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Mesothelioma Mesothelioma is a cancerous affliction that is caused by asbestos exposure is a naturally occurring cancer. The disease usually develops for 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 type of cancerous cell forms the tumor and its stage affects prognosis. What is mesothelioma? Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that develops in the mesothelium a thin layer of tissue linings organs within the body. It is caused by asbestos, a grouping of fibrous minerals. Exposure to asbestos usually occurs when people swallow or inhale stray asbestos fibers. The asbestos particles stick to the organ's lining and cause irritation, leading to tumors. Mesothelioma is identified when doctors examine the tumors and collect samples of the tissues, known as biopsy. Mesothelioma is classified by type depending on the type of cells seen in the tumours. The three types are epithelial sarcomatoid and biphasic mesothelioma. Epithelial mesothelioma is by far the most popular type which accounts for approximately 50 percent of all diagnoses. Sarcomatoid Mesothelioma accounts for 10% of all cases and has a poorer prognosis than the epithelial form. Biphasic Mesothelioma is a mixture of epithelial cells and sarcomatoid ones. It accounts for 30 to 40 percent of all diagnoses. The symptoms of mesothelioma can include breathing difficulties and chest pain as well as pain in the abdomen. These symptoms are similar to those experienced by other conditions, so it is important to see an expert if you are suffering from these symptoms. Treatment for mesothelioma can improve symptoms, slow tumour development and help patients live longer. Treatment options include surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Palliative care is available to patients, and helps manage pain and discomfort. Doctors continue to research ways to treat mesothelioma and how it expands. Immunotherapy is a new treatment that relies on your own immune system to fight cancer. This is an experimental treatment that has shown promise in certain mesothelioma patients. Patients can also try clinical trials, which are studies of new treatments. The majority of mesothelioma patients will be treated in specialist cancer centers where they can get access to doctors with experience treating the disease. Diagnosis A mesothelioma-related diagnosis is the first step to receive treatment that can prolong your life span. Your doctor will examine your medical history and symptoms to determine the type of mesothelioma you have. This is crucial because the three mesothelioma cell kinds respond differently to treatment. The first test your doctor might recommend is chest X-rays or CT scan. During the test, you will lie on a table as the X-ray machine or CT scan produces a detailed image of your chest and its surrounding organs. A small dose of dye, typically iodine, is usually administered prior to the procedure. The dye makes the tissue in your chest and abdomen lighter, which makes it easier to see. You may also be asked to take an exercise in breathing during this period of time. If these tests show the possibility of a tumor or a mass that could be cancerous, your doctor may order the procedure of a biopsy. A biopsy involves removing a sample of the mass or tumor either surgically or by inserting a needle into the area. The specimen is then examined under a microscope for mesothelioma. In some instances our experts use ultrasound to help find lymph nodes that have enlarged, which could be mesothelioma. This procedure is known as endobronchial Ultrasonography-guided needle biopsy, or EBNA. This procedure is carried out as an outpatient procedure, which means you can return home the same day. A mesothelioma expert will also be required to determine the stage of mesothelioma. The stages are determined by how much the cancer has spread and what kind of mesothelioma it is. Getting an accurate diagnosis from a mesothelioma specialist the best way to make sure that you get the right treatment. Treatment A patient's mesothelioma treatment program depends on how much the disease has advanced and their overall health. Patients with mesothelioma typically receive multimodal treatment that includes chemotherapy, surgery and radiation. The first step to treat mesothelioma is getting an examination of the body and informing the doctor about your previous exposure to asbestos. Doctors may also order imaging scans or blood tests to determine if mesothelioma is present and to rule out other diseases. These include CT (computerized tomography) scans; MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scans as well as FDG-PET (fluorodeoxyglucose Postron emission tomography) scans and mediastinoscopy (used to examine and test