The 10 Most Terrifying Things About Mesothelioma

What is Mesothelioma?
A diagnosis of Mesothelioma is a devastating one. It's normal to be shocked, upset and confused.
The pleura, which surrounds the lungs and chest wall, is affected by pleural mesothelioma. The cancer causes the accumulation of fluid in the lung 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?
Mesothelioma, a form of cancer, is found in the tissues' lining, known as the mesothelium. This lining protects your chest, heart, and abdomen, as well as most of your other organs. It has two layers that create a sac around inner layer of your organs, and is separated by fluids to allow organs to move around easily. Mesothelioma cancer cells develop into malignant or cancerous, and grow into and destroy surrounding tissues. They can also grow and spread (metastasize) to other areas of the body.
The most at-risk group for developing mesothelioma is those who have been working with asbestos. Asbestos-related workers include plumbers electricians, welders, asbestos miners, and auto industry workers. People who live or work near asbestos plants, such as power plants and factories, are also at a higher risk. Mesothelioma is diagnosed among people who were exposed to asbestos between 20 and 60 year before the disease manifests.
The most common type of mesothelioma is mesothelioma pleural, which is found in the lining around the lungs. This kind of mesothelioma may cause chest pain, difficulty breathing, and weight loss. It is typically found in the lungs but can also affect the stomach or the heart. Peritoneal mesothelioma is an uncommon form of the disease which affects the lining in the abdominal cavity. It can cause pain and difficulty eating.
The pericardial mesothelioma and the tunica vaginalis are two different types of mesothelioma. They both develop in the tissues that cover the tissues of the abdomen, chest, or testicles. These types of mesothelioma often are not diagnosed, and have lower survival rates than other types of the disease.
The mesothelioma treatment options depend on the nature and location of the cancer, the stage at diagnosis and the general health of the patient. Certain patients are successfully treated with surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. Patients with advanced mesothelioma may receive experimental treatments such as gene therapy or immunotherapy. In either scenario, the treatment options available may significantly increase a person's expectancy.
Symptoms
Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer, usually occurs in the linings of the chest cavity or abdomen. It is caused by exposure to asbestos, a heat and fire-resistant mineral used in the construction industry, insulation, shipbuilding power generation, home renovations prior to being banned in the 1970s. Exposure to asbestos is primarily resulted from working in the asbestos-related field. However, those who have cleaned the workwear with asbestos fibers or disturbed asbestos while renovating their homes are also at risk of developing mesothelioma.
find more info suffer from general symptoms, like fatigue and weight loss, coughing that has a change in frequency or intensity, chest pain and so on. Patients should always consult with their doctor if they notice any of these symptoms. Also, they should be sure to tell their doctor if they have been exposed to asbestos.
In the case of pleural asbestosis symptoms, they are often caused by the tumor causing fluid to build up in the area around the lungs. This build-up of fluid, also known as a "pleural effusion", puts pressure on the lungs, making breathing difficult. The volume of fluid in the pleural cavity is crucial in decreasing breathlessness.
Other signs of mesothelioma are 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 tries to reduce its temperature by producing sweating during the night as a reaction to the temperature. These symptoms are all indications that the cancer is getting worse and causing the body stress.
The less common mesothelioma symptoms are a swollen abdomen, fatigue and difficulty walking. Mesothelioma can also affect the tissue surrounding the heart, causing difficulty breathing and chest pain. It is also possible to develop mesothelioma in the testicles' membrane and cause swelling or an abnormal lump on the testicles.
Because mesothelioma can be so rare it can be difficult to diagnose early. The symptoms of mesothelioma are comparable to those of other diseases and are often mistaken for a flu or pneumonia. Mesothelioma may take as long as years before symptoms are identified.
Diagnosis
Mesothelioma is a cancer that is difficult to detect. Doctors must rule out other health diseases that share similar symptoms before diagnosing mesothelioma. Once this is done, they can determine the best treatment options for you.
Your doctor will inquire about your symptoms and perform a physical exam. Your doctor may also order blood tests to assess how your organs are working. A complete blood count (CBC) is a test that determines the amount of white and red blood cells as well as how your kidneys and liver are functioning, is a common test. These blood tests could detect mesothelioma. However, it is difficult to detect them because they look similar to normal cells.
If your doctor suspects that mesothelioma is the cause, they will likely order imaging to determine the extent and location of any fluid or growth around the abdomen or lungs. The most frequent test is a chest xray. If it doesn't reveal any abnormalities, your doctor may recommend more specific tests, such as an CT or MRI.
These tests produce detailed pictures of the body through the combination of radio waves with powerful magnets. They can detect thickening and fluid in the peritoneum or pleura which could be a sign of mesothelioma. A CT scan can also reveal other health issues, such as a lung infection or pneumonia.
Doctors may get a better idea of the type of mesothelioma you have by taking a tissue sample taken during an examination. This is the only way to determine mesothelioma. The samples are then examined under microscopes to determine the mesothelioma's specific cell type, as well as how far the cancer has taken over.
Some doctors may inject dye into a vein, or perform other tests, to identify the location of the cancer. This is known as mesothelioma staging, and it assists doctors in determining the extent to which the tumor has spread.
Treatment
Mesothelioma develops in the cells that line the lungs and other organs. The cells can expand beyond their limits, and eventually form tumors (masses). The cancer spreads because cells aren't able to respond to signals that stop them from growing too quickly. It can also invade the blood vessels that carry oxygen to the lung. This can cause breathing difficulties and a cough.
Doctors diagnose mesothelioma by looking at the symptoms of an individual and their history of asbestos exposure. They may also order scans and other tests in order to find and identify tumors. Chest Xrays, for instance can be used to check lung changes such as the thickening of the pleura and the pleural effusion (fluid build-up). They can also request CT scans, MRI and an PET scan to determine where the tumors are 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 to relieve pressure on the lungs brought on by the accumulation of fluid.
Once a mesothelioma-related diagnosis is confirmed, doctors can begin planning treatment options to manage the disease. It is crucial to discuss the treatment options with your mesothelioma doctor. Some people want aggressive treatment in order to prolong their lives and improve their chances of the chances of survival, while others are comfortable with an approach that is less intensive to decrease pain, nausea and other adverse effects.
Mesothelioma treatments include radiation, surgery, and chemotherapy. The type of treatment one receives is determined by the stage of their mesothelioma and whether or not it is composed of epithelioid or sarcomatoid cells. The epithelioid cell is easier to remove by surgery and has a better outcome than the sarcomatoid. Some patients are affected by a combination of both types, and suffer from a worse outcome than those who only have epithelioid cancer.
After you have completed your treatment, it is important to keep in touch with your mesothelioma doctor regularly. This will help keep the cancer from recurring. If it does recur, your mesothelioma team will devise a new treatment plan.
Some patients with mesothelioma are enrolled in clinical trials to test new treatments. Clinical trials let patients be able to access cutting-edge treatments that have not yet been approved for general use.