Mesothelioma and Lung Cancer
Asbestos exposure can be the cause of two illnesses: lung cancer and mesothelioma. They share similar symptoms, which is why people are often misdiagnosed.
Mesothelioma is a condition that affects the organs' lining. It usually affects the lung (pleural mesothelioma) but it can also be found in the tummy's lining, heart or testicles.
Symptoms
Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that is found in the mesothelium a thin membrane that protects and covers certain organs. It can grow in the lung's lining, abdomen or heart. It is most often caused by asbestos exposure. There are various mesothelioma types, and the type of mesothelioma can impact the prognosis.
The majority of people who develop mesothelioma suffer from mesothelioma pleural that affects the lung's lining as well as the chest cavity. It can also affect the peritoneum, or the lining of your heart. Mesothelioma symptoms are similar to the symptoms of other diseases and may be mistaken for other conditions like asthma. The most common symptoms are shortness of breath and persistent cough and chest pain, fatigue and trouble swallowing.
Doctors can diagnose mesothelioma by conducting a thorough examination of the patient and examining their medical history. They can decide to order an CT scan or MRI to look for lung-related changes, like thickening of the lung's lining as well as a build-up of fluid between the lungs, referred to as the pleural effusion. A doctor may also order a biopsy in order to confirm the diagnosis.
These tests help doctors determine the best treatment for a patient. Some patients are diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma, while others are diagnosed with different types of mesothelioma, or with mesothelioma that has spread to other areas of the body.
The epithelioid and the sarcomatoid type are two most popular kinds. The epithelioid type accounts for about 70 percent of all cases mesothelioma, and is more straightforward to treat. The sarcomatoid type is more aggressive and harder to treat.
If the doctor suspects mesothelioma they may request the patient to undergo a thoracentesis, which involves taking the chest fluid. This helps doctors evaluate the mesothelioma to see whether it has spreading to other parts of the body. Doctors can also perform an sputum culture to check for respiratory infection. They can also request blood tests to determine the levels of proteins that are more prevalent in mesothelioma patients. These include fibulin-3 and soluble mesothelin-related peptides.
Diagnosis
Many of the symptoms of mesothelioma are similar to those of lung cancer making it difficult to diagnose. Doctors usually begin with a physical examination and review of the patient's history to determine whether asbestos exposure has occurred. They may also order imaging tests to look for asbestos-related changes in the lungs for example, pleural thickening or fluid accumulation between the lungs' and chest wall. These changes are usually identified through chest X-rays, or CT scans. A positron-emission tomography scan (PET) can assist doctors determine the exact location of tumors and other abnormalities.
A mesothelioma diagnosis is made by examining tissue samples or fluid for cancer cells. In the majority of mesothelioma cases it is necessary to take a biopsy to confirm a mesothelioma diagnosis. A needle can be used by doctors to take a pleural biopsy or abdominal biopsy. The needle is inserted in the region where the tumors or fluid are. They can also make use of VATS, an minimally invasive procedure that uses video-assisted thoracoscopic techniques to remove a small part of the pleura or abdominal tissue to test.
Mesothelioma can also be diagnosed by looking at blood samples to find high levels of substances that are believed to be linked to the disease, like fibrin, mesothelin-related soluble peptides and metalloproteinases. These tests will help determine the extent of the cancer's growth in the body.
Doctors may use other symptoms to determine if the condition is mesothelioma. This is due to the fact that the cancer can be found in the lung linings and diaphragm, which runs along the abdomen, and the linings of the heart. For instance, peritoneal mesothelioma can cause abdominal pain and swelling, while mesothelioma pericardial can cause unique symptoms like chest pain, heart palpitations, and murmurs.
The majority of mesothelioma cases are diagnosed at an advanced stage. This makes it difficult to treat the cancer however, doctors can help ease certain symptoms. This involves removing fluid from the lungs, delivering strong painkillers and monitoring the cancer for signs like breathing problems or swelling in other parts of the body. Learn how prompt treatment helped other patients survive for many years after being diagnosed by reading our free Mesothelioma Survival Guide.
