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MesotheliomaMesothelioma, a cancerous condition that is caused by asbestos exposure is a natural-occurring cancer. The disease typically develops over the course of several decades after exposure.Doctors treat mesothelioma using chemotherapy, radiation and surgery. Treatment can help patients live longer.There are three types. The type of cell that makes up the tumor and its stage affects prognosis.What is mesothelioma?The cancerous mesothelioma forms in the mesothelium (a thin layer of tissue that lines organs within the body). It is caused by asbestos, a grouping of fibrous minerals.The exposure to asbestos typically occurs when people inhale or swallow asbestos fibers. The asbestos particles stick to organ linings and cause irritation. They can also cause tumors. The diagnosis of mesothelioma can be made by doctors after they look at the tumors and take a tissue sample also known as a biopsy. Mesothelioma can be classified based on what type of cells are identified in the tumors. The three types are epithelial, biphasic and sarcomatoid mesothelioma. Epithelial Mesothelioma comprises about 50 percent of all diagnoses. Sarcomatoid cancer accounts for 10% of cases and has a lower prognosis than epithelial mesothelioma. Biphasic Mesothelioma can be described as a mix of epithelial cells and sarcomatoid. It is responsible for 30-40% of all diagnoses.The signs of mesothelioma could include difficulty breathing or chest pain, or pain in the abdomen. These symptoms are similar to those experienced by other diseases, so it is essential to consult a doctor if you have them.Treatment for mesothelioma could improve symptoms, slow tumour growth and help patients live longer. Treatment options include surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Patients may also receive palliative treatment, which helps manage pain and discomfort.Doctors are still researching ways to treat mesothelioma and the ways it expands. Immunotherapy is a new treatment that makes use of your immune system to fight cancer. This experimental treatment has shown promise in some mesothelioma cases. Patients can also participate in clinical trials, which are studies on new therapies. Mesothelioma patients are typically treated in specialist cancer centers, where they can find doctors with expertise in treating the condition.DiagnosisThe first step in receiving treatment to extend your life span is a mesothelioma-related diagnosis. Your doctor will begin by reviewing your symptoms and health history and then determining the kind of mesothelioma you have. This is vital because the three primary mesothelioma cells respond differently to treatment.Your doctor might recommend an X-ray of your chest or CT scan as the initial test. In this procedure, you lie on a table while the X-ray or CT machine produces a precise image of your chest as well as the organs that surround it. Before the procedure, a small injection of dye, typically iodine is given. This makes the tissues in your chest and abdomen lighter, which makes it easier to see. During this time, you could be asked to perform an exercise to test your breathing.If these tests reveal a possible cancerous tumor or mass your doctor will likely request a biopsy. A biopsy is the process of removing a sample of the mass or tumor either surgically or by inserting needles into the region. The sample is then examined under a microscope to determine if mesothelioma is present.Our specialists can use ultrasound to identify the presence of lymph nodes that are swelling which could be mesothelioma. This procedure is known as endobronchial ultrasound-guided aspiration, also known as EBNA. jackson mesothelioma law firm is carried out as an outpatient treatment, so you can return home the next day.A mesothelioma specialist must also know the stage of the disease. The stages are determined by how much the cancer has spread and what kind of mesothelioma is it. Getting an accurate diagnosis by a mesothelioma doctor is the best way to make sure that you receive the right treatment.TreatmentThe mesothelioma treatment for a patient will depend on how far the disease has progressed and their overall health. Mesothelioma patients typically receive multimodal therapy which consists of chemotherapy, surgery and radiation.The first step in treating mesothelioma involves an examination of the body and telling your doctor about any asbestos exposures you may have experienced in the past. Doctors may also request scans of the blood and imaging to check for mesothelioma, and rule out other illnesses. These include CT (computerized Tomography) scans, MRI (magnetic-resonance imaging) scans, FDG-PET scans (fluorodeoxyglucose positron emissions tomography), and mediastinoscopy.Surgery