A Primer to the Symptoms and Tests for Diagnosis of Mesothelioma
Cancer of the mesothelium is known to have a few primary symptoms. Pleural mesotheliomas main symptom is a lack of breath caused by pleural effusion ” fluid being built up in the pleura, or membrane, encompassing the lung. The second most common symptomis chest pain because the tumor is attacking the chest wall. Additional symptoms include night sweats, weight loss and exhaustion.
The main indicatorof 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.
Its vital to know that other afflictions or diseases could be causing these symptoms. But if you have experienced any of these symptoms and have had asbestos exposure, you should see your doctor.
Peritoneal mesothelioma is problematic to diagnose, because less serious conditions also cause similar symptoms. These symptoms include:
- Having trouble breathing
- Chest or lower back pains due to accumulated fluid in the pleura
- Burning up
- Nausea
- Breathy voice
- Having trouble swallowing
- Coughing blood
One should not self-diagnose themselves. People suffering from the above symptoms should remain calm and consult a doctor. A biopsy is the primary way the condition is confirmed. A pathologist takes a small tissue sample from the suspicious area and performs an examination that will result in a very accurate diagnosis. Usually, biopsies do not hurt.
Another option is a CT (Computed Tomography) scan. A CT scan is basically an X-ray procedure where cross-sectional images are taken as a scanner rotates around the body. A patient might have to ingest a dye to help define the pictures. 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 be needed on top of the CT scan to confirm whether or not the irregularity is a tumor, and if thats the case, if its malignant or benign. Diagnosis of pleural mesothelioma is also possible by testing a sample of fluid from the pleura for cancer cells.
These methods can also diagnose and screen patients for mesothelioma. Patients are screened when they suspect they may be at risk but do not have typical symptoms, to ensure they are not at risk to get the cancer or to catch the cancer early. Patients should be screened for mesothelioma if they have a history of asbestos exposure.
