What is Mesothelioma Lung Cancer?
Mesothelioma lung cancer develops in the pleura tissue, which covers the lungs and forms the chest cavity. This rare disease can also affect the lining of the abdomen (peritoneum) and the heart, as well as the testicles.
Doctors use X-rays and CT scans to find mesothelioma-related signs. They may also order a biopsy to collect fluid or tissues to test.
Symptoms
The first indications of mesothelioma could be chest pain or breathlessness. These symptoms are comparable in several cases of pneumonia or influenza, as well as bronchitis. It is important that anyone experiencing these symptoms sees their doctor. The earlier cancer is detected the easier it will be to treat.
A chest X-ray, or a computerized Tomography (CT) scan is used to diagnose mesothelioma. The scans show a thickening in the pleura or calcium deposits on the lung liner. The scan can also show whether fluid is building up in the space around the lungs. This fluid, also referred to as pleural effusion, can be eliminated by a doctor to ease chest pain and breathing problems.
A doctor may also test small amounts of tissue from the area with mesothelioma, by taking a small amount of fluid or tissue. These samples are analyzed in a laboratory to confirm the diagnosis of mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is more likely to occur in the lung's lining than any other part of the body, but it can also occur in the membrane surrounding the heart or reproductive organs.
If a doctor has confirmed a mesothelioma diagnose the next step is to determine a plan of treatment. Treatment options vary depending on the stage and kind of mesothelioma.
Mesothelioma treatment often involves surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation therapy. These treatments are intended to improve the quality of life of patients, ease symptoms and extend their life span.
The doctor will try to eliminate fluid from the pleura or the lungs of a patient suffering from pleural cancer in order to relieve breathlessness and chest pain. This procedure, referred to as pleurodesis, involves the use of a chemical or a medication to irritate the lining on the lungs. It will prevent it from filling up with fluid. This is only used for the relief of symptoms and is not a cure.
Palliative care is also discussed with the patient. This helps alleviate discomfort and other symptoms such as fatigue, weight loss and loss of appetite. Patients will be advised to drink plenty of fluids and consume healthy food. They may also suggest relaxation techniques and exercises to help reduce stress.
Diagnosis
Since pleural mesothelioma is found in the lung's lining doctors employ imaging tests to locate and determine the affected area. These tests can determine the size and position of any tumors as well as any fluid accumulation around the abdomen or the lungs.
If a doctor suspects that a person may have mesothelioma, they will ask them about their history of exposure to asbestos and any symptoms they are experiencing. The patient could be subjected to physical examination.
Mesothelioma isn't easy to recognize. The early symptoms, such as chest pain, breathlessness and a dry cough are similar to those experienced by other diseases. This is why mesothelioma can be misdiagnosed as lung cancer or other illnesses, such as pneumonia and bronchitis. It can take up 20 years before diagnosing mesothelioma.
To confirm a mesothelioma diagnosis doctors will conduct a biopsy of the affected area. This is accomplished by inserting a needle in the affected region and removing the tissue to be examined under a microscope. Doctors can conduct a core biopsy under CT guidance or VATS (video assisted thoracoscopic surgical) which is a type of keyhole surgery.
Tests of fluid and blood samples can help diagnose mesothelioma. In these tests, doctors examine for high levels of certain substances in blood that are linked to mesothelioma. These include mesothelin-related peptides that are soluble and fibulin. If a person has an accumulation of fluid within or around the lungs, doctors can also remove a fluid sample for testing by a procedure known as thoracentesis.
MRI and CT scans can aid doctors to see mesothelioma changes in the lungs, such as calcium deposits or thickening of the lining. They can also determine whether cancer has been able to spread. This is called metastasis. These results will affect the type of treatment recommended by a doctor. In addition to these tests and a person's overall health, doctors will also consider the stage of the mesothelioma.
Treatment
If you have mesothelioma of the pleural region, which affects the tissue that line the lungs as well as the chest cavity, it could cause symptoms such as breathlessness or pain in the chest. These symptoms result from a build-up of fluid in the lungs (pleural effusion). Consult your doctor when you notice these symptoms.
Mesothelioma can be difficult to recognize, since it can take between 10 and 40 years before mesothelioma symptoms appear, and it is often diagnosed in advanced stages. It can be difficult to know how far the cancer has spread once it is first detected. This is why mesothelioma is often treated at palliative stage to reduce symptoms and improve quality of life.
Treatment options for mesothelioma depend on the stage, type, and location of the tumor, as well as how far it has spread. Your doctor will develop an individual mesothelioma treatment program that is based on your symptoms and general health.
The treatment plan is likely to include chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation. You can opt to undergo a pleurectomy, or a decortication depending on your preferences and the stage of cancer. The procedure removes the thin membrane that protects the chest cavity and lungs known as the pleura. This procedure also removes any visible tumors from the chest wall and lungs.
You may choose to have a tube placed in your chest to drain fluid that has accumulated in the chest and lungs. You might also receive medication to lower the risk of the mesothelioma recurring. Certain patients have received gene therapy to combat mesothelioma or other diseases.
A multidisciplinary team of specialists will create your mesothelioma treatment plan. asbestos related cancer mesothelioma could comprise your GP or pulmonologist (lung specialist), surgeon oncologist, radiologists, and an a chest physician. The radiologists interpret mesothelioma scans as well as other tests. A chest surgeon performs surgery on the lungs and chest. The medical oncologist prescribes chemo and coordinates radiation therapy. A thoracic or pulmonologist can place a tube into the chest to drain fluids few times per week, if needed.
Prognosis
The prognosis for a patient diagnosed with mesothelioma depends on several factors, such as how far the cancer has spread and whether it is able to be treated surgically. It will also depend on their overall health. There are many treatment options that can help to manage symptoms and prolong life expectancy. This includes chemotherapy and surgery.
The cells that line the affected organ are used to diagnose mesothelioma. To make an accurate diagnosis, doctors will examine the tissue sample under a microscope to identify the type of cancerous mesothelial cell that is present. This procedure is referred to as a biopsy. This information can be obtained by a physician using a pleural sample or a chest CT.
The location of the tumor is important for a mesothelioma diagnosis. Pleural mesothelioma develops in the lung's lining, and is the most common form of this cancer. The less popular types are peritoneal, testicular and pericardial mesothelioma.
Mesothelioma can be difficult identify because the cells responsible for it are similar to other lung diseases. It is the reason it is often misdiagnosed. Patients should be aware of symptoms and discuss the symptoms with a mesothelioma specialist. They may then suggest tests to determine if a patient suffers from mesothelioma or a different condition.
A biopsy is typically the most reliable method to confirm mesothelioma. It is done by removing a small piece of the tumor using a needle or through VATS (Video-assisted surgical thoracoscopic procedure), a type of keyhole surgery. The biopsy is then examined under a microscope to look for mesothelioma cells.
Doctors can determine the severity of mesothelioma through combining various tests. These include CT scans, FDG-positron emissions mediastinoscopy, tomography, or EBUS which is an endoscopic biopsy of the thoracic lung. The extent of the mesothelioma is also evaluated.
If mesothelioma is not removed surgically, treatment options like palliative care are a way to control symptoms and prolong life as long as it is possible. Different maintenance therapies, such as immunotherapy and chemotherapy can stop mesothelioma from spreading or growing for a period of months or even years. While the median survival rate for mesothelioma is not very long but there are notable survivors who have surpassed their prognoses. Stephen Jay Gould, a paleontologist, was able to survive peritoneal mesotheliom over 20 years after his diagnosis.