Mesothelioma Cancer
Most commonly, mesothelioma begins in the tissues that cover the lung. It also can start in the lining of the stomach or the heart, referred to as the peritoneum.
A mesothelioma diagnose can be terrifying and confusing. However, you can take charge of your treatment by asking more information and working closely your doctors.
Symptoms
Mesothelioma is a cancer of mesothelium, which is a thin layer of tissue that protects organs inside the body. It is typically found in the lining of the lungs (pleura) or in the membrane that surrounds the abdomen (peritoneum). Mesothelioma can be described as a cancerous tumor that develops when cells normally are benign, but turn cancerous after exposure to asbestos.
Patients with mesothelioma typically experience various symptoms, with some of the most common being chest pain, shortness of breath and coughing. These symptoms can be mistaken for pneumonia, particularly in the beginning stages.
Other symptoms include fever, fatigue and unresolved weight loss. These symptoms can be caused by cancer or tumor spreading to other areas of the body, for instance to the gastrointestinal tract or heart.
Imaging tests like X-rays, CT scans, and biopsy tests can be used to detect mesothelioma. A biopsy involves inserting a needle in the affected area to collect a tiny mesothelium sample to test.
The results of the biopsy are used to determine if you have mesothelioma and what kind it is. It may also help doctors create the most efficient treatment plan for you.
A biopsy is typically performed under local anesthesia or sedation. Other methods are available to collect a tissue sample depending on your health and the location of your cancer.
In addition there are a variety of treatments that could help alleviate symptoms and improve your quality of life, such as palliative treatment. The aim of this treatment is to ease pain, fatigue, discomfort and other symptoms associated from mesothelioma.
It is important to discuss all your options with your doctor. This is especially important when you've been recently diagnosed with the disease or experiencing symptoms. Your doctor can provide you with a an inventory of treatment providers that have experience in treating mesothelioma. They can also help you locate support groups and provide all the information you require on resources and services.
Diagnosis
A doctor will determine mesothelioma when conducting a physical examination and asking about your symptoms. They may order imaging scans, such as chest X-rays and computerised Tomography (CT) scans of the abdomen and lungs to check for mesothelioma. They may also request blood tests to see if you have high levels of certain substances that suggest mesothelioma.
The main test to determine if pleural mesothelioma has occurred is a biopsy. A small amount of tissue is removed to be examined under a microscope. A mesothelioma specialist, also known as a pathologist, will study the cells to work out whether you have mesothelioma, and what kind of mesothelioma it's. The mesothelioma cells from pleural are usually classified as epithelioid, sarcomatoid or mixed/biphasic mesothelioma.
If you have mesothelioma peritoneal doctors will employ an alternative method to take the stomach tissues. A thin tube with a camera at the end is called laparoscope. They will make small cuts in your stomach and then pass the tube through one of the cuts. The doctor will then pass a tool through the laparoscope and collect tissue samples from any unusual-looking areas of your stomach.
Your doctor may also use these images to determine what stage mesothelioma has reached and whether it has mutated. The biopsy and other test results aid doctors in deciding on the treatment.
Depending on the stage and type of mesothelioma, you might need to have surgery to remove the cancer. You may need to undergo radiation therapy and/or chemotherapy afterward.
Your doctor will discuss with you about palliative treatment, which aims to ease the symptoms of mesothelioma and improve your quality of life. This could include treatments such as physiotherapy or a pleural drain to relieve pressure on the chest and prevent the build-up of fluid in the lungs. Your doctors will also discuss ways to manage your symptoms such as pain and fatigue. They will look at your fitness level, age and medical history to help them decide on the best treatment plan for you.
Treatment
Depending on where the mesothelioma is located, and if it has spread, doctors may treat the condition through chemotherapy, surgery or radiation therapy. They may prescribe medications to relieve symptoms. These may be pills, injections, or other drugs administered intravenously (intravenous).
Mesothelioma affects the cells that compose the mesothelium, which is a thin sac or membrane that covers a number of the organs and structures inside the body which include the lungs as well as the chest cavity. Pleural mesothelioma occurs in the lung lining and chest wall, whereas mesothelioma in the peritoneal region affects the lining of the abdominal cavity or the membrane surrounding the heart (pericardium).
A doctor may suspect mesothelioma based on malignant pleural mesothelioma cancer the patient's medical history as well as the symptoms they are experiencing. The doctor will conduct a patient a physical examination and may order a range of tests, including chest X-rays or CT scans, to get more details about the symptoms. A biopsy sample will likely be taken to confirm the diagnosis and determine what mesothelioma type is present: epithelioid (which is responsible for 70% of diagnoses) or the sarcomatoid (which is present in a small percentage of diagnoses) or biphasic.
Mesothelioma is often removed surgically if the patient's health allows it. The surgeon can opt for a method called minimally invasive surgery, which involves making small incisions in the skin, and inserting tubes with a video camera and other tools in the abdomen or chest. The doctor can remove more tissue with this technique than with traditional open surgery.
The surgeon could also remove the affected part of the pleura, as well as the lymph nodes within that region and the diaphragm. This is known as extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP).
After surgery, patients might receive chemotherapy or radiation in order to kill any cancerous cells the surgeon couldn't see during the operation. This is the usual treatment for mesothelioma patients.
Regular check-ups are recommended with the cancer specialist as well as the family doctor. The health care team will discuss the best plan of follow-up care that is appropriate for the individual's circumstances and goals.
Prognosis
The prognosis for mesothelioma is the estimated time for survival after diagnosis. It can differ widely depending on the mesothelioma type, the extent to which it has spread, and other factors such as the patient's age and general health.
The lung's lining called pleura is affected by pleural mesothelioma. It is not a lung cancer, since it affects the membrane that lines your lungs, and not the lungs themselves. In some instances mesothelioma can develop within the lining of the heart (pericardial mesothelioma). Mesothelioma can also grow in the membrane that surrounds the testicles.
Patients should get as much information as possible regarding the treatment options available to them and their mesothelioma diagnosis. They may feel shocked or upset when they hear the news of mesothelioma, but it is crucial to remember that this is a disease that can be treated.
A diagnosis early in mesothelioma may help in treating it. Patients can undergo chemotherapy, radiation, or surgery to improve their odds of survival and lessen their symptoms.
In many instances mesothelioma treatments can prolong the life expectancy of patients. For instance, patients who suffer from peritoneal mesothelioma could benefit from the combination of surgical elimination of the affected region and chemotherapy.
Other variables that can affect a person's mesothelioma prognosis include how quickly the cancer spreads and the type of cell it is. Epithelioid cancers spread more slowly and respond better to treatment than sarcomatoid, biphasic or sarcomatoid cells. In addition, patients with multiple mesothelioma are more likely to have a lower chance of survival than those with just one.
Mesothelioma patients that follow their doctors' recommendations regarding lifestyle changes and treatment usually have a better prognosis than those who don't. For example patients who quit smoking, eat an exercise routine and eat a healthy diet regularly can help their bodies cope with the illness. Methods to reduce stress and palliative care can improve the quality of life of mesothelioma patients. There are notable mesothelioma resurvivor cases. Stephen Jay Gould lived for more than 20 years after being diagnosed with peritoneal msothelioma. He wrote an article titled "The Median Isn't the Message" in which he argued that statistics like median survival can be useful abstractions, but they do not determine a person's fate.