Asbestos Symptoms And Lung Cancer

The symptoms of asbestos lung cancer are pretty much non specific. Patients suffering from this type of lung cancer will complain of pain and swelling in the abdomen, chest pain, pain in swallowing because of swelling in the face and neck, wheezing, difficulty in breathing, fever, fatigue and other specific symptoms such as blood colored sputum, dropping blood sugar level, pleural effusion, clotting of blood in the veins and accumulation of fluid in the chest and abdomen.

The diagnosis of asbestos lung cancer is done by performing an X-ray, CT scan and confirmed by a procedure known as biopsy. For biopsy, a surgeon will take samples of tissues and give it to the pathologist for closer examination. The treatment for asbestos lung cancer is decided keeping in mind the physical health of the patient, the location and size of the cancer and the extent to which it has affected the body.
There are different options for treating asbestos lung cancer but the chances of survival are very low. The different options include:

1. Surgery: The surgery to be performed will be decided on the basis of where the cancer cells are located in the lungs. Segmental resection may be performed to remove a portion of the lung. An entire lobe may also be removed. Patients may not be able to regain their energy after the surgery since air and fluid will accumulate in their chest.

2. Chemotherapy: Anti cancer drugs are prescribed to the patient in order to kill the cancer cells inside the body. These drugs could be taken orally or inserted by injection through the veins.

3. Radiation therapy: Radiation producing materials are inserted inside the body to remove cancer cells. Radiation signals may also be given using external machines.

Doctors are researching to find new treatments for the disease. They are trying to develop techniques that will help drain out the accumulated fluid from the chest and the abdomen.