Mesothelioma Cancer
Most commonly, mesothelioma begins in the tissues that cover each lung. It can also start in the lining that covers the heart or stomach, called the perineum.
A diagnosis of mesothelioma can be terrifying and confusing. However, you can take charge of your treatment by asking more information and working closely with your doctors.
Symptoms
Mesothelioma can be described as a cancer of the mesothelium, thin layer of tissue that covers and protects organs inside the body. It is typically found in the lung linings and the abdomen's membrane. Mesothelioma is a tumor that can be cancerous that develops when cells are normally benign but become cancerous after exposure to asbestos.
Patients with mesothelioma typically experience many symptoms, with the most frequent being chest discomfort, shortness of breath and coughing. mesothelioma cancer could be mistaken for pneumonia, especially in the early stages.
Other symptoms include fatigue, fever and unexplained weight loss. These symptoms could be caused by the cancerous tumor spreading to other parts of the body, such as to the heart or gastrointestinal tract.
Imaging tests like X-rays, CT scans, and a biopsy can be used to detect mesothelioma. A biopsy involves inserting a needle in the affected area to collect a small mesothelium specimen for testing.
The results of the biopsy are used to determine if you are suffering from mesothelioma, and what kind it is. It can also help doctors develop the most effective treatment strategy for you.
A biopsy is usually performed under local anesthesia or sedation. However, based on the site of mesothelioma as well as your health other methods for obtaining samples of tissue can be used.
Palliative care is one of the treatments that can help reduce symptoms and improve quality of life. The aim of this treatment is to ease pain, fatigue, discomfort and other symptoms associated with mesothelioma.
It is important that you discuss all options with your physician. This is especially important if you've recently been diagnosed with the disease or experiencing symptoms. Your doctor will provide you with a the names of doctors who have experience in treating the disease. They can also help you locate support groups and provide the information you require about resources and services.
Diagnosis
A doctor will diagnose mesothelioma by conducting a physical exam and asking about your symptoms. They may order imaging scans, like chest X rays and computerised Tomography (CT) scans of the abdomen and lungs to check for mesothelioma. They can also request blood tests to determine whether you have high levels of certain chemicals that could indicate mesothelioma.
The main test to determine whether pleural mesothelioma is present is a biopsy. This involves removing a small amount of tissue for examination under the microscope. A pathologist who is a mesothelioma specialist will examine your cells to determine if you have the disease and what kind it is. The pleural msothelioma cells can be classified as epithelioid cells, sarcomatoid cells, or mixed/biphasic cells.
If you have peritoneal asbestosis (PA), doctors will use another procedure to take a sample of your stomach tissue. They will make small cuts inside your abdomen, and then pass a thin tube with an end camera, called a laparoscope, through one of the cuts. The doctor will insert a tool into the laparoscope and take tissue samples from any of the areas of your stomach that look odd.
Your doctor will also use these images to determine the stage at which mesothelioma is and whether it has spread. The information from the biopsy as well as other tests help doctors determine the best treatment.
Based on the type and stage of mesothelioma, you may need to have surgery to remove the tumour. You may also need to undergo chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy afterward.
Your doctors will talk to you about palliative treatment, which aims to help ease mesothelioma-related symptoms and improve your quality of living. This may include physiotherapy or an pleural drainage system to relieve chest pressure and prevent fluid accumulation in the lungs. Your doctors will also discuss the best way to manage your symptoms, such as pain and fatigue. Your age, fitness level and medical history will be taken into consideration to help them plan the treatment.
Treatment
Depending on the location where mesothelioma is located and whether it has spread, doctors may treat the problem with surgery, chemotherapy or radiation therapy. They can also prescribe medication to help ease symptoms. These medicines could be injections, pills or medications that are administered intravenously (intravenous).
Mesothelioma is a disease that affects the cells that compose the mesothelium, a thin membrane or sac that surrounds a few of the body's internal organs and structures which include the lungs as well as the chest cavity. Pleural mesothelioma is located in the lung linings, chest wall and abdominal cavity. Peritoneal mesothelioma can be found in the membranes surrounding the heart, or in the linings of the abdominal cavity.
A health care provider may suspect mesothelioma based on a patient's medical history and the symptoms they are experiencing. The doctor will conduct a patient a physical exam and may order a range of other tests, including chest X-rays and CT scans, to gain more details about the symptoms. A tissue sample will likely be taken to confirm the diagnosis and determine what kind of mesothelioma is: epithelioid which is responsible for 70 percent of diagnoses; sarcomatoid which is found in 10% of cases; or biphasic, which is a combination of both.
If a person is fit enough to undergo surgery, the mesothelioma can typically be removed surgically. The surgeon can employ a technique known as minimally invasive surgical. This involves making small incisions on the skin, and inserting a tube that contains an electronic camera and special tools in the abdomen and chest. The doctor can remove more tissue using this technique than with traditional open surgery.
The surgeon might also remove the affected part of the pleura, along with the lymph nodes that are located in that region and the diaphragm. This is referred to as extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP).
Following surgery, patients could receive chemotherapy or radiation in order to kill any cancerous cells that the surgeon could not see during the procedure. This is the standard of care for people suffering from mesothelioma.
Regular check-ups are necessary with the cancer specialist and your family doctor. The health care team will discuss with the patient a plan for follow-up that is tailored to their specific needs and goals.
Prognosis
The prognosis for mesothelioma is the estimated time for survival after diagnosis. This can vary widely dependent on the type of mesothelioma, whether it has spread and other factors such as the patient's age and general health.
The lung's lining, or pleura, is affected by mesothelioma of the pleural region. It is not lung cancer since it only affects the membrane that surrounds your lungs, and not the lungs itself. In some instances, pericardial mesothelioma can develop within the lining of the heart. Mesothelioma also can occur in the membrane that surrounds the testicles (testicular mesothelioma).
Patients should seek out as much information as they can regarding their treatment options and their mesothelioma diagnose. Patients might be shocked or upset when they receive mesothelioma as a diagnosis however, it is important to remember that the disease is easily treated.
If mesothelioma is detected at an the earliest stage it is easier to treat. Patients can be treated with chemotherapy, radiation, or surgery to improve their prognosis and lessen their symptoms.
In many instances mesothelioma treatment can prolong life expectancy. For example, people with peritoneal mesothelioma may benefit from the combination of surgical elimination of the affected area as well as chemotherapy.
Other variables that could affect a person's prognosis for mesothelioma are the speed of the cancer's spread, and its type of cell. Epithelioid cancer cells grow slower and are more responsive to treatment than sarcomatoid biphasic or sarcomatoid cells. People with more than one instance of mesothelioma suffer a less favorable prognosis.
Mesothelioma patients who follow their doctors' recommendations regarding lifestyle changes and treatment usually have better odds of survival than those who don't. Patients who exercise regularly, stop smoking and maintain a healthy lifestyle can help their body cope with the illness. Additionally, stress reduction techniques and palliative care can improve the quality of life for those with mesothelioma. There are notable mesothelioma survivor cases. Stephen Jay Gould lived for over 20 years after being diagnosed with peritoneal msothelioma. He wrote an essay titled "The Median isn't the Message" in which he argued that statistics like median survival can be useful abstractions but they don't determine a person's fate.