Mesothelioma Diagnosis
If you have ever been exposed to asbestos and think you may have asbestosis or mesothelioma, it’s very important that you find a doctor who has experience dealing with asbestos-related diseases as soon as you can. The doctor can determine a mesothelioma diagnosis by taking a full medical history and performing a variety of diagnostic tests.
One of the reasons mesothelioma is so deadly is that it’s usually not diagnosed until late in the stages of cancer. However, new tests and more sensitive instruments have made it possible to get a mesothelioma diagnosis earlier in the progress of the disease. Catching mesothelioma earlier means more treatment options and a higher chance of surviving.
To determine your mesothelioma diagnosis, doctors will need to do a few things:
Check Your Medical History
The doctor will take a complete medical history to determine the symptoms you’re experiencing and discover any risk factors. In order to do this, doctors will ask questions about when and where you might have been exposed to asbestos in the past as well as what kinds of symptoms you have been experiencing.
Having a Physical Examination
The doctor will also do a physical examination to discover any other symptoms of mesothelioma that may not be so obvious. The examination may include listening to your breathing and heartbeat and feeling your abdomen. Patients with mesothelioma usually have fluid buildups, known as effusions, in the tissues and cavities around the heart, lungs, or the abdomen.
Taking X-rays, CT scans, and MRI scans
Taking a series of chest X-rays will also help to determine your mesothelioma diagnosis. The X-rays may show thickening of the lung tissues, irregularities in and around the lungs, and mineral deposits on the lung or pleural tissues. X-rays will also show any fluid buildup around or in the lungs.
After X-rays, the doctor may order other imaging tests including CT and MRI scans. Together, the CT and MRI can help doctors locate any lesions or tumors and determine the extent and stage of the cancer. The imaging tests will tell the doctors what they need to know to suggest a course of mesothelioma treatment.
More information about Mesothelioma:
What is Asbestos?
Mesothelioma Symptoms
Mesothelioma Treatments
Mesothelioma Articles