Mesothelioma Symptoms

When cancer begins in the membrane that surrounds the lungs, mesothelioma symptoms may include shortness of breath and pain in the chest or under the ribcage. If the cancer starts in the mesothelial tissue covering the organs in the abdominal cavity, symptoms such as weight loss and abdominal pain may develop. Sometimes, signs and symptoms will not appear until 30 to 50 years after initial exposure to asbestos.

Mesothelioma Signs and Symptoms: An Overview

Mesothelioma is a benign (noncancerous) or malignant (cancerous) tumor that begins within the mesothelium, a protective lining surrounding most of the organs in the body. Most mesotheliomas begin within the pleura (the membrane that surrounds the lungs and lines the wall of the chest cavity) or the peritoneum (the mesothelial tissue that covers most of the organs in the abdominal cavity). Mesothelioma symptoms will vary, depending on where the tumor is located.

Pleural Symptoms of Mesothelioma

Pleural mesothelioma symptoms are usually due to an accumulation of fluid in the pleura. These symptoms often include:

    * Shortness of breath

    * Pain in the chest or under the ribcage.

Peritoneal Mesothelioma Symptoms

Peritoneal symptoms of mesothelioma may include:

   * Weight loss

    * Lumps in the abdomen

    * Abdominal (stomach) pain

    * Abdominal swelling due to a buildup of fluid in the abdomen (stomach).

Other symptoms may also include:

    * Bowel obstruction

    * Blood-clotting abnormalities

    * Anemia

    * Fever.

Metastatic Mesothelioma Symptoms

If the cancer has spread beyond the mesothelium to other parts of the body, symptoms may include:

    * Pain

    * Trouble swallowing

    * Swelling of the neck or face.

Asbestos Exposure and Symptoms of Mesothelioma

Up to 90 percent of malignant mesothelioma cases are related to asbestos exposure. The risk for developing mesothelioma in those with heavy asbestos exposure is 7 to 10 percent. However, symptoms may not appear until 30 to 50 years after exposure to asbestos.

Mesothelioma Symptoms: Final Thoughts

The possible symptoms of mesothelioma described in this article are not sure signs of the disease. Other more common, less serious conditions can cause similar symptoms. If you are experiencing any possible mesothelioma symptoms, visit your healthcare provider so that the problem can be diagnosed and treated………..

Statistics on Mesothelioma

Although reported incidence rates have increased in the past 20 years, mesothelioma is still a relatively rare cancer. About 2,000 new cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed in the United States each year. Mesothelioma occurs more often in men than in women and risk increases with age, but mesothelioma can appear in either men or women at any age………

How Is It Treated??????

Treatment for mesothelioma depends on:

    * The location of the cancer

    * The stage of the disease

    * The patient's age and general health.

Standard mesothelioma treatment options include:

    * Surgery

    * Radiation therapy

    * Chemotherapy.

Sometimes, all three treatment methods are combined.

More:

Browse eMedTV's wide range of articles related to mesothelioma treatment options including topics such as alternative mesothelioma treatment, mesothelioma surgery, and mesothelioma treatment by stage. Use the search box at the top-right corner of the page to find information about other health topics.

 * Mesothelioma Treatment

Mesothelioma is often treated with surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or a combination of these. This eMedTV resource discusses mesothelioma treatment in detail and includes information about second opinions, nutrition, and follow-up care.

* Mesothelioma Treatment by Stage

Mesothelioma treatment decisions are made, in part, by determining the stage of the cancer (how far it has spread). This eMedTV segment breaks down mesothelioma treatment by stage for localized and advanced cases of the disease.

* Mesothelioma Surgery

When used to treat mesothelioma, surgery may involve procedures such as wide local excision. This eMedTV Web page describes several types of mesothelioma surgery, including extrapleural pneumonectomy as well as pleurectomy and decortication.

* Mesothelioma Chemotherapy

When treating mesothelioma, chemotherapy may be used to stop the growth of cancer cells and reduce pain. This eMedTV article discusses mesothelioma and chemotherapy, including information about potential side effects of treatment.

 * Mesothelioma Radiation

In cases of mesothelioma, radiation therapy may be used to treat the disease. This eMedTV article discusses mesothelioma and radiation therapy in detail and explains how such therapy may be combined with surgery or chemotherapy.

