
30 Jan What to Know About Mesothelioma

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Mesothelioma, a rare, aggressive cancer, often grows on the thin tissue layer that lines the abdomen or lungs. Prolonged exposure to asbestos is considered the primary risk factor for developing this disease because eight out of 10 of those with mesothelioma claim asbestos exposure. Age, gender, and genetics are other mesothelioma risk factors. Discussed below is what you need to know about mesothelioma.
Mesothelioma stages
Upon being diagnosed with mesothelioma, the next step is figuring out if and how far it has spread. This is where staging comes in. A cancer stage describes the amount of cancer in the body. Staging helps determine how severe the mesothelioma is and how best it can be treated. There are four mesothelioma stages, which are classified based on size, location, and the number of tumors. They include:
- Stage 1: Early tumor growth develops along one of the lung’s mesothelial lining.
- Stage 2: The cancer cells have already spread to the lymph nodes nearby.
- Stage 3: At this level, the mesothelioma cancer tumors have invaded deeper tissues in distant lymph nodes and close organs.
- Stage 4: The cancer tumors have spread and reached distant organs.
Knowing your mesothelioma stage at diagnosis can influence your treatment options.
Types of mesothelioma
Mesothelioma cancer types detail where the tumors first grow and the particular cells involved. The various mesothelioma types include the following:
- Peritoneal mesothelioma: It’s the second most common mesothelioma cancer, and it grows in the abdomen’s lining (peritoneum). Bloating, loss of appetite, and bowel habit changes are the symptoms you’ll likely experience.
- Pleural mesothelioma: It’s the most common type affecting the lungs’ lining (pleura). Common symptoms include lower back pain, excessive sweating, shortness of breath, and more.
- Testicular mesothelioma: It’s the most rare form of mesothelioma, with tumors developing on the testes’ lining (tunica vaginalis) .
- Pericardial mesothelioma: It’s a rare mesothelioma that grows in the heart’s lining (pericardium). With this type of cancer, patients have difficulty breathing, cough, and chest pain.
Mesothelioma diagnosis
While healthcare professionals use various tests to diagnose mesothelioma, biopsy is the most definitive method of determining a correct diagnosis. Thoracoscopy, image-guided biopsy, and pleural aspiration are the most common biopsy types used to diagnose mesothelioma. Other tests for diagnosing mesothelioma include the following:
- Blood tests: They measure the mesothelioma cancer cell levels and determine the treatment’s effectiveness.
- Physical examination: Physical examinations are the initial step when diagnosing mesothelioma. In case you have any known past asbestos. exposure, a physician can perform a physical evaluation to spot mesothelioma symptoms. This test helps identify the need for further treatment
- Pathology reports: They give a comprehensive study of the tissue samples acquired via biopsy processes. They can determine the presence of mesothelioma cancer cells and assist physicians to determine the disease’s stage and cell type.
- Imaging tests: They include CT scans, MRIs, and more. They show the tumors’ location and size and the body organs they might affect.
Mesothelioma treatments
The objective of mesothelioma treatments is to kill cancer cells and eliminate tumors. The primary treatments for mesothelioma include:
- Surgery, which effectively gets rid of tumors, fluid buildup, and damaged tissue.
- Radiation and chemotherapy for destroying cancer cells.
- Immunotherapy for improving the immune system.
The most suitable treatment combination for your mesothelioma depends on the tumor’s location and extent.
Endnote
Mesothelioma is a type of cancer caused by prolonged exposure to asbestos. Consider learning everything you need to know about mesothelioma, including its stages, types, diagnosis, and treatments.
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Last Updated on January 30, 2025 by Marie Benz MD FAAD