Mesothelioma Diagnosis

Diagnosing Mesothelioma: X-rays

The X-ray, or electronic radiation, is a form of medical imaging that is typically used to diagnosis injuries to the bones. There are times however that x-ray technology is used to diagnose problems in soft tissue, such as the lungs. A chest x-ray can be used to diagnose problems such as lung cancer, mesothelioma, and pneumonia in the lungs. The chest x-ray is an excellent way to pinpoint problems of the respiratory tract.

X-rays as Diagnosis for Mesothelioma

Chest x-rays are a common diagnostic tool for mesothelioma. A chest x-ray is able to pinpoint the exact location of the tumor as well as if the tumor has spread outside of the pleural cavity. X-rays, CT scans, and blood tests are the main methods of making a diagnosis of mesothelioma. The downside of all of these medical procedures is that they are not capable of making the diagnosis of mesothelioma in the earliest stages of the disease.

The mesothelium, the area affected by this type of cancer, is a thin protective membrane. It is located in the chest, abdominal and heart cavity. Most cases of mesothelioma are located in the chest cavity. Because the membrane is so thin it does not show contrast well during the x-ray and CT scan procedures. Therefor the tumor is normally fairly well advanced before it is picked up with these methods. The difficulty of early diagnosis is one of the reasons that the prognosis for mesothelioma patients' is poor. For more information about mesothelioma and diagnosis, please see Mesothelioma Overview and Mesothelioma Diagnosis.

X-rays as Treatment for Mesothelioma

There are three main standards of care for patients with mesothelioma. Chemotherapy, which can be any one or combination of a variety of drugs that are injected into the patients blood stream or given in oral form to kill the tumor cells. Surgery is the second option. The surgery typically involves removing the tumor and part or all of the mesothelium as well. The surgery for mesothelioma can be pretty radical, and the patient's general health as well as the tumor size will be prime considerations in determining if they are a candidate for surgery.

The final method of treatment is through radiation. Radiation therapy is actually a very strong dose of x-ray directed to the cancer cells. Radiation, or x-ray therapy, is used to kill individual tumor cells. As the tumor cells die, the tumor itself becomes smaller. The high dose x-rays that are used for radiation therapy can be given to the patient in a number of ways. Radiation therapy can use a machine and be directed to the tumor externally, or radioactive materials, contained in plastic beads, can be implanted at the tumor site.

Physicians may use one, two or all three of these methods to treat mesothelioma. While using a combination of surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation increases the odds of successful treatment, not all patients can withstand the more aggressive treatment option. The physician must take into account the patient's general health, age, the location and size of the tumor, as well as whether the tumor has metastasized, or spread. For further information about treatment options, please see Mesothelioma Treatment Overview.

Potential Dangers of X-rays

There are a variety of dangers associated with the long term or high level exposure to x-rays. When the body is exposed to x-rays damage occurs. When x-rays move through the body, cells are damaged. In most cases, these damaged cells will die, but your body makes new cells all the time. Occasionally the damaged cells do not die. These damaged cells have sustained changes to their genetic makeup, which may eventually lead to these cells becoming cancerous.

It may seem strange to treat one type of cancer with a method that may cause another type, but radiation therapy has been used for many years, and is proven to be effective at shrinking tumors. In the early days of radiation therapy, when manipulation of x-ray dosage was poorly understood, many people died from the therapy. Radiation therapy today is an effective and proven means to treat some forms of cancer. Doctors are able to fine tune the dosage received, better able to monitor the patient's health, and use other therapies to reduce the side effects of radiation that caused secondary health concerns in the past.

Side Effects of Radiation Therapy

Radiation therapy, which consists of extremely high powered doses of x-rays directly to the affected area, has some advantages over chemotherapy, but some disadvantages as well. Because radiation therapy targets only the area where the tumor is located, you probably will not suffer from the full body illness and fatigue that is a common side effect of chemotherapy. You will probably suffer problems at the point where the radiation enters the body. This can include red, irritated skin, tightness or soreness. In addition, radiation in the chest area may make it difficult to swallow, you may develop a cough, and you may suffer from shortness of breath. Most of these side effects are temporary, and should resolve themselves within a few months of the end of your treatments.

If the radiation side effects are severe, making it difficult to breath or painful to cough, talk to your doctor. They can often reduce the severity of side effects with medications such as steroids. In some cases, radiation therapy for mesothelioma can cause permanent lung damage. If you suffer from permanent lung damage as a result of radiation therapy you may find that you have to limit your daily activities due to shortness of breath. Again, speak with your doctor to devise a treatment plan to minimize symptoms and increase your quality of life.

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