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Mesothelioma Mesothelioma is a cancerous disease caused by asbestos exposure, is a naturally occurring type of cancer. The disease usually develops several decades after exposure. The treatment for mesothelioma is chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery. Treatment can help patients live longer. There are three kinds of mesothelioma. The stage and the type of cells that compose the tumor affect the prognosis. What is mesothelioma? Mesothelioma can be described as a cancer that forms in the mesothelium, a thin layer of tissue that lines internal organs. It is caused by asbestos, which is a grouping of fibrous minerals. The most common exposure to asbestos occurs when people inhale or swallow asbestos fibers. The asbestos particles stick to the lining of organs and can cause irritation, leading to tumors. Mesothelioma is identified when doctors examine the tumors and take a sample of tissue, called biopsy. Mesothelioma can be classified based on what type of cells are identified in the tumors. The three types of mesothelioma are epithelial (also known as sarcomatoid) triphasic, biphasic and sarcomatoid. Epithelial mesothelioma has the highest common type, accounting for around 50 percent of all diagnoses. Sarcomatoid mesothelioma accounts for 10 percent of cases and has a worse prognosis than epithelial mesothelioma. Biphasic Mesothelioma is a mixture of epithelial cells and sarcomatoid. It accounts for 30 to 40 percent of all diagnoses. Mesothelioma symptoms include abdominal pain, chest pain and breathing difficulties. These symptoms are similar to those experienced by other conditions, so it is essential to consult your doctor if you suffer from them. Treatment for mesothelioma may reduce symptoms, slow tumour growth and allow patients to live longer. Treatment options include chemotherapy, radiation therapy and surgery. Palliative care is accessible to patients, and helps alleviate discomfort and pain. Doctors are still looking for ways to treat mesothelioma, and how it spreads. Immunotherapy is a novel treatment that uses your own immune system to fight cancer. This experimental treatment has shown promise in some mesothelioma cases. Patients may also participate in clinical trials, which are studies of new treatments. Patients with mesothelioma are often treated in cancer centers that have doctors who treat the condition. Diagnosis A mesothelioma diagnosis can be the first step towards receiving treatment that could prolong your life span. Your doctor will analyze your medical history and symptoms to determine the type of mesothelioma you are suffering from. This is crucial because the three mesothelioma primary cell types respond differently to treatment. Your doctor might recommend an X-ray chest scan or CT scan as the first test. During the test, you will lie on a table as the X-ray machine or CT scan creates a detailed image of your chest and the surrounding organs. A small dose of dye, typically iodine, is typically administered prior the procedure. The dye makes the tissue in your chest or abdomen lighter and easier to observe. During this time, you may be asked to complete a breathing test. If these tests show a possible cancerous tumor or mass your doctor will likely order an examination for biopsy. A biopsy is the removal of a sample from the tumor or mass through surgery or by inserting a needle into the site. The sample is examined under a microscope for mesothelioma. In certain cases our specialists employ ultrasound to find enlarged lymph nodes that could be mesothelioma. This procedure is known as endobronchial Ultrasonography-guided needle biopsy, or EBNA. It is performed as an outpatient procedure, so you can go home the same day. A mesothelioma specialist will also require the stage of the disease. The stages are determined by the extent to which the cancer has spread, and also which type of mesothelioma it is. A mesothelioma specialist can provide you with a reliable diagnosis to ensure that you receive the correct treatment. Treatment The treatment plan of mesothelioma patients is determined by the severity of the disease and their general health. Patients who have mesothelioma usually receive multimodal treatments, which include surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. The first step to treat mesothelioma is to undergo an examination of the body and informing the doctor about your previous exposure to asbestos. Doctors can also request blood tests or imaging scans to check for mesothelioma, and rule out any other conditions. These include CT (computerized Tomography) scans, MRI (magnetic-resonance imaging) scans FDG-PET scans (fluorodeoxyglucose Postron emission 