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Mesothelioma Symptoms Information
What Are The Symptoms Of Mesothelioma?
Mesothelioma symptoms may not appear until 30 to 50 years
after exposure to asbestos. Shortness of breath and pain in the chest due to an
accumulation of fluid in the pleura are often pleural mesothelioma symptoms.
Peritoneal mesothelioma symptoms include weight loss and abdominal pain and
swelling due to a buildup of fluid in the abdomen. Other peritoneal mesothelioma
symptoms may include bowel obstruction, blood clotting abnormalities, anemia,
and fever. If the cancer has spread beyond the mesothelium to other parts of the
body, mesothelioma symptoms may include pain, trouble swallowing, or swelling of
the neck or face.
These symptoms may be caused by mesothelioma or by other, less serious
conditions. It is important to see a doctor about any of these symptoms. Only a
doctor can make a diagnosis.
Mesothelioma Diagnosis
Diagnosing mesothelioma is often difficult, because the
mesothelioma symptoms are similar to those of a number of other conditions.
Diagnosis begins with a review of the patient's medical history, including any
history of asbestos exposure. A complete physical examination may be performed,
including x-rays of the chest or abdomen and lung function tests. A CT (or CAT)
scan or an MRI may also be useful. A CT scan is a series of detailed pictures of
areas inside the body created by a computer linked to an x-ray machine. In an
MRI, a powerful magnet linked to a computer is used to make detailed pictures of
areas inside the body. These pictures are viewed on a monitor and can also be
printed.
A biopsy is needed to confirm a diagnosis of mesothelioma cancer. In a biopsy, a
surgeon or a medical oncologist (a doctor who specializes in diagnosing and
treating cancer) removes a sample of tissue for examination under a microscope
by a pathologist. A biopsy may be done in different ways, depending on where the
abnormal area is located. If the cancer is in the chest, the doctor may perform
a thoracoscopy. In this procedure, the doctor makes a small cut through the
chest wall and puts a thin, lighted tube called a thoracoscope into the chest
between two ribs. Thoracoscopy allows the doctor to look inside the chest and
obtain tissue samples. If the cancer is in the abdomen, the doctor may perform a
peritoneoscopy. To obtain tissue for examination, the doctor makes a small
opening in the abdomen and inserts a special instrument called a peritoneoscope
into the abdominal cavity. If these procedures do not yield enough tissue, more
extensive diagnostic surgery may be necessary.
If the diagnosis is mesothelioma, the doctor will want to learn the stage (or
extent) of the disease. Staging involves more tests in a careful attempt to find
out whether the cancer has spread and, if so, to which parts of the body.
Knowing the stage of the disease helps the doctor plan treatment.
Mesothelioma symptoms is described as localized if the cancer is found only on
the membrane surface where it originated. It is classified as advanced if it has
spread beyond the original membrane surface to other parts of the body, such as
the lymph nodes, lungs, chest wall, or abdominal organs.
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