Is Mesothelioma a Lung Cancer?
Mesothelioma can begin in the tissues that surround every lung (the Pleura) or, less commonly, in the lining of the stomach (peritoneum). The disease is often in its final stages, and symptoms can take as long as 50 years to manifest.
Diagnostic tests such as imaging tests and biopsys are utilized by doctors to diagnose mesothelioma. Treatment plans usually involve surgery, chemotherapy and/or radiation.
Pleural mesothelioma
The lining of the lung is usually affected by pleural mesothelioma. It is the most common mesothelioma type. Patients tend to have better outcomes than patients with other types of mesothelioma, such as pericardial or peritoneal.
When a patient complains about respiratory issues, like coughing or shortness in breath, doctors may suspect the presence of pleural asbestosis. They then order a series of tests to make an official diagnosis, including x-rays, CT scans and MRIs and blood work and a biopsy. To take a biopsy, doctors insert a thin, lighted tube known as a "thoracoscope" between two ribs in the chest.
Mesothelioma symptoms may be akin to other diseases, making it difficult to recognize the condition early. Some people experience no symptoms and, when they do show signs they are often mistaken for pneumonia or other less severe illnesses. The best way to get an accurate diagnosis is to see mesothelioma specialists or go to an mesothelioma treatment facility. Specialists in mesothelioma have more experience and are able to recognize signs more easily.
If mesothelioma has been diagnosed, doctors will determine the most effective treatment for each patient. They will take into consideration the mesothelioma stage, the kind of cancer cells, and where they are located. Patients with early-stage pleural mesothelioma tend to have a more favorable prognosis than patients with later-stage mesothelioma, due to the fact that the cancer is still localized.
Patients with pleural msothelioma may benefit from surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation. Palliative care is also recommended to alleviate symptoms and improve quality of life.
While mesothelioma cannot be cured but it can be treated in order to prolong the life span of the patient. It is important to seek treatment for all types of mesothelioma as soon as possible to allow doctors to develop a treatment plan.
Peritoneal mesothelioma
The lining of the abdomen and chest cavity is affected by the peritoneal cancer. Similar to pleural mesothelioma, the symptoms can include pain, difficulty breathing and fluid accumulation. People may also experience nausea and vomiting. In addition to chemotherapy and surgery A doctor might recommend palliative treatment by a specialist to ease symptoms and improve quality of life.
Doctors determine if peritoneal mesothelioma is present by scanning scans of the chest or abdomen. A biopsy is often required to confirm the diagnosis. In a biopsy, doctors remove small amounts of tissue or fluid from the tumor for examination under a microscope.
The most commonly observed manifestation of peritoneal mesothelioma can be abdominal pain that feels scattered or restricted to a single area. Other signs can include a persistent cough that doesn't go away or subsides, as well as weight loss and fever. The prognosis of a mesothelioma patient is based on many factors including the type of cell and the stage of the disease. The gender of a person's partner can affect their outlook. Women and people born female have better outcomes from peritoneal msothelioma as compared to males and those born male.
Changes (mutations), in the DNA, of a cell, can cause mesothelioma. This mutation causes cells to multiply and grow beyond control. The cancerous cells could form a tumor, or a collection of abnormal cells.
The majority of mesothelioma patients are in occupations which expose them to asbestos. Asbestos was once used for construction plumbing, electrical work, and the automobile industry. Asbestos exposure can cause mesothelioma.
Malignant mesothelioma can be difficult to treat if it is advanced. Doctors may suggest surgery, chemotherapy or radiation therapy to treat mesothelioma. These treatments are designed to target the cancerous cells without harming healthy cells. Combining them will give patients a greater chance of getting a cure. Doctors will decide on the treatment that is best based on the stage of cancer and general health as well as individual preferences. They might also recommend new therapies that have shown potential in treating mesothelioma.
Extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP)
Pleural mesothelioma sufferers who are healthy enough for surgery can benefit from the mesothelioma surgery known as extrapleural pneumonectomy. During the procedure, doctors take out both the lungs affected by mesothelioma as well as a part of the lining around it. In some instances, doctors may also remove the pericardium and diaphragm. This is among the most effective mesothelioma treatments. EPP is carried out by specially trained mesothelioma surgeons at mesothelioma centers across the United States.
Mesothelioma specialists typically conduct a variety of tests to determine if patients are able to undergo surgery. These include PET and CT scans as well as a mediastinoscopy. These tests will aid doctors in identifying the tumors and how far they've spread. If the mesothelioma is enough to warrant surgery doctors will resort to chemotherapy to shrink or stabilize tumors.
The aim of mesothelioma treatment is to increase the life expectancy and improve quality of living. Mesothelioma can have a long latency and be difficult to detect in the early stages. Many patients are already exhibiting symptoms when they are diagnosed.
Doctors generally suggest patients undergo multiple treatment methods in a multimodal approach. The reason is because mesothelioma cancer mesothelioma treatment alone is not effective. The combination of treatments increases the effectiveness of each. For instance, radiation therapy can help reduce the size of mesothelioma tumors before surgery which makes it easier to remove. Doctors have even tried using a high dose of radiation prior to EPP (known as SMART), and this has prolonged the life span of mesothelioma sufferers.
EPP is a complex mesothelioma procedure that requires general anesthesia. Once the anesthesia takes effect the surgeon will make an incision of 9 inches on the front of the chest, which is known as an a thoracotomy or sternotomy. The surgeon will separate the chest wall from the lungs and organs.
Only patients suffering from mesothelioma who are in good health and are physically fit should undergo this surgery. After the procedure, patients will be spending several weeks in the hospital. The patient must recuperate at home or in a rehabilitation facility.
Trimodality therapy
Three common treatments are available for mesothelioma, surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy. Doctors also may use a combination of these (called multimodality therapy). Patients with cancer have a variety of treatment options depending on which mesothelioma type they have and how far it has been spread.
The first step to treat mesothelioma involves obtaining a precise diagnosis from mesothelioma specialists. Mesothelioma can be difficult to identify because cancerous cells may appear similar to normal cells. A doctor usually tests the samples of tissue or fluid for mesothelioma-related cells to confirm the diagnosis. Doctors also consider the medical history of the patient to determine if mesothelioma was the most likely cause.
The symptoms of mesothelioma can include coughing, chest pain and breathing problems. Doctors often order an X-ray or CT scan of the lungs and chest wall to check for abnormal thickening of the lung lining, calcium deposits and the accumulation of fluid. Doctors may also conduct biopsy procedures, where they remove a small sample of the tumor or surrounding tissues for testing.
Other imaging tests that doctors use to determine the stage of mesothelioma include the positron emission tomography (PET) and magnetic resonance imaging. These tests are based on taking images of the body by using radio waves and strong magnets. These tests show that the mesothelioma cancer cells absorb radioactive particles and appear brighter in contrast to healthy cells.
If mesothelioma has spread to the pleura (the lining of the lung), doctors may perform surgery to stop it. Based on the stage of the disease, this might be extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP), which is a more extensive procedure which involves removing the affected lung and a portion of the diaphragm. It is also known as pleurectomy with decortication (P/D). Often the procedures are performed in conjunction with other mesothelioma treatments such as radiation or chemotherapy.
Chemotherapy is the process of using drugs that kill cancerous cells while enhancing a patient's life quality. For pleural mesothelioma, the chemotherapy drug pemetrexed is administered as a stand-alone treatment or together with cisplatin and carboplatin. For peritoneal cancer chemotherapy is typically administered intravenously. Patients may receive a single session of chemotherapy or multiple sessions, from Monday to Friday over 4-7 weeks as an outpatient.