Mesothelioma is an aggressive type of cancer, located in mesothelium, a thin tissue that lines the body’s internal organs.
There are several types of mesothelioma, which are related to its location, the most common being the pleural, located in the pleural of the lungs, and the peritoneal, located in the organs of the abdominal region, symptomatology depending on its location.
- Generally.
- Mesothelioma develops very quickly and is diagnosed at an advanced stage of the disease.
- And treatment is most effective when diagnosis is early and consists of chemotherapy.
- Radiation therapy and/or surgery.
Symptoms depend on the type of mesothelioma, which is related to its location:
There are other forms of mesothelioma that are very rare and, depending on their location, can cause other symptoms, such as pericardial mesothelioma, which affects heart tissue and can cause symptoms such as low blood pressure, heart palpitations and chest pain.
As with other cancers, mesothelioma can be caused by mutations in cellular DNA, causing cells to begin to multiply uncontrollably, resulting in a tumor.
In addition, there is an increased risk of mesothelioma in people with asbestosis, a respiratory system disease caused by inhalation of asbestos-containing dust, which usually occurs in people who work for many years and are exposed to the substance. Here’s how to identify symptoms of asbestosis.
What’s the diagnosis
Diagnosis consists of a physical exam by your doctor and imaging tests, such as CT and x-ray.
Subsequently, based on the results obtained during the first exams, your doctor may order a biopsy, in which a small sample of tissue is taken for further laboratory testing, and a test called PET scan, which can check the development of tumors and metastasis. Find out how TEP scanning is performed.
Treatment will depend on the location of the mesothelioma, as well as the stage of the cancer and the patient’s health. This type of cancer is often difficult to treat because, when diagnosed, it is already at an advanced stage.
In some cases, surgery that can cure the disease is recommended if it has not yet spread to other parts of the body. Otherwise, it will only relieve symptoms.
In addition, your doctor may also recommend chemotherapy or radiation therapy, which may be performed before surgery, to facilitate the removal of the tumor and/or after surgery, to avoid a recurrence.