What is Mesothelioma?
The mesothelioma cancer is a rare form of cancer that affects a thin layer of tissue that surrounds the majority of internal organs. It usually begins in the tissues surrounding your lung (pleura), but it can also start in the lining of your abdomen or around the heart.
The doctor diagnoses mesothelioma following a thorough review of your medical records and undergoing an exam. They can also check for symptoms of the disease using CT scans or X-rays.
Signs and symptoms
The mesothelium is a layer that surrounds your internal organs and shields them. The Pleura is the most frequent site for mesothelioma. It lines your lungs, chest cavity and other organs. Other sites include the peritoneum, a membrane that lines the abdominal cavity, and the pericardium, a sac that is the heart’s protective cover.
The symptoms of mesothelioma are based on the site where the cancer begins and how advanced it has become. The symptoms of pleural mesothelioma the most prevalent type of mesothelioma, include coughing, difficulty breathing and chest pain.
Pleural mesothelioma may also trigger the lungs to become swollen with fluid or pleural effusion. Pleural effusion can make it difficult to breathe because the pleura gets thicker and restricts the space needed for the lungs to expand when breathing. Pleural effusion is often mistaken for other ailments, including tuberculosis and pleurisy as well as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).
Due to the lengthy mesothelioma’s latency time and its connection with other cancers, patients typically don’t get diagnosed until they are in an advanced stage. This can have a significant impact on your prognosis.
A mesothelioma diagnosis usually involves a physical exam, imaging tests and a biopsy. Your doctor will insert needles into the site and remove a small amount of tissue to check for mesothelioma-related cells under the microscope.
Doctors will use the results of these tests to assess the extent to which mesothelioma cancer has spread, or stage it. This helps determine the best treatment options for you.
Surgery is the most common treatment for mesothelioma. Doctors may suggest chemotherapy or radiation therapy. These treatments can shrink or eliminate mesothelioma-related cancerous cells and also stop them from spreading.
Some patients with mesothelioma been successful in clinical trials. These trials evaluate new mesothelioma treatment options in the hope of finding an effective cure. Your doctor can help find a trial to take part in.
Diagnosis
Getting an accurate mesothelioma diagnosis is the first step to getting treatment. Doctors follow a variety of steps to determine the severity of the disease, starting with a physical examination and continuing with imaging tests and lab work. what is mesothelioma may recommend the procedure of a biopsy, which will collect fluid and tissue from the tumour to further study.
When the cells of the lining of your organs, such as the lining that surrounds your abdomen or chest, expand in an uncontrollable and abnormal manner, you have mesothelioma. In time, they can form a mass, which is often mistaken for other illnesses or cancers such as bronchitis or pneumonia. The first signs are typically respiratory issues, such as breathing problems or chest pain. Mesothelioma can also affect the skin causing painful lumps known as fibrosis. It can even affect the heart, causing pain or swelling in the abdomen or chest.
To diagnose mesothelioma doctors will request imaging tests, like X-rays, CT scans and MRIs, to look at your lung and abdomen areas in more detail. X-rays, CT scans and other imaging tests can reveal changes in the lungs such as a pleural fluid effusion or indications of fluid accumulation in the lung. MRI scans employ magnetic fields, not radiation to reveal more information. They can also reveal if the tumors have spread to other structures such as the diaphragm or the heart.
A blood test can show an increase in certain mesothelioma-related proteins, such as fibulin-3 and mesothelin-related proteins that are soluble. MRIs and CTs can be used to identify mesothelioma anywhere in the body.
If your doctor discovers fluid or tissue buildup or tissue buildup, they could also recommend a thoracentesis or pericardiocentesis to check for mesothelioma cells in the fluid. If they discover the cells and further tests are conducted, they will determine if you have mesothelioma in the pleural region or a peritoneal one.
Your doctor will determine the treatment plan according to the results of your lab tests. The type of mesothelioma and how far it has spread will determine your prognosis. Treatment options could include surgery, chemotherapy or radiation therapy. If you are in an advanced stage of the disease, your treatment will focus on managing symptoms to ensure you are as comfortable as possible.
