Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that is associated with exposure to asbestos the mineral that occurs naturally. The disease is usually diagnosed decades after exposure.
Doctors treat mesothelioma by using chemotherapy, radiation and surgery. Treatment can help patients live longer.
There are three types of mesothelioma. The type of cell composes the tumor, and the stage of the tumor affects the prognosis.
What is mesothelioma?
Mesothelioma can be described as a cancer that is found in the mesothelium thin layer of tissue is the lining of internal organs. It is caused by exposure to asbestos which is a group of fibrous minerals.
Asbestos is a risk when people take in or breathe in stray fibers. These asbestos particles adhere to organ linings, irritate them and cause tumors. The diagnosis of mesothelioma is able to be determined by doctors after they examine the tumors and obtain a tissue sample, also called biopsy. Mesothelioma is classified according to type according to the type of cells that are found in the tumors. The three mesothelioma types are epithelial (also known as sarcomatoid), biphasic and sarcomatoid. Epithelial mesothelioma has the highest popular type that accounts for about 50 percent of all diagnoses. Sarcomatoid Mesothelioma accounts for 10 percent of all cases and has a worse prognosis than epithelial. Biphasic mesothelioma consists of epithelial as well as sarcomatoid cells, and is responsible for between 30% and 40 percent of all diagnoses.
Mesothelioma symptoms include chest pain, abdominal pain and difficulty breathing. These symptoms are similar to those of other conditions, and it is important to see your doctor if you suffer from them.
Treatment for mesothelioma can help alleviate symptoms, slow tumor development and help patients live longer. Treatment options include radiation therapy, chemotherapy and surgery. Palliative care is available to patients and can help to manage discomfort and pain.
Doctors continue to research ways to treat mesothelioma as well as how it spreads. New treatments include immunotherapy which relies on your body's immune system to fight cancer. This is an experimental treatment that has shown promise for a few mesothelioma patients. Patients are also able to participate in clinical trials, which are studies of new treatments. Patients with mesothelioma tend to be treated in cancer centers that have specialized doctors who treat the disease.
Diagnosis
The first step to receiving treatment to prolong your life span is to get a mesothelioma diagnosis. Your doctor will examine your medical history and symptoms to determine the type of mesothelioma that you are suffering from. This information is important because the three mesothelioma cell kinds respond differently to treatment.
Your doctor might recommend a chest X ray or CT scan as the initial test. In this test, you lie on a table as the X-ray or CT machine produces a detailed image of your chest as well as the organs that surround it. A small dose of a dye, usually iodine is usually given before the procedure. This makes the tissue of your chest or abdomen lighter and easier to be able to. During this time, you could be asked to take a breathing test.
If these tests reveal an indication of a tumor or mass that is cancerous, your physician may request biopsy. A biopsy is the process of removing a sample from the mass or tumor via surgery or by inserting an needle into the site. The specimen is then examined under a microscope to determine if mesothelioma is present.
In some instances, our specialists use ultrasound to identify lymph nodes that have enlarged, which could be mesothelioma. This procedure is known as endobronchial Ultrasonography-guided needle biopsy, or EBNA. This procedure is done as an outpatient, so you are able to return home the same day.
A specialist in mesothelioma will also need to know your stage of the disease. The stages are determined based on how the cancer has spread and what type of mesothelioma you have. A mesothelioma expert can provide you with an accurate diagnosis to ensure you receive the right treatment.
Treatment
The treatment plan of a mesothelioma patient is determined by the extent of the disease and their overall health. Patients suffering from mesothelioma typically receive multimodal treatment that includes chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation.
The first step in treating mesothelioma is getting a physical examination and telling the doctor about any previous exposure to asbestos. duluth mesothelioma attorneys conduct imaging scans and blood tests to determine if mesothelioma is present and rule out any other ailments. These include CT (computerized Tomography) scans, MRI (magnetic-resonance imaging) scans FDG-PET scans (fluorodeoxyglucose positron emissions tomography) and mediastinoscopy.
