Mesothelioma (patient information)
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What is mesothelioma?
How do I know if I have mesothelioma and what are the symptoms of mesothelioma?
Early mesothelioma does not have any symptoms. As the tumor grows larger, people may notice one or more of the symptoms. Mesothelioma that affects the pleura can cause:
- Chest pain
- Shortness of breath
- Cough
- Blood in sputum or hemoptysis
- Fever
- Sweating
- Fatigue
- Weight loss
- Trouble swallowing
Mesothelioma that affects the peritoneum can cause:
- Abdominal pain
- Ascites or abdominal distension
- A mass in the abdomen
- Problems with bowel function
- Fatigue
- Weight loss
Other health problems may also cause these symptoms. Only a doctor can tell for sure. A person with any of these symptoms should tell the doctor so that the problems can be diagnosed and treated as early as possible.
Who is at risk for mesothelioma?
Clinical data has suggested that the development of kidney cancer is related to several factors.
- Asbestos: Doctors found most cases of mesothelioma have been linked to asbestos exposure in the workplace.
- Zeolites: Zeolites are silicate minerals chemically related to asbestos. Data suggest that they are related to the development of mesothelioma.
- Radiation: During the past, thorotrast is found to invlove in the development of mesothelioma.
- Simian virus 40 (SV40): Some lab studies reported that SV40 infection may cause mesothelioma.
How to know you have mesothelioma?
- Chest x-ray: Chest x-ray is often the first test done if someone has symptoms such as a constant chest pain or cough. This may show some abnormal signs suggested mesothelioma.
- Computed tomography (CT) scan and biopsy: CT scans are often used to diagnose mesothelioma. It can confirm the location of the cancer and show the organs nearby, as well as lymph nodes and distant organs where the cancer might have spread. These are helpful in staging the cancer and in determining whether surgery is a good treatment option. And CT scans can also be used to guide biopsy and a biopsy sample is then removed and looked at under a microscope.
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): An MRI uses magnetic fields but which is a different imaging type from computed tomography (CT) to produce detailed images of the body. Like computed tomography (CT), a contrast agent may be injected into a patient’s vein to create a better picture. MRI scan takes longer time than CT scan.
- Positron emission tomography (PET) scan: When doing this test, a small amount of a radioactive medium is injected into your body and absorbed by the organs or tissues. This radioactive substance gives off energy to accept to produce the images. PET can provide more helpful information than CT scan and MRI scan. It is useful to see if the cancer has spread to lymph nodes and also useful for your doctor to locate where the cancer has spread.
When to seek urgent medical care?
Call your health care provider if symptoms of mesothelioma develop. If you experience either of the following symptoms, seeking urgent medical care as soon as possible:
- Severe chest pain
- A large amount of hemoptysis
- Shortness of breath
- Severe abdominal pain
- Abdominal distension
Treatment options
Patients with mesothelioma have many treatment options. The selection depends on the stage of the tumor. The options are surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, or a combination of these methods. Before treatment starts, ask your health care team about possible side effects and how treatment may change your normal activities. Because cancer treatments often damage healthy cells and tissues, side effects are common. Side effects may not be the same for each person, and they may change from one treatment session to the next.
Diseases with similar symptoms
Where to find medical care for cancer?
Directions to Hospitals Treating mesothelioma
Prevention of mesothelioma
What to expect (Outook/Prognosis)?
Copyleft Sources
http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/CRI_2_3x.asp?dt=29