• 목록
• 답변
• 글쓰기
• 게시판 리스트 옵션
  • 수정
  • 삭제

Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is a condition that occurs when asbestos fibers irritate the tissue that surrounds a lot of your organs. The cancerous cells grow.

The lung's lining (pleura) is the most frequently affected site for mesothelioma. The less common forms affect the lining of the abdomen and the tissue around the testicles.

Doctors diagnose mesothelioma following a thorough examination of the tissue or a sample of fluid for cancerous cells. They can also order blood tests or imaging tests.

Symptoms

Mesothelioma can affect the linings of various organs. Symptoms vary depending on where the tumor develops and the location, like the pleura (lung lining) for pleural mesothelioma and the peritoneum for peritoneal mesothelioma. Fever, fatigue and unexplained weight loss are common symptoms. Other symptoms of mesothelioma claim include pain and difficulty in breathing.

The first step in determining mesothelioma is to conduct a physical exam. Your doctor will inquire about your past exposure to asbestos and any other factors that may increase your risk of developing mesothelioma. This includes a history of working in an industry where asbestos exposure was common, like manufacturing, shipbuilding or construction.

In the majority of cases mesothelioma can be diagnosed with imaging scans of the abdomen or chest. These include X radiographs, CT scans (computer tomography) and MRIs (magnetic imaging). These tests allow doctors to see inside your body and check for mesothelioma and other lung-related tumors or stomach.

The X-rays will reveal an increase in the thickness of the pleura or the accumulation of fluid in the lung space and chest wall, which are typical symptoms of mesothelioma of the pleura. It is also possible to detect fluid in the abdominal cavity, which is most commonly associated with peritoneal msothelioma.

Your doctor will order an examination for mesothelioma if a tumor is discovered. During a biopsy, your doctor will remove a small amount of tissue from the tumor to check for mesothelioma tumor cells. A surgeon will either insert a needle into the tumor, or perform an operation to remove the specimen.

For pleural mesothelioma, doctors will drain the fluid in the chest cavity with the procedure known as pleurodesis. This involves cutting a small incision in the chest or abdomen and then using a tube to drain fluid. In the final stages of pleural mesothelioma patients are often unable to breathe because of fluid buildup. Your doctor may attempt to stop the buildup of fluid in your pleura by insertion of an indwelling catheter or with ultrasound-guided needle aspiration.

In rare cases mesothelioma can spread to other areas of the body. This can cause symptoms like abdominal pain weight loss and trouble breathing. These symptoms are referred to as metastatic symptoms, because they occur outside of the original tumor.

Diagnosis

In the majority of instances, doctors first assess symptoms such as coughing and chest pains with physical examination. Patients are inquired about exposure to asbestos. They will then conduct imaging tests to detect lung cancer and abdomen. These may include X-rays, CT scans, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or positron emission tomography (PET) scans.

Since mesothelioma litigation is a rare cancer, it can be hard for doctors to identify it accurately. People with mesothelioma often get wrongly diagnosed with common illnesses like bronchitis or pneumonia. This can delay treatment, and cause the disease to spread before it is fully diagnosed.

Once doctors find a possible mesothelioma tumor, they will require samples of tissue or fluid for testing. These samples will confirm the kind of cancer and if it has spread. Doctors can collect mesothelioma specimens through the procedure of a biopsy. This can be accomplished by removing a small amount of tissue using surgery or inserting an instrument in the abdomen or chest to draw out fluid.

These samples will then be examined to determine if they contain cancer cells. The type of mesothelioma that the doctor discovers will help determine the best treatment options.

Doctors may recommend laboratory tests to understand the tumor. These tests can help identify proteins, genes and other specific factors to a tumor.

Then, doctors will need to know whether the tumor has spread, which is called staging. This will help them determine the size of the tumor and whether it has spread to other organs.