Treatment
If someone is diagnosed with mesothelioma, doctors will attempt to manage the cancer and treat any symptoms that they develop. It is essential that patients are aware of the condition and treatment options, as well as prognosis so they can make informed decisions regarding their care. It’s also beneficial to have a support network in place to help with the daily tasks and appointments.
Mesothelioma affects the thin layer that connects internal organs. The main cause is asbestos exposure. The disease can manifest in the lungs or abdomen (peritoneal mesothelioma and pleural mesothelioma). In rare instances it may be found in the heart’s lining (pericardial mesothelioma) and in the testicles (testicular mesothelioma).
The signs of bronchitis are chest discomfort, fever, skin rash and coughing. A doctor can determine the severity of the condition by taking a tiny sample of tissue or fluid from the affected area and then examining it under the aid of a microscope. Imaging tests can be employed by doctors to determine the extent of cancer’s spread. These tests include X-rays CT scans and FDG-positron emission tomography. CT scans provide three-dimensional images of various organs and can also examine the chest lymph nodes. FDG-PET utilizes a radioactive substance to detect and highlight cancer cells that absorb it. VATS (video assisted thoracoscopic surgery) is a minimally invasive procedure, can be used to perform the biopsy. Another alternative is a CT guided needle core biopsy that is performed under local anaesthesia.
The surgery can improve breathing in some instances, but it’s not likely to be curative for cancers in later stages. A pleurectomy/decortication (P/D) operation removes part of the lining around the lung. The more extensive extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP) eliminates the entire lung, a portion of the diaphragm, and the lining of the sac that surrounds the heart (pericardium).
Chemotherapy is the use of chemicals to kill or stop mesothelioma cancer cells. It is administered through mouth, directly injected into a vein, muscle or delivered directly to the abdomen. It is possible to administer it prior to surgery to ease the process or after surgery to decrease the chance of cancer coming back.
Other types of treatment include targeted therapy, which kills cancer cells but does not affect healthy cells. Radiation therapy can destroy cancerous cells that are left after surgery, and new treatments like Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields) have been able to control mesothelioma growth in clinical trials.
Prognosis
A person diagnosed with mesothelioma can avail various treatment options. A specialist in mesothelioma may suggest treatments based on the kind of cancer, the area it has spread and other factors. A mistake can lead to less effective treatment, and could give the cancer the chance to grow and spread. Anyone diagnosed with mesothelioma should seek an additional opinion from a mesothelioma specialist to avoid a misdiagnosis.
The overall outlook for mesothelioma is not always good. This is partly because mesothelioma can grow for a long time without causing symptoms, making it difficult to diagnose the disease until it has reached an advanced stage. It’s also because mesothelioma can be a very aggressive cancer and current treatments aren’t very effective in stopping it from spreading.
Mesothelioma usually begins in the layers of tissue that cover each lung (the pleura). It can also start in the lining around the organs in the tummy (the peritoneum). The life expectancy of a person is contingent on the type of mesothelioma they have and the stage at which it is diagnosed. The epithelioid mesothelioma type tend to have a better chance of survival than those who have the sarcomatoid or biphasic types.
Asbestos exposure is a common risk factor. It is not clear what causes the first mutations that lead up to mesothelioma. Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral used in a range of industries prior to its ban in the 1970s. It was used primarily in construction and manufacturing because it is flame- and heat-resistant. Workers in these areas are at a higher risk of developing mesothelioma. This includes construction workers, shipyard workers power plant workers, and other professionals who handled or worked with asbestos-containing substances.
The risk of mesothelioma can also higher for family members of asbestos-exposed persons. It is because these fibers can adhere to hair or clothing and be then brought to the home of the person who was exposed. These fibers can be inhaled by children and spouses. They could be carried into homes by pets and other animals.
g
Aucune réponse