3 Advancements in Mesothelioma Diagnosis that You Should Know About

Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer. But in the US in 2017 it’s estimated that at least 13% of all cancers will be considered rare forms of the disease. That means mesothelioma is a big problem. The various forms of the disease are currently without a cure.  There are 4 types which are pleural, peritoneal, pericardial and testicular.

www.survivingmesothelioma.com offers an in depth peritoneal resource, as well as sources for the other 3 types.

In the next few years,’ mesothelioma is going to become a bigger problem because the latency period is more than 20 years. And we only stopped using asbestos 30 years ago.

That’s why these advancements in mesothelioma diagnosis are so important.

Mesothelioma Breath Test

A brand new breath test is changing the way that people are diagnosed with mesothelioma for the first time. Belgian scientists tested the breaths of different people for evidence of volatile organic compounds.

They discovered that sufferers of mesothelioma have certain volatile organic compounds in their breath that healthy people don’t. This simple breath test is cost effective, easily distributed to healthcare centers, and takes mere minutes to administer.

With more research, this new test could offer suitable screening for mesothelioma that has been lacking up to now.

Rosetta Mesothelioma Test

The Rosetta Mesothelioma Test is a brand new diagnostic test that has gone into use in some private clinics. It addresses the issue of doctors misdiagnosing mesothelioma as another form of cancer.

Sadly, this is a common problem that leads to the wrong treatment being given. By the time the mistake is found the cancer has already spread and the patient has little hope of surviving.

The way this test works is it takes a genetic sample from the patient and checks the microRNA inside the tumor. Someone who has a tumor will have different amounts of microRNA depending on the type of cancer.

This will give doctors a better chance of detecting mesothelioma early.

Selected Reaction Monitoring

Selected Reaction Monitoring is a non-invasive blood test that can provide doctors with the tools they need to determine whether someone is suffering from mesothelioma.

It was developed by researchers in Switzerland. The way it works is that it can discover biomarkers within the tumor cells that have made it into the person’s circulatory system. It searches for the biomarkers, which comes from proteins. The information feedback will help to discover whether a person is suffering from mesothelioma.

Last Word – How Far Advanced are these Diagnostic Tests?

It’s important to understand that these diagnostic tests are in the early stages of their development. They have been tested on mesothelioma patients, but it will take a lot more studies before they start to be used across the world.

However, they offer hope. They provide hope that mesothelioma sufferers will be able to be diagnosed with the correct illness early. The earlier that a diagnosis can be made the better the chance of a patient surviving in the long-term.

The longer it takes for a patient to be diagnosed the more likely it is that the cancer will spread to other organs and become nearly impossible to treat.

Do you believe these mesothelioma diagnostic advancements will change the playing field?
 
This is a guest blog entry.