Sunday, October 11, 2009

Overcoming the odds: Curing pleomorphic type mesothelioma

Given the increasing number of types of cancer, one can never escape the hazards of the world. Cancer normally occurs when a person is exposed to harmful substances for an extended period of time. This is true when you have cancer known as pleomorphic type mesonthelioma. Having this disease means that you have a malignant tumor originating from mesenchyman. A large portion of the tumor grows into adipose tissue. Parts of the body commonly attacked by pleomorphic type mesothelioma include the leg, shoulders, gluteal region and the retroperitoneum.

Tumors are normally seen as lump masses inside the body. CHECK YOURSELF

It is not easy to diagnose plemorphic type mesonthelioma. There is no specific screening for plemorphic type mesonthelioma. People who have a high risk of developing mesothelioma should be checked for regular period of time in order to spot mesothelioma at the earliest stage possible so get checked as frequently as possible. There are some signs and symptoms the doctors watch out to get further tests to confirm plemorphic type mesonthelioma. Pain, swelling tenderness to any area and a possible lump are the common complaints that are considered.

A simple blood test can be performed to evaluate a person's general health. If doctor suspects that the person may have plemorphic type mesonthelioma, the person may have abdominal x-ray, abdominal CT scan or abdominal MRI scans to check and confirm for swelling and fluid accumulation in the abdomen. Abdoparacentsis or fluid drainage from the abdomen can be performed to alleviate the swelling and pain around the abdomen and to see if there are malignant or cancerous cells in the fluid. Laparoscopy or biopsy of the abdominal lining or peritoneum may be done, wherein they get a tissue sample of the abdominal lining and check if the mesothelial cells are damaged by cancer.

If these tests confirm that one has plemorphic type mesonthelioma, it will now be determine if it has spread to other parts of the body. This is called staging or determining the gravity of the cancer itself. This process is very important to determine what action or treatment will be done. A PET scan may be done to see how the cells are working. PET stands for positron emission tomography. This is done if the mesothelioma is treatable through surgery. This shows the extent of spread of the cancer cells to the other parts of the body like the lymph nodes and other organs.

HELP IS ON THE WAY

No matter what sickness you have there is a specialist out there who can help you find the proper cure even if it is for plemorphic type mesonthelioma. After the diagnosis and determining the gravity of the mesothelioma, treatment is done and there are different doctors that facilitate the treatment of the mesothelioma.

If the mesothelioma is treatable via surgery, the services of a thoracic surgeon may be needed. The thoracic surgeon is trained and is specialized to do surgeries of the lung, heart, chest and esophagus. If a patient has been diagnosed with plemorphic type mesonthelioma and it has been decided that the best treatment is surgery, then this physician is the one qualified to do the job.

Here are some doctors you should approach for your problems.

The Medical Oncologist is a physician specialized to render chemotherapy if it has been determined that the best treatment for the mesothelioma is through chemotherapy. This physician has the extensive knowledge and skills of the treatment modalities of cancer specifically chemotherapy.

The Radiation Oncologist is a physician specialized to render radiation therapy if it has been determined that the best treatment for the mesothelioma is through radiation therapy. This physician has the extensive knowledge and skills and is highly trained to administer radiation therapy to treat the plemorphic type mesonthelioma.

The pathologist is a physician who specializes in analyzing cells. This doctor has the extensive skill and knowledge and is highly trained to monitor and evaluate the significant cell changes that may point to mesothelioma. They analyze the cells through the specimens that are brought to them such as the blood, fluid obtained from the abdomen or lung, or tissues from the mesothelium. They interpret the changes and they are the ones responsible to spot damaged mesothelial cells by cancer or the mesothelioma.

No matter what happens always have faith that these doctors are doing their best to help you recover from pleomorphic type mesothelioma or any type of mesothelioma for that matter.

Reference:

Nathalie Fiset

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