Mesothelioma: The Good The Bad And The Ugly
What is Mesothelioma?
The diagnosis of mesothelioma may be overwhelming. It's normal to be shocked or confused, and even upset.
The pleura, which surrounds the lungs and chest wall, is afflicted by mesothelioma of the pleural region. The cancer causes the accumulation of fluid in the lung and makes it difficult to breathe.
Asbestos exposure is the most common cause of mesothelioma. People who worked with asbestos or lived with someone who did are at risk.
What is Mesothelioma?
Mesothelioma is a cancer that is found in the tissues' lining, called the mesothelium. The mesothelium lining covers and protects the majority of organs of your body including your heart, chest and abdomen. It has 2 layers that create a sac around the inner layer of your organs, and is separated by fluids to allow organs to move freely. Mesothelioma cells become malignant, or cancerous, and they grow into and destroy surrounding tissues. They can also spread to other areas of your body (metastasize).
People who are the most at risk of developing mesothelioma include those who have been exposed to asbestos at work. Asbestos workers include builders plumbers, electricians, welders, asbestos miners, auto industry workers, and many more. People who lived or worked near asbestos plants, such as factories and power plants are also at risk. Patients diagnosed with mesothelioma litigation are typically exposed to asbestos for between 20 and 60 years prior to the time their illness appears.
Pleural mesothelioma can be found most often in the lung lining. This type of mesothelioma may cause chest pain, breathing problems and weight loss. It usually occurs in the lungs, but can also affect the stomach or the heart. Peritoneal mesothelioma can be a rare type of the disease that affects the lining of the abdominal cavity. It can cause pain and difficulty eating.
The pericardial mesothelioma as well as the tunica vaginalis are two other types of mesothelioma. Both of them are found in the tissues that cover the linings of the chest, abdomen or testicles. These types of mesothelioma typically go undiagnosed, and they have lower survival rates than other types of the disease.
The prognosis of mesothelioma depends on the type, location and stage of the disease at the time of diagnosis as well as the general health condition. Certain patients are successfully treated with surgery, chemo and radiation. Patients who have advanced mesothelioma can receive experimental treatments such as gene therapy or immunotherapy. In any case, treatment options can enhance the patient's life span.
Signs and symptoms
Mesothelioma is a rare cancer that most often occurs in the lining of the chest or abdominal cavity. It is caused by exposure to asbestos, which is a heat and fire-resistant mineral that was used in insulation, construction ships power generation, as well as home renovations prior to being banned in the 1970s. Exposure is primarily due to working in the asbestos industry, but those who have cleaned up the workwear with asbestos fibres or disturbed asbestos in home renovations may also be at risk of developing mesothelioma.
The majority of patients with mesothelioma suffer from general symptoms, such as fatigue or weight loss, coughing that has a change in pattern or intensity, chest pain, and so on. These symptoms may be caused by a number of ailments, and patients should always consult their doctor about them. They should also be sure to inform their doctor if they've been exposed to asbestos.
In pleural asbestosis, symptoms are usually caused by the tumor that causes fluid to accumulate within the area around the lung. The build-up of fluid, which is called a "pleural effusion" is a source of pressure on the lungs, which makes breathing difficult. Controlling the amount of fluid in the pleural cavity can improve breathlessness.
Other signs of mesothelioma are a fever, night sweats, and abdominal pain. The body's temperature rises as it fights against the disease. This is what causes the fever. The night sweats are an ailment to the fever and an attempt by the body to get cool. These symptoms are indicators that cancer is advancing and is causing stress to the body.
Less frequent mesothelioma signs include an abdominal swelling, fatigue and difficulty walking. Mesothelioma can also affect the tissue that surrounds the heart, causing difficulty breathing and chest pain. Mesothelioma may also grow in the membrane that covers the testicles. This can result in swelling or a lump.
Mesothelioma can be difficult to detect early because it is extremely rare. The symptoms of mesothelioma can be misinterpreted as other diseases, such as pneumonia or the flu. Mesothelioma can last for up to years before symptoms are recognized.
Diagnosis
Mesothelioma is a difficult cancer to detect. Doctors must determine if there are other health conditions that have similar symptoms prior to diagnosing mesothelioma. Once they have done this, they are able to determine the best treatment option for you.
Your doctor will inquire about your symptoms and conduct a physical exam. Your doctor might order blood tests to determine the efficiency of your organs. A complete blood count (CBC), which examines the number of red and white blood cells, as well as how your liver and kidneys are functioning, is a common test. These blood tests can detect mesothelioma. However, it's difficult to recognize them due to their similarity to normal cells.
If your doctor suspects you have mesothelioma, they'll likely request imaging tests to find the location and size of any growth or fluid that is forming around the lungs or abdomen. A chest radiograph is the most commonly used test, but if it doesn't reveal any abnormalities, doctors may request more thorough tests, such as an CT scan or an MRI.
These tests create detailed images of the body by combining radio waves with powerful magnets. They can detect thickening or asbestos fluid of the peritoneum or pleura which can indicate mesothelioma. A CT scan can also reveal other health problems such as a lung infection or pneumonia.
Doctors may be able to determine the type of mesothelioma you have by examining a sample of your tissue taken during a biopsy. This is the only certain way to diagnose mesothelioma. The samples are examined under a magnifying lens to determine the type of mesothelioma, as well as the extent of the cancer's spread.
Some doctors may inject a dye into a vein or perform other tests to pinpoint the area in which the cancer is. This is called staging the mesothelioma. This helps doctors determine how much the tumor has grown and the severity.
Treatment
Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that develops in the lung's cells and organs. These cells can grow uncontrollably, forming tumors. The cancer can spread because the cells don't respond to signals that stop their growth from speeding up. It can also invade blood vessels that supply the lungs with oxygen. This can result in breathing problems and a cough.
Doctors diagnose mesothelioma by looking at an individual's symptoms and history of asbestos exposure. They may also order imaging tests and other lab tests in order to find and detect tumors. For instance, doctors may employ chest X-rays in order to look for changes in the lungs, such as pleural thickening or the pleural effusion, which is a build-up of fluid. They may also order CT scans, an MRI and a PET scan to determine the location of the tumors and determine how far mesothelioma is spreading. They may also take fluid from the lungs (called a Thoracentesis) to test for mesothelioma and to relieve pressure on the lung caused by fluid accumulation.
Once a mesothelioma-related diagnosis is confirmed, doctors can begin planning treatment options to manage the disease. It is essential to discuss your treatment goals with a mesothelioma specialist. Some patients prefer aggressive treatment to improve their survival and prolong their lives, while others prefer a less aggressive method of reducing side effects, such as nausea and pain.
Mesothelioma treatment options include radiation, surgery, and chemotherapy. The kind of treatment a patient receives depends on the stage of mesothelioma and whether it's composed of epithelioid or sarcomatoid cell. Epithelioid mesothelioid cancer cells are more straightforward to remove via surgery, and they have better outcomes than the sarcomatoid cells. Some patients are a mix of both kinds, and they usually have poorer outcomes than those who have only epithelioid mesothelioma.
After completing treatment after treatment, it is essential to follow up with your mesothelioma physician regularly. This will help to prevent the cancer from recurring. If it recurrs, your mesothelioma team will create a new treatment strategy.
Patients with mesothelioma may enroll in clinical trials to test new treatments. Clinical trials give people access to advanced treatments that aren't yet approved for general use.
