Is Mesothelioma a Lung Cancer?
Mesothelioma can develop in the layers of tissue that cover every lung (the Pleura) or, more rarely, in the lining of the tummy (peritoneum). The disease usually occurs in its late stages, and symptoms can take as long as 50 years to manifest.
Diagnostic tests like imaging tests and biopsys are utilized by doctors to identify mesothelioma. Treatment plans usually include surgery, chemotherapy, or radiotherapy.
Pleural mesothelioma
Pleural mesothelioma usually develops in the lung's lining. It is the most common mesothelioma type and patients are generally able to enjoy better outcomes than those who are diagnosed with other types of mesothelioma like mesothelioma of the pericardial region or peritoneal.
Doctors might first suspect pleural mesothelioma when a patient complains of lung problems like coughing or shortness of breath. They will order a series of tests to confirm the diagnosis, including x-rays CT scans, MRIs and blood work and a biopsy. To perform a biopsy, doctors insert a thin, lighted tube called a thoracoscope into the chest between two ribs.
The symptoms of mesothelioma can be similar to other diseases making it difficult to recognize the disease in its early stages. Some patients may not experience symptoms at all, and when they do, the initial signs are usually dismissed as pneumonia or other less serious illnesses. The best chance of getting an accurate diagnosis is to see an expert in mesothelioma or visit mesothelioma clinics. Specialists in mesothelioma have more experience and are able to recognize signs more quickly.
If mesothelioma has been diagnosed doctors will decide the best treatment for each patient. They will consider the stage of the mesothelioma as well as the type of cancerous cells and their site of origin. Patients with pleural mesothelioma in an earlier stage tend to have a better outlook compared to those with mesothelioma that is later in its stage. This is because the cancerous cells remain localized.
Patients suffering from pleural mesothelioma may benefit from surgical treatments, chemotherapy and radiation. Palliative care is also recommended to alleviate symptoms and improve the quality of life.
Although mesothelioma is not curable but it can be treated in order to prolong the life span of the patient. It is essential to seek treatment for all forms of mesothelioma as quickly as possible in order for doctors to develop the treatment strategy.
Peritoneal Mesothelioma
A person diagnosed with peritoneal mesothelioma has cancer in the abdomen's lining or the chest cavity. Similar to pleural mesothelioma, the symptoms can include breathing difficulties, pain and fluid buildup. Patients might also experience nausea and spit up. In addition to surgery and chemotherapy, a doctor may recommend palliative specialists to ease symptoms and improve the quality of life.
Doctors determine if peritoneal mesothelioma is present by looking at imaging scans of the abdomen or chest. A biopsy may be needed to confirm the diagnosis. In a biopsy, doctors remove the fluid or tissue from the tumor for examination under microscope.
The most commonly reported indication of peritoneal cancer is abdominal pain. This can be asymptomatic or dispersed. Other symptoms include a cough that does not go away, weight loss and fever. The prognosis of mesothelioma patient is based on several factors, such as the type of cancer and stage of the disease. The sex of a person may also influence their prognosis. Women and people born female have better outcomes from peritoneal msothelioma as compared to males and those born male.
Mesothelioma is caused by changes (mutations) in the DNA of cells. This mutation causes cells to expand uncontrollably. The cancerous cells could form a tumor, or a collection of abnormal cells.
The majority of people with mesothelioma are employed in occupations that require exposure to asbestos. Asbestos is a material that was once used in construction, plumbing electrical work, and the automobile industry. Asbestos exposure is linked to mesothelioma.
Malignant mesothelioma is most often seen when it is advanced, which can make it difficult to treat. Mesothelioma may be treated with surgery, chemo or radiation therapy. These treatments are designed to allow cancer cells to be lung cancer asbestos mesothelioma destroyed without harming healthy cells. They can be combined to offer patients a greater chance of a successful cure. Doctors will decide on the treatment that is most appropriate based on the stage of cancer, general health and individual preferences. They may also recommend promising new therapies to treat mesothelioma.
Extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP)
Extrapleural pneumonectomy is a mesothelioma surgery that is available to patients suffering from pleural mesothelioma who are in good enough health to undergo surgery. In this procedure, doctors remove the lung affected by the disease, as well as a portion of the mesothelioma lining surrounding it. In some instances, doctors may also remove the pericardium and diaphragm. This is among the most effective mesothelioma treatments. Specialist mesothelioma physicians perform EPP in mesothelioma treatment centers across the United States.
Specialists in mesothelioma conduct various tests to determine whether a patient is fit for surgery. These include PET and CT scans and mediastinoscopy. These tests can help doctors see the tumors and determine how they've grown. If mesothelioma is too advanced for surgical removal, doctors may attempt to shrink or stabilize the tumors by using chemotherapy.
The goal of mesothelioma therapies is to extend life expectancies and improve quality of living. However, mesothelioma is long latency times and is often difficult to identify early. This is why many patients have already developed symptoms by the time they are diagnosed.
Doctors recommend that patients receive multiple treatment methods in a multimodal approach. This is due to the fact that mesothelioma treatment methods aren't effective on their own. Combining treatments can maximize the effectiveness of each. For instance radiation therapy may help reduce the size of a mesothelioma tumor before surgery making it easier to remove. Doctors have attempted intense radiation before EPP, also known as SMART, and this has extended the lives of patients suffering from mesothelioma.
EPP is a complex mesothelioma procedure that requires the use of general anesthesia. After the anesthesia has taken effect the surgeon will then make either an sternotomy that measures 9 inches (front of the chest) or the thoracotomy, which is 10-inches long (front of chest). The surgeon will separate the chest wall from the lung and other organs.
This is a potentially risky procedure and only patients with mesothelioma in good health who are physically fit enough to undergo it. After the procedure patients are admitted to the hospital for several weeks. The patient will have to recuperate at home, or in an rehabilitation facility.
Trimodality therapy
Three common treatments are available for mesothelioma - radiation therapy, surgery, and chemotherapy. Doctors may also combine these treatments (called multimodality treatment). Patients who have survived may have different treatment options based on the type of mesothelioma they have and the extent to which it has been spread.
The first step in treating mesothelioma is obtaining an accurate diagnosis from an expert in mesothelioma. Mesothelioma can be difficult to diagnose because cancer cells can appear like normal cells. To confirm the diagnosis, the doctor will examine the samples of tissue or fluid to determine if there is mesothelioma. Doctors also consider the patient's medical background to determine if mesothelioma is the most likely cause.
The symptoms of mesothelioma can include chest pain, coughing and breathing problems. Doctors often order an X-ray or CT scan of the chest and lungs to check for abnormal thickening of the lung lining, calcium deposits and fluid buildup. A doctor may also perform biopsy procedures, where they remove a small sample of the tumor or its surrounding tissues to test.
Other imaging tests that doctors use to determine the stage of mesothelioma are the positron emission tomography (PET), and magnetic resonance imaging. These tests use radio waves and powerful magnets to take images of the body. The mesothelioma cell absorbs the radioactive atoms in these tests, and show up brighter on the images than healthy cells do.
If the mesothelioma is spreading to the pleura (the lung's lining) doctors may recommend surgery to stop it. Depending on the stage at which the disease, this may be extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP), an operation that involves removing the affected lung and part of the diaphragm, or pleurectomy with decortication (P/D). Often these procedures are carried out in conjunction with other mesothelioma treatment options, such as radiation or chemotherapy.
Chemotherapy involves the use of drugs that kill cancerous cells while improving the patient's life quality. Pemetrexed, a chemotherapy medication used to treat pleural cancer, can be administered alone or in combination with carboplatin and cisplatin. For mesothelioma peritoneal chemotherapy is usually given intravenously. Patients may receive a single session of chemotherapy or multiple sessions, on Monday to Friday over 4-7 weeks as an outpatient.