Treatment
Both lung cancer and mesothelioma have some commonalities, but they are two different diseases. Lung cancer is a common occurrence in the lungs. Mesothelioma can be found in the mesothelium (a double layer of tissue that surrounds the lungs as well as the chest cavity, the heart and the abdomen).
The cells of the mesothelium can either grow into benign (not cancerous) or malignant (cancerous) mesothelioma. The type of mesothelioma may alter the symptoms and treatment options. The two most frequent mesothelioma types are epithelioid and Sarcomatoid.
Asbestos is the most frequent cause of lung diseases, such as asbestosis and mesothelioma. Affected people experience a long time period of latency, meaning it could take years before symptoms show up. This delay can make getting the proper diagnosis and treatment difficult.
To determine the presence of mesothelioma doctors make use of blood tests, imaging scans, and biopsy samples to compare the cancerous cells to normal ones. They also examine the lymph nodes for signs of mesothelioma-related spread. The cells of mesothelioma look very similar to mesothelium that is healthy and are therefore difficult for doctors to identify. Patients should consider a second or third opinion for a more accurate diagnose.
Imaging tests such as x-rays or CT scans can help doctors identify mesothelioma. If mesothelioma is located in the lining of the chest cavity, doctors may require more precise scans. These include PET, positron emission (PET), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and mediastinoscopy. This allows doctors to examine and sample the lymph nodes in the center of the chest.
If the surgeon believes that a patient has mesothelioma, they may begin with surgery. This could involve pleurectomy or a decortication that eliminates the affected pleura to prevent the buildup of fluid. Mesothelioma is spreads throughout the mesothelium. It is more difficult to eradicate in comparison to lung cancer that forms large masses that have clearly defined boundaries.
If a surgeon finds mesothelioma in a patient's body cannot be treated surgically the next step is palliative care. These treatments aim to manage symptoms and relieve discomfort. They could include thoracentesis/paracentesis and pleurodesis, which involve using chemicals or mesothelioma claim amounts drugs to make the lung lining scar and stick to the lung, stopping fluid buildup.
Prognosis
Both mesothelioma (a cancer of the lining of the lungs) and lung cancer have certain symptoms that are common to both including chest pain, fatigue, and coughing. Because of this, mesothelioma can be incorrectly identified as lung cancer. A correct diagnosis is critical to mesothelioma treatment success. To improve mesothelioma prognosis, patients should get an accurate diagnosis and seek a second opinion by a mesothelioma doctor.
Asbestos patients who visit an ophthalmologist should be able to disclose their asbestos exposure history. This can help doctors better understand mesothelioma as well as lung cancer and make a more accurate diagnosis. It also can help doctors create a mesothelioma treatment plan that is likely to help.
The prognosis for mesothelioma is based on the type of mesothelioma and the stage of the disease, and whether it has spread to other areas of the body (metastasis). The type of mesothelioma is determined by taking a biopsy. Exposure to asbestos, for example can cause pleural melanoma to develop in the lining lining the lungs. The two most frequent types of mesothelioma in pleural mesothelioma sarcomatoid. Epithelioid mesothelioma has a superior prognosis than sarcomatoid mesothelioma.
Mesothelioma and lung cancers have a lengthy latency time which makes it difficult for doctors to identify the disease in its early stages. Mesothelioma, along with other asbestos-related diseases, may mimic the symptoms of lung cancer. Mesothelioma is a disease with a poor prognosis because of this.
The prognosis of patients with mesothelioma is also affected by their age, stage of cancer and general health. The outlook for younger mesothelioma patients is higher than that of patients who are older. This is because younger patients are healthier and more likely to qualify for clinical trials and treatments. The stage of mesothelioma in a patient is also important because it determines the most effective treatment for their condition.
Treatment options for mesothelioma comprise chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery. Generally, the more intensive the treatment, the more favorable the mesothelioma outlook. The most common treatment is to remove the affected lungs, carrying out a procedure that stops the buildup of fluid in the lungs by creating scars on the lining of the lungs and adhere to the chest wall (pleurodesis) and then the removal of excess fluid through the chest tube (extraperitoneal cancer). Other options for treatment are available for mesothelioma.