The diagnosis of any disease follows only after the appearance of the symptoms. The problem with Mesothelioma is that its symptoms sometimes appear decades after the patient had been exposed to the asbestos dust. By this time, it is usually too late for treatment because the malady has taken strong roots in various organs of the patient. Awareness of the disease, its causes and symptoms is the best course of prevention. This means that if ever you have been exposed to asbestos dust, you should inform your physician immediately. This would enable your doctor to arrive at a conclusive diagnosis. The initial symptoms of Mesothelioma may appear in form of cough, fever and shortness of breath. Doctors who do not know the history of a patient may associate these symptoms with the common prevalent diseases like pneumonia and treat them accordingly. But with the passage of time, symptoms may worsen and others may appear, back and chest pain accompanied with profuse perspiration. A person may experience difficulty in swallowing food, which in turn leads to the loss of weight and tiredness. Since the asbestos dust initially enters the lungs, the respiratory system is seriously affected. All these symptoms point to graver danger and call for a different and a more serious diagnostic approach, which is not usually associated with ordinary or seasonal maladies. Detailed pathological tests need to be conducted along with X-rays of the chest, abdomen and lungs and Computed Topography scans (CT scans) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). If these tests tend to confirm the initial suspicions about the possible presence of mesothelioma, an examination of the fluid surrounding the lungs becomes essential; if this too appears inadequate, then an operation is performed to cut out a tissue sample to run biopsy on it. Other tests and examinations are also needed to identify the affected areas. The tests may include taking out samples of fluid from the affected organ to detect the existence of cells and their types to determine the exact kind of disease and the right course of treatment. |
