Mesothelioma - What is Mesothelioma?
There are many conditions that can cause chest pain or shortness of breath. To determine if mesothelioma is the cause, it is crucial to rule out other diseases.
Doctors conduct this by taking the fluid sample from around the lung or stomach. They can also conduct tests like an CT, MRI or a PET scan.
Causes
Mesothelioma occurs in the chest's tissues (pleural esothelioma) and the abdomen (peritoneal esothelioma), or the heart (peritoneal esothelioma). Exposure to asbestos, a chemical that was extensively employed in shipbuilding, construction and other industries, is the primary reason for mesothelioma. Inhaling asbestos fibres can cause mesothelioma. These fibres can cause tissue irritation and tissue damage, leading to abnormal tumours. It can take between 20 and 50 years for mesothelioma growth to occur after exposure to asbestos.
Asbestos is an assortment of minerals made up of thin, long fibers that can be broken down into smaller pieces. These fibres can easily enter the lungs, where they can be breathed in. They may then get lodged in the pleura, the lining that surrounds the lungs. Over time, these can cause irritation to the lungs and can also contribute to the development of abnormal tumors. Mesothelioma can also result by secondhand asbestos exposure for instance, when workers bring fibres to their homes on their clothing or equipment or from contaminated material like asbestos-containing materials.
Shortness of breath, fatigue and coughing are common symptoms for mesothelioma patients. Other symptoms include weight loss as well as chest swelling and pain, difficulty swallowing and a painful rash that can resemble the appearance of hives. Mesothelioma is rare with between 2,500 and 3000 cases being diagnosed each year in the United States.
The most prevalent type of mesothelioma starts in the pleura, which is a protective layer that covers the chest wall and lungs. Other types of mesothelioma may develop in the peritoneum which covers the stomach, intestines, and testicles.
A specialist in mesothelioma might recommend tests such as xrays, CT scans, or MRI to determine the presence of disease. A mesothelioma specialist, a specialist in thoracic surgery, or a medical oncologist could perform chemotherapy, surgery, or radiation treatment. Palliative treatments are sometimes offered to ease pain and other symptoms. The GP can also aid with the diagnosis of mesothelioma by examining symptoms and offering advice on managing the symptoms. They may also refer you to a specialist if necessary. For example, they can refer you to a physician for respiratory issues to look into your breathing and other symptoms as well as to work with your mesothelioma specialist.
Symptoms
The symptoms of mesothelioma may vary depending on the type. This is because mesothelioma types are classified by the place where the cancer starts within the body and how it spreads.
Mesotheliomas can form in the lining of the lungs (pleura), the lining of the heart (pericardium) or the abdomen's lining (peritoneum). The symptoms of mesothelioma are chest pain, difficulty breathing fluid accumulation and weight loss.
Asbestos fibres can cause irritation of the pleura (lung lining) and abnormal cells to develop. In time, these cells could develop into tumors that can grow out of control. Mesothelioma can also affect different areas of the body that have similar linings, including the abdominal cavity and the reproductive organs.
The symptoms may take for a long time to manifest and may result in a delayed diagnosis. Most often, patients are diagnosed with mesothelioma when it is very advanced and life-limiting. This is partly because the latency period for mesothelioma is 20-40 years between exposure and the manifestation of cancer.
There are three mesothelioma treatment options: radiation, surgery and chemotherapy. Doctors will recommend a method that best suits your condition. The type of treatment you receive will depend on the extent to which cancer has progressed.
Surgery: Doctors will eliminate any cancerous tissue during a surgical procedure. They can also perform an array of surgeries to treat mesothelioma. The type of surgery will depend on where the mesothelioma's site is located and how far it has spread.
Radiation: Doctors use high-energy radiation as well as other forms to stop the growth of mesothelioma cells. This kind of therapy may be given externally or internally.
Chemotherapy: Doctors will give you chemotherapy pills or liquid to shrink and kill cancer cells, or to keep them from spreading. Chemotherapy is a treatment that can be used on its own or with other treatments like surgery or radiation.
