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Diagnosis Concerns and Symptoms
There are 2 major factors making diagnosis and respective treatment of mesothelioma difficult. Symptoms of
mesothelioma resemble those of other illnesses and rapid spreading of malignant (cancerous) cells can be
well underway before indications become apparent. These symptoms can include unusual weight loss and abdominal swelling,
shortness of breath and chest pain, anemia, bowel obstructions, and fever.
These factors make diagnosis by a qualified physician extremely important
Typically, detection of the cells is done with an MRI or CAT scan then confirmation is done with a biopsy. Physical cells
need to be removed and analyzed in order to confirm mesothelioma. There are a number of ways the biopsy is accomplished
depending on the location of the cells. Examples include a peritoneoscopy (small incision directly into the abdominal
cavity and retrieval of cells using a peritoneoscope) and thoracoscopy, which is a similar operation through the
chest and ribs. The cells are then examined by a pathologist.
Once diagnosed, the patient can expect further tests to determine how far the disease has progressed.
Treatment
Depending on the stage and progression of the mesothelioma a patient may be treated with surgery to physically remove affected
areas and tissues surrounding it, chemotherapy, or radiation therapy. In many cases there is a combination of these treatments.
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