What is Mesothelioma?
Mesothelioma is one of the most common and potent types of cancer that has affected people from all over the whole world. This cancer is caused by exposure to asbestos. The formed cancer cells may then become malignant, which will affect the lining that covers the organs inside the body.
The common part that is attacked by this cancer is the lung tissues' outer lining, which is called pleura. This will then scatter through the wall of the chest especially the inner part. There are instances that it can spread up to the inner cavity of the muscles in the abdominal area, which is called as peritoneum. However, there have been cases that it affects the pericardium, which are the muscles of the heart.
There have been various research and studies conducted by mesothelioma experts to determine the source of this disease. Most of the scientists conducting the research have agreed that there are notable connections of the illness to asbestos exposure, which is why miners are very vulnerable to the disease. The dust and particles from asbestos are the main source of mesothelioma.
This type of disease is very complicated that it demands various kind of medication. The initial findings should always come from the patient's doctor but along the treatment process, there will be lots of other specialists, doctors and even a mesothelioma treatment expert. Each of the doctors should have specializations in different medical fields so as to cater to the needed expertise in the procedure to be able to provide the patient the best care that they ought to receive.
Who should Be on the treatment Team
Here is the list of experts that the cancer team should have.
* General Practitioner
This is the patient's first contact point though it is seldom that they have expertise in cancer field. They are the ones that provide the patient's medical history and all the details pertaining to the illness to the mesothelioma expert specialists who are working for the patient. This is the one who will refer the patient to a cancer specialist who will become the team's cancer expert after the initials consultations to properly diagnose the disease.
* Thoracic Surgeon
This doctor is specialized to perform heart, chest, lung and esophagus surgeries. Their expertise is utilized in illnesses like cancer of the lungs and abdominal areas, coronary disease and surgeries of the lungs and the heart.
* Radiation Oncologist
This oncologist has a specialty in cancer treatment by using radiation. All types of oncologist are trained for cancer treatments.
* Medical Oncologist
They are trained to specialize in treating cancer by chemotherapy. Pulmonologist
This physician is a specialist for lungs. They have a skills acquired through special training for the field. They specialize in the diagnosis as well as treatment of different lung conditions like asthma, lung cancer, bronchitis, pleural mesothelioma and other lung diseases.
* Pathologist
This physician is trained specifically to observe as well as evaluate any changes in the cells that may indicate any possible disease. They examine the fluids of the body and wastes like stool, urine, sputum, blood and other excretions. It must be noted that these doctors do not cure the disease instead they just monitor and identify any changes in the cells. They as well conduct post mortems.
* Radiologist
They are trained physicians for the use of medical equipments such as CT scans, ultrasound and x-rays for the diagnosis of different types of diseases and medical conditions.
* Respiratory Therapist
This is a medical specialist who is trained to diagnose, cure and monitor a patient who currently has or had problems with breathing.
Mesothelioma is a disease that affects different body parts. That is the reason why the team needs a mesothelioma expert to deal with each part of the body and with different kits of treatments. The team hence involves different professionals who are specifically trained to care for different body parts.
There are teams of doctors that are needed as there is no best mesothelioma expert. Your mesothelioma expert diagnosis may come from many sources.
iAutoblog the premier autoblogger software