The majority of mesothelioma cases that are pleural can be treated with surgery. A patient can undergo a minimally-invasive procedure known as video-assisted needle biopsy, or CT-guided thoracoscopic systolic surgical. Both surgeries can help reduce symptoms and improve the lifespan of patients.
Chemotherapy is a treatment that uses drugs to kill cancerous cells and prevent them from growing. It is a standard treatment for mesothelioma and can prolong the survival of patients. It can be given via intravenous (IV) drip or in pill form.
Radiation is another mesothelioma therapy which can kill cancerous cells and shrink tumors. It is used to treat pleural cancer at different stages, as well as to reduce pain and prolong the lifespan of patients.
In the late stages of mesothelioma treatment, doctors focus on controlling symptoms to prolong the lifespan of patients as long as they can. Palliative care is the name of this kind of treatment. While the mesothelioma average survival rate is very low however, there are many who have survived. For instance paleontologist Stephen Jay Gould, who was diagnosed with mesothelioma of the peritoneal region in 1982, lived for another 20 years before he died due to complications from a different illness.
Signs and symptoms
Mesothelioma is a cancer that can manifest symptoms for that last for months or even years before an official diagnosis is made. Early symptoms may be misinterpreted as other illnesses or ignored. If you experience any of these symptoms it is important that you see your doctor right away.
The organs in your body are covered in mesothelium, a layer. This layer prevents them from colliding with each against one another. Mesothelioma affects the mesothelium cells which form the lining of several of your organs. Most cases of mesothelioma begin in the lining that surrounds the lungs, but it can also occur in the lining of your heart (pericardium) or abdomen (peritoneum) and in the lining around testicles (tunica vaginalis).
The initial symptoms of mesothelioma may include chest pain, fatigue, and breathlessness. Mesothelioma can also cause the accumulation of fluid in the lungs and chest wall leading to an edema called pleural. A pleural effusion can create pressure on the lungs, which can cause coughing and breathing difficulties.
Doctors can diagnose mesothelioma by looking over a patient's medical history and doing an exam. They may request chest X-rays to detect abnormalities like thickening of the lining of the lungs or fluid accumulation on the chest wall. They may also request a CT scan, MRI or PET scan to take a closer look at your lungs and other tissues. They can also remove any fluid that accumulates in the pleura, or the peritoneum through an ultrasound-guided aspiration procedure.
A biopsy can assist in determining the type of mesothelioma cell that is forming the tumor, and how fast it is growing. This will allow doctors to decide on the best treatment options. The three main mesothelioma types are radiation, surgery, and chemotherapy.
Prevention
Mesothelioma is not preventable, but you can minimize the chance of developing it by avoiding people who are exposed to asbestos and avoiding the area. Exposure to asbestos could cause lung cancer and other illnesses that affect organ linings. There are many types of mesothelioma, and some are more severe than others. Certain types of mesothelioma may be more manageable.
Asbestos is a group of minerals with microscopic fibers. Manufacturers used it in the construction industry as well as other industrial products without being aware of its potential dangers. Workers and veterans in blue collar jobs were particularly exposed to asbestos. Asbestos has been shown to be a risk and you shouldn't live in an old factory or work in it.
Consult your physician about regular screenings if your family has a past history of asbestos exposure. X-rays, CT or MRI scanners can identify problems in your abdomen or lungs. A biopsy can also identify an abnormality in the lining of your chest or stomach. Doctors can examine tissue samples from this area to determine whether you suffer from mesothelioma. There is a possibility that you have pleural mesothelioma that affects the lining of your lungs. Other types include pericardial, testicular or peritoneal.
After asbestos exposure, it can take many years before mesothelioma is diagnosed. Even then, it is difficult to identify. It often is misdiagnosed as another illness or condition like lung cancer, pneumonia, or bronchitis. This can hinder you from receiving the proper treatment. Researchers are working to improve diagnosis and develop tests that detect mesothelioma sooner. This could lead better treatments and a higher survival rate. The research involves genetic testing to identify those most likely develop mesothelioma.
