Diagnosis Cancer of the Mesothelium Means Advanced Screening Methods
Tuesday, June 30th, 2009Cancer of the mesotheliumwill show a few primary symptoms. Pleural mesotheliomas main symptom is a lack of breath due to pleural effusion ” the increase of fluid in the membrane, or pleura, around the lung. The next most common symptomis chest pain due to the tumor invading the chest wall. Additional symptoms include night sweats, weight loss and exhaustion.
The most common sign of patients with abdomen mesothelioma, which is centralized in the abdomen, is fluid buildup (known as ascites) in the abdomen causing abdominal swelling, abdominal pain, and bowel obstruction.
Its vital to know that these symptoms could be caused by a myriad of diseases or conditions. But if you have experienced any of these symptoms and have had asbestos exposure, you should see your doctor.
Mesothelioma is difficult to diagnose, because the symptoms are also experienced in less serious health issues. These symptoms include:
- Having trouble breathing
- Lower back or chest pains from a buildup of fluid in the pleura
- Running a temperature
- Vomiting
- Hoarseness
- Difficulty swallowing
- Spitting up blood
Self-diagnosis should never be attempted. People suffering from the above symptoms should remain calm and consult a doctor. Performing a biopsy is the standard way to confirm the condition. A pathologist takes a sample of tissue from the suspected region and performs an examination that will result in a very accurate diagnosis. Usually, biopsies do not hurt.
A CT scan (Computer Tomography is an option if you dont want a biopsy. A CT scan is basically an X-ray procedure where cross-sectional images are taken as a scanner rotates around the body. Sometimes, the patient ingests a dye that helps define the picture. CT scans might be advantageous because of their simplistic and non-invasive nature, and they are considered an effective way of diagnosing the disease. Beliefs vary whether a biopsy or scan is more cost-effective. If there are abnormalities, a biopsy may also be needed to know if the abnormality is a tumor, and if so, if the tumor is benign or malignant. Diagnosis of pleural mesothelioma is also possible by looking for cancer cells in a sample of fluid from the pleura.
Any of these methods may also be used to screen for mesothelioma. Patients who may think they are at risk but do not display any symptoms are typically screened, to catch the cancer early or to make sure the patient is not otherwise in danger. Patients should be screened for mesothelioma if they have a history of asbestos exposure.