Mesothelioma

Diagnosis:

Since this disease does not have it's own specific criteria as far as symptoms are concerned, it is often difficult to make an accurate diagnosis. Early detection may begin with chest X-Rays, and an MRI can be ordered to create an image of the lung to check for tumor formation. X-Rays however, are not the most effective since fluid collecting around the lungs can be hard to detect using such methods. A cough, wheeze or problems breathing may be the first signs. But, this could mean a variety of issues exist which may not be Mesothelioma at all. Therefore, further investigation will be needed. An important factor is to look at the patient's medical history when making the initial assessment. A thoracoscopy or a peritoneoscopy will be performed in hospital under local anesthetic to look for possible tissue irregularity, and if found can be removed (biopsy) for laboratory testing.

Types of Mesothelioma:

There are varying types of this disease, including pleural mesothelioma (lungs) and pericardial mesothelioma(abdomen).The mesothelium, a lining which surrounds the lungs and abdomen often produces tumors which are not cancerous at all. Occasionally however, some are found to be harmful, in this case referred to as malignant mesothelioma.

Mesothelioma Treatment Options:

Treatments vary. An array of treatments are available including chemotherapy, gene therapy, radiation, surgery and a more recently developed treatment known as intra-operative photodynamic therapy, where drugs are injected days before surgery to make any present cancer cells sensitive to a special light. This process is still being studied for it's use in patients who have been diagnosed in the earlier stages of Mesothelioma.

Lawsuits: