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What is Mesothelioma?

The diagnosis of Mesothelioma can be a devastating one. It's normal to feel stunned or confused, and even upset.

Pleural mesothelioma is a cancer of the pleura which covers the lungs and chest wall. This cancer causes fluid buildup in the lungs and makes it difficult to breathe.

Asbestos is the main reason for mesothelioma. Anyone who has worked with asbestos or lived with someone who was exposed are at risk.

What is mesothelioma?

Mesothelioma is a cancer that develops in the lining of tissues, known as the mesothelium. This lining wraps around and protects most of the organs in your body, including your heart, chest and abdomen. It is comprised of two layers that create a sac, which surrounds the inner layer and organs within your body. The fluid that flows between the layers allows the organs to move around freely. Mesothelioma cancer cells develop into malignant or cancerous, and expand into and destroy nearby tissues. They may also spread to other parts of your body (metastasize).

The most at-risk group for developing mesothelioma are those who have been working with asbestos. Asbestos workers include plumbers, electricians, welders, asbestos miners and auto industry workers. Higher risk is also for those who live or work near asbestos-related facilities, such as factories and power plants. Mesothelioma can be diagnosed in those who were exposed to asbestos between 20 and 60 year before the disease begins to manifest.

The most frequent mesothelioma type is called mesothelioma pleural, which is found in the lining around the lung. This type of mesothelioma may cause chest pain, breathing problems and weight loss. It usually occurs in the lungs but can also affect the stomach or the heart. Peritoneal mesothelioma law firm 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 different types of mesothelioma. They both develop in the tissue covering the tissues of the abdomen, chest or testicles. These mesothelioma types are usually not diagnosed and have a less survival rates than other types.

The prognosis of mesothelioma depends on the type, location and stage of the disease at the moment of diagnosis as well as the general health status. Certain patients are successfully treated using radiation, surgery, and chemotherapy. Other patients who have advanced mesothelioma can receive experimental treatments such as immunotherapy or gene therapy. In either scenario, treatment options can improve a patient's life expectancy.

Symptoms

Mesothelioma is a rare cancer that usually occurs in the chest lining or abdominal cavity. It is caused by exposure to asbestos, which is a heat and fire-resistant mineral used in the construction industry, insulation ships power generation, home renovations before it was banned in the 1970s. Exposure is primarily due to working in the asbestos industry, but those who have cleaned their work clothing containing asbestos fibres or disturbed asbestos during home renovations are also at risk of developing mesothelioma.

Most mesothelioma lawyer patients suffer from general symptoms, such as fatigue and weight loss, coughing with a change in pattern or intensity, chest pain, and the list goes on. Patients should consult their physician if they experience any of these symptoms. Consult your physician that you've 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 lungs. This build-up, known as a pleural effusion places pressure on the lungs and makes breathing difficult. The ability to control the volume of fluid that is in the pleural cavity can help improve breathing difficulties.

Other signs of Mesothelioma include a fever, night sweats and abdominal pain. The reason for the fever is the body's temperature increasing as it fights the cancer. The body attempts to cool itself down by producing sweating during the night as a reaction to the fever. These symptoms are all signs that the cancer is growing worse and causing the body to stress.

Other signs of mesothelioma are an enlarged stomach, fatigue and difficulty walking. Mesothelioma may also affect the tissue around the heart that can cause chest pain as well as breathing difficulties. Mesothelioma can also form in the tissue that covers the testicles. This can lead to swelling or lumps.

Mesothelioma can be difficult detect early since it is extremely rare. The symptoms of mesothelioma could be confused with other illnesses and even pneumonia or the flu. Mesothelioma may take as long as years before symptoms are detected.

Diagnosis

Mesothelioma can be a challenging cancer. Before diagnosing mesothelioma by doctors, they must rule out any other conditions with similar symptoms. Once they have done this, they can determine the best treatment for you.

The first step in mesothelioma diagnosis is to have your doctor ask about your symptoms and perform a an examination. Your doctor may also order blood tests to assess how your organs are performing. A complete blood count (CBC) that examines the number of white and red blood cells, as well as how your liver and kidneys are functioning, is an example of a test. These tests can detect mesothelioma. However, it is difficult to identify them because they look similar to normal cells.

If your doctor suspects you have mesothelioma they will likely order imaging tests to determine the location and size of any growth or fluid around the abdomen or lungs. A chest x-ray is the most common test, but if it does not reveal any abnormalities, doctors may request more thorough tests such as an CT scan or an MRI.

These tests offer high-resolution images of the body using radio waves and powerful magnets to create a series of detailed pictures. They can detect thickening and fluid in the peritoneum or pleura which could indicate mesothelioma. A CT scan can also reveal other health problems such as a lung infection or pneumonia.

A biopsy can provide doctors with an idea of the type of cancer you have. This is the only way to diagnose mesothelioma. These samples are then examined under a microscope to determine the mesothelioma's cell type, and how far the cancer has spread.

Some doctors may inject dye into veins or conduct other tests to determine the area where the cancer is located. This is called staging the mesothelioma and helps doctors understand how far the tumor has grown and the severity.

Treatment

Mesothelioma occurs in the cells that line the lung and other organs. The cells can grow out of control, forming tumors (masses). The cancer spreads to surrounding tissues because the cells don't respond to signals that stop them from expanding too rapidly. It can also invade blood vessels that provide oxygen to the lungs. This can cause breathing difficulties and a cough.

Doctors diagnose mesothelioma compensation on the basis of the patient's symptoms and his history of asbestos exposure. They may also order imaging tests and other laboratory tests to help find and identify tumors. Chest Xrays, for instance are a way to examine lung changes, including the pleural thickening process and pleural effusion (fluid build-up). They can also request CT scans, MRI and a PET scan to determine where the tumors are located and to determine how much mesothelioma has spread. They can also draw fluid from the lung (called a thoracentesis) to determine if mesothelioma is present and relieve pressure on the lungs caused by fluid accumulation.

When a mesothelioma diagnosis has been confirmed, doctors can begin planning treatments to control the disease. It is important to discuss your goals for treatment with your mesothelioma physician. Some patients prefer aggressive treatment to improve their survival and prolong their lives, while others prefer a more gentle method to minimize the negative effects of treatment, such as nausea and pain.

Mesothelioma treatments include surgery, radiation and chemotherapy. The type of treatment that a patient receives is determined by the stage of mesothelioma as well as whether it is comprised of epithelioid or sarcomatoid cell. The epithelioid cells are easier to remove through surgery and has a better chance of success than the sarcomatoid. Certain patients have a combination of both types, and these patients usually have poorer outcomes than those with epithelioid mesothelioma only.

After you have completed your treatment it is crucial to follow up with your mesothelioma physician regularly. This will help to prevent the cancer from recurring. Your mesothelioma legal assistance team will develop an updated plan in case it recurs.

Some patients with mesothelioma enroll in clinical trials to try new treatments. Clinical trials enable patients to get access to cutting-edge therapies that haven't yet been approved for general use.