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Mesothelioma Diagnosis A doctor can diagnose mesothelioma with a physical exam, imaging tests and laboratory tests. Doctors can also conduct a biopsy to remove tissues and examine them under a microscope. A pleural biopsy can be performed with a chest X-ray or a CT scan to guide the needle into the lung lining. The test can be invasive and has a chance of producing false-negative results. Diagnosis It can take time to identify mesothelioma since it is a rare type of cancer. Your doctor will start by conducting a medical history and doing a physical exam to determine if there are any indications. They will also ask you about any asbestos-related work you have done previously. Exposure to asbestos is the number one thing that increases the risk of mesothelioma. Often, the first sign of mesothelioma is the accumulation of fluid around the abdomen or around the lungs. These fluids are referred to as an ascites or pleural effusion. Doctors test the fluid to determine if it has any cancerous cells. A biopsy is the only way to diagnose mesothelioma. In a biopsy the doctor will remove a small portion of the affected tissue and test it in a lab. The mesothelioma cell is examined under microscopes to determine if they are cancerous and also the mesothelioma type. Doctors may also perform other tests to determine how far the cancer has spread. If mesothelioma has been diagnosed, your doctor will discuss treatment options with you. Your treatment will vary based on the location of the mesothelioma as well as how far it's spread. The doctor you see will typically suggest radiation or chemotherapy as the first option for mesothelioma. These treatments can shrink tumors, reduce symptoms and ease pain. They can also help patients live longer. Before starting treatment, your doctor will talk to you about the diet you should follow. It is crucial for patients to follow an appropriate diet when they undergo chemotherapy or radiation. Diet is essential to prevent weight loss and malnutrition. Once your doctor has determined which treatment is best for you, they'll arrange follow-up appointments. Your first appointment may be with a doctor who specializes in lung diseases (pulmonologist) or abdominal problems (gastroenterologist). The doctors and nurses you see at these appointments are part of your mesothelioma multidisciplinary team. They include X-ray specialists called radiologists as well as cancer specialists known as oncologists. The team meets weekly to discuss your results from tests and plan your treatment. This team approach to mesothelioma treatment is the most effective way to ensure that you get the best care. Signs and symptoms The symptoms of mesothelioma can vary depending on where the tumors are located in the body. For example, people with pleural mesothelioma may feel chest pain and breathlessness, while those with mesothelioma peritoneal may experience abdominal swelling or a feeling of bloating. The symptoms are also dependent on the extent to which mesothelioma has spread. Patients suffering from mesothelioma that is in its late stages usually experience more painful and severe symptoms. A physical examination is the initial step in determining mesothelioma's diagnosis. A doctor will pay particular attention to the parts of the body in which patients are suffering from symptoms. They will also inquire with patients about their experiences with exposure to asbestos. Chest Xrays are among the most commonly used methods to detect mesothelioma. The X-ray can show abnormal growth of calcium deposits or thickening of the lung lining and fluid in the space between the lungs (pleura) caused by mesothelioma. Other diagnostic tests include CT scan or an MRI. cleveland mesothelioma attorney can provide detailed images of the inside of the body and aid doctors in identifying mesothelioma as well as other non-cancerous and cancerous growths. X-rays and MRIs can also help doctors determine the stage of mesothelioma which will help patients understand what they can expect regarding treatment options. Patients with severe symptoms should consult their doctor immediately. It is important to make an appointment with a mesothelioma specialist to ensure the doctor can properly diagnose and treat the condition. Patients should bring a list of their symptoms to the appointment to ensure that the doctor has all the information necessary to make an accurate diagnosis. Symptoms of mesothelioma can mimic those of many other illnesses, so it is often difficult for doctors to recognize the condition at the earliest stages. Mesothelioma is a rare type of cancer, affects fewer than 3,000 Americans each year. The majority of people diagnosed are over the age of 50. Asbestos fibers can get lodged in lungs' smallest airways leading to irritation and growth of cells. Tumors may form. Mesothelioma can also be spread to the linings of other organs, such as the heart, stomach and testicles. Treatment If mesothelioma is discovered in its early stages doctors can treat it to reduce symptoms and prolong the life span. The treatment plan is determined by the type of cancer, its location, and the speed at which it is growing. It can be difficult for doctors to identify mesothelioma since the cells appear identical to other forms of cancer. This can lead to confusion. To make the diagnosis, doctors perform an examination and request imaging scans, like chest X-rays and CT scans, to look for any abnormalities. They also take a sample of tissue, also known as a biopsy, in order to test for mesothelioma cancer cells. For pleural mesothelioma, surgery is often the best option to relieve symptoms and improving survival. Extrapleural pneumonectomy that removes parts of the diaphragm and the affected lung or a pleurectomy that includes decortication which removes only the pleura, but not the whole lung, are two common procedures. Surgery for peritoneal mesothelioma may be less frequent, but it can alleviate symptoms by draining fluid accumulation from the chest cavity or abdomen. Chemotherapy is a method to slow the growth of cancerous cells or kill them once mesothelioma is identified. Pemetrexed is among the most frequently prescribed medications. These are usually given alongside other treatments, such as radiation and surgery. In some cases the cancer can be spread to other parts of your body. This can impact the prognosis of the patient and decrease the chance of finding a cure. If mesothelioma has spread, the doctor may recommend palliative care to improve quality of life and ease pain and other symptoms. This could include a trial of an experimental drug or the combination of treatments. Patients can also get relief from mesothelioma related symptoms through alternative treatments such as acupuncture and yoga. Patients with mesothelioma should check up with a doctor frequently to check how their treatment is going. There is no standard schedule of follow-up appointments because every mesothelioma situation is unique. The doctor will collaborate with the patient to develop a schedule for follow-up visits. If a patient is interested in taking part in a clinical study, they should consult their doctor regarding the their eligibility. Prognosis Mesothelioma prognosis is determined by many factors, including stage and type of mesothelioma as well as the patient's general health and age, and how they respond to treatment. A mesothelioma diagnosis doesn't predict how long someone will live. Many people have suffered from mesothelioma for many years. Doctors can help patients understand their mesothelioma prognosis as well as what it means for them personally. The mesothelioma prognosis will inform the patient how likely they are of regaining their health from the cancer, and whether they are at risk of recurrence. It can happen many years after the initial diagnosis. In general, the fitter a person is, the higher their mesothelioma-related survival rates will be. People who are in good overall health and normal hemoglobin levels tend to be healthier, as do non-smokers. Mesothelioma can be caused by exposure to asbestos, and those who have been exposed to the fibres while at work are at a greater chance of developing the disease. Mesothelioma can be a tough cancer to treat, and patients are often faced with adverse effects like weight loss, fatigue and pain. The use of palliative treatment is advised by doctors to decrease these symptoms, and to improve the quality of life for their patients. If the cancer isn't spreading, surgery could be carried out 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 when the cancer has spread to other organs, doctors are able to reduce the size of the tumour by using chemotherapy or other treatment options. Recurrence of mesothelioma is common however it is not as frequent than other kinds. It is crucial for patients to work with mesothelioma specialists, and to get as much information as possible about the cancer. A mesothelioma specialist will also consider whether the patient is at a high or low risk of cancer recurring based on their mesothelioma staging and grade. The worse a patient's prognosis is, the higher mesothelioma-related stages and grades they have. This is because the cancer can be harder to treat if it is back and has gotten worse.