Malignant Mesothelioma Cancer
A mesothelioma diagnosis can be frightening. Your prognosis is contingent on how far the cancer has spread and the type of mesothelioma you have.
The most common is pleural mesothelioma, which occurs in the lining of the lungs. The other two types include mesothelioma of the peritoneal region and mixed meso. Each type has a different survival rate.
Symptoms
The mesothelium forms the lining of the organs. The cancer most commonly develops in the lung (pleura) but can also occur in the abdomen (peritoneum) or the heart (pericardium). Mesothelioma can be classified according to the type or location and stage of the disease. Early diagnosis and treatment increases the chance of survival. The symptoms of malignant mesothelioma are similar to other illnesses which makes it difficult to identify. This is why mesothelioma can go undiagnosed for a long time.
Mesothelioma symptoms can include fatigue, coughing, a feeling of tightness in the abdomen or chest and breathing problems. is mesothelioma lung cancer may also experience a loss of appetite and weight loss. A doctor will go over the health history of a patient and conduct a physical exam to determine if there are indications of mesothelioma. A doctor can request imaging tests, for example, the CT scan of the abdomen or chest, to diagnose mesothelioma. They can also perform the procedure known as thoracentesis. It is used to remove fluid from the lungs and examine samples of tissue for mesothelioma-related biopsy.
The doctor will then decide the best treatment plan for mesothelioma. Patients should discuss any asbestos exposures with their doctors and request the referral of a mesothelioma expert.
The diagnosis of mesothelioma is a complex one that requires many specialists, and a team of health professionals can help patients manage their symptoms and receive the most effective treatment for mesothelioma that is available. The team may include a general physician, a pulmonologist, or chest surgeon, as well as an interventional radiologist, medical oncologist, and a radiation-oncologist.
The most common form of mesothelioma known as pleural mesothelioma is the most prevalent. Around 75 percent of all mesothelioma is caused by this type of cancer. Peritoneal mesothelioma is less common and is found in the peritoneum. It is more difficult to treat than pleural mesothelioma and has a poor prognosis. As the tumor expands, it can press against the diaphragm as well as the lining of your heart. This can cause extreme pain. This can also lead to difficulty breathing and swallowing.
Diagnosis
If a person starts experiencing symptoms of mesothelioma, he or she should consult an expert. The doctor will examine the person and conduct tests to determine whether mesothelioma caused the symptoms.
Mesothelioma can be hard to identify because the symptoms may resemble the symptoms of other diseases. It could take some time to link mesothelioma and asbestos exposure. Even if a person is aware that they've been exposed to asbestos, the cancer could grow slowly and not be discovered until it reaches an advanced stage.
During the initial diagnostic process, a physician will examine the patient's medical history and ask questions regarding the asbestos exposure that they have had in the past. The doctor will also perform an examination of the body. The doctor may also order tests for imaging and blood tests to determine if there are any changes to the abdomen or lungs.
A CT scan or x-ray can show any changes in the abdominal and chest walls caused by mesothelioma. This includes pleural thickness and pleural effusion (fluid build-up around the abdomen or in the lungs). A doctor may also order an MRI or PET scan to produce detailed images of the affected area and observe how the tumors impact the surrounding tissue.
The blood tests are made to detect the presence of certain substances created by mesothelioma cancer cells. These tests will help confirm the diagnosis of mesothelioma and determine the treatment strategy.
If the doctor has a strong suspicion of mesothelioma, they'll take a biopsy in order to collect an image of the tumor. This will involve inserting a tube into stomach or lungs to remove the small amount of tissue to be tested. If this is not possible surgeons may make an incision on the chest (thoracotomy) or abdomen (laparotomy) to remove a larger tissue sample or, in rare instances, the entire tumor.
The mesothelioma then is tested to determine the type and grade. There are three types of mesothelioma, epithelial (also called mixed type) as well as sarcomatoid and biphasic. The diagnosis will allow the doctor to determine what the most effective method of treatment is.
