| |
Asbestos may be found in: |
| |
Insulation
Steam pipes
Boilers
Furnace ducts
Resilient floor tiles
Cement sheet
Millboard
Door gaskets in furnaces, stoves
Soundproofing material
Textured paint
Patching/joint compounds
Cement roofing
Shingles
Siding
Break pads
Clutches
|
|
|
Evaluation by Your Doctor
Your doctor will ask you for details of your medical history, and for the type of asbestos exposure you had and the duration. It is also important that you describe your use of any on-the-job protection, such as masks and respirators. Your doctor will do a physical examination, a pulmonary function test (spirometry) and chest x-ray.
Most people with malignant mesothelioma see their doctor because of difficulty breathing because of fluid around the lungs. If fluid has collected in your chest or abdomen, your doctor may drain the fluid out by putting a needle into the area and using gentle suction to remove the fluid. Removal of chest fluid for diagnosis or therapy is called thoracentesis. Removal of abdominal fluid is called paracentesis.
Fluid is then examined under a microscope. If the cells appear to be cancerous (malignant), a diagnosis of mesothelioma may be made. Often, a biopsy is necessary because the fluid doesn't always show the cancer cells.
More on Mesothelioma Spirometry
Needle Aspiration Biopsy
X-ray Test
This article was reviewed and updated June 2007.
|
|
|