is a viable option for the majority of pleural mesothelioma cases. A patient may undergo a minimally invasive procedure referred to as video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VAT) or a CT-guided needle biopsy. Both surgeries can alleviate symptoms and improve the life expectancy of a patient.Chemotherapy utilizes drugs to kill cancerous cells and stop them from advancing. It is a standard mesothelioma treatment, and can prolong survival. It is available as an intravenous drip (IV) or pill form.Radiation is another mesothelioma treatment that can kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. It is used to treat pleural cancers at various stages, and also to alleviate pain and extend the lives of patients.In the final stages of mesothelioma doctors usually concentrate on controlling symptoms and prolonging a patient’s life to the maximum extent possible. This kind of treatment is known as palliative care. While the mesothelioma average survival rate is low however, there are many who have survived. For example paleontologist Stephen Jay Gould, who was diagnosed with mesothelioma of the peritoneal region in 1982, lived for an additional 20 years before passing away due to complications from another disease.Signs and symptomsMany people suffering from mesothelioma show symptoms for months or even years before they are diagnosed. Early symptoms could be mistaken for other illnesses or ignored. If you experience any of these symptoms, it is crucial that you consult your doctor immediately.The organs in your body are protected by mesothelium which is a type of layer. This layer helps keep them from touching each other. Mesothelioma is a cancer that affects mesothelium, the cells that line your organs. The majority of cases of mesothelioma occur in the lining surrounding your lungs. However, it can also manifest in the lining of your heart (pericardium) or abdomen (peritoneum) and in the lining around testicles (tunica vaginalis).The initial symptoms of mesothelioma include chest pain, fatigue and breathlessness. Mesothelioma can also cause fluid to accumulate in the lungs and chest wall and cause an effusion in the pleura. Pleural effusions can place pressure on the lungs and cause coughing difficulties and breathing problems.Doctors diagnose mesothelioma after a thorough medical exam and taking the patient’s medical history. They may order chest Xrays to detect abnormalities such as thickening of the lining of the lungs or fluid accumulation on the chest wall. They may also request an MRI, CT scan or PET scan to get an in-depth look at your lung or other tissues of your body. They can also remove any fluid that accumulates in the pleura and the peritoneum through an ultrasound-guided aspiration procedure.A biopsy can help determine the mesothelioma type that is forming the tumor and how it is advancing. This will help doctors decide on the best treatment options. The three mesothelioma treatments are radiation, surgery, and chemotherapy.PreventionMesothelioma cannot be prevented but you can decrease the risk by not consuming asbestos and staying away from those who suffer from it. Exposure to asbestos can cause lung cancer and other diseases that affect the lining of specific organs. There are many kinds of mesothelioma and some are more dangerous than others. Certain types of mesothelioma may be easier to treat.Asbestos is a group of minerals that have microscopic fibers. Manufacturers used asbestos in construction and other industrial products, without knowing about its potential dangers. Workers and veterans in blue collar jobs were particularly exposed to asbestos. Asbestos has been proven to be a risk and should not be a part of an old factory or work there.Talk to your doctor about regular screenings if your family has an antecedent history of exposure to asbestos. X-rays, CT or MRI scanners can reveal problems in your lungs, abdomen or stomach. A biopsy may also reveal a tumor in the chest’s lining or stomach. Doctors will test samples of tissue from this area to determine if you have mesothelioma. It is possible that you have pleural mysothelioma, which affects the lining of your lungs. Other types include pericardial, testicular or the peritoneal.It could take years for mesothelioma to develop after exposure to asbestos. Even then, it’s difficult to detect. It is often mistakenly diagnosed as another illness or condition such as lung cancer, pneumonia, or bronchitis. This can hinder you from receiving the correct treatment. Researchers are working on improving the diagnosis and developing tests to detect mesothelioma earlier. This could lead to better treatment and a better survival rate. The research involves genetic testing to identify those who are most likely to develop mesothelioma.