lymph nodes within the chest cavity). Surgery is a viable option for the majority of pleural mysothelioma cases. A patient may undergo a minimally invasive procedure known as video-assisted surgery (VAT) or a CT-guided needle biopsy. Both surgeries can alleviate symptoms and increase the lifespan of patients. Chemotherapy makes use of drugs to kill cancer cells and stop them from growing. It is a common mesothelioma treatment and can improve survival. It can be administered by intravenous drip (IV) or pill form. Radiation is a different mesothelioma treatment that kills cancer cells and shrink tumors. It can be administered at various stages of pleural mesothelioma, and also to ease pain and help patients live longer. In the last stages of mesothelioma doctors usually concentrate on reducing symptoms and extending the life of a patient for as long as possible. This type of treatment is called palliative treatment. Although the average mesothelioma survival rate is very low but there are a lot of survivors. For example paleontologist Stephen Jay Gould, who was diagnosed with mesothelioma of the peritoneal region in 1982, lived for an additional 20 years before dying from complications of another illness. Symptoms Mesothelioma may cause symptoms for months or even years before a diagnosis is made. Early symptoms could be mistaken for other ailments or ignored. If you experience any of these symptoms, it is important that you see your physician immediately. Your body's organs are wrapped in a tissue layer known as the mesothelium. This layer prevents them from colliding. Mesothelioma can affect the mesothelium cell that form the lining of several of your organs. The majority of cases of mesothelioma occur in the lining around your lungs, however it can also occur in the lining of your heart (pericardium) or abdomen (peritoneum) and within the lining surrounding your testicles (tunica vaginalis). The first symptoms of mesothelioma include chest pain, fatigue and breathlessness. Mesothelioma can also cause fluid to build up in the lungs and chest wall which can cause an edema called pleural. Pleural effusions can put pressure on the lungs, causing coughing and breathing difficulties. Doctors diagnose mesothelioma following a thorough medical exam and examining the patient's medical history. They may order chest Xrays to determine if there are any abnormalities, such as thickening in the lung's lining, or a buildup of fluid on the chest wall. They may also request an MRI, CT scan or PET scan to take more detailed pictures of the lung or other tissues within your body. They can also make use of ultrasound-guided needles for draining fluid from the peritoneum and pleura. phoenix mesothelioma lawsuit can identify which type of mesothelioma cells are making up the cancer and how they are growing. This will help doctors determine the best treatment options. The three most common mesothelioma types are radiation, surgery, and chemotherapy. The following is a list of preventatives. Mesothelioma is not preventable, but you can reduce your chance of developing it by avoiding people who are exposed to asbestos and avoiding the area. Exposure to asbestos can cause lung cancer and other illnesses that affect organ linings. There are many kinds of mesothelioma. Some are more serious than others. Some types of mesothelioma are easier to treat. Asbestos is an assortment of minerals with tiny microscopic fibers. It was used in industrial and construction products by companies who were not aware of the dangers. Blue-collar workers and veterans were particularly exposed to asbestos. Asbestos has been shown to be a danger and you shouldn't live in an old factory or work there. Talk to your doctor about regular screenings, especially if you have an antecedent background of asbestos exposure. X-rays as well as CT or MRI scans can help identify problems with your lungs and abdomen. A biopsy can help identify cancerous tissue in the stomach lining or chest. Doctors can then examine the tissue sample taken from the same area to determine if you have mesothelioma. You may have pleural mesothelioma which affects the lung's lining. Other types include peritoneal mesothelioma, pericardial mesothelioma or testicular mesothelioma. It could take years for mesothelioma cancer to develop following exposure to asbestos. Even if it does, it can be difficult to identify. It is often mistakenly diagnosed as a condition or illness such as lung cancer, pneumonia or bronchitis. This can prevent you getting the correct treatment. Researchers are working to improve the diagnosis and developing tests to detect mesothelioma earlier. This could lead to better treatment and a better survival rate. Genetic tests are used to determine those who are most likely to develop the disease.