An Overview of Mesothelioma Treatment

After diagnosis of mesothelioma cancer the traditional treatment is
often a combination of surgical removal of the malignant cells,
radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. Rarely is only one method used,
as their combined use is usually seems more effective. Radiation
and/or chemotherapy following surgery have proven to be the most
successful mesothelioma treatment methodology to date.

Surgery as part of a mesothelioma treatment strategy involves removing
the cancerous tumors as well as any compromised mesothelium tissue
(organ lining tissue) of the lungs (pleurae), abdominal cavity,
diaphragm, liver, or spleen. Surgeons have been known to come to the
decision of removing an entire lung (pneumonectomy) or other
compromised organs depending upon the stage and extent of the disease.
While always a radical procedure, this form of surgery as part of a
mesothelioma treatment approach is regarded as one of the most
consistent methods to get most, if not all, malignancy out of the
body.

A less invasive surgical mesothelioma treatment, necessary at times
when fluid buildup occurs in the chest or abdominal cavities is
fine-needle aspiration. This procedure involved inserting an extremely
thin needle into the chest or parts of the abdomen and carefully
drawing out excess fluid. On the chest it is called "throcentesis" and
in the abdomen region it is called "paracentesis."

Radiation therapy is an often used approach to cancer-related
therapeutic procedures. Its can be employed internally as well as
externally. A special machine is used to bombard the tumor with
high-energy x-rays or gamma rays. This is done to shrink and destroy
cancer cells. Internally, it involves administering radioisotopes
through small plastic tubing in the area where malignant cells are
found. These procedures are often used in treating mesothelioma
cancer.

Another systematic method of mesothelioma treatment is chemotherapy.
It fights cancer cells thru drugs given orally or intravenously and
are dispensed throughout the body's system via the bloodstream to kill
cancerous cells. Sometimes chemotherapeutic drugs are injected right
into the chest as a mesothelioma treatment termed "intrapleural
chemotherapy."

Using special drugs and light to destroy malignant cells during
surgical procedures is how an innovative tactic for fighting
mesothelioma called intra-operative photodynamic therapy. The drug
increases cancer cells' light sensitivity and is administered
intravenously several days before surgery. While surgically removing
of the tumor, light-pulse radiation is done, destroying the
now-vulnerable cancer cells. This mesothelioma treatment is being
researched extensively for further improvement.

Gene therapy as a mesothelioma treatment is another exciting course of
action still in clinical trials. Considered a innovative course of
treatment, gene therapy involves changing the genetic material of
living cells to fight disease. Within the environment of mesothelioma
treatment, genes permitting malignancies to grow (metastasize) would
be adjusted.

All mesothelioma treatment plans indicate there is great hope in
curing this fatal disease. Oncologists and other medical professionals
all over the world are pooling their time, vigor, data, and efforts
into finding a cure for mesothelioma instead of just employing
painkilling mesothelioma treatment measures. This brings a brighter
outlook in the future to this deadly disease. It also brings more
ongoing hope to do yet more study on this fatal disease and will
inevitably bring even more effective treatment in the future.

What is Asbestos Cancer?

Asbestos cancer (malignant mesothelioma) derives its common name from
the fact that nearly all cases of it can be traced back to asbestos
exposure. It's a virulent form of malignancy, and can even be caused
by exposure to clothes that were contaminated elsewhere and brought
home. Things have become more regulated in this area with recent
times, as the law requires these clothes to be left on the worksite.
Fibers of asbestos are small, sharp, and thin, and bypass hairs in the
nose and other body systems intended to filter these sorts out. Then
the fibers catch up in the lungs, stomach, and even heart sac. This is
where asbestos cancer develops.

Asbestos cancer occurs in the lining membranes (called mesothelia) of
the lungs, heart, and other abdominal organs. There are actually 3
named forms of asbestos cancer. There is "pleural mesothelioma"
(asbestos cancer of the lungs), "pericardial mesothelioma" (heart-sac
asbestos cancer) and "peritoneal mesothelioma" (abdominal asbestos
cancer). The lungs are by far the most prevalent, and the heart-sac
form of asbestos cancer is extremely rare.

Asbestos cancer stems from abnormal cells in the mesothelia. At some
point, these begin dividing out of control, and constitute asbestos
cancer. If not diagnosed early and treated, once it manifests it
becomes very aggressive. It can also spread to other organs
(metastasize).

The first signs of asbestos cancer of the lungs (pleural) are
generally a nagging cough and chest pain. Stomach fluid buildup is a
potential sign of abdominal asbestos cancer, and swelling there will
often occur. In the heart-sac, asbestos cancer will have symptoms such
as chest pain, palpitations, and coughing.

Asbestos cancer has been known to develop from as little as 2-3 months
of exposure, though it typically takes from 20 to 40 years to happen,
that many don't realize the cause. Most diagnosed are men between 50
and 70 years old when diagnosed with asbestos cancer, and usually from
working in asbestos-related industries. Woman and children are at
times diagnosed, however often due to secondhand exposure to asbestos.

Once asbestos cancer has been diagnosed, it's necessary to assess how
widespread the cancer has developed. CT (computed tomography) scans
and MRIs (magnetic resonance imaging) can help determine the disease's
progression and aid the medical professionals in deciding on suitable
treatment. There are four stages of asbestos cancer progression.
Diagnosis at the beginning stage leads to the most favorable
prognosis. Within this beginning stage, the malignancy is only found
in one segment of the organ's lining (mesothelium) and hasn't spread.
If the disease does return after successful treatment, the asbestos
cancer is considered "recurrent mesothelioma."

