Symptoms and Diagnosis of Mesothelioma
Unfortunately the symptoms of mesothelioma may not present until 30–50 years after exposure to asbestos. The cancer is also aggressive and difficult to treat. By the time a diagnosis is made they cancer may have progressed too far to be treatable. Early diagnosis is of the essence.
Early Symptoms
The first symptoms of pleural mesothelioma are shortness of breath and pain in the chest due to an accumulation of fluid in the pleura. Peritoneal mesothelioma often presents as weight loss and abdominal pain and swelling due to a buildup of fluid in the abdomen. Other symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma may include bowel obstruction, blood clotting abnormalities, anemia, and fever. If the cancer has spread beyond the mesothelium to other parts of the body, symptoms may include pain, trouble swallowing, or swelling of the neck or face.
Though these symptoms may be caused by mesothelioma they may also result from other, far less serious conditions. As always it is important that you consult your doctor to obtain a proper diagnosis.
Diagnosis of Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma often presents with symptoms that are very similar to other, more common, diseases. As such it may be very difficult to diagnose accurately. Obviously the place to start any diagnosis is with a full medical history, including and incidences of asbestos exposure. A complete medical examination may then be performed (which may include X-ray imaging of the chest and abdomen) as well as lung function tests. If the indications are strong then a CT (or CAT) scan and an MRI or the chest and upper abdomen may also be taken. Both CAT scans and MRIs use computers to build-up detailed images of the inside of the patient's body and will reveal tumours as a dense mass within the body. If any of these scans indicate the presence of a possible tumour the diagnosis moves to the next stage.
Other tests may include Complete blood count (CBC): A procedure in which a sample of blood is drawn and checked for the number of red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets; the mount of haemoglobin (the protein that carries oxygen) in the red blood cells and portion of the blood sample made up of red blood cells. As well as Sedimentation Rate: A procedure in which a sample of blood is drawn and checked for the rate at which the red blood cells settle to the bottom of the test tube.
The next stage is to take a biopsy, which is needed to confirm the diagnosis of any cancer. In a biopsy, a surgeon or a medical oncologist (a doctor specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer) removes a sample of tissue for examination under a microscope by a pathologist. A biopsy may be done in different ways, depending on where the abnormal area is located. If the cancer is in the chest, the doctor may perform a thoracoscopy. In this procedure, the doctor makes a small cut through the chest wall and puts a thin, lighted tube called a thoracoscope into the chest between two ribs. Thoracoscopy allows the doctor to look inside the chest and obtain tissue samples. If the cancer is in the abdomen, the doctor may perform a peritoneoscopy. To obtain tissue for examination, the doctor makes a small opening in the abdomen and inserts a special instrument called a peritoneoscope into the abdominal cavity. If these procedures do not yield enough tissue, more extensive diagnostic surgery may be necessary.
If the biopsy indicates that a tumour is present, then the next stage (as with any cancer) is to determine the stage of the disease. Staging involves more tests in a careful attempt to find out whether the cancer has spread and, if so, to which parts of the body. Knowing the stage of the disease helps the doctor plan treatment. As with all cancers, mesothelioma is described as localized if the tumour is found only on the membrane surface where it originated. It is classified as advanced if it has spread beyond the original membrane surface to other parts of the body, such as the lymph nodes, lungs, chest wall, or abdominal organs.