New Mesothelioma Test - Showing Effectiveness for Pleural Mesothelioma Patients

Mesothelioma is an asbestos related cancer caused by exposure to asbestos over a long period of time. Symptoms for mesothelioma may not become apparent for decades after the initial exposure to asbestos. Thus it is usually not detected until the late stages after serious side effects begin to present themselves.

What Are Some Of The Diagnosis Of Pleural Mesothelioma?

Mesothelioma in general is extremely difficult to diagnose since symptoms do not appear for a long time after initial asbestos exposure occurs. And in most cases pleural mesothelioma is often mistaken for influenza or pneumonia or other more common disease making it extremely difficult to diagnose and treat.

What Are The Symptoms Of Pleural Mesothelioma?

The symptoms of pleural mesothelioma are very non-specific which makes it very difficult to diagnose at an early stage and treat appropriately. Other symptoms may not appear for decades after exposure to asbestos. Some of the symptoms include:

• Abdominal swelling
• Anemia
• Acute pain in the abdominal region and chest area
• Coughing up blood
• Difficulty swallowing
• Fatigue
• Shortness of breath
• Persistent dry cough
• Weight loss

What Is This New Test?

A new gene ratio test to help predict which pleural mesothelioma patients will benefit from multiple modes of therapy and surgical procedure was developed by researchers at the Birgham and Womens Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts. This test has shown to be effective in predicting postsurgical outcome in pleural mesothelioma patient – this is indeed a very important breakthrough in the diagnosis and treatment of mesothelioma.

How Is This Test Used?