Treatment
A mesothelioma malignancy is caused by a number of genetic mutations that cause cells to expand and multiply out of control. As time passes, abnormal cells multiply and grow until they form a tumor, which can be surrounded by healthy tissue. Mesothelioma can be an extremely aggressive cancer. There are treatments available which can prolong the lives of many patients and improve their symptoms.
The location of the tumors will determine what treatments are available for mesothelioma. Around 3 out of 4 mesotheliomas start in the chest cavity, a condition known as pleural mesothelioma. Another 10% to 20% of cases start in the abdominal cavity. This is known as mesothelioma of the peritoneal region. A rare form of mesothelioma, called cardiac-peritoneal mesothelioma can also develop in the tissues around the heart.
Doctors can treat mesothelioma by removing tumors surgically and/or by using different cancer treatments. Doctors who treat mesothelioma work together to develop a treatment plan unique to each patient. The plans typically include a combination of cancer treatments that include chemotherapy, surgery and radiation.
The surgical procedures used to eliminate mesothelioma are different based on the location the tumors are located as well as their stage of development. For example, surgeons can perform an extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP) which is an operation that is more complex and removes the diaphragm and lungs in addition to any visible tumors that are found in the chest cavity. They can also perform a pleurectomy/decortication (P/D) surgery, in which the doctor removes the pleura and any visible tumors around the lungs and chest wall. Patients with mesothelioma may benefit from a treatment known as cytoreductive surgery and heated chemotherapy (HIPEC) where the tumors are removed from the abdominal cavity and heated chemotherapy is used to cleanse them.
Through the course of treatment mesothelioma patients are likely to experience a variety of side effects from chemotherapy. These side effects include fatigue, a greater risk of infection and nausea or vomiting. Some patients may also have numbness and tingling in their toes and fingers and low blood cells and hair loss. Doctors can prescribe painkillers and nutrition supplements to help reduce these side effects. Patients must discuss with their physician all medications they are prescribed to find out more about them and possible adverse effects.
Prognosis
A mesothelioma prognosis is a doctor's estimate of the length the patient will be afflicted by the cancer. It is based on a variety of aspects, such as the mesothelioma type and stage, an individual's age, general health and how well the treatment works.
The outlook for mesothelioma patients may improve if it is diagnosed early. Mesothelioma is a latency disease that means that doctors need to wait until symptoms show up before determining the cause.
Doctors diagnose mesothelioma following an exhaustive physical examination as well as taking the patient's medical history. To confirm the diagnosis, they might also request an imaging test or a biopsy. Imaging tests that a physician might request include a chest CT scan, an MRI and lung function test.
These tests help doctors determine the size of a mesothelioma, as well as its location in the body. These tests can also tell whether cancer has spread. If the tumor is located in the pleura doctors can perform a surgical process called a Thoracentesis. This allows doctors to remove fluid from the area and take an appropriate sample to be used for biopsy.
A person's GP can assist in coordinating mesothelioma treatment teams. The specialists include a pulmonologist an interventional radiologist, a surgeon of the thorax and an medical oncologist.
In the event of a mesothelioma diagnosis doctors can also measure the type of cancer cells that comprise the tumor. There are three kinds of mesothelioma cell types and the patient's overall health status could be influenced by which type they have. People with epithelioid or mesothelioma that is sarcomatoid for instance have a better chance of survival than those with the sarcomatoid.
Mesothelioma treatments can enhance the patient's chances of survival by slowing the cancer's growth or stopping it from spreading. They can also help manage symptoms and improve quality of life.
Many mesothelioma patients have endured for a long time after being given an unfavorable outlook. Stories of patients who have fought back can inspire and give hope to patients suffering from mesothelioma. A mesothelioma patient may also seek out clinical trials that could provide new treatments. These studies offer patients the chance of trying experimental procedures that may prolong their lives.