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Mesothelioma Diagnosis A doctor can diagnose mesothelioma through an examination and imaging tests as well as lab work. Doctors may also conduct an excision procedure to remove the tissues and examine them under microscope. A pleural biopsy can be performed by using chest X-rays or a CT scan to guide the needle into the lung lining. The procedure can be invasive and has a chance of revealing false-negative results. Diagnosis Mesothelioma is a rare type of cancer that is why it takes time to make an official diagnosis. Your doctor will begin by conducting a medical history and doing a physical exam to determine if there are any symptoms. They will also ask about any previous work you've done with asbestos. Exposure to asbestos is the number one factor that increases the risk of mesothelioma. The most common indication of mesothelioma is a fluid accumulation around the abdomen or around the lungs. These fluids are called the pleural effusion or ascites. Doctors test this fluid to see whether it is contaminated with cancer cells. A biopsy is the only method to determine mesothelioma. When a biopsy is performed doctors take a tiny part of the affected tissue to be tested in a lab. Under microscopes the mesothelioma will be examined to determine whether it is cancerous and which type of mesothelioma is it. Doctors may also use other tests to determine how far the cancer has spread. Your doctor will discuss with you your treatment options if mesothelioma has been identified. Your treatment will vary based on the location of the mesothelioma and the extent to which it has spread. The first treatment for mesothelioma that your doctor will recommend is typically chemotherapy or radiation. These treatments can shrink tumors and reduce symptoms, and also lessen pain. They can also help patients live longer. Before beginning treatment your doctor will talk to you about the diet you should follow. It is essential for patients to adhere to the right diet while they receive chemotherapy or radiation. The diet is important because it helps to prevent weight loss and malnutrition. Your doctor will schedule follow-up appointments once they have identified the best treatment for you. Your first appointment may be with a doctor who specializes in lung diseases (pulmonologist) or abdominal problems (gastroenterologist). The nurses and doctors you meet at these appointments are part of your mesothelioma multidisciplinary team. The team includes radiologists, who are experts in X-rays and oncologists, who are cancer specialists. The team meets every week to discuss your results from tests and plan your care. This team approach to mesothelioma treatment is the most effective way to ensure you receive the best treatment. Signs and symptoms The symptoms of mesothelioma differ depending on the location where the tumors are located within the body. For instance, patients with pleural mesothelioma can experience chest pain and breathlessness, while those with mesothelioma peritoneal may experience swelling in the abdomen or a feeling of bloating. The symptoms can also be influenced by how far the mesothelioma has spread. Mesothelioma patients who are in the final stages of the disease usually have more painful and severe symptoms. A physical examination is the first step in determining mesothelioma's diagnosis. A doctor will pay special attention to the parts of the body where patients are experiencing symptoms. Patients will be asked about their asbestos exposure history. A chest X-ray is one of the most commonly used tests to detect mesothelioma. The X-ray may reveal abnormal thickening or calcium deposits on the lung lining as well as fluid in the lung space (pleura) caused by mesothelioma. Other diagnostic tests include CT scan or an MRI. These tests can provide detailed images of the interior of the body. These images help doctors to locate mesothelioma and other cancerous or non-cancerous tumors. X-rays and MRIs can also aid doctors determine the stage of mesothelioma, which will help patients understand what they can expect regarding treatment options. Patients with severe symptoms should see their doctor right away. Make an appointment with mesothelioma specialists to ensure that the doctor can diagnose and treat your disease. Patients should bring a list with their symptoms to to ensure the doctor has all the details needed to make a precise diagnosis. Symptoms of mesothelioma can mimic the symptoms of other diseases, so it is often difficult for doctors to recognize the disease in its earliest stages. Mesothelioma is a rare type of cancer that affects fewer than 3000 people in the United States each year, and the majority of patients diagnosed are men who are over 50 years old. Asbestos fibers may become lodged in the airways of the lungs' smallest which can cause irritation and cell growth. Tumors can form. Mesothelioma can also be spread to the linings of organs, such as the heart, stomach and testicles. Treatment When mesothelioma in its earliest stages is discovered doctors can treat the disease to manage symptoms and prolong the duration of survival. The treatment plan will depend on the type of mesothelioma and its location and how fast the cancer is growing. It can be a challenge for doctors to identify mesothelioma due to the fact that the cells appear like other types of cancer. This can cause confusion. To make the diagnosis, doctors perform physical examinations and order imaging scans, like chest X-rays or CT scans, in order to look for abnormalities. They also collect a tissue sample, or biopsy, to test for mesothelioma cells in the body. For pleural mesothelioma surgery is usually the best option to relieve symptoms and increasing the chance of survival. Operations include an extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP) which eliminates the affected lung and a portion of the diaphragm, or a pleurectomy and decortication which removes the pleura, but not the entire lung. Surgery for peritoneal mesothelioma is not as frequent, but it can alleviate symptoms by draining the excess fluid from the chest cavity or abdomen. If mesothelioma is found out chemotherapy can be utilized to kill the cancer cells or slow their growth. Pemetrexed is one of the most frequently prescribed drugs. They are typically prescribed along with other treatments, including radiation and surgery. In some instances, the cancer can spread to other parts of your body. This may reduce the chance for a cure and impact the prognosis of a patient. If mesothelioma has spread, the doctor may recommend palliative treatment to improve the quality of life and relieve pain and other symptoms. This could involve a combination of treatments or an experimental drug. Alternative treatments such as yoga or acupuncture may provide relief from symptoms related to mesothelioma. Patients with mesothelioma should follow up with a doctor frequently to check how their treatment is progressing. There is no set schedule for follow-up appointments as every mesothelioma situation is different. However, a patient's doctor will work with them to create an appropriate follow-up schedule. If a patient is interested in taking part in a clinical study, they should consult their doctor about whether they are eligible. Prognosis Mesothelioma prognosis is based on various factors, including the stage and type of mesothelioma, a patient's overall health and age and how they react to treatment. A mesothelioma prognosis does not necessarily predict the length of time a patient will live, and a lot of patients have survived mesothelioma over decades. Doctors can help patients comprehend their mesothelioma prognosis and what it means for them personally. The mesothelioma diagnosis will tell a patient how they are likely to recover from the cancer, as well as their chances of recurrence, which can happen even years after the initial diagnosis. In general, the fitter a person is, the better their mesothelioma survival rates will be. People who have good overall health and normal haemoglobin levels tend to do better as do non-smokers. Mesothelioma is often caused by asbestos exposure. People who have been exposed to asbestos fibers during their work hours are more likely to develop the disease. Patients frequently experience adverse effects, like fatigue and pain, as well as weight loss. Palliative care is often recommended by doctors to reduce these symptoms, and to improve the quality of life for their patients. If the cancer hasn't progressed, surgery can be performed to remove the tumor. It isn't always successful and doesn't cure the patient however it can be effective in managing the symptoms of mesothelioma. Even if the cancer has spread to other organs, doctors can still reduce the size of the tumor by using chemotherapy or other medical treatment. Recurrence is common in mesothelioma, but the rate of recurrence is lower than with other types of cancer. It is important for patients to consult mesothelioma specialists and to find out as much as they can about the cancer. A mesothelioma doctor will also assess whether the patient is at a high or low chance of the cancer recurring depending on their mesothelioma stage and grade. Accident Injury Lawyers and grades of mesothelioma a patient has and the worse their chances of survival will be. This is because mesothelioma is more difficult to treat if it is back and has gotten worse.