The 10 Most Terrifying Things About Mesothelioma

What is Mesothelioma?
The diagnosis of mesothelioma may be overwhelming. It's normal for people to be 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 and makes breathing difficult.
Asbestos exposure is the main cause of mesothelioma. Anyone who has worked with asbestos or lived with a person who was exposed are at risk.
What is Mesothelioma?
The cancerous mesothelioma forms on the lining of the tissue, also known as mesothelium. This lining covers and protects the majority of organs of your body including your chest, heart and abdomen. It is comprised of two layers that create an enveloping sac that surrounds the inner layer and organs inside your body. The fluid that flows between the layers allows organs to move around freely. Mesothelioma cells can become malignant or cancerous, and grow into and destroy surrounding tissue. They may 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-related workers include builders plumbers, electricians and plumbers welders, asbestos miners, auto industry workers and others. People who live or work near asbestos facilities, such as power plants and factories, are also at higher risk. Mesothelioma can be diagnosed in those 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 around the lung. this site of mesothelioma can cause chest pain, breathing issues and weight loss. It usually occurs in the lungs, but can also affect the stomach or the heart. Peritoneal mesothelioma is a rare form of the disease which affects the lining in the abdominal cavity. It can cause pain and difficulty eating.
Other mesothelioma types are pericardial and tunica vaginalis mesothelioma, both of which occur in the tissue that covers the tissue of the chest, abdomen or testicles, respectively. These mesothelioma types are often undiagnosed and have less survival rates than other types.
The prognosis for mesothelioma is based on the type, location and stage of the disease at the time of diagnosis as as the general health condition. Some patients are treated successfully with surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. Others with more advanced mesothelioma may receive experimental treatments like immunotherapy and gene therapy. In either scenario the treatment options available could significantly improve a person's life duration.
Symptoms
Mesothelioma is a rare type of cancer that most often occurs in the chest lining or abdominal cavity. It is caused by exposure to asbestos, a heat - and fire-resistant mineral that was used in the construction industry, insulation, shipbuilding, power generation, and 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 in home renovations may also be at risk of developing mesothelioma.
The majority of patients with mesothelioma have general symptoms like fatigue and weight loss, coughing with changes in frequency or intensity, chest pain, and other such symptoms. Patients should always consult their physician if they experience any of these symptoms. Inform your doctor that you've been exposed to asbestos.
In the case of pleural asbestosis, symptoms are often caused by the tumor causing fluid to accumulate in the area around the lungs. This build-up of fluid, also called a "pleural effusion" can put pressure on the lungs, making breathing difficult. The volume of fluid in the pleural cavity plays a role in the reduction of breathlessness.
Other signs of mesothelioma are an increase in temperature, night sweats and abdominal pain. The body's temperature rises when it fights against the disease. This can cause a fever. The night sweats are a response to the fever and a strategy by the body to get cool. These symptoms are all signs that the cancer is growing worse and causing body to stress.
Other symptoms of mesothelioma include fatigue, stomach swelling and a difficulty walking. Mesothelioma may also affect the tissue around the heart, causing chest pain and difficulty breathing. Mesothelioma may also grow in the membrane that covers the testicles. This can lead to swelling or a lump.
Mesothelioma is difficult to detect early because it is so rare. The symptoms of mesothelioma are comparable to those of other illnesses and are often mistaken for flu or pneumonia. As a result, mesothelioma symptoms may take from months to years to show before they are properly diagnosed.
Diagnosis
Mesothelioma can be a difficult cancer. Doctors must rule out other health conditions with similar symptoms before determining mesothelioma. Once they have done this, they can determine the best treatment option for you.
Your doctor will inquire about your symptoms, and then perform a physical examination. Your doctor might order blood tests to determine how well your organs work. One of these tests is a complete blood count (CBC) which examines the amount of red and white blood cells, the extent to which your kidneys and liver are functioning, as well as other vital information. These blood tests could detect mesothelioma. However, it is difficult to identify them due to their similarity to normal cells.
If your doctor suspects mesothelioma is the cause, they may order an imaging to determine the extent and the location of any fluid or growths in the lungs or abdomen. A chest x-ray is the most frequent test, however if it does not show any abnormalities, doctors can request more thorough tests like an CT scan or an MRI.
These tests provide high-resolution images of the body by a combination of magnetic fields and radio waves to create detailed pictures. They can detect thickening or fluid of the pleura and peritoneum that could be a sign of mesothelioma. A CT scan can reveal other health issues like pneumonia or a lung infection.
Doctors can sometimes be able to determine the type of mesothelioma you have by examining a sample of your tissue taken during a biopsy. This is the only way to determine mesothelioma. The samples are analyzed under a magnifying lens to determine the kind of mesothelioma as well as the extent of the cancer's spread.
Some doctors may also inject dye into a vein or conduct other tests to determine the region in which the cancer is. This is referred to as mesothelioma staging, and it aids doctors in determining how far the cancer has expanded.
Treatment
Mesothelioma occurs in the cells that line the lungs and other organs. These cells can grow in uncontrolled ways, and eventually form tumors. The cancer can spread because the cells aren't able to respond to signals that prevent them from growing too quickly. It may also infiltrate blood vessels that supply the lungs with oxygen. This can lead to breathing problems and a cough.
Doctors diagnose mesothelioma based on the symptoms of an individual and their history of asbestos exposure. They can also order imaging tests as well as other tests to detect and identify tumors. Chest X-rays, 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 see where the tumors are and to determine how much mesothelioma has spread. They may also take an ounce of fluid from the lungs, known as the thoracentesis, in order to look for mesothelioma cells and to ease the pressure on the lungs caused by fluid build-up.
After mesothelioma has been diagnosed doctors can determine the best treatment to control the disease. It is important to discuss your goals for treatment with a mesothelioma specialist. Some people want aggressive treatment to extend their life and improve their chances of survival, whereas others prefer an approach that is less intensive to decrease pain, nausea and other adverse effects.
Mesothelioma treatment options include radiation, surgery, and chemotherapy. The type of treatment a person receives depends on the stage of mesothelioma as well as whether it is comprised of epithelioid or sarcomatoid cell. The epithelioid cell is easier to remove surgically and has a higher success rate than the sarcomatoid. Certain patients have a combination of both types, and these patients usually have poorer outcomes than those with epithelioid-only mesothelioma.
It is crucial to visit your mesothelioma physician regularly after completing the treatment. This can help in preventing the cancer from returning. If it recurrs the mesothelioma team will create a new treatment strategy.
Patients with mesothelioma may enroll in clinical trials to try new treatments. Clinical trials give people access to advanced treatments that aren't yet approved for use in general.