What is Mesothelioma Lung Cancer?
Mesothelioma lung cancer can be found in the pleura tissue that covers the lungs and forms the chest cavity. This rare condition can affect the abdomen's lining (peritoneum) and the heart as well as the testicles.
Doctors use X rays and CT scans in order to identify mesothelioma. They can also request a biopsy to take tissue or fluid samples to test.
Symptoms
Breathlessness or chest pain may be the first signs of mesothelioma. These symptoms are comparable in several cases of pneumonia or influenza, as well as bronchitis. It is important that anyone who is experiencing these symptoms consult their physician. The earlier cancer is identified, the easier it is to treat.
Mesothelioma is typically diagnosed using a chest X-ray or a computerized tomography (CT) scan that shows the an increase in the thickness of the pleura or calcium deposits on the lung lining. The scan can reveal the presence of fluid in the space around the lungs. A doctor can drain this fluid, called pleural effusion, to help alleviate breathing difficulties and chest pain.
A doctor can also take an insignificant amount of tissue or fluid from the region in which the mesothelioma has been discovered to test for mesothelioma cells. These samples are tested by a laboratory to confirm a mesothelioma diagnose. Mesothelioma is more common in the lining around the lungs, but it can be found in the membrane surrounding the heart or reproductive organs.
When a doctor confirms a mesothelioma diagnose, the next step is to decide on the treatment plan. The treatment options will vary according to the stage and type of mesothelioma.
Treatment for mesothelioma often includes chemotherapy or radiation therapy, as well as surgery. The goal of these treatments is to improve the quality of life, alleviate symptoms and extend the duration of their survival.
The doctor will attempt to drain fluid from the pleura, or the lungs of a patient suffering from cancer of the pleura in order to alleviate chest discomfort. This procedure is called pleurodesis, and involves the use of a chemical or drug to damage the lung's lining so that it won't fill with fluid. This procedure is intended for pain relief, not a cure.
The doctors will also discuss palliative treatment with the patient, which can help to reduce discomfort and other signs like hunger, fatigue and weight loss. Patients will be advised to drink plenty of fluids and consume healthy meals. They may also recommend relaxation techniques and exercise to reduce stress.
Diagnosis
Imaging tests are used to identify the affected area because pleural mesothelioma affects the lining of lungs. These tests will identify the size and location of any tumors and any accumulation of fluid in or around the abdomen or lungs.
If a doctor suspects that a patient might have mesothelioma they will ask about the history of exposure to asbestos and any signs. The patient could also undergo a physical examination.
It can be difficult for doctors to identify mesothelioma. The early symptoms, such as chest pain, breathlessness, and a dry, cough are similar to those of many other illnesses. Mesothelioma may be mistakenly identified as lung cancer, pneumonia, or bronchitis. It can take as long as 20 years to diagnose mesothelioma.
To confirm a diagnosis of mesothelioma, doctors take a biopsy of the affected area. This is done by inserting an needle into the affected region and extracting an amount of tissue to be analyzed under a microscope. Doctors can conduct a pleural biopsy by using VATS (video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery) it is a kind of keyhole surgery, or CT-guided core biopsies.
Testing on fluid samples and blood can be used to diagnose mesothelioma. These tests can detect high levels in the blood of certain substances associated mesothelioma. This includes mesothelin-related peptides that are soluble and Fibulin-3. A thoracentesis is used to remove fluid from the lungs or to remove fluid that has accumulated around them.
MRI and CT scans can help doctors identify mesothelioma in the lungs. They can see changes like calcium deposits, or the thickening of the lining. They can also detect if cancer has expanded. This is known as metastasis. These results will impact the kind of treatment the doctor recommends. In addition to these tests, doctors will take into account the stage of mesothelioma as well as a person's general health in the process of deciding on the best treatment plan.
Treatment
You may experience symptoms like breathlessness or pain in your chest if you suffer from pleural asbestosis, which affects the tissue that surrounds your lungs and chest cavity. These symptoms are caused by a build-up of fluid in the lungs (pleural effusion). If you have these symptoms, speak to your doctor as soon as possible.
Mesothelioma can be difficult to recognize, since it can take between 10 and 40 years for mesothelioma symptoms to appear, and it is usually diagnosed in advanced stages. When cancer is first detected it is often difficult to determine the extent it has been able to spread. As a result, mesothelioma treatment is often at a palliative level to control the symptoms and improve quality of life.
Treatment options for mesothelioma rely on the nature, location and stage of the tumor, as well as how far it has spread. Your doctors will design a mesothelioma treatment strategy that is unique to you in accordance with your health and symptoms.
This type of treatment is likely to include surgery, chemo and radiation. Depending on your preferences and the stage of the cancer, you could decide to undergo a surgical procedure called pleurectomy or decortication. This procedure removes the thin membrane that covers the lungs and chest cavity, called the pleura. It also removes any visible cancers from the lungs and chest wall.
You can choose to have a tube placed in your chest to drain the accumulated fluid from the lungs and chest. You could also be prescribed medication to reduce your risk of mesothelioma coming back. Some patients have had gene therapy, which inserts new genes into cells to fight mesothelioma and other cancers.
A multidisciplinary team of specialists will create your mesothelioma care plan. The team could include your physician, the pulmonologist (lung specialist) surgeon, oncologist, radiologists and a chest physician. The radiologists interpret mesothelioma scans, mesothelioma asbestos cancer as well as other tests. A chest surgeon performs surgery on the chest and lungs. The medical oncologist prescribes chemotherapy and coordinates the radiation treatment. A pulmonologist or a thoracic surgeon can put an instrument inside the chest to drain fluid at least once a week if necessary.
Prognosis
A person's mesothelioma prognosis will be based on a variety of aspects, including how the cancer has spread and whether it can be removed surgically and their overall health. There are many treatment options to help manage symptoms and prolong life expectancy. These include chemotherapy, surgery and radiation.
Mesothelioma is diagnosed by the cells that compose the lining of the affected organ. To determine the exact diagnosis, doctors must examine the specimen of tissue under a microscope to determine the type of mesothelial cancer cells present. This is called a biopsy. This information can be obtained by a doctor using a pleural sample or a chest CT.
The location of the tumor is important in determining if mesothelioma is present. Pleural mesothelioma forms in the lining of the lungs, and is the most frequent type of this cancer. Other less well-known forms include pericardial, peritoneal and testicular mesothelioma.
It can be difficult for doctors to identify mesothelioma because the cells responsible for this condition are similar to those in other lung diseases. This is why it is often mistakenly diagnosed. Patients should be aware of the symptoms and discuss the symptoms with a mesothelioma specialist. They may then suggest tests to determine if a patient is suffering from mesothelioma, or another type of cancer.
A biopsy is typically the most effective method of confirming mesothelioma. It is accomplished by removing a tiny piece of the tumor using a needle or through VATS (Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery), a type of keyhole surgery. The biopsy is examined with a magnifying glass to check for mesothelioma.
If mesothelioma is detected doctors can determine the extent to which it has spread by using a combination of tests, including CT scans, FDG-positron emission tomography, mediastinoscopy or EBUS (endoscopic biopsy of the thoracic lobe). The stage, or extent, of the mesothelioma will also be evaluated.
If mesothelioma can't be removed surgically, treatments like palliative care can be used to manage symptoms and prolong the life of as long as possible. Therapies for maintenance like immunotherapy and chemotherapy can stop mesothelioma from expanding or spreading over time. While the mesothelioma's survival rate can be low, there are some notable survivors who have surpassed their predictions. Stephen Jay Gould, a paleontologist, was able to survive peritoneal mesotheliom for more than 20 years after his diagnosis.