Mesothelioma — Screening, Symptoms & Diagnosis
Get an early warning
The National Cancer Institute's definition of screening for cancer is the examination or testing of people for early signs of certain type of cancer even though they have no symptoms. This is the best way to achieve a diagnosis as early as possible. Early detection and diagnosis is particularly important for people with a history of exposure to asbestos due to the latency period (up to 20 years or more) before symptoms of malignant mesothelioma may become apparent.
Recognizing the early signs of mesothelioma aid diagnosis
As with any disease, recognizing early symptoms is critical in fighting it. With malignant mesothelioma, recognizing the earlier symptoms can greatly aid your doctor to obtain an early diagnosis.
Symptoms can include:
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For many suffering from pleural mesothelioma, there may be pain in the chest or lower back. Those people with peritoneal mesothelioma may experience an expanding waist size or abdominal pain resulting from the growth of cancer cells in the abdomen.
Always check with your doctor
Since many of these symptoms are also caused by less serious illnesses, it can be difficult to recognize asbestos-related diseases in the early stages. The best way to determine your health risk is to consult a doctor for an initial examination, which may include a pulmonary function test (PFT) and x-rays.
Screening methods your doctor is likely to use
After a preliminary physical examination, your doctor may employ the following procedures to find out more about your condition:
- Thoracoscopy uses a scope to look inside your chest cavity. During the procedure, a small cut will be made in your chest and a small piece of tissue may be removed for examination (biopsy). While you may feel some pressure, there is usually no pain.
- Peritoneoscopy uses another specialized instrument that allows for examination inside your abdomen. A scope is inserted into an opening made in the abdomen, and a biopsy specimen may also be taken.
- If the presence of fluid is indicated by either of these procedures, the doctor may drain it by inserting a needle into the affected area.
- Removal of chest fluid is called thoracentesis
- Removal of abdominal fluid is call paracentesis
Other screening methods for diagnosis of asbestos-related diseases include various imaging tests. In addition to X-rays, imaging tests include: computed tomography (CT scans) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and positron emission tomography (PET).
The latest screening tool: Computed Tomography / CT Scan
Computed tomography, usually a spiral CT scan is a recently developed special radiographic technique. It produces a clear cross-sectional image allowing a radiologist to see distinct aspects of the lung or pleura not readily apparent from a standard X-ray image.
Early results from a National Cancer Institute (NCI)-sponsored National Lung Screening Trial show:
- A 20 percent reduction in lung cancer deaths in a high-risk population screened with low-dose helical CT scans versus conventional chest X-ray.
- As of October 10, 2010, a total of 354 lung cancer deaths were reported in the spiral CT arm versus 442 in the chest X-ray arm. This represents a 20.3% reduction in lung cancer mortality.
The abstract of an article in Cancer Magazine, "Modeling the mortality reduction due to computed tomography screening for lung cancer", (Jan. 2011, by Foy M, Yip R, Chen X, Kimmel M, Gorlova OY, Henschke CI, of the Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas), decribes efforts to simulate CT results and their efficacy, and summarizes the findings as:
The results of the current study indicate that CT screening along with early stage treatment can reduce lung cancer-specific mortality. This mortality reduction is greatly influenced by the protocol of nodule follow-up and treatment, and the length of follow-up.
Keeping you informed
Kazan Law keeps current on all aspects of mesothelioma diagnosis and treatment. Along with legal news, we constantly update our web sites with breaking medical developments and opinions.
Serving mesothelioma victims and their families for more than three decades
From offices in Oakland, California, Kazan, McClain, Lyons, Greenwood & Harley, PLC (Kazan Law) has been serving victims of mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases for more than 36 years. For a no-cost evaluation of your potential case with one of our experienced mesothelioma lawyers in California, contact us today by calling 1-866-804-2311 or online.
