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- What is mesothelioma?
- Symptoms of mesothelioma
- Causes of mesothelioma
- Prevention of mesothelioma
- Risk factors for mesothelioma
- Complications of mesothelioma
- When to see a doctor about mesothelioma
- Diagnosis of mesothelioma
- Conventional treatment of mesothelioma
- Alternative/complementary treatment of mesothelioma
- Living with mesothelioma
- Caring for someone with mesothelioma
Mesothelioma is initially diagnosed by a doctor through the following methods:
- History of symptoms - the doctor will ask a series of questions about the severity and duration of symptoms, when they started and how often they occur. Your doctor will also ask about past exposure to asbestos
- Physical examination - to check for any symptoms of the disease (and their severity). This includes blood pressure check, listening to the lungs with a stethoscope and examining the abdominal area for pain
- Blood test - a blood test will be requested to test the blood for the levels of red and white blood cell counts to determine if they are at normal levels
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If further tests are warranted, the following may be requested:
- Chest x-ray - to review the chest for symptoms of the disease
- Cytological exam - fluid from the lining around the lungs or abdomen are removed to test for signs of malignancy
If malignancy is suspected, then the following test will be done to confirm it:
- Biopsy - some of the cells of the suspected area of malignancy are removed to test them under a microscope for signs of the cancer (there are various procedures which are used to take some of the suspected malignant cells); this test is normally performed once x-ray and other tests confirm suspicious areas in either the lungs or abdomen
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< 7: when to see a doctor 9: conventional treatment > Last reviewed: 3 January 2009 || Last updated: 8 January 2010
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NOTE: Mega doses of any type of vitamin, mineral, amino acid or herbal supplement cannot cure illnesses and in fact can be very dangerous and produce toxic side effects and interfere with medicine you are taking. Always ensure you consult your doctor before taking any type of complementary supplements.
Disclaimer: This guide is not intended to be used for diagnostic or prescriptive purposes. For any treatment or diagnosis of illness, please see your doctor.
