Since the symptoms of mesothelioma are at many times very inconclusive, a proper diagnosis is required to determine whether or not you have the disease. When you visit your physician for a diagnosis, he or she will most likely order an immediate chest or abdominal x-ray, CT Scan, or MRI. While mesothelioma is not visible under an x-ray, it is still a very valid tool in the diagnosis of the ailment. An x-ray can potentially point out fluid build-up between the lungs and the chest wall. This build-up is an all too common sign of mesothelioma cancer.
Your doctor may also ask that you undergo a thoracoscopy. During this procedure, your physician examines you chest cavity with an instrument known as a thoracoscope. An incision is made into the chest wall to allow a thoracoscope to be inserted between two ribs. Before this procedure is performed, the patient is given anesthetic to prevent the patient from experiencing any pain. A doctor may also perform a peritoneoscopy, where a peritoneoscope is inserted into an incision made in the abdomen.
If any abnormal tissue is discovered during these two procedures, the patient may have to undergo a biopsy. During a biopsy, a piece of the abnormal tissue is removed to allow for further examination under a microscope. This examination is usually done by a pathologist. The final word on diagnosis is typically in the hands of a pathologist. He or she will generate a report based on their observations under the microscope.
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By T Mi
A professional writer with an active interest in Mesothelioma Cancer.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com
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Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
mesothelioma information
Mesothelioma
By John Moore
What Exactly Is ?
Mesothelioma the medical name for cancer of the lung or the abdomen lining, and is usually caused by exposure to asbestos.
Asbestos is a type of building material used in thermal insulation products and ceiling tiles. Asbestos usage peaked during the 1950s - 1970s, but during the late 1960s, concerns over the health consequences of asbestos exposure began to arise, thereby decreasing the amount of asbestos manufactured over the following two decades. But even though new measures where brought in to get rid of it, many schools and public buildings still contain asbestos.
Small asbestos fibers that enter the air do not evaporate and can remain suspended in the air for a long time. These fibers, when breathed into the body, are toxic. The people most at risk are :-
People working in factories that manufacture asbestos are likely to have a high exposure to asbestos and are most at risk of developing asbestosis or mesothelioma.
Family members of workers exposed to asbestos in the workplace are susceptible to exposure from asbestos dust brought home by the worker on his clothes or skin.
Those who live in the vicinity of an asbestos manufacturing plant are also at risk.
Symptoms of mesothelioma may not appear until between twenty and fifty years after exposure, which explains why so many new cases of this form of cancer are coming to light now. Many people who haven't been in contact with asbestos for
decades, are now showing symptoms of this dreadful desease.
As with many forms of cancer, mesothelioma can spread rapidly. Symptoms include shortness of breath, coughing, loss of weight, and chest pains. If it is diagnosed early enough, the tumor can be surgically removed, and with chemotherapy and radiation treatment, a full recovery is often possible.
However, in more advanced cases, cure is usually not possible. In such cases, chemotherapy and radiation treatment can be used alongside other pain relief treatments, to ease the symptoms. Where cure is not possible, the average survival time is between four and eighteen months, depending on the stage of the tumor and the general health of the patient.
I was prompted to write about mesothelioma because as a child I lived near a factory which produced asbestos, and I personally know families who have suffered due to this terrible desease.
About the author:
Author John Moore. As a child I lived near an asbestos factory, hence my decision to write this article. If you wish to use this article, please include my link.
http://www.online-mesothelioma-guide.com
Circulated by Article Emporium
By John Moore
What Exactly Is ?
Mesothelioma the medical name for cancer of the lung or the abdomen lining, and is usually caused by exposure to asbestos.
Asbestos is a type of building material used in thermal insulation products and ceiling tiles. Asbestos usage peaked during the 1950s - 1970s, but during the late 1960s, concerns over the health consequences of asbestos exposure began to arise, thereby decreasing the amount of asbestos manufactured over the following two decades. But even though new measures where brought in to get rid of it, many schools and public buildings still contain asbestos.
Small asbestos fibers that enter the air do not evaporate and can remain suspended in the air for a long time. These fibers, when breathed into the body, are toxic. The people most at risk are :-
People working in factories that manufacture asbestos are likely to have a high exposure to asbestos and are most at risk of developing asbestosis or mesothelioma.
Family members of workers exposed to asbestos in the workplace are susceptible to exposure from asbestos dust brought home by the worker on his clothes or skin.
Those who live in the vicinity of an asbestos manufacturing plant are also at risk.
Symptoms of mesothelioma may not appear until between twenty and fifty years after exposure, which explains why so many new cases of this form of cancer are coming to light now. Many people who haven't been in contact with asbestos for
decades, are now showing symptoms of this dreadful desease.
As with many forms of cancer, mesothelioma can spread rapidly. Symptoms include shortness of breath, coughing, loss of weight, and chest pains. If it is diagnosed early enough, the tumor can be surgically removed, and with chemotherapy and radiation treatment, a full recovery is often possible.
However, in more advanced cases, cure is usually not possible. In such cases, chemotherapy and radiation treatment can be used alongside other pain relief treatments, to ease the symptoms. Where cure is not possible, the average survival time is between four and eighteen months, depending on the stage of the tumor and the general health of the patient.
I was prompted to write about mesothelioma because as a child I lived near a factory which produced asbestos, and I personally know families who have suffered due to this terrible desease.
About the author:
Author John Moore. As a child I lived near an asbestos factory, hence my decision to write this article. If you wish to use this article, please include my link.
http://www.online-mesothelioma-guide.com
Circulated by Article Emporium
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