Diagnosis of mesothelioma is not easy as its symptoms are very similar to the symptoms of common illnesses like: flu, cold and bronchitis. Mesothelioma is very commonly misdiagnosed. Diagnose is essential for treatment of mesothelioma patients. If you are aware of being exposed to asbestos you must consult a doctor for regular check up and screening. Asbestos fibers are the main cause of mesothelioma cancers.
The doctor will require a complete medical history and physical examination report before recommending other tests to diagnose mesothelioma. It is also very important to determine the stage of the tumor before choosing a route of treatment.
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Mesothelioma appears after decades of initially being exposed to asbestos.There are several techniques available for diagnosing mesothelioma.
The most commonly used methods are:
X-ray:
An x-ray can give a brief glance and reveal pleural effusion. Very rarely masses of tumors can also be seen. Signs of scarring, pleural plaque and pleural calcification may also be seen.
CT scan: (Computer Tomography)
This gives a much clearer view as compared to the x-ray. It is able to show signs of pleural thickening, pleural calcification, and thickening of interlobular fissures or chest wall invasion.
MRI: (Magnetic Resonance Image)
MRI provides a clearer result than the CT scan. It is also able to detect the stage of the tumor.
Blood Tests:
Blood tests like ‘mesomark’ can help in early diagnosis of mesothelioma.Biopsy:
It is the process of using thin needle to remove a small piece of the bad tissue for studying under a microscope.
PET: (Positron Emission Tomography)
PET scans are expensive but very important part of the process of diagnosing mesothelioma. They are the most accurate and helpful in determining the location and stage of the tumor.
VATS: (Video Assisted Thorocoscopic Surgery)
It has become one of the most commonly used tools for diagnosing mesothelioma. Small camera is inserted along with other surgical instruments to retrieve a sample of the bad tissue.
Thoracoscopy:
Thoracoscope is put inside the chest through a cut to take a look at the disease. If the fluids are detected, needles are used for suction of the fluids.
Peritoneoscopy:
It is the process of using a special tool called peritoneoscope to look inside the abdomen. It is put into an opening made in the abdomen. This test is performed in the hospital in presence of an anaesthesiologist.Once the mesothelioma and its stage is determined, the doctor can now choose the route of treatment. Although, there is no cure for this aggressive and rare disease, but many treatment are available to prolong the life expectancy of the patient and improve the quality of life.
These treatments also help in managing the disease. Some of the most common treatments are:
Chemotherapy:
Chemotherapy has been used for the treatment of mesothelioma cancer since 1940s. Mesothelioma chemotherapy is divided in to two categories; traditional mesothelioma treatment and new mesothelioma treatment.
Chemotherapy is effective in the treatment of tumors that are in their early stages, it is not very useful in treating solid masses of tumor.
Many drugs are being used for the treatment of malignant mesothelioma but none have been able to provide a successful treatment. Chemotherapy drugs hinder the formation of new blood vessels, preventing the growth and spread of the tumor.
Choice of chemotherapy depends on many factors like; type of the mesothelioma, stage of the tumor and medical condition of the patient and other on going treatments. Other factors include: age of the patient and physical condition of the patient. Doctors generally suggest a combination of two chemotherapy drugs to the patient.
Radiation Therapy:
Radiation therapy is the use of high dose X-rays of other high energy rays to kill the cancer cells at molecular level. It is also referred to as irradiation therapy, radiotherapy or X-ray therapy. Radiation therapy not only kills these cells but also prevents the cells for reappearing. It is mostly used after surgery to kill any remaining cancer cells. It is used in conjunction with chemotherapy as well. Radiation is very rarely used as the only treatment. Although, radiation can not kill all the cancer cells still it is very useful in reducing the pain and breathlessness of the patient. Its kills the rapidly increasing cells and the tumor reduces down to manageable size.
Surgery:
Surgery is the most common and reliable treatment for mesothelioma patients.
Surgery involves removing the affected part or the cancerous organ where the tumor is located. Surgery has to be followed by radiation therapy to kill the remaining bad cells using high energy X-rays. Surgical treatments have not had much success as the re growth of tumor is very likely to occur within a few months of surgery. It is a major operation and not recommended for all mesothelioma patients. Stage of the cancer, medical history, health condition and age of the patient are considerable factors before choosing surgical treatment.