Early Mesothelioma diagnosis can impact your treatment option and prognosis.  

Mesothelioma cancer is one the most dangerous disease in our society today. An early mesothelioma diagnosis can help mesothelioma doctors to identify the type and stage of cancer in your body.

 Knowing when to get tested for mesothelioma is very necessary. An early mesothelioma diagnosis can improve your treatment options and recovery duration.

 When should I get tested for mesothelioma? You are supposed to get tested when you notice or experience asbestos exposure. Do not ignore or overlook any signs or symptoms of mesothelioma.

However, reach out to a mesothelioma doctor for a physical exam which involves checking lumps and other strange changes.

Mesothelioma diagnosis or test includes a Blood test, imaging scan, and biopsy. A biopsy is the only confirmed procedure that can show if you have or do not have mesothelioma cancer. 

Read on to fully understand more about other valuable information on mesothelioma diagnosis. 

How is mesothelioma Diagnosed?

Before a mesothelioma diagnosis, mesothelioma doctors do watch out for existing or occurring general mesothelioma symptoms like unexplainable weight loss, chest pain, Nonproductive cough, and difficulty in breathing known as[Dyspnea]

The doctor may ask some questions relating to your exposure questions like if you or, Any of your family members have any asbestos exposure history that may be causing mesothelioma. Physical exams, Biopsies, imaging scans, and blood tests are used, In mesothelioma diagnosis, and, Knowing the mesothelioma patient’s health status and asbestos exposure can help in mesothelioma diagnosis.  

Mesothelioma cancer is an aggressive disease and more often time it could be mistaken for other diseases that have the same symptoms. But once a mesothelioma diagnosis has been carried out and the doctor discovers that you have mesothelioma cancer he or she will recommend the best treatment for the type of mesothelioma you have and, can also determine your prognosis such as your life expectancy, etc.

Please, if you are currently experiencing any signs or symptoms of mesothelioma, Contact a qualified mesothelioma doctor and book an appointment for an imidate test. 

Early mesothelioma diagnosis has many benefits, which include favorable treatment options, long-term survival, and more. 

How doctors test for mesothelioma cancer

Mesothelioma doctors use multiple tests to identify the cause relating to the occurring symptoms of a patient.

These tests include an imaging scan and blood test.  Blood- tests help mesothelioma doctors by using biomarkers of biological molecules found in the blood, tissue, or fluid to identify if you have mesothelioma or other related diseases. 

Doctors also use imaging scans to look for the tumor location, But Biopsies are the only confirmed procedure used in finding if a patient has mesothelioma.

Imaging Scan:  There are imaging tests mesothelioma doctors use to identify mesothelioma tumors, location, or metastasis of cancer. Some of these imaging tests include  X-rays, Pet [positron emission tomography], Ultrasounds, MRIs [magnetic resonance imaging], and CT [Computed Tomography] scans during mesothelioma diagnosis. 

X-ray Scans all the abnormal changes and produces a clear image of your internal organs. The x-ray scan reveals abnormalities like tumor location and a build-up of fluid found around the lungs or abdominal cavity.  

A pet scan which is as known as positron emission tomography Picture of the tumor location and the location of the fast-growing cells, this type of scan helps in identifying metastasis of cancer and differentiation between normal and abnormal[cancerious] cells.

Ultrasound scans create an image of your internal organs, it can be used to identify abnormalities in your lung or abdomen. It can identify the spread of cancer and the location of cancerous cells in the body.

MRIs are known as magnetic resonance imaging  Uses[ Electromagnetic technology] rather than radiation. This scan can help mesothelioma doctors to picture or know the type of tissue in mesothelioma. MRIs identify the spread of cancer, This scan can take between 30 to  One and a half hours.  

 CT is a computed tomography scan used by doctors to diagnose mesothelioma. CTs combines many X-ray pictures taken in different parts of your body to create a 3D image.  

Blood test for mesothelioma diagnosis

Mesothelioma doctors use tissue tests for diagnosis and blood tests to check their patient’s health status and for abnormalities in the body that may suggest the presence of mesothelioma cancer.

Blood tests alone can’t provide an accurate result for a mesothelioma diagnosis, instead, they may serve as a doctor’s map toward a mesothelioma diagnosis.

Mesothelioma doctors can only confirm a diagnosis when they examine cells found in the abnormal parts.   For example, the mesothelioma doctor will collect the tissues found in the abnormal part for a biopsy procedure which will confirm if you have mesothelioma. If the biopsy procedures suggest mesothelioma on the abnormal tissues, then you.

You may be diagnosed with mesothelioma cancer, but if the biopsy procedure did not detect mesothelioma on the abnormal tissues, you might be diagnosed with other related cancer conditions.

How do Biospies confirm mesothelioma diagnosis?