 * Mesothelioma Pain

In people with mesothelioma, pain may be the result of the cancer or a side effect of treatment. As this eMedTV article explains, in most cases of mesothelioma, pain can be relieved using medications, alternative treatments, or both.

* Alternative Mesothelioma Treatment

Types of alternative treatment for mesothelioma include acupuncture, massage therapy, and meditation. This eMedTV article discusses several alternative treatment options and provides a list of questions to ask prior to starting such treatment.

 * Mesothelioma Survival Rate

The overall 5-year relative mesothelioma survival rate for 1998-2002 was about 9 percent. This segment of the eMedTV website explains how the relative mesothelioma survival rate is calculated and provides additional statistics about survival rates……………

Symptoms and Diagnosis

For more about mesothelioma symptoms, click on the full eMedTV article about Mesothelioma Symptoms.

To find out more about making a mesothelioma diagnosis, click on the full eMedTV article about Mesothelioma Diagnosis.

Making a diagnosis of mesothelioma is often difficult, because the symptoms seen with this disease are similar to those of many other medical conditions. In order to make a diagnosis, a doctor will review the patient's medical history, conduct a physical exam, and recommend specific tests and procedures to confirm the diagnosis. Some of these tests and procedures may include CT scans, biopsy, and surgery.

Mesothelioma Diagnosis: An Overview

Making a mesothelioma diagnosis is often difficult because mesothelioma symptoms are similar to those of a number of other conditions.

In order to make a diagnosis of mesothelioma, the healthcare provider will begin with a review of the patient's medical history, including any history of asbestos exposure. He or she will then perform a complete physical examination to look for signs or symptoms of mesothelioma. The doctor may also order some preliminary tests to rule out other, more common conditions. These tests can include x-rays of the chest or abdomen and lung function tests.

Tests and Procedures

If the doctor suspects mesothelioma after the history and physical exam, he or she may order a number of tests to help make a diagnosis.

Some of these tests include:

    * CT Scan

    * MRI

    * Biopsy

    * Thoracoscopy

    * Peritoneoscopy

    * Surgery.

CT Scan/MRI

A CT (or CAT) scan or an MRI may also be useful in making a diagnosis. 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.

Biopsy

A biopsy is needed to confirm a mesothelioma diagnosis. 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 performed in different ways, depending on where the abnormal area is located.

Thoracoscopy

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.

 Peritoneoscopy

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.

Surgery

If these procedures do not yield enough tissue to make a diagnosis, more extensive diagnostic surgery may be necessary.

Mesothelioma Diagnosis and Staging

If the doctor makes a diagnosis of mesothelioma, he or she will want to determine the mesothelioma stage.

Staging involves more tests in a careful attempt to learn whether the cancer has spread and, if so, to which parts of the body. Knowing the stage of the disease helps the doctor plan mesothelioma treatment.

Mesothelioma 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...................

Mesothelioma and Asbestos

Asbestos is the name of a group of minerals that occur naturally as masses of strong, flexible fibers that can be separated into thin threads and woven. Asbestos has been mined and used commercially since the late 1800s; its use greatly increased during World War II. Asbestos has been widely used in many industrial products, including cement, brake linings, roof shingles, flooring products, textiles, and insulation. Since the early 1940s, millions of American workers have been exposed to asbestos dust.

If tiny asbestos particles float in the air, especially during the manufacturing process, they may be inhaled or swallowed and can cause serious health problems. In addition to mesothelioma, exposure to asbestos increases the risk of lung cancer, asbestosis (a noncancerous, chronic lung ailment), and other cancers, such as those of the larynx and kidney.

Initially, the risks associated with asbestos exposure were unknown. However, an increased risk of developing mesothelioma was later found among:

    * Shipyard workers

    * People who work in asbestos mines and mills

    * Producers of asbestos products

    * Workers in the heating and construction industries

    * Other tradespeople.

Today, the US Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) sets limits for acceptable levels of asbestos exposure in the workplace. People who work with asbestos wear personal protective equipment to lower their risk of exposure.

The risk of asbestos-related disease increases with heavier exposure to asbestos and longer exposure time. However, some individuals with only brief exposures have developed mesothelioma. On the other hand, not all workers who are heavily exposed develop asbestos-related diseases……….