Symptoms of Pleural Mesothelioma
Indicators of pleural mesothelioma are frequently mistaken for symptoms of minor ailments at first, which can delay diagnosis. The symptoms include fatigue, coughing, back or chest pain, swelling, perspiration, and a hoarse voice.
Mesothelioma Diagnosis
A physical examination, samples from fluid and tissues, and imaging can diagnose pleural mesothelioma. The cancer can spread to other parts of the body in a process known as metastasis. Physicians use what is known as “staging” of the disease to indicate the extent to which the tumor has spread, and to categorize its size. The staging systems include the Butchart System, the TNM System, and the Brigham System.
Treating the Disease
After diagnosis, the patient and the doctor should discuss treatment options, which will take into consideration the patient’s desires, in addition to other factors. Radiation, surgery, and chemotherapy are the most often used treatments. Radiation can be used either internally, from within the body, or externally, from outside the body. Radiation in general can destroy malignant cells, but it is not seen as the best choice for mesothelioma treatment.
Chemotherapy involves the use of drugs to destroy the malignancy. This type of therapy can be used in cases in which the disease has spread or has come back after remission.
Surgical Options
One kind of surgery is used simply to relieve the suffering the patient experiences while the disease runs its course; another version is done to prolong the life of the patient. Breathing difficulties can be relieved by draining fluid buildup, known as a thoracentesis, or through injections of drugs or other substances to keep fluid from accumulating, known as pleurodesis. These treatments for pleural mesothelioma can help prolong a patient’s life, but they usually cannot cure the disease
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