Biopsies are the only correct procedure used by doctors to confirm a mesothelioma diagnosis. 

Biopsies procedure involves collecting samples of abnormal cells found in the body for lab experiments, then a biopsy will reveal the cell types, mesothelioma stage, and type.

 After this confirmation, you will be diagnosed with mesothelioma. Doctors will also choose the best treatment option based on the type and stage of mesothelioma.    

Note that, there are different types of biopsy. Each procedure is different from another and the type to use depends on cancer’s location and the patient’s ability to endure.

Types of biopsy procedures for diagnosing mesothelioma include Needle biopsies, surgical biopsies, fluid draining, and camera-assisted biopsies.

How does pathology Diagnosed mesothelioma?

Pathology can be described as the study of the disease’s causes, nature, development, and effects.  Pathology for diagnosing mesothelioma involves histology and cytology test. These tests can help in identifying and decisively influencing mesothelioma diagnosis.  

Cytology tests study cells, and body fluid to detect the sign of cancer. Cytology test helps in the identification of mesothelioma cell types. But, this type of test alone can’t diagnose mesothelioma.

Histology test examines tissue specimen like mesothelioma biopsy procedure. the sample will undergo a laboratory experiment to reveal if the sample has a sign of mesothelioma just like the biopsy procedure. Histopathology test uses a specific to identify the presence of mesothelioma cancer.  

Histopathology tests can have been proven to confirm a mesothelioma diagnosis.    

N/B Though the doctor can confirm mesothelioma diagnosis using pathology testing, you can also play a vital role in this process by telling your doctor of your asbestos exposure history that you can recall. This can make the diagnostic process earlier and also impact your treatment option.

why is it difficult to get an accurate mesothelioma diagnosis?

Mesothelioma doctors may find it challenging to get an accurate result during the testing stager because mesothelioma is an aggressive disease that comes with similar symptoms related to other cancer diseases. 

Some reasons for the delay of accurate mesothelioma include:

•  The disease’s non-specific signs or symptoms.
•  Lack of mesothelioma experienced doctors
• Another reason that may delay accurate mesothelioma diagnosis is when a mesothelioma patient may forget mesothelioma risk factors or their asbestos exposure history, this alone can make mesothelioma diagnosis to be complicated.

Peritoneal mesothelioma symptoms share almost the same symptoms as other cancer-related diseases like

• Ovarian cancer 
•  Crohn’s disease
•  Irritable bowel syndrome
•  Peritoneal carcinomatosis. 

Pleural mesothelioma symptoms have been mistaken for:

•  Flu
•  Lung cancer
• Bronchitis
•  Pneumonia
•  Interstitial lung disease. 

Pericardial mesothelioma symptoms have been mistaken for:

•  Heart disease
•  A benign tumor in the heart
• Heart failure
•  Cardiomyopathy

Testicular mesothelioma symptoms have been mistaken for:

•  Spermatocele
•  Scrotal or inguinal hernia

What are the common mesothelioma misdiagnoses?

Peritoneal mesothelioma cancer has been misdiagnosed as:

•  Breast cancer
•  Ischemic colitis
•  Diverticulitis
•  Uterine cancer
•  Benign mesothelioma
•  Ovarian cancer
•   Sarcoma. 

Pleural mesothelioma cancer has been Misdiagnosed as:

•  Pleuritis
•  Lung cancer
•  Benign fibrous tumor
•  Empyema, etc.

Pericardial mesothelioma has been Misdiagnosed cancer as:

• Tuberculosis
• Lupus
• And other related  cancer of the heart

  Testicular mesothelioma cancer has been Misdiagnosed as:

• Epididymitis
• Benign adenomatoid tumor

Getting the best treatment after mesothelioma diagnosed

Mesothelioma cancer and treatment can cause a lot of physical symptoms such as pain, and emotional trauma which will also affect your social life and finances. 

To get the best treatment you must start by contacting reputable mesothelioma centers with many qualified doctors. Mesothelioma patients have many treatment options,  a patient’s treatment option will be confirmed by the medical team after a mesothelioma diagnosis. The treatment option for your case depends on the stage of mesothelioma cancer. Early-stage mesothelioma has the most favorable treatment options; early mesothelioma diagnosis can also impact your prognosis.

Mesothelioma cancer treatments include chemotherapy, surgery, radiation therapy, and other therapies using medications [Systemic therapies ] for mesothelioma cancer such as chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy.

Conclusion:  If you are noticing any sign of mesothelioma or you have had any asbestos exposure in the past quickly go for a test in a good cancer center with a qualified doctor who can get help in determining the cell type, mesothelioma type, and stage. mesothelioma is an aggressive disease that can not be treated by any doctor, Exprencice doctors, or reputable cancer centers. Your ability to remember your asbestos exposure history can be a great combination for an early and accurate mesothelioma diagnosis.