Mesothelioma Cancer
Most commonly, mesothelioma begins in the tissue layers that cover each lung. It may also start in the lining of the stomach or heart, called the peritoneum.
A diagnosis of mesothelioma can be confusing and frightening. You can manage your treatment if you work closely with your physician and get more details.
Symptoms
Mesothelioma is a form of cancer that affects the mesothelium, a thin layer of tissue that covers and protects organs inside the body. It is most commonly located in the lining of the lungs (pleura) or in the membrane lining the abdomen (peritoneum). Mesothelioma can be described as a cancerous tumor that develops when cells that are normally benign develop into cancerous after exposure to asbestos.
The majority of patients with mesothelioma suffer many symptoms, with some of the most frequent being chest pain shortness of breath, chest pain, and coughing. These symptoms can be misinterpreted as pneumonia, particularly in the beginning stages.
Other symptoms include fatigue, fever and an unproven loss of weight. These symptoms can be caused by the tumor or cancer spreading to other areas of the body, such as to the gastrointestinal tract or the heart.
Imaging tests such as X-rays, CT scans, and biopsy tests can be used to diagnose mesothelioma. A biopsy is a process in which the needle is inserted into the affected area and a small amount of mesothelium is collected for testing.
The results of the biopsy can be used to determine if you are suffering from mesothelioma, and what kind it is. It also helps doctors determine the best treatment plan for you.
A biopsy is usually done under local anesthesia or sedation. Other methods are also available to obtain a tissue sample depending on your health and the area of the cancer.
In addition there are a variety of treatments that can help alleviate symptoms and improve your quality of life, such as palliative treatment. The aim of this treatment is to relieve your discomfort, fatigue, and pain, as well as other symptoms that are associated with mesothelioma.
It is important that you discuss all options with your physician. This is especially important in the event that you've been recently diagnosed with mesothelioma or experiencing symptoms that indicate the disease. Your doctor can provide you with the names of doctors who are skilled in treating the disease. They can also help you find support groups and the information you need about resources and services.
Diagnosis
After a physical examination and asking you about your symptoms The doctor will be able to diagnose mesothelioma. They will request imaging tests, such as chest X-rays or computerised tomography (CT) scans of the lungs and abdomen to check for mesothelioma as well as other abnormalities. They can also request blood tests to see if you have high levels of certain substances that suggest mesothelioma.
A biopsy is the primary test for confirming mesothelioma pleural. It involves the removal of some of the tissue for examination under the microscope. A mesothelioma specialist, called a pathologist, will examine the cells to work out if you have mesothelioma and what kind of mesothelioma it is. The pleural msothelioma cells can be classified as epithelioid cell, sarcomatoid cells or mixed/biphasic cells.
If you suffer from mesothelioma of the peritoneal region, doctors will use another method to take a biopsy of your stomach tissues. A thin tube with a camera attached at the end is called a laparoscope. They will make small cuts in your stomach and pass the tube through one of these cuts. The doctor will insert a device into the laparoscope and collect tissue samples in any areas of your stomach that appear abnormal.
Your doctor will also make use of these images to determine what stage mesothelioma has reached and if it has spread. The information gathered from the biopsy and other test results help doctors to decide on the best the best treatment.
Depending on the type and stage of the mesothelioma you may need surgery to remove the tumor. You may need to undergo radiation therapy and/or chemotherapy afterward.
Your doctor will discuss with you about palliative care, which aims to help ease the symptoms of mesothelioma and improve your quality of life. This may include physiotherapy or an pleural drainage system to relieve chest pressure and prevent the accumulation of fluid in the lungs. Your doctors will also discuss ways to manage your symptoms such as fatigue and pain. They will take into consideration your age, fitness and medical history to help decide on the best treatment plan for you.
Treatment
Depending on where the mesothelioma has been found and whether it has spread, doctors can treat the disease through chemotherapy, surgery or radiation therapy. They may also prescribe medicine to ease symptoms. These can be injections, pills or drugs given in a vein (intravenous).
Mesothelioma is a cancer that affects mesothelium's cells. This is a thin membrane that lines the chest cavity, lungs, and other internal organs. Pleural mesothelioma is found in the linings of the lungs and chest wall, as well as the abdominal cavity. Peritoneal mesothelioma occurs in the membranes that surround the heart, or in the linings of the abdominal cavity.
A doctor might suspect mesothelioma on the basis of the medical history of a patient and the symptoms they are experiencing. The doctor will perform a physical examination and perform other tests, such as chest X-rays and CT scanners to find out more about the symptoms. A tissue sample will likely be taken to confirm a diagnosis and determine the type of mesothelioma it is: epithelioid, which is responsible for 70% of diagnoses; sarcomatoid, which is found in 10% of diagnoses or biphasic or a combination of both.
Mesothelioma is usually removed surgically if the patient's health allows it. The surgeon can use the technique called minimally invasive surgery. This involves making small cuts on the skin, and inserting a tube that contains an electronic camera what is mesothelioma cancer and special tools in the abdomen and chest. The surgeon can remove more tissue using this method than he would with traditional open surgery.
The surgeon can also remove the affected area of the pleura, along with the diaphragm and lymphnodes. This is referred to as extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP).
After surgery, the patient may receive a course or chemotherapy or radiation to kill any cancerous tumor that the surgeon did not detect during the procedure. This is the normal treatment for patients suffering from mesothelioma.
Regular check-ups are recommended with a cancer specialist and family physician. The health care team will develop a plan for follow-up that is appropriate to the patient's needs and goals.
Prognosis
The prognosis for mesothelioma varies based on the estimated time for survival after diagnosis. It can be wildly different dependent on the type of mesothelioma, whether it has spread, and other factors like the patient's age and general health.
Pleural mesothelioma occurs in the lining of the lungs (pleura). It differs from lung cancer in that it is a problem with the membrane that lines the lungs rather than the lung tissues themselves. In some instances mesothelioma of the pericardial region may develop in the lining around the heart. Mesothelioma can also grow in the membrane surrounding the testicles.
It is important for patients to know their mesothelioma outlook and find as much information about their treatment options as they can. Patients may be shocked or irritated when they hear the news of mesothelioma, however, it is crucial to remember that it is a disease that can be treated.
If mesothelioma is detected at an the earliest stage, it can be easier to treat. Patients can undergo chemotherapy, radiation or surgery to improve their odds of survival and reduce their symptoms.
In many cases, mesothelioma treatment can increase the lifespan of patients. Patients with peritoneal cancer could benefit from a combination of chemotherapy and surgery.
Other variables that can affect a person's mesothelioma prognosis include the speed at which the cancer spreads and the type of cancer it develops. Epithelioid cancers spread more slowly and respond better to treatment than sarcomatoid biphasic, or sarcomatoid cells. People with more than one case of mesothelioma suffer a less favorable prognosis.
Patients with mesothelioma who talk to their doctors regarding changes to their lifestyles and treatments have a better chance of survival. For example patients who quit smoking, adhere to an active lifestyle and exercise regularly can help their bodies cope with the disease. Techniques for reducing stress and palliative treatment can also improve the quality of life of mesothelioma sufferers. There are notable mesothelioma resurvivor cases. Stephen Jay Gould lived for more than 20 years after being diagnosed with peritoneal mesothelioma. He wrote "The Median isn't the Message" in which he claimed that statistics such as median survival could be useful abstractions but didn't determine a person's fate.