It is essential to speak with an expert immediately if you suspect that you or someone near your heart has mesothelioma. Bring our no-cost Symptoms Checklist to your appointment, and speak with your doctor about your symptoms.
Diagnosis
In the past, doctors used various tests to identify mesothelioma. These tests include physical examinations as well as lab work, and imaging scans. They will also examine the patient's medical history as well as work history to look for evidence of asbestos exposure.
The first step in identifying mesothelioma is to have a physical examination by a doctor. This includes looking for lumps, and asking about the patient's symptoms. Doctors will also take down the patient's mesothelioma type that includes epithelial, sarcomatoid or biphasic. These types are based upon the cells that make up each kind of cancer.
Mesothelioma can be difficult to detect. It is most often found in the Pleura, which is thin layers of tissues that line the lungs and chest cavity. It may also affect the peritoneum which is a thin layer of tissue that runs along the stomach and intestines. The symptoms can include breathlessness, coughing, and abdominal pain. In certain cases, mesothelioma can spread to other organs, including the heart.
A biopsy is the most precise method of confirming mesothelioma. A doctor will send a small mesothelioma sample to a laboratory for analysis. The laboratory examines for mesothelioma as well as other types of cancer.
If the biopsy results are positive, doctors will examine the cancerous cells to determine the kind of mesothelioma they are. This will help them choose the most appropriate treatment.
Other tests include an X ray or CT scan, which looks for asbestos in the lining of the lungs as well as calcium deposits what are the symptoms for mesothelioma or signs of Mesothelioma, such as a pleural effusion. They may also run blood tests to see whether there are any anomalies such as anemia, or low levels of certain antibodies that suggest mesothelioma.
Other imaging tests include MRI and PET scans, which make use of magnets and radio waves to produce detailed images. They can help doctors identify mesothelioma in the lungs and also in other places such as the diaphragm muscle (a dome-shaped muscle that divides the chest from the abdomen). They can also reveal how far the cancer has spread. They can also examine the lymph nodes for evidence of mesothelioma. Doctors can perform this by inserting a telescope into the trachea -- or windpipe. This procedure is called mediastinoscopy, and it is performed under sedation.
Treatment
The cancer is difficult to treat, as it often develops later in the process and is widely spread when it is it is discovered. Treatment is aimed at reducing symptoms and improving the quality of life. A mesothelioma expert can help people find the right treatment program for them.
A mesothelioma specialist will be part of a team working together to provide treatment. The team could comprise an GP who is accountable for the patient's overall health, a respiratory doctor who studies symptoms and treats lung diseases and an interventional radiologist who utilizes imaging scans for guiding needles and other tools to drain fluids or remove tissue to diagnose an issue, a surgeon who is able to perform surgeries or other procedures for lung or chest, and a medical oncologist that prescribes drugs such as chemotherapy.
When mesothelioma is found additional tests can be carried out to determine if the cancer has spread to other areas of the body. This may include the use of CT scan or MRI FDG-positron emission tomography (to look for the movement mesothelioma cells) and a biopsied sample taken from a tissue sample removed during surgery.
A patient with malignant pleural mesothelioma is likely to undergo a surgical procedure in order to alleviate breathlessness caused by the accumulation of fluid. VATS (video assisted thoracoscopic surgery) is a procedure that involves removing some of the lining from the chest wall and lungs to reduce the accumulation of fluid. In some cases, a tube might be placed in the chest to drain the fluid at home.
Benign mesothelioma doesn't usually require surgery. Doctors can use painkillers and other treatments to manage symptoms instead.
Clinical trials are conducted to test mesothelioma which is a rare disease, is being tested. These trials could lead to improved treatments for mesothelioma patients. However the decision to participate in a trial should not be made lightly because the risks associated with treatment are usually extremely severe. It is important that people suffering from mesothelioma or their families consider their options with an expert.