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What is Mesothelioma?

A diagnosis of mesothelioma could be overwhelming. It's normal to feel shocked, upset and confused.

Pleural mesothelioma is a cancer of the pleura which covers the lungs and chest wall. This cancer causes fluid buildup in the lungs making breathing difficult.

Asbestos exposure is the main cause of mesothelioma. Anyone who has worked with asbestos or lived with someone who did are at risk.

What is Mesothelioma?

The cancerous mesothelioma develops on the lining tissue, also known as mesothelium. This lining protects your chest, abdomen, and heart as well as the majority of your other organs. It has two layers that form a sac around the inner layer of your organs. It is separated by fluid to allow the organs to move easily. Mesothelioma cancer cells grow and destroy the tissue around them. They can also spread (metastasize) to other areas of the body.

The most at-risk population for developing mesothelioma is those who have worked with asbestos. Asbestos workers include plumbers, electricians welders asbestos miners and auto industry workers. The risk is higher for those who work or live near asbestos plants like power and factories plants. Mesothelioma is diagnosed among people who were exposed to asbestos between 20 and 60 year before the disease manifests.

Pleural mesothelioma is most often found in the lining of the lungs. This kind of mesothelioma lawyer may cause chest pain, difficulty breathing and weight loss. It usually occurs in the lungs but can also affect the stomach or heart. Those with peritoneal mesothelioma, a rare form of the disease that affects the lining of the abdominal cavity, can experience pain in the belly and abdomen, as well as difficulty eating.

The pericardial mesothelioma as well as the tunica vaginalis are two other types of mesothelioma. Both of them are found in the tissue covering the linings of the chest, abdomen or testicles. These mesothelioma types are not often diagnosed and have a a lower survival rate than other forms.

The prognosis of mesothelioma depends on the type, location and stage of the disease at the time of diagnosis as well as the general health status. Some patients are successfully treated using chemotherapy, surgery and radiation. Patients with advanced mesothelioma will undergo experimental treatments like gene therapy or immunotherapy. In either situation, treatment options could increase the life expectancy of a patient.

Signs and symptoms

Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer, usually occurs in the chest cavity or abdomen. It is caused by exposure to asbestos, which is a heat and fire-resistant mineral used in insulation, construction, shipbuilding, power generation, and home renovations prior to being banned in the 1970s. Exposure to asbestos is most often caused by working in the asbestos-related field. However, people who have had to wash clothing that contained asbestos fibers or disturbed asbestos during renovating their homes are also at risk of developing mesothelioma.

The majority of patients with mesothelioma have general symptoms such as fatigue, weight loss, coughing that has changes in frequency or intensity, chest pain and the list goes on. These symptoms may be caused by a number of ailments, and patients must always speak with their doctor about their symptoms. Tell your doctor that you've been exposed to asbestos.

In the case of pleural asbestosis, symptoms are usually caused by the tumor causing fluid to accumulate in the region around the lung. This fluid build-up, also called a "pleural effusion", puts pressure on the lungs, making breathing difficult. The volume of fluid in the pleural cavity is important in decreasing breathlessness.

Other signs of Mesothelioma include a fever, night sweats and abdominal pain. The body's temperature increases as it fights against the disease. This causes the fever. The body tries to cool itself down by producing night sweats in response to the fever. These symptoms are all signs that the cancer is getting worse and is causing the body to stress.

Less common mesothelioma symptoms include an abdominal swelling and fatigue, as well as difficulty walking. Mesothelioma can also affect the tissue surrounding the heart which can cause chest pain and breathing difficulties. Mesothelioma may also grow in the tissue that covers the testicles. This can result in swelling or a lump.

Since mesothelioma claim is a rare disease and difficult to detect early. The symptoms of mesothelioma are comparable to those of other ailments, and can even be mistaken for a flu or pneumonia. This is why mesothelioma signs can take anywhere from months or even years to manifest before they are properly diagnosed.

Diagnosis

Mesothelioma is a difficult cancer to diagnose. Doctors must exclude other conditions that have similar symptoms prior to diagnosing mesothelioma. Once this is done, they will decide on the best treatment options for you.

Your doctor will inquire about your symptoms and conduct an examination. Your doctor might also recommend blood tests to see how well your organs are functioning. One of these tests is a complete blood count (CBC) that examines the amount of white and red blood cells, the extent to which your kidneys and liver are functioning, and other important information. These tests can reveal mesothelioma, but it's difficult to recognize them due to their similarity to normal cells.

If your doctor suspects that you have mesothelioma they will likely order imaging to determine the extent and location of any fluids or growth around the abdomen or lungs. A chest x-ray is the most common test, however if it does not show any abnormalities, the doctor may decide to order more specific tests, such as a CT scan or an MRI.

These tests provide high-resolution images of the body through magnetic fields and radio waves to produce high-quality images. They can detect thickening or fluid of the peritoneum or pleura which can indicate mesothelioma. A CT scan can reveal other health issues like lung infections or pneumonia.

Doctors can sometimes be able to determine the type of mesothelioma you have by examining a sample of your tissue taken during the procedure of a biopsy. This is the only method to identify mesothelioma. The samples are then examined under microscopes to determine the mesothelioma's type of cell, and how far the cancer has spread.

Some doctors may inject a dye into a vein or conduct other tests to determine the region where the cancer is located. This is referred to as staging mesothelioma, and it assists doctors in determining the extent to which the tumor has spread.

Treatment

Mesothelioma occurs in the cells that line the lungs and other organs. The cells can grow out of control, forming tumors (masses). The cancer spreads because cells aren't able to respond to signals that prevent the growth of the cells too fast. It can also infiltrate blood vessels that supply the lungs with oxygen. This can cause breathing difficulties and coughing.

Doctors can diagnose mesothelioma by looking at the symptoms of an individual and their history of asbestos exposure. They can also order imaging tests and other lab tests in order to find and determine the presence of tumors. For instance, doctors can use chest X-rays to check for lung changes such as pleural thickening or pleural effusion, which is a build-up of fluid. They may also order CT scans, MRI and a PET scan to see where the tumors are and to determine how much mesothelioma is spreading. They can also draw fluid from the lung (called a thoracentesis) to check for mesothelioma and relieve pressure on the lungs caused by fluid accumulation.

After mesothelioma lawsuits has been diagnosed doctors can determine the best treatment to treat the disease. It is important to discuss your treatment goals with a mesothelioma professional. Some patients require aggressive mesothelioma lawyer treatment to extend their lives and increase their chances of the chances of survival, while others are comfortable with moderate treatment to lessen pain, nausea and other adverse effects.

The treatment options for mesothelioma are chemotherapy, surgery and radiation. The type of treatment one receives is determined by the stage of their mesothelioma, and whether or not it is comprised of epithelioid or sarcomatoid cells. Epithelioid cells are simpler to remove through surgery, and they are more likely to be successful than the sarcomatoid cells. Certain patients have a combination of both types, and these patients typically have less favorable outcomes than those who have epithelioid mesothelioma only.

After you have completed your treatment, it is important to keep in touch with your mesothelioma specialist regularly. This will stop the cancer from recurring. Your mesothelioma team will devise a new plan if it occurs again.

Some patients with mesothelioma enroll in clinical trials to try new treatments. Clinical trials enable patients to be able to access cutting-edge treatments that have not yet been approved for general use.