Mesothelioma diagnosis and treatment of mesothelioma

Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is a deadly disease that annually causes about 3000 Americans. The average life span of patients with this disease is less than 24 months after diagnosis. Many workers who have worked hard to put the needs of their families and keep America running like a wonderful place to live with this disease suffer in their golden years.

Mesothelioma is a fabric that protects the chest and abdominal cavities, and theCavity surrounding the heart. It produces a special fluid that lubricates the internal organs so that they can move around.

Malignant Mesothelioma occurs when the mesothelial cells function abnormally and reproduces itself. This can occur in the outer envelope of most internal organs. For localized stage, the disease in the lining of the chest cavity, lungs or diaphragm to take.

Advanced malignant mesothelioma can be classified into three stages (stage II, III and IV). During stage II, the tumor spreads past the breast feeding in the lymph nodes. In stage III, the tumor invades the chest wall, the breast center, heart, peritoneum or diaphragm, etc. Stage IV or the last stage, the spread of cancer to other organs already.

The cancer affects the abdominal lining called the peritoneal mesothelioma, and that the impact on the pericardial cavity (the "sack-like" space around the heart) is called pericardial effusion> Mesothelioma. Sometimes also affects the covering of the testicles.

The tumors of the mesothelium can be either non-cancerous (benign) or cancerous (malignant). Symptoms may include chest pain, abdominal pain, abdominal swelling or shortness of breath.

Diagnosis and treatment of mesothelioma

The first step in the diagnosis of mesothelioma is by X-rays and scans. This is done either by thoracoscopy followed (for pleural cancer) or peritoneoscopy(For peritoneal cancer). A biopsy will be necessary if discovered an abnormal tissue, where a piece of tissue for microscopic examination to be taken.

The doctor will then decide whether the disease is in a localized stage or already advanced. This and the location of the tumor as well as taking into account age, health history of the patient mesothelioma treatment option is presented. The options are: 1) the use of special drugs(Chemotherapy), 2) the use of high-energy rays (radiation) or 3) the removal of the tumor (surgery).

In the case of an accumulation of fluid in the chest or abdomen, the patient must undergo the process of thoracentesis or paracentesis to drain the fluid.

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