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Mesothelioma Asbestos Lung Cancer

Mesothelioma affects the tissues that line the chest cavity, lungs, and, in some cases, the tissues of the heart and abdomen. Exposure to asbestos litigation is the main cause of mesothelioma.

Asbestos fibers become stuck in tissues and cause DNA damage. This turns cells into mesothelioma-like cancerous cells.

Symptoms

Mesothelioma is a kind of cancer that affects the tissues that line and protect the organs in the body. Exposure to asbestos lawsuit fibers could cause the cells to change and grow into mesothelioma cancers. The majority of mesothelioma cases occur in the lung (pleura). It can also develop in the linings of the heart, abdomen and testicles.

Chest discomfort and coughing are the most frequent symptoms of mesothelioma. Some patients also suffer from abdominal pain, fatigue and weight loss. These symptoms can be confusing and difficult to recognize in the early stages particularly when mesothelioma is still a relatively young disease. It could take years or even decades after exposure to asbestos for mesothelioma-related symptoms to manifest.

The first step to diagnose mesothelioma is a physical examination and a medical history. A doctor might ask for blood tests or imaging scans to determine the severity of symptoms. These scans may include CT (computer tomography) scans, MRI and PET (positron emission tomography).

X-rays could reveal a lump or fluid that is not normal in the lung. These scans may help the doctor determine where the mesothelioma is and the kind of mesothelioma. Sarcomatoid and mesothelioid are the two major types. Epithelioid mesothelioma makes up around 70% of all mesothelioma cases. Sarcomatoid mesothelioma is a lesser-known type, and has a worse prognosis than epithelioid mesothelioma.

Most people diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma have a nonproductive cough, chest wall pain, and difficulty breathing. In certain cases, people with pleural mesothelioma may have an abnormal heart murmur, an issue called pericardial effusion, or a swelling of the scrotum (tunica vaginalis).

The most accurate method to diagnose mesothelioma involves an examination of the tissues. The type of mesothelioma also determine how a physician will treat the illness. For instance when a patient has pericardial mesothelioma doctors may eliminate excess fluid through pleurodesis procedure or insert an indwelling pleural catheter to ease inflammation and improve breathing. Other options include surgery and chemotherapy.

Diagnosis

The mesothelioma-related cancer develops on the linings of the organs. The majority of cases occur in the lungs, but it can also manifest in the abdomen (peritoneum), or around the testes.

It can take between 10 to 50 years for the symptoms of mesothelioma to appear. Due to this latency period many patients can be misdiagnosed. The condition is often mistakenly referred to as other, less serious illnesses like pneumonia or the flu. This misdiagnosis may cause delays in treatment, which could reduce the chances of survival for a patient.

If you suspect mesothelioma, consult their physician immediately. During this initial visit, doctors will examine a patient's complete medical history to look for signs and other factors that might make them more likely to have mesothelioma. This includes any prior exposure to asbestos and asbestos, as well as the type and duration of exposure.

Next, doctors will order imaging tests to check the abdomen and chest for signs of mesothelioma and other abnormalities. Chest X-rays, CT scans and MRIs can all show changes in the lungs, like pleural thickness or fluid accumulation. They can also tell the extent to which mesothelioma is spreading to other organs of the body.

A doctor may also order an analysis of the blood to determine if a patient has high levels in certain substances linked to mesothelioma. They can also perform an operation known as a Thoracentesis which involves removing fluid from the lungs and examining for cancerous cells.

If a mesothelioma is confirmed A biopsy is then performed to check a small sample of the tumor for cancerous cell. VATS (video assisted thoracoscopic surgical) or a needle guided CT scan can be used to carry out this procedure. The results of this will help determine the best mesothelioma treatment for the patient. This may include chemotherapy, surgery or radiation therapy. Some patients will also opt to undergo immunotherapy. This newer form can improve the prognosis of patients and improve their quality of life.

Treatment

Mesothelioma affects tissues that line and protect organs, including the lungs (pleural mesothelioma) as well as the stomach (peritoneal mesothelioma) or the heart or testicles (pericardial mesothelioma). Although mesothelioma cannot be cured but treatment can help manage symptoms.

Your doctor will inquire about your health history and check for symptoms of mesothelioma. Your doctor will also ask about your asbestos compensation exposure, because asbestos is the most significant risk factor for mesothelioma. Exposure to asbestos can cause asbestos fibers to get trapped in the chest cavity's lining and tummy, or the heart (mesothelium). In time, this causes inflammation, and can transform normal cells into cancerous ones. Mesothelioma can be diagnosed using imaging tests and blood tests.

Your healthcare provider uses chest X-rays to determine if you have an accumulation of fluid (pleural effusion). Your doctor will recommend an MRI, CT scan, or FDG-positron emission tomography (PET) to obtain detailed images. They may also perform a needle biopsy in order to collect a sample of the affected tissue.

A pathologist, also known as a mesothelioma specialist, will look at the tissue with a magnifying lens to detect cancerous cell and determine the type. To make the diagnosis the pathologist will stain the sample with a dye that shows up when certain types of proteins are present. They will then use an advanced method to get an even closer view of the tissue under the microscope.

It is sometimes difficult to diagnose mesothelioma because the cells that cause it look similar to those of other types of cells within the body. Your care team will try to confirm the mesothelioma diagnosis with other tests. These tests involve the collection of blood samples to determine the levels of fibulin-3 or mesothelin related protein that is soluble.

Your healthcare team will determine the best treatment option for mesothelioma depending on the type of cancer you have and its stage. The most popular mesothelioma treatments are surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy. A palliative treatment option is available if your mesothelioma has reached an advanced stage. This will alleviate the pain and other signs.

Prognosis

The prognosis for mesothelioma patients is dependent on the type and stage cancer and other factors such as age and general health. Patients should consult with doctors who are skilled to find out about their treatment options.

Mesothelioma develops when asbestos fibers damage the tissues that line and protect vital organs. The asbestos fibers can be breathed in or consumed and, in time, cause inflammation and genetic changes that convert normal cells into mesothelioma tumors. The most common mesothelioma forms are pleural mesothelioma, which develops in the lung lining and the chest cavity (pleura), as well as peritoneal mesothelioma, a rarer form that develops in the lining of the abdomen.

Mesothelioma is diagnosed by symptoms, laboratory tests, and X-rays. They may also suggest a biopsy to confirm the diagnosis. A biopsy involves the removal of the tissue to be tested. Doctors can then compare the samples of the biopsy to a database to identify the most likely mesothelioma-related cell type. This information can be used to determine the life expectancy of a patient suffering from mesothelioma as well as their treatment plan.

Mesothelioma cells are classified in three categories: epithelioid epithelial, biphasic and sarcomatoid. Each mesothelioma type grows at a different rate and responds to treatment in a different way. Epithelioid cancer makes up 60 to 80 percent of all cases and has a higher survival rate than biphasic or sarcomatoid mesothelioma.

It can take up to 50 years for mesothelioma develop following exposure to asbestos, so many patients don't get a diagnosis of mesothelioma until they begin to experience serious symptoms. asbestos settlement victims should disclose their exposure to a physician and undergo periodic checkups.

During these visits, doctors will check for signs of asbestos exposure like scarring on the lungs, as well as other respiratory problems. They can also perform an easy blood test to assess the overall health of a patient. If the results show that the risk of a patient developing mesothelioma is very high, they can schedule additional tests to determine mesothelioma-related prognosis. This includes imaging tests such as X rays, CT scans, and ultrasounds, along with the lung function test or chest MRI, or PET scan.