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What is Mesothelioma?

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

The pleura, the area that surrounds the lungs and the chest wall, is afflicted by mesothelioma of the pleural region. This cancer causes the formation of fluid inside the lungs which makes it difficult for the patient to breathe.

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

What is Mesothelioma?

The mesothelioma cancerous form forms on the lining of the tissue, or mesothelium. This lining wraps around and protects most of the organs of your body, including your chest, heart and abdomen. It is composed of two layers that create a sac around the inner layer of your body's organs, and is separated by fluid to allow the organs to move easily. Mesothelioma cancer cell growth can destroy tissue around them. They can also spread to other areas of your body (metastasize).

The most at-risk group for developing mesothelioma are those who have worked with asbestos. Asbestos workers include builders plumbers, electricians, asbestos miners, welders auto industry workers, and many more. People who lived or worked near asbestos facilities, such as factories and power plants are also at risk. Mesothelioma patients have been exposed to asbestos for between 20 and 60 years prior their illness manifests.

Pleural mesothelioma is most often found in the lung lining. This type of mesothelioma can cause chest pain, trouble breathing, and weight loss. It usually affects the lungs, however it could also affect other organs such as the stomach and the heart. Peritoneal mesothelioma can be a rare type of the disease that affects the lining in the abdominal cavity. It can cause pain and difficulty eating.

The pericardial mesothelioma and tunica vaginalis are two other types of mesothelioma. They both occur in the tissues that cover the linings of the abdomen, chest or testicles. These types of mesothelioma often remain undiagnosed and have lower survival rates than other types of the disease.

The mesothelioma prognosis is contingent on the type and location of the disease as well as the stage of diagnosis and general patient health. Some patients can be successfully treated by chemotherapy, surgery and radiation. Others with more advanced mesothelioma may receive experimental treatments, asbestos such as immunotherapy and gene therapy. In any case, the treatment options available can significantly increase a person's expectancy.

Signs and symptoms

Mesothelioma is a rare type of cancer, typically occurs in the tissues of the chest cavity or abdomen. The cancer is caused by asbestos, which was utilized in shipbuilding, construction, energy generation, and home renovations up until it was banned in the year 1970. Exposure to asbestos is most often due to working in the asbestos-related industry. However, people who have had to wash clothing that contained asbestos fibers or disturbed asbestos while renovating their homes are also at risk of developing mesothelioma.

Most mesothelioma patients experience general symptoms, like fatigue or weight loss, coughing that has a change in frequency or intensity, chest pain, and the list goes on. These symptoms may be caused by a variety of ailments, and patients must always speak with their doctor regarding them. It is also important to tell their doctor if they have been exposed to asbestos.

In pleural mesothelioma, symptoms usually occur as a result of the tumor that causes fluid build-up in the space around the lung. This fluid build-up, also called a "pleural effusion" is a source of pressure on the lungs, making breathing difficult. The volume of fluid in the pleural cavity plays a role in decreasing breathlessness.

Other symptoms of mesothelioma can include an increase in temperature, night sweats, and abdominal pain. The fever is caused by the body's temperature increasing in the fight against the cancer. The night sweats are an ailment to the fever and a strategy by the body to reduce its temperature. These symptoms are indicators that cancer is advancing and is causing stress to the body.

Other signs of mesothelioma are an enlarged stomach, fatigue and a difficulty walking. Mesothelioma can also affect the tissue around the heart which can cause chest pain and breathing difficulties. It is also possible to develop mesothelioma in the membrane surrounding the testicles and cause swelling or an abnormal lump on the testicles.

Mesothelioma can be difficult detect early since it is so rare. The signs of mesothelioma may be misinterpreted as other ailments, including pneumonia or the flu. This is why mesothelioma symptoms can take months to years to appear before they are diagnosed.

Diagnosis

Mesothelioma is a difficult cancer to diagnose. Doctors must exclude other conditions with similar symptoms before determining mesothelioma. After they have completed this, they will be able to determine the best treatment option for you.

The first step in mesothelioma diagnosis is for your doctor to inquire about your symptoms and conduct a an examination. Your doctor might conduct blood tests to determine the efficiency of your organs. A complete blood count (CBC) is a test that measures the number of red and white blood cells as well as how your liver and kidneys are functioning, is one such test. These tests can detect mesothelioma, however it is difficult to identify them due to their similarity to normal cells.

If your doctor suspects that mesothelioma is the cause, they will likely order imaging to determine the amount and the location of any fluid 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 then order more detailed tests such as a CT scan or an MRI.

These tests create detailed images of the body through the combination of radio waves with powerful magnets. They can detect fluid and thickening in the peritoneum and pleura which could be a sign of mesothelioma. A CT scan can identify other health issues such as pneumonia or a lung infection.

A biopsy can give doctors an idea of the kind of cancer you suffer from. This is the only certain method of identifying mesothelioma. The samples are examined with a magnifying glass in order to determine the type of mesothelioma, as well as the extent of the cancer's spread.

Some doctors may inject dye into a vein or conduct other tests, to determine the exact area of the cancer. This is known as mesothelioma staging, and it helps doctors determine how far the cancer has spread.

Treatment

Mesothelioma is a form of cancer that develops in the cells lining the lungs and organs. These cells can grow beyond their limits, and asbestos eventually form tumors (masses). The cancer can spread because the cells don't respond to signals that stop the growth of the cells too fast. It can also infiltrate blood vessels that supply oxygen to the lung. This can lead to breathing problems and a cough.

Doctors diagnose mesothelioma on the basis of an individual's symptoms and history of asbestos litigation exposure. They can also order imaging tests and other lab tests to detect and identify tumors. Chest X-rays, for example, can be used to look for lung changes such as the pleural thickening process and the development of pleural effusion (fluid build-up). They may also order CT scans, an MRI and an PET scan to determine where the tumors are and to determine how much mesothelioma has spread. They can also collect samples of the fluid surrounding the lungs, called a thoracentesis to check for mesothelioma-related cells and to relieve pressure on the lungs brought on by fluid build-up.

Once a mesothelioma diagnosis is made, doctors can plan treatments to treat the disease. It is important to discuss your goals for treatment with a mesothelioma expert. Some patients prefer aggressive treatment in order to improve their survival and prolong their lives, whereas others prefer a more gentle approach to reduce side effects, such as pain and nausea.

Mesothelioma treatments can include surgery, radiation and chemotherapy. The type of treatment a person receives depends on the stage of mesothelioma and whether it is comprised of epithelioid or sarcomatoid cells. The epithelioid cell is easier to remove surgically and has a better outcome than the sarcomatoid. Some patients have both types, and suffer from less success than those who only have epithelioid cancer.

After you have completed your treatment it is crucial to check in with your mesothelioma physician regularly. This can help in preventing the cancer from returning. The mesothelioma treatment team will develop a new plan if it occurs again.

Some patients with mesothelioma enroll in clinical trials to test new treatments. Clinical trials allow people to gain access to cutting-edge treatments that have not yet been approved for general use.