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Mesothelioma Mesothelioma, a cancerous condition caused by asbestos exposure is a natural-occurring cancer. The disease is usually diagnosed several decades after exposure. Doctors treat mesothelioma with chemotherapy, radiation and surgery. Treatment can help patients live longer. There are three types. The type of cell forms the tumor and the stage of the tumor affects the prognosis. What is mesothelioma? Mesothelioma, a form of cancer, develops in the mesothelium thin layer of tissue is the lining of internal organs. It is caused by asbestos, a grouping of fibrous minerals. The exposure to asbestos typically occurs when people inhale or swallow stray asbestos fibers. The asbestos particles stick to the organ's linings they irritate and cause tumors. Mesothelioma is diagnosed when doctors look at the tumors and collect an x-ray of the tissue, called a biopsy. Mesothelioma can be classified according to the type of cells are found in the tumors. The three types of mesothelioma are epithelial (also called sarcomatoid) biphasic, sarcomatoid, and epithelial. Epithelial Mesothelioma accounts for about 50% of all diagnoses. Sarcomatoid mesothelioma represents 10 percent of all cases, and has a worse prognosis than the epithelial form. Biphasic Mesothelioma is a mix of epithelial cells and sarcomatoid. indiana mesothelioma lawsuit accounts for 30-40% of all diagnoses. Mesothelioma symptoms include chest pain, abdominal discomfort and breathing difficulties. These symptoms are similar to those experienced by other diseases, so it is imperative to see the doctor if you experience them. Treatment for mesothelioma can improve symptoms, slow tumour growth and prolong the lives of patients. Treatment options include radiation therapy, chemotherapy and surgery. Palliative care is offered to patients and can help alleviate discomfort and pain. Doctors continue to study ways to treat mesothelioma, and how it grows. The latest treatments include immunotherapy, which relies on your body's immune system to fight cancer. This is an experimental treatment that has shown promise for some mesothelioma patients. Patients may also participate in clinical trials, which are research studies of new therapies. Most often, mesothelioma patients get treated at specialist cancer centers where they are able to consult with doctors who are experienced in treating the condition. Diagnosis A mesothelioma-related diagnosis is the first step towards receiving treatment that will prolong your life span. Your doctor will examine your symptoms and medical history to determine the type of mesothelioma that you have. This is important because the three primary mesothelioma cell types respond differently to treatment. Your doctor may recommend an X-ray of the chest or CT scan as the initial test. During this test, you lie on a table as the X-ray or CT machine takes a clear picture of your chest and the surrounding organs. Before the procedure, a small injection of dye, typically iodine is given. This will make the tissue in your chest and abdomen lighter, which makes it easier to observe. During this period, you might be asked to perform a breathing test. If these tests show an indication of a tumor or mass that is cancerous, your doctor may decide to take an examination for biopsy. A biopsy is the process of removing samples from the tumor or mass via surgery or by inserting an needle into the site. The specimen is then analyzed under a microscope in order to look for mesothelioma cell. In certain instances our specialists employ ultrasound to find lymph nodes with enlarged lymphatic vessels that could be mesothelioma. This procedure is called endobronchial ultrasound-guided aspiration, also known as EBNA. It is done on an outpatient basis so you can return home the same day. A mesothelioma specialist will also need to know your stage of the cancer. The stages are determined based on how far the cancer has spread, and the kind of mesothelioma you are suffering from. A mesothelioma expert can give you a precise diagnosis to ensure you receive the appropriate treatment. Treatment The treatment plan for mesothelioma patients is based on how far the disease has advanced and their overall health. Mesothelioma patients typically receive multimodal therapy which is a combination of chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation. The first step in treating mesothelioma is to undergo an examination of the body and informing the doctor about any previous exposure to asbestos. Doctors will also order imaging scans and blood tests to detect mesothelioma and rule out other illnesses. These include CT (computerized Tomography) scans, MRI (magnetic-resonance imaging) scans FDG-PET scans (fluorodeoxyglucose Postron emission Tomography) and mediastinoscopy. The majority of mesothelioma pleural