Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma, or more correctly malignant Mesothelioma, is a rare cancer found in the lining of the chest or abdomen. The pleura is the thin layer of tissue encased fluid on the lungs and in the chest. When malignant cancer cells begin to form in this lining, Mesothelioma has developed. Mesothelioma can also be diagnosed if malignant cells are found in the lining of the abdomen and internal organs found there, otherwise known as the peritoneum.

Causes of Mesothelioma
While it is impossible to nail down an exact cause of the deadly cancer, there are certain factors that contribute to an increased chance of developing Mesothelioma. The primary contributing factor is working with asbestos or living with someone who does. There are also certain viruses which can increase the likelihood of developing the cancer. After exposure to potential factors including asbestos, the malignant cells can take a long time to grow and for the cancer to be detected.

Symptoms of Mesothelioma
Symptoms of Mesothelioma include a pain under the rib cage and possible shortness of breath. These are only possible signs, however. If an individual is experiencing any of the following, they should contact their doctor. It should be noted that these are only possible indicators not a diagnosis.

• If an individual is having a hard time breathing
• If an individual is having pain under the rib cage
• There is pain or swelling in the abdomen
• There are lumps in the abdomen
• An individual is losing weight without a reason

Diagnosis of Mesothelioma
To fully diagnose Mesothelioma, a doctor will do a battery of tests. It is important to distinguish between possible Mesothelioma and the more common lung cancer. Only certain procedures can make this difference clear.

Possible tests and procedures to diagnose Mesothelioma include:

A physical exam to note and identify any lumps or unusual changes in health. A full history of a patient will be taken as well to track any health changes over time.

A chest x-ray to give doctors a preliminary view of your bones, organ and lung tissues.

A complete blood count to identify the number of red and white blood cells as well as the number of platelets in the blood stream. It also checks to see the amount of hemoglobin in red blood cells and the amount of the blood comprised of red blood cells.

Sedimentation rate. A sample of blood is taken and inserted into a test tube. The sedimentation rate is the speed with which the red blood cells fall to the bottom of the tube.

A biopsy, or removal of the cells thought to be cancerous, can be done in many ways. Some doctors use a fine needle to remove cells, while others make a cut in the chest or abdomen and insert a lighted tube for cell removal. Once the cells are removed, they will be examined by a specialist.

A Bronchoscopy. If doctors feel they must see inside a patient’s airways, they will insert a thin tube and light to look for abnormal cells. They can examine the trachea and lungs with this method.

A cytologic exam is simply an examination of cells under a microscope by a pathologist. For detection of Mesothelioma, a doctor will use the fluid surrounding the lungs for this test.

Treatment and Recovery from Mesothelioma
It is possible to treat and recover from Mesothelioma. As with any cancer, early detection makes a tremendous impact in recovery rates. Other factors contribute to the effectiveness of treatments including, among other things, the size of the affected area, the patient’s age and general health, and the difference between initial Mesothelioma and recurrent Mesothelioma.