{"id":121,"date":"2017-05-08T21:35:08","date_gmt":"2017-05-09T01:35:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mesotheliomahope.com\/?page_id=121"},"modified":"2025-12-23T16:19:35","modified_gmt":"2025-12-23T21:19:35","slug":"diagnosis","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.mesotheliomahope.com\/mesothelioma\/diagnosis\/","title":{"rendered":"Mesothelioma Diagnosis"},"content":{"rendered":"

How Is Mesothelioma Diagnosed?<\/h2>\n

Mesothelioma is most effectively diagnosed by a specialist who understands the nuances of this rare cancer and what to look for. However, most people start with their primary care doctor to rule out more common conditions, especially considering that many of the early symptoms of mesothelioma are not specific.<\/p>\n

When establishing a diagnosis for mesothelioma<\/a>, your doctor will want to understand if there\u2019s cancer present, where it started, and whether it\u2019s spread to other parts of the body.<\/p>\n

The basic steps for a mesothelioma diagnosis include:<\/strong><\/p>\n

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  1. Symptom evaluation.<\/strong> During your initial exam, the doctor will ask about your symptoms to get a full picture of your health. It\u2019s important that you share everything you\u2019ve noticed, such as fatigue, weight changes, pain, and any respiratory changes.<\/li>\n
  2. Medical and personal history.<\/strong> Your doctor will also want to know about your medical history, including any existing health conditions and risk factors, like whether you might have been exposed to asbestos (the only known cause of mesothelioma).<\/li>\n
  3. Testing.<\/strong> Depending on your symptoms, your doctor may order blood tests and imaging scans to look inside your lungs and abdomen. These tests help them narrow down possible causes.<\/li>\n
  4. Biopsy.<\/strong> During a biopsy, you\u2019ll have fluid or tissue samples removed from your body, and a pathologist (a type of doctor who studies diseases) will examine them under a microscope for cancerous cells.<\/li>\n
  5. Staging and cell type.<\/strong> If your doctor finds mesothelioma, they will also want to understand what stage the cancer is in and what cell type<\/a> is present. This helps your care team develop a personalized treatment plan.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    This is the standard process for patients who go to the doctor with specific symptoms to address. Some patients are also diagnosed with mesothelioma during surgery or treatment for another condition.<\/p>\n

    If you\u2019re looking for a doctor who can help with diagnosing mesothelioma, offering a second opinion, or developing a care plan for you or a loved one, use our Free Doctor Match<\/strong> to find a specialist near you.<\/p>\n