Mesothelioma CancerMesothelioma most commonly starts in the layers of tissue that cover each lung (pleura). It may also begin in the lining that surrounds the heart or stomach, called the perineum.A mesothelioma diagnosis can be scary and difficult to comprehend. However, you can take control of your treatment by requesting more details and working closely with your doctor.Signs and symptomsThe cancerous mesothelioma affects the mesothelium, the thin layer that covers and protects organs within the body. It is most commonly found in the lining of the lungs (pleura) or in the membrane that surrounds the abdomen (peritoneum). Mesothelioma arises from cells that are usually not malignant, but turn cancerous when exposed asbestos.Most patients with mesothelioma experience a mix of symptoms, with some of the most common being chest pain shortness of breath, chest pain and coughing. These symptoms are similar to those experienced by pneumonia which can result in misdiagnosis, particularly in the early stages of mesothelioma.Other symptoms include fatigue, fever and weight loss that is not known. These symptoms can be due to the cancer or the tumor spreading to other parts such as the heart or gastrointestinal tract.Mesothelioma is diagnosed using imaging tests like X-rays, CT scans and biopsy. A biopsy is a procedure in which a needle is placed into the area affected and a small amount mesothelium is taken for analysis.The results of a biopsy can be used to determine whether you have mesothelioma, and what type. It can also help doctors develop the most effective treatment strategy for you.A biopsy is typically performed under local anesthesia or sedation. However, based on mesothelioma vs lung cancer of mesothelioma as well as your health other methods for obtaining samples of tissue can be employed.Additionally there are a myriad of treatments that could help reduce symptoms and enhance your quality of life, including palliative treatment. The goal of this care is to ease discomfort, fatigue, pain and other symptoms associated with mesothelioma.It is important that you discuss all options with your physician. This is especially important if you've recently been diagnosed with the disease or are experiencing symptoms. Your doctor can provide you with a the list of treatment professionals who are experienced in treating mesothelioma. They can also help you in locating support groups and getting the information that you need about the services and resources available.DiagnosisA doctor will diagnose mesothelioma by doing a physical exam and asking about your symptoms. They may order imaging tests, for example chest X-rays or computerised tomography (CT) scans of the abdomen and lungs to check for mesothelioma or other abnormalities. They can also request blood tests to see whether you have high levels of certain substances that indicate mesothelioma.The main test to confirm pleural mesothelioma is a biopsy. A small amount of tissue is taken for examination under a microscope. A pathologist who is a mesothelioma expert will examine your cells to determine if you have the disease and which type it is. Cells from pleural msothelioma can be classified as epithelioid cell, sarcomatoid cells or mixed/biphasic cells.If you have peritoneal asbestosis (PA), doctors will use another procedure to collect a sample of your stomach tissue. They will make several small cuts in your abdomen and pass an extremely thin tube with an end camera, called a laparoscope, through one of the cuts. The doctor will then pass a tool through the laparoscope to take samples of the tissue from any suspicious areas of your stomach.Your doctor will also use these images to determine what stage mesothelioma has reached and whether it has spread. The biopsy and other test results aid doctors in deciding on the treatment.Based on the stage and type of mesothelioma you may need surgery to remove the tumor. You might also have to have chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy afterwards.Your doctors will talk to you about palliative treatment, which aims to ease mesothelioma-related symptoms and improve your quality of life. This may include treatments such as physiotherapy or a pleural drainage to ease pressure on the chest and prevent the accumulation of fluid in the lung. Your doctors will also discuss ways to manage your symptoms such as pain and fatigue. Your age, fitness level and medical history will be taken into consideration to assist them in planning the treatment.TreatmentDepending on the location where mesothelioma has been found and whether it has spread, doctors can treat the condition by undergoing chemotherapy, surgery, or radiation therapy. They can prescribe medication to treat symptoms. These medicines could be pills, injections, or drugs that are given intravenously (intravenous).Mesothelioma afflicts the cells that make up the mesothelium, which is a thin membrane or sac that lines some of the internal organs and structures of the body including the lungs and chest cavity. Pleural mesothelioma is found in the lung lining and chest wall, whereas mesothelioma affecting the peritoneal abdominal cavity's lining or the membrane around the heart (pericardium).A doctor may suspect mesothelioma based on the medical history of a patient and the symptoms they are experiencing. The doctor will perform an examination and will order other tests such as chest X rays and CT scanners to learn more about the signs. A biopsy sample is likely to be taken to confirm the diagnosis and determine which type of mesothelioma is present: epithelioid (which accounts for 70% of diagnoses) or sarcomatoid (which is found in 10% diagnoses) or biphasic.If a person is fit enough to undergo surgery, the mesothelioma can often be removed surgically. The surgeon can employ a technique called minimally invasive surgery. This involves making small cuts on the skin and inserting a tube containing a video camera with special tools into the abdomen and chest. This allows the doctor to remove larger samples of tissue than is possible with traditional open surgery.The surgeon may also remove the affected area of the pleura, along with the lymph nodes that are located in the area and the diaphragm. This is called extrapleural pneumonectomy.Following surgery, patients could undergo a course of chemotherapy or radiation in order to kill any cancerous cells that the surgeon was unable to see during the surgery. This is the standard of care for people who have mesothelioma.Regular check-ups are necessary with the cancer specialist as well as the your family doctor. The health care team will discuss with the patient a plan of follow-up that is adapted to their specific needs and goals.PrognosisThe prognosis for mesothelioma varies based on the time frame for survival after diagnosis. This can vary greatly depending on the type of cancer, whether it's spread and other factors like the health of the patient and their age.Pleural mesothelioma occurs in the lining that covers the lung (pleura). It is not lung cancer since it only affects the membrane that surrounds the lungs, but not the lungs themselves. In certain cases mesothelioma is found in the heart's lining (pericardial mesothelioma). Mesothelioma also can occur in the membrane that surrounds the testicles (testicular mesothelioma).Patients should get the most information they can about their treatment options and their mesothelioma diagnosis. Patients may be shocked or upset when they receive a diagnosis of mesothelioma however, it is important to remember that the disease is easily treated.Early diagnosis of mesothelioma can make it easier to treat. Patients can receive chemo, radiation or surgery in order to improve their odds of survival and reduce the symptoms.In many instances mesothelioma treatments can prolong life expectancy. For instance, patients with peritoneal mesothelioma may benefit from the combination of surgical elimination of the affected area as well as chemotherapy.Other factors that can affect a person's prognosis for mesothelioma include the speed at which the cancer spreads and the kind of cell. Epithelioid cells tends to spread more slowly than sarcomatoid or biphasic cells, and respond better to treatment. In addition, patients who have more than one mesothelioma are more likely to have a worse prognosis than those with only one.Patients with mesothelioma who listen to their physicians about changes in their lifestyle and treatment have a better chance of survival. Patients who exercise regularly, stop smoking, and live a healthy lifestyle can aid in coping with the disease. Stress reduction techniques and palliative care can improve the quality of life for mesothelioma sufferers. There are notable mesothelioma survivor cases. The paleontologist Stephen Jay Gould, for instance, lived for a period of 20 years after he was diagnosed with peritoneal mesothelioma. He wrote an essay titled "The Median isn't the Message," in which the author argued that statistics such as median survival are useful abstractions however they don't determine someone's destiny.