Once all tests are completed the doctor will go over them with you. You will also be given a prognosis. It is based on the typical mesothelioma patients with similar symptoms and stages. Then, they will discuss how the prognosis is likely to change as the tumor grows or shrinks, and what other treatments are used. If you have any questions, ask for an opinion from another doctor. This is an excellent way to make sure that you receive the best treatment.

Treatment

Getting diagnosed with mesothelioma is just the beginning of a long road. Treatment options depend on many factors including the type and grade of mesothelioma case (how fast it grows). Doctors will also take into account the general health of a person as well as age and other medical issues.

Mesothelioma is a rare condition that can be difficult for healthcare providers to identify. Combinations of tests, such as chest CT scans and X-rays are frequently used to confirm the diagnosis of mesothelioma. These imaging studies could reveal changes in the lung linings as well as the abdomen, like the pleural thickening process or the accumulation of fluid. The blood tests can be done to detect high levels associated with mesothelioma.

A biopsy is usually performed after a mesothelioma is suspected. A biopsy is done by inserting a needle into the area affected and then removing the tissue to be examined. A laboratory will analyze the tissue to determine if it is contaminated with cancerous cells.

If a patient has pleural mesothelioma, doctors can drain the excess fluid with a procedure called Thorcentesis. They can also use pleurodesis, a procedure that can stop the accumulation of fluid up in the future. Pleurodesis is performed by inserting a tube into the chest to aid in draining the fluid. It can be paired with medication to reduce the chance of fluid building up again.

Radiation therapy is often used in conjunction with chemotherapy or surgery to treat mesothelioma. Doctors can opt for traditional photon radiation or a more advanced method known as intensity-modulated therapy, which sends the radiation at different angles in order to limit healthy tissue damage.

It can be used to make surgery easier by using drugs to eliminate cancerous cells. Patients suffering from peritoneal msothelioma could also receive intraperitoneal chemotherapy, which is injected with heat into the abdomen. Clinical trials of new mesothelioma treatments are open to a few people. They are typically conducted in larger medical centers and may provide the most promising results. Even after treatment, mesothelioma could recur. If it does, the treatment options will differ based on the location where mesothelioma developed and the previous treatments received.

Prognosis

The prognosis of mesothelioma varies on a number of factors, including the stage and type of cancer, overall health and age. It is also dependent on how far mesothelioma is spreading and how much treatment will help in controlling symptoms.

A doctor will perform a series of tests to determine the prognosis of mesothelioma patients, which include imaging tests (a CT scan or X-ray) as well as blood tests, and a biopsy. A biopsy is when doctors remove an insignificant amount of mesothelioma or other tissue and examine it under a microscope to look for cancer cells.

Mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer, affects tissues that surround organs such as the lining around the abdomen, chest and the testes. It is caused by exposure to asbestos.

A diagnosis of mesothelioma can be shocking and may trigger feelings of anger, fear or anxiety. It is important to discuss these feelings with a trusted family member mesothelioma group support group or mesothelioma lawyer.

The prognosis for mesothelioma can be improved if the disease is identified in its early stages. If doctors can remove the tumor or a large portion of it, patients have a better chance of a longer life.

Fitness is another aspect. Those with a higher fitness level are able to endure mesothelioma treatments that are more severe and have a higher rate of survival. The blood chemistry of a person can also play a role in their mesothelioma prognosis. The more normal a person's haemoglobin levels and platelet and white blood cell counts are, the better their prognosis.

Mesothelioma can be treated if it has not reached the point of critical. It can be treated through radiation therapy, chemotherapy or surgery. These treatments make cancer cells less likely to multiply and spread. However, these treatments can not treat cancer. Many patients with mesothelioma have outlived their initial prognosis. Some have lived years or even a decade after being diagnosed with mesothelioma. For instance, paleontologist Stephen Jay Gould survived his peritoneal mesothelioma for 20 years. However, he passed away from cancer that was not related to his mesothelioma law.