Mesothelioma is CancerMesothelioma is a cancer that develops in the lining of tissues like the abdomen or lungs. The condition can affect people who have been exposed to asbestos.A shortness of breath, chest pain and other symptoms are typical. In certain cases, mesothelioma can cause fluid build-up in the lungs or around the heart (pleural effusion).Doctors can diagnose mesothelioma by looking at samples of tissue under a microscope and performing blood tests. They also may use a biopsy to determine the type of mesothelioma a person has.Malignant TumorMesothelioma, a malignant tumor that causes the linings of organs such as the heart and lungs to thicken, causing painful cysts or tumors. These can lead to breathing difficulties and a lack of energy. Mesothelioma is very rare and may be difficult for doctors to diagnose. Patients suffering from mesothelioma should get an additional opinion in order to avoid being misdiagnosed and not being able to access treatment options.Doctors can order imaging scans such as CT (computerised tomography) and MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) to check for abnormalities in the pleural or abdominal lining. They can also conduct a biopsy to test for the presence of cancerous cells. A pleural biopsies is the process of taking a small amount of tissue or fluid to be examined under a microscopical microscope for cancerous cells. It can be performed in many ways, including VATS (video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery) which is a form of keyhole surgery, or using a needle that is inserted under local anesthesia with an CT scan guided EBUS (endobronchial ultrasound).The results of a biopsy may aid doctors in determining the kind of mesothelioma that a patient is suffering from. There are three cell types epithelioid, which accounts 70 percent of all cases; sarcomatoid mesothelioma, found in 10% of mesotheliomas, and biphasic mesotheliom that is a mix of two types of cells which may have a different outlook than the other forms.Doctors can use chemotherapy to kill mesothelioma cells or stop them from growing. Chemotherapy drugs can be administered by mouth or injecting into the muscle or vein. They may enter the bloodstream to get mesothelioma tumor cells throughout the entire body, or they could be targeted to a specific area of the body to affect only the cells that are there.Benign TumorA tumor is an accumulation of cells that have been altered that create an abnormal mass of tissue. A tumor can cause pain, and cause organ damage, spread throughout the body and lead to other illnesses. Benign tumors don't have the same symptoms and are less likely to cause as much damage as malignant tumors.Mesothelioma is a cancerous growth that affects the tissue that covers the majority of internal organs, is a cancer. Certain mesothelium tumors are malignant, and more frequent than others.The malignant mesothelioma may expand to other areas of the human body. It can affect the treatment options of a patient and life duration. Benign mesothelioma is not known to metastasize, but it could still expand and may recur in the same location after surgical removal.The most commonly encountered kinds are pleural and peritoneal mesothelioma. It is less frequent for mesothelioma be found in the pericardium which is the heart's pericardium or in the testicles (testicular mesothelioma).Doctors diagnose mesothelioma by taking a tissue sample from the region where the tumor is visible. Then, they run tests to determine the presence of certain cell types. These tests include imaging tests such as an CT or MRI scan, as well as a biopsy. The biopsy involves the removal of a tiny portion of tissue to be examined under a magnifying lens.Different types of mesothelioma cells form tumors, and each has a different outlook. Epithelioid cell, for example is present in 70 percent of mesothelioma cases. It responds better to treatment. mesothelioma breast cancer are detected in 10% of cases and are ineffective to treatment. Biphasic mesothelioma is a mixture of epithelioid as well as sarcomatoid cells. It is found in 30 to 40% of mesothelioma patients.Signs and symptomsPatients with mesothelioma can suffer from symptoms like breathing difficulties, coughing chest pain fatigue, weight loss and fatigue. These symptoms differ based on the stage and type of mesothelioma the patient has.Mesothelioma is cancer that occurs in the lining of the organs and cavities of the body which include the abdomen, chest, and the space around the heart. Malignant mesothelioma cells can grow out of control and wrap around a person's organs, such as the lungs or the diaphragm which can cause them to stop working properly.The cancer cells are caused by a series of genetic changes or mutations. These mutations cause the cells to grow and divide out of control, creating tumors. Mesothelioma can be divided into three distinct stages based on how far it has taken over.Doctors diagnose mesothelioma using medical history and imaging scans. They also take a biopsy of the mesothelioma to study under the microscope.Since mesothelioma can be found in very few cases and doctors aren't able to pinpoint what causes it. However, people with mesothelioma usually have an exposure history to asbestos, which is a naturally occurring mineral that is used in a variety of industries.A person who gets mesothelioma will likely receive treatment from a group of health professionals, referred to as a multidisciplinary group or MDT. The MDT could include a mesothelioma specialist, pulmonologist or thoracic surgeon and gastroenterologist. Mesothelioma is more common in than women and is more prevalent for those over 50.DiagnosisIt is difficult to diagnose mesothelioma in particular the last stages of the disease. Doctors usually begin by conducting a physical exam as well as imaging scans. These tests will show if there is fluid or thickened areas in the chest and abdomen. They can also tell if the heart or lungs are under pressure.The most crucial test to detect mesothelioma is a biopsy. The biopsy is carried out by inserting an needle into the affected area and then the removal or draining of tissue to be examined under a microscope to detect cancerous cells. This procedure is extremely injurious and doctors may suggest that other diagnostic tests be performed before it.PET scans are one of these tests. It involves injecting a radioactive substance in the body of the patient and taking pictures with a special device. Cancer cells absorb the compound, which makes them appear brighter in the images. This can help doctors identify mesothelioma tumors.Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a technique that produces precise images of the tissues in the chest or abdomen, can also be used. This can be useful in cases where mesothelioma is spreading to the diaphragm. This is a dome-shaped muscle that separates the abdominal and chest cavities.If mesothelioma is detected by a specialist, they will determine its grade and what type of treatment it needs. It will be determined by several factors that include the type of mesothelioma as well as how it has spread. The doctor may prescribe pain relief and other palliative treatments to improve quality of life for the patient. The doctor will also speak with the patient about their prognosis which is the probable course of the illness and its manifestations.TreatmentSurgery can lessen symptoms and even eliminate cancer if mesothelioma in its early stages is discovered. However, it isn't always possible to completely cure mesothelioma through surgery. Many doctors recommend palliative treatments to improve quality of life.Your doctor may use imaging scans and blood tests to assess your health. They can use chest radiographs to detect changes in the pleural membrane and the procedure known as thoracentesis. This procedure removes fluid from the lungs to look for malignant cells. An MRI or CT scan can also show where tumors are located and the extent to which they have spread.Mesothelioma doctors will examine the mesothelioma type you have to determine the best way to treat it. The most common type of mesothelioma and the one that responds well to treatment is epithelioid. Sarcomatoid mesothelioma has more pronounced cancerous nature and has a less favorable prognosis than epithelioid.Your mesothelioma doctor may recommend a combination treatment depending on the prognosis you have. The treatments may include surgery, as well as chemotherapy and radiation therapy. The National Institute of Health's Patient Information Summaries, or PDQ, provide detailed descriptions of all of these treatments.The chemotherapy drugs are designed to kill cancerous cells and reduce their growth. It is one of the most frequently used treatments for mesothelioma. It can be administered prior to surgery (neoadjuvant) or after surgery to reduce the likelihood of recurrence from cancer. In mesothelioma peritoneal, doctors often treat patients with the use of heated chemotherapy, which is known as hyperthermic intraperitoneal therapy or HIPEC. Radiation therapy utilizes high-energy rays to destroy cancerous tissue. The PDQ summary provides details about the effectiveness and potential side effects of each of these therapies.