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 surgery (VAT) or a CT-guided needle biopsy. Both surgeries can boost the patient's life expectancy as well as reduce the symptoms. Chemotherapy is a therapy that makes use of drugs to end cancerous cells and prevent them from expanding. It is a standard treatment for mesothelioma and can prolong the survival of patients. It is available in intravenous (IV) drip or in pill form. Radiation is a different mesothelioma treatment that can kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. It can be given at various stages of pleural mesothelioma as well as to relieve discomfort and allow patients to live longer. In the latter stages of mesothelioma patients, doctors typically concentrate on controlling symptoms and prolonging a patient's life for as long as they can. This kind of treatment is called palliative treatment. While the mesothelioma-related survival rate is very low but there are a lot of survivors. For instance paleontologist Stephen Jay Gould, who was diagnosed with mesothelioma of the peritoneal region in 1982, lived for another 20 years before passing away from complications from another illness. Symptoms Many people suffering from mesothelioma show symptoms for months or even years before they are diagnosed. Early symptoms may be misinterpreted as other illnesses or overlooked. However, if you have any of these symptoms, it is crucial to see your doctor right away. The organs in your body are covered in mesothelium, which is a layer of skin. This layer prevents them from touching each and rubbing against each other. Mesothelioma is a disease that affects the mesothel which form the lining of a number of your organs. The majority of cases of mesothelioma start in the lining that surrounds your lungs. However, it can also occur in the lining of your heart (pericardium) or abdomen (peritoneum) and in the lining of your testicles (tunica vaginalis). The first signs of mesothelioma are often breathlessness and chest pain as well as fatigue. Mesothelioma can also cause swelling of the chest wall or lungs, resulting in an effusion in the pleura. Pleural effusions can put pressure on the lungs, which can cause difficulty breathing and a cough. Doctors diagnose mesothelioma after a thorough medical examination and a review of the patient's medical history. They may ask for chest X-rays which may reveal abnormalities like thickening of the lung lining or a buildup of fluid in the chest wall. They can also order a CT scan, MRI or PET scan to take a closer look at your lungs and other tissues. They may also eliminate any fluid that has accumulated in the pleura, or the peritoneum with an ultrasound-guided needle aspiration procedure. A biopsy will reveal what mesothelioma types are making up the cancer and how they are growing. This can help doctors decide on the best treatment options. The three mesothelioma types are radiation, surgery and chemotherapy. Prevention Mesothelioma is not preventable, but you can reduce the risk by avoiding people who are exposed to asbestos and staying away. Exposure to asbestos can lead to lung cancer, as well as other diseases that affect the organ linings. There are a variety of mesothelioma types and some are more severe than others. Certain types are more straightforward to treat than others. Asbestos is one of the minerals that contain tiny microscopic fibers. It was used in construction and industrial products by manufacturers who were not aware of its dangers. Blue-collar workers and veterans were especially exposed to asbestos. Asbestos has been proven to be dangerous and you should never reside in a residence or work in an old factory that has asbestos. Consult your physician about regular screenings, especially if you have an antecedent background of asbestos exposure. X-rays, CT or MRI scanners can detect problems in your abdomen or lungs. A biopsy may also reveal the presence of a tumor in the chest or stomach. Doctors can analyze tissue samples from this area to determine if you have mesothelioma. It is possible that you have pleural mysothelioma that affects the lining of your lungs. Other kinds include peritoneal melanoma, pericardial mesothelioma or testicular mesothelioma. lafayette mesothelioma attorney can take a long time for mesothelioma to develop after exposure to asbestos. Even then, it can be difficult to identify. It is often mistakenly diagnosed with other diseases or conditions like pneumonia, bronchitis, or cancer. This can hinder you from getting the right treatment. Researchers are trying to improve diagnosis and design tests that detect mesothelioma earlier. This could lead to better treatments and a greater survival rate. Genetic tests are used to determine the people most likely to develop the disease.