What is Mesothelioma?

The diagnosis of mesothelioma may be overwhelming. It's normal to feel shocked, upset and confused.

Pleural mesothelioma is a cancer of the pleura which surrounds the lungs and chest wall. This cancer causes fluid buildup in the lungs and makes breathing difficult.

Asbestos exposure is the most common cause of mesothelioma. At risk are people who have been exposed to asbestos, or resided with someone who has.

What is Mesothelioma?

The mesothelioma cancerous form forms on the lining of the tissue, or mesothelium. The mesothelium lining covers and protects the majority of organs of your body, including your heart, chest and abdomen. It has two layers that create a sac around inner layer of your organs, and it is separated by fluid to permit organs to move freely. Mesothelioma cells become malignant, or cancerous, and expand into and destroy nearby tissues. They can also spread to other areas of your body (metastasize).

The people who are at the highest risk of developing mesothelioma include those who have been exposed to asbestos legal while at work. Asbestos workers are plumbers, electricians, welders, asbestos miners, and auto industry workers. The risk is higher for those who live or work near asbestos-related facilities, such as factories and power plants. People diagnosed with mesothelioma have been exposed to asbestos for between 20 and 60 years before their illness manifests.

Pleural mesothelioma occurs most commonly in the lining of the lungs. This type of mesothelioma can cause chest pain, difficulty breathing and weight loss. It is typically found in the lungs, but it can also affect the heart or asbestos stomach. People with peritoneal mesothelioma a rare form of the disease that affects the abdominal lining cavity, can feel pain in the belly and abdomen, and difficulty eating.

Other types of mesothelioma are mesothelioma pericardial as well as tunica vaginal both of which are found in the tissue that surrounds the tissues of the chest, abdomen or testicles,. These types of mesothelioma often are not diagnosed, and have lower survival rates than other forms of the disease.

The prognosis for mesothelioma is based on the type, location and stage of the disease at the time of diagnosis as well in the general health status. Some patients are treated successfully with surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. Other patients with mesothelioma more advanced may receive experimental treatments like immunotherapy or gene therapy. In any case the treatment options available could dramatically increase a person's life duration.

Symptoms

Mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer, typically occurs in the chest cavity or abdomen. The cancer is caused by asbestos, which was used in shipbuilding, construction and energy generation as well as home renovations up until it was banned in 1970. The exposure to asbestos is mostly due to working in the asbestos-related field. However, those who have cleaned work clothes with asbestos fibers or disturbed asbestos when renovating their homes are at risk of developing mesothelioma.

The majority of patients with mesothelioma experience general symptoms, like fatigue or weight loss, coughing with a change in pattern or intensity, chest pain and the list goes on. These symptoms may be the result of a variety of conditions, so patients should always consult their doctor regarding their symptoms. It is also important to tell their doctor if they've been exposed to asbestos.

In pleural mesothelioma symptoms often occur as a result of the tumor that causes fluid build-up in the space around the lung. This build-up, known as a pleural effusion, causes pressure on the lungs and can make breathing difficult. The volume of fluid in the pleural cavity is important in reducing breathlessness.

Other symptoms of Mesothelioma include an increase in temperature, night sweats and abdominal pain. The body's temperature rises as it fights against the disease. This can cause a fever. The body attempts to cool itself down by producing night sweats in response to the temperature. These symptoms are indicators that cancer is advancing and causing stress on the body.

The less common mesothelioma symptoms are an abdominal swelling and fatigue as well as difficulty walking. Mesothelioma can also affect the tissue surrounding the heart, causing problems with breathing and chest pain. Mesothelioma can also develop in the tissue that covers the testicles. This can result in swelling or lumps.

Mesothelioma can be difficult detect early since it is extremely rare. The signs of mesothelioma may be misinterpreted as other ailments, including pneumonia or the flu. Because of this, mesothelioma symptoms may take from months or even years to manifest before they are properly diagnosed.

Diagnosis

Mesothelioma is a challenging cancer to diagnose. Doctors must rule out other health conditions with similar symptoms before diagnosing mesothelioma. After they have completed this, they will be able to determine the best treatment for you.

The first step to mesothelioma diagnosis is to have your doctor inquire about your symptoms and perform a an examination. Your doctor might also recommend blood tests to see how well your organs are functioning. One of these tests is a complete blood count (CBC) which examines the amount of red and white blood cells, how your liver and kidneys are working, and other vital information. These tests can reveal mesothelioma, but it is difficult to identify because they appear similar to normal cells.

If your doctor suspects that you have mesothelioma they will likely request imaging tests to find the location and size of any growth or fluid in the lungs or abdomen. The most common test is a chest x-ray. If the test does not reveal any abnormalities, your doctor may recommend more specific tests, like a CT or MRI.

These tests offer high-resolution images of the body by a combination of magnetic fields and radio waves to create a series of precise images. They can detect fluid and thickening in the peritoneum and pleura which could be a sign of mesothelioma. A CT scan can identify other health issues such as pneumonia or a lung infection.

A biopsy can help doctors get an idea of the type of cancer you have. This is the only way to diagnose mesothelioma. The samples are analyzed with a magnifying glass in order to determine the type of mesothelioma and the extent of the cancer's spread.

Certain doctors inject dye into a vein, or perform other tests to identify the site of the cancer. This is called staging the mesothelioma. This helps doctors determine how far the tumor has grown and the severity.

Treatment

Mesothelioma develops in the cells that line the lung and other organs. These cells can grow rapidly, forming tumors. The cancer can spread because the cells aren't able to respond to signals that prevent them from growing too quickly. It may also infiltrate blood vessels that supply the lungs with oxygen. This can make breathing difficult and trigger a cough.

Doctors diagnose mesothelioma by examining the symptoms of an individual and their history of exposure to asbestos. They may also order imaging tests and other lab tests to help detect tumors. Chest X-rays, for instance can be used to look for lung changes, including pleural thickening and pleural effusion (fluid build-up). They may also order CT scans, MRI and an PET scan to determine where the tumors are located and to determine how much mesothelioma has gotten bigger. They can also draw fluid from the lung (called a Thoracentesis) to test for mesothelioma and relieve pressure on the lungs caused by the accumulation of fluid.

Once mesothelioma is diagnosed, doctors can plan treatment to manage the disease. It is important to discuss your goals for treatment with your mesothelioma specialist. Some patients require aggressive treatment to prolong their life and improve their chances of survival, whereas others are comfortable with moderate treatment to lessen pain, nausea and other side effects.

The treatment options for mesothelioma are chemotherapy, surgery and radiation. The type of treatment an individual receives is determined by the stage of their mesothelioma settlement and whether or not it is composed of epithelioid or sarcomatoid cells. The epithelioid cells are easier to remove through surgery and has a better chance of success than the sarcomatoid. Certain patients have a combination of both kinds, and they usually have poorer outcomes than patients with only epithelioid mesothelioma.

After completing treatment after treatment, it is essential to keep in touch with your mesothelioma specialist regularly. This can prevent the cancer from returning. If it occurs again in the future, your mesothelioma specialists will create an entirely new treatment strategy.

Some patients with mesothelioma are enrolled in clinical trials to test new treatments. Clinical trials let patients get access to cutting-edge therapies that have not yet been approved for general use.