Nov
6
Diagnosing Mesothelioma
November 6, 2008 | Leave a Comment
Mesothelioma is a cancer that commonly appears in
people who have been around asbestos at some time in
their lives. The most common type is pleural
mesothelioma which occurs in the pleura or outer
lining of the lungs. It can be difficult to diagnose
mesothelioma because it shares the same symptoms as
many other diseases.
The first step to diagnosing mesothelioma is with
X-ray, CT scans, or MRIs. If something unusual is
detected, a biopsy will be needed. A biopsy is when a
surgeon or medical oncologist retrieves a sample of
tissue from the area that is believed to be cancerous.
This will usually be from an area of the lower lungs.
It is thoroughly examined by microscope by a
pathologist. This isn?t as painful as it sounds as the
area is numbed and a very small instrument takes the
physical sample.
If it ends up being true mesothelioma, the doctor then
needs to learn what stage it?s in. This requires more
scans and testing to see how large the cancerous
growth is and helps determine the best route to take
in regards to treatment.
Being diagnosed with mesothelioma is definitely a life
changing event and counseling as well as support
groups may be very beneficial. It is important to
remember that any cancer has a good rate of success if
caught early.
Treatment could be anything from a simple surgical
procedure to a couple sessions with chemotherapy or
radiation. Many lawsuits are in progress relating to
asbestos exposure so if you meet some of their
conditions, you may qualify for free or reduced
medical care.
Nov
3
Developing Mesothelioma
November 3, 2008 | 1 Comment
Mesothelioma is a fairly rare cancer that can lead to
a malignant tumor and is associated with prior
exposure to asbestos. The exposure could have been 20
to even 50 years ago and only now will symptoms start
to appear. Mesothelioma can develop in mesothelial
cells in the pleura, pericardium, and peritoneum.
The pleura is the outer lining that surrounds your
lungs. This lining lets your lungs have flexibility
when you breathe in or out. After exposure to
asbestos, a tumor may eventually develop in this area
creating what is known as pleural mesothelioma. This
is common if asbestos material has been inhaled either
by mining it or working in a factory that uses it in a
product.
The pericardium contains all of the hearts blood
vessels and arteries. This membrane separates the
heart from the rest of the chest cavity and ensures it
has greater protection. Occasionally, asbestos can go
from the lungs to the heart through the bloodstream
and tumors can develop. This is a very dangerous place
for a tumor to develop and is known as pericardial
mesothelioma.
The peritoneum is the large outer lining that protects
all of the organs in your abdominal cavity. This is
the least likely place for a tumor to develop from
asbestos but is very dangerous if it does occur. This
is known as peritoneal mesothelioma.
If you or someone you know have ever been around
anyone who worked with asbestos, it couldn?t hurt to
tell your doctor and have some tests run. Mesothelioma
is treatable like most cancer and surgery and
chemotherapy are just a couple of the available
options.
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