Mesothelioma The Good The Bad And The Ugly

What is Mesothelioma?
A diagnosis of Mesothelioma is an incredibly devastating one. It's normal to feel stunned or confused, and even upset.
Pleural mesothelioma is a cancer of the pleura that is the lung's protective wall. The cancer causes fluid to build up in the lungs, making it difficult to breathe.
Asbestos is the main cause of mesothelioma. People at risk are those who have been exposed to asbestos, or were living with someone who had asbestos exposure.
What is Mesothelioma?
Mesothelioma is a cancer that is found in the tissues' lining known as the mesothelium. The mesothelium lining protects your chest, heart, and abdomen as well as the majority of your other organs. It is composed of two layers, which form an enveloping sac that surrounds the organs within your body. The fluid that flows between the layers permits organs to move freely. Mesothelioma cancer cell growth can destroy the surrounding tissue. They may also grow and spread (metastasize) to other parts of the body.
People who are the most at risk of developing mesothelioma are those that have been exposed to asbestos in their work. Asbestos workers include builders, plumbers, electricians, asbestos miners, welders auto industry workers, and many more. People who lived or worked near asbestos facilities like factories and power plants are also at a higher risk. Mesothelioma is diagnosed among people who were exposed to asbestos between 20 and 60 years before the disease begins to manifest.
The most commonly encountered mesothelioma type is pleural mesothelioma, which occurs in the lining of the lungs. This type of mesothelioma may cause chest pain, breathing issues and weight loss. It is typically found in the lungs but can also affect the stomach or heart. Peritoneal mesothelioma can be a rare type of the disease which affects the lining in the abdominal cavity. It can cause pain and difficulty eating.
The pericardial mesothelioma as well as the tunica vaginalis are the two other forms of mesothelioma. They both develop in the tissue covering the tissues of the chest, abdomen, or testicles. These types of mesothelioma are usually not diagnosed and have a a lower survival rate than other types.
The prognosis for mesothelioma is dependent on the type and location of the disease and the stage at which it was diagnosed and general patient health. Some patients are successfully treated with surgery, chemo and radiation. Patients who have advanced mesothelioma can receive experimental treatments such as immunotherapy or gene therapy. In any scenario, treatment options can improve a patient's life expectancy.
Symptoms
Mesothelioma is a rare type of cancer, typically occurs in the tissues of the chest cavity or abdomen. It is caused by exposure to asbestos, which is a heat and fire-resistant mineral that was used in insulation, construction, shipbuilding power generation, as well as home renovations prior to being banned in the 1970s. The main reason for exposure is working in the asbestos industry, but those who have cleaned up work clothes with asbestos fibres or disturbed asbestos during home renovations are also at risk of developing mesothelioma.
Most mesothelioma patients suffer from general symptoms, like fatigue, weight loss, coughing that has a change in pattern or intensity, chest pain, and other such symptoms. Patients should always consult with their doctor if they experience any of these symptoms. Inform your doctor whether you've been exposed asbestos.
In pleural asbestosis, symptoms are usually caused by the tumor causing fluid to build up in the area around the lung. This build-up of fluid, also known as a "pleural effusion" can put pressure on the lungs, which makes breathing difficult. The ability to control the volume of fluid that is in the pleural cavity can help improve breathing difficulties.
Other symptoms of mesothelioma can include an increase in temperature, night sweats and abdominal pain. The fever is caused by the body's temperature rising in the fight against the cancer. The body attempts to reduce its temperature by producing night sweats as a response to the temperature. These symptoms are all indications that the cancer is getting worse and is causing the body stress.
Less common mesothelioma symptoms include a swollen abdomen and fatigue, as well as difficulty walking. Mesothelioma may also affect the tissues surrounding the heart that can cause chest pain as well as difficulty breathing. It is also possible to develop mesothelioma inside the testicles' membrane and cause swelling or an abnormal lump on the testicles.
Mesothelioma is difficult to detect early since it is so uncommon. The symptoms of mesothelioma could be confused with other ailments, including pneumonia or the flu. Mesothelioma may take as long as years before symptoms are identified.
Diagnosis
Mesothelioma is a challenging cancer to detect. Doctors must determine if there are other health diseases that share similar symptoms prior to diagnosing mesothelioma. Once this is done, they will determine the best treatment options for you.
The first step to mesothelioma diagnosis is to have your doctor inquire about your symptoms and conduct a an examination. Your doctor can conduct blood tests to see how well your organs function. A complete blood count (CBC) that determines the amount of red and white blood cells as well as how your liver and kidneys are functioning, is a common test. Mesothelioma cells are often seen in these blood tests, however they are difficult to identify because they look so like normal cells.
If your doctor suspects mesothelioma is the cause, they'll likely order imaging to determine the size and location of any fluid or growths in the abdomen or lungs. A chest radiograph is the most commonly used test, but if it does not reveal any abnormalities, the doctor may then order more detailed tests such as an CT scan or an MRI.
These tests give high-resolution pictures of the body through a combination of magnetic fields and radio waves to produce precise images. They can detect fluid or thickening of the peritoneum or pleura that could be a sign of mesothelioma. A CT scan can also reveal other health problems such as pneumonia or lung infections.
Doctors can sometimes be able to determine the type of mesothelioma you have from a tissue sample taken during an examination. This is the only way to diagnose mesothelioma. The samples are examined with a magnifying glass in order to determine the kind of mesothelioma and the extent of the cancer's spread.
Certain doctors may also inject dye into veins or perform other tests to pinpoint the area where the cancer is located. This is called staging mesothelioma and assists doctors in determining the extent to which the tumor has been able to spread.
Treatment
Mesothelioma occurs in the cells that line the lung and other organs. The cells can multiply in uncontrolled ways, and eventually form tumors. The cancer can spread because the cells don't respond to signals that prevent their growth from speeding up. It can also invade the blood vessels that supply oxygen to the lung. This can make breathing difficult and cause coughing.
Doctors diagnose mesothelioma on the basis of the patient's symptoms and his history of asbestos exposure. They may also order imaging tests and other lab tests in order to find and identify tumors. For example, doctors employ chest X-rays in order to look for lung changes such as the pleural thickening, or pleural effusion, which is the accumulation of fluid. They can also request CT scans, an MRI and an PET scan to determine the location of the tumors and to determine the extent to which mesothelioma has spread. They can also collect a sample of fluid around the lungs, referred to as the thoracentesis, in order to look for mesothelioma-related cells and to ease pressure on the lungs brought on by fluid accumulation.
When a mesothelioma diagnosis has been confirmed, doctors can begin planning treatment options to manage the disease. It is essential to discuss your goals for treatment with your mesothelioma specialist. Some patients want aggressive treatment in order to prolong their lives and improve their chances of survival, while others are comfortable with moderate treatment to lessen pain, nausea and other adverse effects.
Treatments for mesothelioma can include chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation. The type of treatment a person receives is determined by the stage of mesothelioma as well as whether it's composed of epithelioid and sarcomatoid cells. The epithelioid cells are easier to remove by surgery and has a better outcome than the sarcomatoid. Some patients are a mix of both types, and these patients usually have poorer outcomes than those with only epithelioid mesothelioma.
After treatment is completed it is crucial to check in with your mesothelioma specialist regularly. This will prevent the cancer from returning. If it occurs again the mesothelioma team will create an entirely new treatment strategy.
Patients with mesothelioma are able to join clinical trials for the latest treatments. Clinical trials allow people to be able to access cutting-edge treatments which have not yet been approved for general use.