diagnosed with mesothelioma
Mesothelioma Diagnosis
Early mesothelioma diagnosis is key to having the best outcome possible with this disease. It’s important to get tested if you think you might have been exposed to asbestos at some point in your life. Because this is a rare form of cancer, it’s also important for patients to see a doctor who specializes in mesothelioma.
There is no clear path to a mesothelioma diagnosis for every patient. Because the disease is so rare and has such common symptoms, doctors sometimes confuse it for a less-serious illness or a different type of cancer.
The most common presenting symptoms of pleural mesothelioma include chest pain and difficulty breathing. Peritoneal mesothelioma patients typically experience abdominal pain and distension. Anyone with a history of occupational asbestos exposure should remain watchful for these symptoms and report them to a doctor immediately.
Pinpointing the disease involves several procedures, including X-rays, CT scans, MRIs, biopsies and PET scans. Each of these tests is performed by a different medical professional, and most people get their diagnosis within two or three months from the time they notice their symptoms.
Diagnosing the cancer in its earliest stages supports a wider range of treatment possibilities that could extend your life expectancy. So it’s important you find an expert who understands the different mesothelioma stages and can provide you the best treatment.
What Steps Lead to a Mesothelioma Diagnosis?
If you find yourself in this situation, doctors will start the diagnostic process by asking about your medical history and by performing some standard physical exams. They should ask if you recall any personal past exposure to asbestos.
Providing your doctor with a comprehensive work history can hasten the diagnostic process. Because mesothelioma is a rare cancer with nonspecific symptoms, doctors are unlikely to suspect the disease unless a patient describes a former job where asbestos exposure may have occurred.
By explaining to their doctor that they worked in a high-risk industry, such as asbestos mining, construction or shipbuilding, patients can backup concerns that their symptoms may be asbestos-related.
Next, doctors will order imaging tests to identify any abnormal growths. If those show a suspicious mass that looks like mesothelioma, doctors will request a biopsy to confirm the diagnosis. They will take fluid and tissue samples during the biopsy.
During this process, you'll see several doctors. Patients usually visit a general practitioner, pulmonologist, radiologist, surgeon, pathologist and an oncologist. If any of these doctors suspect mesothelioma or another asbestos disease, that's a sign for any patient to get a second opinion from a mesothelioma specialist, an expert who has experience staging the cancer and treating people who have it.
The doctors who specialize in mesothelioma have dedicated the time it takes to understand the intricacies of diagnosing and treating this disease. They’ve studied under other mesothelioma experts, conducted clinical research, overseen clinical trials and worked with more mesothelioma patients than the average cancer doctor.
The cancer centers that specialize in mesothelioma staff a team of doctors who are experts in subspecialties of mesothelioma diagnosis and treatment, from pathological and surgical to radiological oncology. The pathologists at these centers have more experience diagnosing mesothelioma than most pathologists throughout the U.S. These doctors learn from each other and work together to provide each patient with individualized treatment.
Early mesothelioma diagnosis is key to having the best outcome possible with this disease. It’s important to get tested if you think you might have been exposed to asbestos at some point in your life. Because this is a rare form of cancer, it’s also important for patients to see a doctor who specializes in mesothelioma.
There is no clear path to a mesothelioma diagnosis for every patient. Because the disease is so rare and has such common symptoms, doctors sometimes confuse it for a less-serious illness or a different type of cancer.
The most common presenting symptoms of pleural mesothelioma include chest pain and difficulty breathing. Peritoneal mesothelioma patients typically experience abdominal pain and distension. Anyone with a history of occupational asbestos exposure should remain watchful for these symptoms and report them to a doctor immediately.
Pinpointing the disease involves several procedures, including X-rays, CT scans, MRIs, biopsies and PET scans. Each of these tests is performed by a different medical professional, and most people get their diagnosis within two or three months from the time they notice their symptoms.
Diagnosing the cancer in its earliest stages supports a wider range of treatment possibilities that could extend your life expectancy. So it’s important you find an expert who understands the different mesothelioma stages and can provide you the best treatment.
What Steps Lead to a Mesothelioma Diagnosis?
If you find yourself in this situation, doctors will start the diagnostic process by asking about your medical history and by performing some standard physical exams. They should ask if you recall any personal past exposure to asbestos.
Providing your doctor with a comprehensive work history can hasten the diagnostic process. Because mesothelioma is a rare cancer with nonspecific symptoms, doctors are unlikely to suspect the disease unless a patient describes a former job where asbestos exposure may have occurred.
By explaining to their doctor that they worked in a high-risk industry, such as asbestos mining, construction or shipbuilding, patients can backup concerns that their symptoms may be asbestos-related.
Next, doctors will order imaging tests to identify any abnormal growths. If those show a suspicious mass that looks like mesothelioma, doctors will request a biopsy to confirm the diagnosis. They will take fluid and tissue samples during the biopsy.
During this process, you'll see several doctors. Patients usually visit a general practitioner, pulmonologist, radiologist, surgeon, pathologist and an oncologist. If any of these doctors suspect mesothelioma or another asbestos disease, that's a sign for any patient to get a second opinion from a mesothelioma specialist, an expert who has experience staging the cancer and treating people who have it.
The doctors who specialize in mesothelioma have dedicated the time it takes to understand the intricacies of diagnosing and treating this disease. They’ve studied under other mesothelioma experts, conducted clinical research, overseen clinical trials and worked with more mesothelioma patients than the average cancer doctor.
The cancer centers that specialize in mesothelioma staff a team of doctors who are experts in subspecialties of mesothelioma diagnosis and treatment, from pathological and surgical to radiological oncology. The pathologists at these centers have more experience diagnosing mesothelioma than most pathologists throughout the U.S. These doctors learn from each other and work together to provide each patient with individualized treatment.
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