Procedures in Mesothelioma Diagnosis

Whatever diseases the patient may be suffering from, they will always ask the following questions:

Am I correctly being diagnosed?
Am I availing of the best diagnostic methods?
Is the process taking too long?
Am I receiving enough support?
Is the medical team overseeing my diagnosis competent enough?

he above anxieties and fears are no different from the ones that patients undergoing mesothelioma diagnosis feel. Since mesothelioma is a type of cancer which is a deadly disease, a patient receiving a mesothelioma diagnosis may experience drastic and life-altering changes to their way of life that only a serious illness can do. Many patients are in shock and denial, and all too often the most common reaction after a mesothelioma diagnosis is to seek a second opinion.

Once the disease is confirmed, the patient should immediately consult with an oncologist who specializes in the kind of mesothelioma he or she is suffering from so that treatment options can be explored and begun as soon as possible and to ensure that the patient receives optimal care in the duration of the illness.

Generally, a doctor will formulate a mesothelioma diagnosis within three to six months after a patient first consulted with him or her. The early symptoms of mesothelioma that patients usually complain from are breathing problems, chest and abdominal pain depending on where the cancer site is. The primary doctor typically takes the initial steps in the diagnostic process, after which the patient may be referred to a pulmonologist or an oncologist to undergo further tests. A doctor will take into account the following factors before considering mesothelioma as the likely cause of the symptoms:

• The patient’s medical history. This includes the patient’s past and present health complaints with emphasis on respiratory problems, family history of cancer and whether or not the patient is currently or previously smoking.
• Physical examination. The doctor will check for signs of pleural effusion or pleural mass, reduced ability to expand the chest, muted or absent sounds of breathing, mediastinal displacement, tenderness in local areas, and any protruding tumors.
• Prior exposure to asbestos. Asbestos is the primary cause of mesothelioma. Therefore, any previous exposure to this necessitates further testing.

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