cases are treated surgically. Patients can undergo a minimally-invasive procedure called video-assisted surgery (VAT) or a CT-guided needle biopsy. Both surgeries can help reduce symptoms and increase a patient's life expectancy. Chemotherapy utilizes drugs to kill cancerous cells and stop them from advancing. It is a common mesothelioma treatment and can prolong the time of treatment. It is available in intravenous (IV) drip or pill form. Radiation therapy is a mesothelioma treatment which can shrink tumors and kill cancerous cells. It is used to treat pleural cancer in various stages, and to reduce pain and prolong the life of patients. In the last stages of mesothelioma treatment, doctors concentrate on reducing symptoms to extend the lifespan of a patient as long as is feasible. Palliative care is a term used to describe the goal of this type of treatment. Despite the low survival rate of mesothelioma cancer, there are still a lot of survivors. For instance paleontologist Stephen Jay Gould, who was diagnosed with peritoneal mesothelioma in 1982, remained alive for 20 years before he died from complications of another illness. Symptoms Mesothelioma may cause symptoms for months or even years before the diagnosis is made. The initial symptoms are similar to those experienced by other illnesses, and it is easy to overlook or misinterpret them for minor illnesses. If you experience any of these symptoms it is essential to consult your doctor immediately. The organs of your body are wrapped in a layer of tissue known as mesothelium. This layer stops them from coming into contact. Mesothelioma is a cancer that affects mesothelium, which is the cells that line your organs. The lining of your lung is the most frequent area where mesothelioma first appears. However, it could develop in the heart (pericardium) and abdomen (peritoneum), or the skin around your testicles (tunica vulginalis). The first signs of mesothelioma are often breathlessness or chest pain, as well as fatigue. Mesothelioma can also cause fluid to accumulate in the lungs and chest wall and cause an edema called pleural. A pleural effusion can place pressure on the lungs causing coughing and difficulty breathing. Doctors diagnose mesothelioma after taking an individual's medical history before conducting an examination. They may order chest Xrays to look for signs of abnormalities like thickening of the lung's lining or a buildup of fluid on the chest wall. You can also request a CT scan, MRI or PET scan to take a closer look at your lungs as well as other tissues. They may also eliminate any fluid that has accumulated in the pleura, or the peritoneum through an ultrasound-guided aspiration procedure. A biopsy can assist in determining the type of mesothelioma cell that is forming the tumor and the rate at which it is growing. This can help doctors determine the most effective treatment options. The three options of chemotherapy, radiation and surgery are the three main types of mesothelioma treatment that are commonly used. The following is a list with preventions. Mesothelioma is not preventable however you can reduce the risk by not consuming asbestos and staying away from those who suffer from it. Exposure to asbestos could cause lung cancer and other illnesses that affect the lining of specific organs. There are a variety of mesothelioma types, and some of them are more serious than others. Certain types of mesothelioma may be easier to treat. Asbestos is an assortment of minerals that are made up of thin microscopic fibers. Manufacturers employed it in construction and other industrial products, without knowing about the dangers it poses. Workers and veterans in blue collar jobs were the most susceptible to asbestos. Asbestos has been proven to be hazardous and you shouldn't live in an old factory or work in it. Talk to your doctor about regular screenings if your family has an earlier exposure to asbestos. X-rays, CT or MRI scanners can detect problems in your lungs, abdomen or stomach. A biopsy may also help identify an abnormality in the chest or stomach. Doctors can test tissue samples from this area to determine if you suffer from mesothelioma. There is a possibility that you have pleural mesothelioma, which affects the lung's lining. Other types include pericardial, testicular or the peritoneal. After asbestos exposure, it can take many years before mesothelioma is diagnosed. Even then, it can be difficult to determine. It is often mistakenly diagnosed with other diseases or conditions like pneumonia, bronchitis or lung cancer. This can mean that you are not getting the right treatment. Researchers are working to improve the diagnosis of cancer and developing tests to detect mesothelioma sooner. This could lead better treatments and a greater survival rate. Genetic tests are used to identify those most likely to develop the disease.