause of mesothelioma. Inhaling asbestos fibres could cause mesothelioma. These fibres can cause tissue damage and irritation, leading to abnormal tumours. Mesothelioma usually develops 20-50 years after exposure to asbestos.Asbestos is a class of minerals made up of thin, long fibres that can separate into smaller pieces. These fibres can easily enter the lungs, where they can be breathed in. They may then get lodged in the pleura, which is the lining that surrounds the lung. These can irritate lungs over time and lead to abnormal tumors to develop. Mesothelioma can also result by secondhand asbestos exposure like when employees bring asbestos fibres home on their clothing or gear or from materials that are contaminated, such as asbestos-containing materials.The feeling of being tired, short of breath and coughing are typical symptoms for mesothelioma patients. Other symptoms include weight loss, chest swelling and pain, trouble swallowing and an itch that is painful and can resemble hives. Mesothelioma, which is rare in the United States, is diagnosed between 2,500 and 3,000 times per year.The most prevalent type of mesothelioma starts in the pleura, which covers the chest wall and lungs. Other types of mesothelioma may form in the peritoneum, which covers the stomach and intestines, or in the membrane around the testicles (testicular mesothelioma).A specialist in mesothelioma could recommend tests like xrays, CT scans, or MRI to look for signs of disease. A mesothelioma specialist, a specialist in thoracic surgery or a medical oncologist could perform chemotherapy, surgery, or radiation therapy. Palliative treatments are sometimes offered to ease discomfort and other symptoms. Doctors can also assist in the diagnosis of mesothelioma by investigating symptoms and providing guidance on how to manage the symptoms. If needed, they may refer you to a specialist. For example, they can refer you to a respiratory physician to look into your breathing and other symptoms and to collaborate with your mesothelioma physician.Signs and symptomsThe symptoms of mesothelioma can differ based on the type. This is because the types of mesothelioma are classified by the location and extent of the cancer.Mesotheliomas can develop in the lining of the lung (pleura) or the lining of the heart (pericardium) or the lining of the abdomen (peritoneum). Mesothelioma symptoms include chest pain, breathing difficulties fluid accumulation and weight loss.Asbestos fibers can cause irritation to the pleura (lung lining) and cause abnormal cells to develop. Over time these cells can transform into tumors that develop out of control. Mesothelioma may also affect other body parts that have similar linings. This includes the abdominal cavity as well as reproductive organs.It can take a while for symptoms to show. This could result in a delayed diagnosis. Most patients are diagnosed with mesothelioma when it is advanced and life-limiting. This is in part because mesothelioma has a latency period of 20 to 40 years between exposure and when the cancer first manifests.There are three mesothelioma treatment options: surgery, radiation and chemotherapy. The doctor will advise you on the treatment that is best for your situation. The kind of treatment you choose depends on the stage of mesothelioma or the extent to which the cancer has spread.Surgery: Doctors will remove any cancerous tissue during an operation. They may also combine procedures to treat mesothelioma. The type of surgery to be performed will depend on the location where mesothelioma is located and how much it has spread.Radiation: Doctors utilize high-energy radiation as well as other forms to stop the growth of mesothelioma cancer cells. This kind of treatment may be administered either externally or internally.Chemotherapy: Doctors will give you chemotherapy pills or liquids to shrink and kill cancerous cells or to stop them from spreading. Chemotherapy can be used by itself or in conjunction with other treatments, including surgery and radiation.If you or someone you love suffers from mesothelioma, it's essential to consult a specialist immediately. Bring our no-cost Symptoms Checklist to your appointment, and talk with your doctor about the symptoms.DiagnosisIn the past, doctors used different tests to diagnose mesothelioma. These tests include physical examinations as well as lab work and scans. They also look over the patient's medical as well as job background to determine if there are asbestos exposure signs.The first step to diagnosing mesothelioma is a physical examination by a medical professional. This involves looking for lumps, and asking about the person's symptoms. Doctors can also determine the patient's mesothelioma type that includes epithelial, sarcomatoid or biphasic. These types are based on cells that are found in every type of cancer.Mesothelioma is a difficult cancer to detect. It typically affects the pleura (a thin layer that covers the lungs and chest cavity). It can also affect peritoneum which is a thin layer of tissue that covers the stomach, intestines, and the lungs. It can cause breathlessness, coughing, and abdominal pain. In some cases, mesothelioma can expand to other organs including the heart.A biopsy is the most effective method to determine if mesothelioma is present. A doctor will send a small sample of mesothelioma to a lab for testing. The lab looks for mesothelioma cancer cells as well as other types of cancer.If the biopsy results are positive, doctors will examine the cancer cells to determine what kind of mesothelioma they are. This will allow them to choose the best treatment.Other tests could include an X-ray or CT scan to check for asbestos in the lung lining, calcium deposits or indications of mesothelioma like an edema of the pleural. They may also perform blood tests to determine abnormalities, such as anemia or low levels of certain anti-bodies, which indicate mesothelioma. what causes mesothelioma lung cancer include MRI and PET scans, which employ magnets and radio waves to create detailed images. They can aid in the detection of mesothelioma on the lungs, and also in other places like the diaphragm muscle (a dome-shaped muscular tissue that separates the chest from the abdomen). They can also reveal how far the cancer has spread. They can also look for mesothelioma within the lymph nodes. Doctors can perform this by inserting a scope into trachea -- or windpipe. This procedure is referred to as mediastinoscopy and is performed under conscious sedation.TreatmentMesothelioma is difficult to treat because the cancer is often diagnosed late and becomes widespread when it is found. The treatment aims to reduce symptoms and improve the quality of life. A mesothelioma specialist can assist patients choose the appropriate treatment strategy for them.A mesothelioma physician will have a team of specialists working together to provide care. The team may include a general practitioner (general practitioner) who oversees the general health of the patient and a respiratory doctor who examines the symptoms of lung diseases and treats them and an interventional radiologist who uses imaging scans to guide needles and other instruments for draining fluid or removing tissue to make a diagnosis or a thoracic surgeon that performs surgery and other operations for diseases of the lungs and chest, medical oncologists who prescribe drugs like chemotherapy and radiation oncologists who offers radiotherapy treatments.If mesothelioma has been identified, further tests may be performed to determine if it has spread to other areas of the body. This could include the use of CT scan or MRI, FDG-positron emissions tomography (to detect the movement of the mesothelioma tumor cells) and a biopsy taken from a tissue sample removed during surgery.If a patient is diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma pleural, they'll likely undergo a surgical procedure to improve breathlessness caused by the accumulation of fluid. VATS (video assisted thoracoscopic surgical) is an operation that involves the removal of some of the lining of the chest wall and lungs to decrease the accumulation of fluid. In some cases the tube could be put into the chest to drain the fluid regularly at home.Benign mesothelioma doesn't usually require surgery. Doctors may prescribe painkillers or other treatments to manage symptoms instead.Since mesothelioma is a rare cancer new treatments are being developed in clinical trials. It is essential for patients suffering from mesothelioma to participate in these trials in the event that they are possible, as they could lead to better treatments. However the decision to decide to participate in a trial is not made lightly because the risks associated with treatment are usually extremely serious. It is crucial that people with mesothelioma, or their families consider their options with an expert.