Surgery and Diagnosis

The diagnosis of malignant pleural Mesothelioma is made most firmly by the inspection of a biopsy of the pleura under the microscope. A diagnosis confirmed by biopsy helps when planning further treatment, for some treatments it is essential and it also verifies claims for compensation. 
It may be possible to obtain a reliable biopsy either by the removal of fluid from the chest (pleural fluid cytology) or a needle biopsy whereby a biopsy is obtained under local anaesthetic sometimes guided by a CT or ultra sound scanner. However, particularly in the early stages, negative results by these tests do not rule out the possibility of Mesothelioma. It may be felt that a surgical biopsy is warranted.

There are two “keyhole” procedures that can be used. Under a local anaesthetic it is possible to have a medical thoracoscopy. This involves a small camera telescope being introduced through a single 1-2 cm cut from which a biopsy can be taken. If a general anaesthetic is performed, a thoracic surgeon may perform Video Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery (VATS), through between 1 and 3 such cuts. This allows a larger biopsy to be performed and a full assessment of the pleura to be made.

 Picture Source - www.thoracicgroup.com

Surgery

Surgery can have an important role within the treatment of malignant Mesothelioma in confirming the diagnosis, assessing the spread of the tumour (stage) and in the control of symptoms.

All terms in bold in this section can be found in the Glossary.

Picture Source - www.mayoclinic.org

How dangerous is it?

Your close relative — perhaps even you yourself — has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, a form of cancer newly affecting 2,000 to 3,000 individuals in the United States each year. A thousand questions run through your mind: What is mesothelioma?
How dangerous is it?
How long has my relative got to live?
How will this development impact my relative’s family?
How did my relative contract mesothelioma?
What kinds of medical treatments are available? How successful have they proven?
Are there any nonmedical alternatives?
What have others done in this situation? What can I do?
What choices do I have?
Is there any hope?
Who can help?

Does anyone care?

Mesothelioma Legal Information Center

Understanding Mesothelioma: Symptoms

Although mesothelioma is almost exclusively linked to asbestos exposure, it can be very difficult to diagnose. Its symptoms often mimic other less serious conditions.
In addition, it can take anywhere from 10 to 60 years after exposure to asbestos for the cancer and its symptoms to become evident, further complicating the diagnosis.
Once symptoms do appear, mesothelioma can progress very quickly. Sadly, the average survival rate is only one year. While many people do not know how and when they were exposed to asbestos, it is absolutely critical to see a doctor right away if you have any unexplained medical problems, particularly if you know you were exposed to asbestos in your life or on the job.
As with any medical condition, the sooner you begin treatment, the better chance you can have for recovery. The common symptoms of mesothelioma include: shortness of breath, persistent hoarseness or cough, chest pain, unexplained weight loss, fluid buildup in the lungs or abdomen, abdominal swelling, bowel obstruction,
blood clotting abnormalities, and night sweats. Again, if you believe you may have mesothelioma, it is important to visit your doctor right away for
further testing. Tests may include CT or MRI scans and biopsies of the affected area. It is important to note that mesothelioma is difficult to visualize on a chest x-ray alone. If you need a referral to a physician who specializes in mesothelioma, please contact the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation at www.curemeso.org.

Patricia Trocki

Patricia Trocki lost her father, Joe, in 2004 after a three-year battle with pleural mesothelioma. A World-War-II veteran and former pattern maker, Joe was exposed to asbestos throughout his life. To combat his pleural mesothelioma, Joe participated in a series of clinical trials involving chemotherapy at the University of Chicago. Patricia and her family feel passionately that asbestos should be banned in the United States and throughout the world.
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