| The sudden onset of a deadly cancer is possibly the | | | | mesothilioma should be undertaken. |
| last thing on your mind when you feel "not so normal". | | | | Chest X-Rays For Mesothelioma |
| However victims of asbestos cancer (mesothelioma) | | | | Commonly these include taking a chest x-ray which will |
| barely survive 12 months, after being diagnosed with | | | | show a picture of the lungs to determine if there are |
| this cancer. | | | | any abnormal changes. |
| The two most common forms of mesothelioma have | | | | CT Scan For Mesothelioma |
| different symptoms, relating to different parts of the | | | | A CT scan, computer tomography, is a type of x-ray |
| body. Pleural mesothilioma (present in the lining | | | | that uses a computer rather than film to display its |
| surrounding the lungs) and peritoneal mesothilioma | | | | images. It can be used to show three-dimensional |
| (present in the lining surrounding the abdominal cavity | | | | representations of the relevant parts of the body. |
| and the abdominal organs) may display signs of other | | | | MRI Scan For Mesothelioma |
| unrelated illnesses, however the immediate affects can | | | | The final type of imaging that may be used is an MRI |
| be quite deadly. | | | | scan, or magnetic resonance imaging. In an MRI, |
| For instance, peritoneal mesothilioma, the rarer of the | | | | magnetism is used in conjunction with the computer to |
| two, can lead to swelling, abdominal pain due to fluid | | | | create clear images of your body. |
| buildup in the abdomen cavity, weight loss, bowel | | | | What Your Doctor Might Do |
| obstruction, abnormalities in blood clotting and fever. | | | | If your doctor finds an unusual mass during the imaging |
| Symptoms of the more common pleural mesothelioma | | | | process, they are most likely to take a tissue sample |
| include chest pain and difficulty breathing. Occasionally | | | | (biopsy), or draw fluid from it to determine what type |
| other symptoms may be present, including weight loss, | | | | of tissue is. |
| fever, cough and night sweats. Also occasionally a | | | | Typically a needle is used to draw a small amount of |
| patient may be diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma | | | | fluid from the tissue. If the results aren't able to rule out |
| before any symptoms manifest. | | | | the condition completely, the next step would normally |
| All these symptoms may mask the real disease if | | | | be to insert a small tube which is attached to a |
| misdiagnosed. The only way to diagnose | | | | camera and to take a small piece of the tissue |
| mesothelioma is to take a series of tests to discover if | | | | remotely. |
| the disease is present. | | | | In some cases a more extensive surgical procedure |
| The most important link is to determine if the patient | | | | may be needed in order to get a good sample of the |
| has been in contact with asbestos within the last 15 to | | | | tissue. |
| 50 years. If so, imaging scans to help diagnose for | | | | |