Diagnosis Cancer of the Mesothelium Involves Advanced Screening Methods
Malignant mesotheliomahas a few major symptoms. Pleural mesotheliomas main symptom is shortness of breath as a consequence of pleural effusion ” the accumulation of fluid in the pleura, or membrane, surrounding the lung. The second most common symptomis chest pain due to the tumor invading the chest wall. Symptoms may also include fatigue, loss of weight and night sweats
The main indicator of patients with peritoneal mesothelioma, which is centralized in the abdomen, is fluid buildup (known as ascites) in the abdomen causing abdominal swelling, bowel obstruction, and stomach pain.
It is important to note 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.
Peritoneal mesothelioma cancer is problematic to diagnose, because many symptoms are also associated with less serious conditions. These symptoms include:
- Difficulty breathing
- Chest or lower back pain associated with an excess of fluid in the pleura
- Fever
- Nausea
- Raspy voice
- Difficulty swallowing
- Spitting up blood
Do not attempt self-diagnosis. Sufferers of the above symptoms should not panic, and should consult their doctor. The standard way to confirm the condition is with a biopsy. A pathologist removes a piece of tissue from the suspected area and performs an examination that will result in a very accurate diagnosis. Biopsies are generally not painful.
CT scans (Computed Tomography) are an option to avoid a biopsy. This is an X-ray procedure where a scanner takes many cross-sectional images as it rotates around the body. Once in a while, a dye is ingested by the patient to help define the images. CT scans might be advantageous because of their simplistic and non-invasive nature, and they are known to be an effective diagnostic tool. Opinion is divided as to whether the scan is more or less cost-effective than a biopsy. If there are irregularities, a biopsy may also be ordered to determine if a tumor exists, and if so, whether it is malignant or benign. Diagnosis of pleural mesothelioma is also possible by taking a sample of fluid from the pleura and testing it for the presence of cancer cells.
Mesothelioma can also be screened and then diagnosed by any of these methods. 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.