Not everybody exposed to asbestos automatically contracts asbestos
cancer. If you know, however, if you have worked around this
natural-occurring deadly mineral, let your physician know. If you
aren't already receiving regular medical checkups, its time to start,
as keeping an eye on your health is a serious factor in catching
asbestos cancer in its early stages and greatly increasing your
probability of survival.

Mesothelioma Symptoms: What to Watch For

Mesothelioma symptoms present themselves in the chest and abdominal
cavities, hence the terms "pleural" and "peritoneal" mesothelioma.
Pleural refers to the chest cavity, while peritoneal refers to the
abdominal cavity. Although indications vary with the patient, most
people report the following mesothelioma symptoms discussed below.
Pleural mesothelioma symptoms include shortness of breath (dyspnea),
pain in the back or either side of the chest, a nagging cough, fever,
upset stomach, problems swallowing, a generalized weakness, and weight
loss. Fluid buildup in the lungs (called "effusion" in medical
terminology) occurs as well as thickening of the lungs' membranes,
which makes it difficult for the lungs to contract and expand when
breathing. Although none of these symptoms are rare, dyspnea and chest
pain are the predominant (ninety percent) presenting mesothelioma
symptoms. With peritoneal mesothelioma symptoms, sufferers report
swelling and pain in the abdominal area, nausea, loss of appetite and
consequent weight loss, diarrhea and/or constipation, vomiting,
swelling of the feet, anemia, and fatigue. These are caused by the
same effusion and thickening of the membranes as in the lungs, except
in peritoneal mesothelioma, the lining of the intestines and the
abdominal cavity – and sometimes the spleen and liver – are affected.
Bowel obstruction can also occur, as the tumor grows larger, in
addition to impaired breathing capacity if the tumor progresses upward
toward the lungs. The most common symptom that brings patients in for
initial treatment is a distended or bloated abdomen. Sixty percent of
patients inflicted with this type of asbestos cancer complain of
abdominal pain, which puts it at the top of leading peritoneal
mesothelioma symptoms. Mesothelioma symptoms may not become evident
until many years – sometimes up to fifty – after the first asbestos
exposure. Many people forget whether or not they've been exposed. This
and the relatively innocuous beginning signs are what make
mesothelioma symptoms so easy to overlook. These are a few of the
following trades in which the possibility exists that you have been
exposed to asbestos and should watch for mesothelioma symptoms:
Aerospace production Automobile manufacturing Building material
production Cement plant production Demolition and wrecking Insulation
manufacturing Packing and gasket manufacturing Protective clothing
manufacturing Refinery work Sheetmetal work and production Warehouse
work These are just a few areas of the labor force affected by people
who have contracted mesothelioma; there are many others, particularly
in the "blue-collar" occupations. It is important to research your
current or former work history to make sure any health problems you
may be experiencing are not mesothelioma symptoms. Because
mesothelioma symptoms mimic many other diseases and disorders, it is
often misdiagnosed by doctors or ignored by the patient. Many people
think they simply have the flu because of the initial symptoms of
stomach pain, nausea and/or vomiting, and maybe fever. Sometimes
mistaken for pneumonia, pleural adenocarcinoma, or malignant fibrous
histiocytoma by even highly trained specialists, it is important to
notify your treating physician if you experience any of the symptoms
and have ever been exposed to asbestos. In the case of peritoneal
mesothelioma, if weight loss is severely advanced at the time of
initial diagnosis due to physician misdiagnosis or from discounting
the symptoms, long-term survival can be questionable, even with newly
developed treatments. Even if you are wrong, it is never wise to
disregard what may, indeed, be mesothelioma symptoms.

The Warning Signs of Pleural Mesothelioma

If you have ever been exposed to asbestos, whether directly or from a
spouse whom was, then you will want to read this article. There are
two main symptoms of pleural mesothelioma that you need to look out
for: difficulty breathing and chest pain. I will explain each in this
article so that you have a better awareness of when you need to put
the pride away and go see a doctor.

Mesothelioma is a type of cancer found in the lungs and abdomen.
Estimates show it affects over 2000 people every year in the states
alone. This disease is the direct result of asbestos exposure.
However, nearly a quarter of all diagnosed had no exposure to
asbestos. So even if you never had exposure and you find yourself with
the following pleural mesothelioma symptoms you need to see a doctor.

Pleural mesothelioma is cancer that is found in the pleura of the
lungs. The pleura is the lining or membrane that surrounds the lung
tissue. This lining has two layers: visceral and parietal. The
visceral is the inner layer while the parietal is the outer. In
between them is lubricating fluid to help the two layers slide over
each other as our lungs contract and expand for our breathing. When
one begins the early stages of pleural mesothelioma the cancer can
cause the layers to become thicker. This can result in the pleural
mesothelioma symptoms; difficulty breathing and chest pain.

Obviously difficulty breathing is a common symptom for many ailments.
So don't conclude that you have mesothelioma. You need to visit a
doctor as soon as you can.

In pleural mesothelioma you begin to have shortness of breath and
difficulty breathing because of the two layers of the lining pushing
against each other. The layers create more tension because they become
thicker as mesothelioma develops. This can also cause discomfort from
swallowing and regular coughing. It can also cause hoarseness of the
throat and coughing up of blood.

Another symptom is pain in the chest. Naturally as the layers become
thicker due to the growth of cancer cells and push against your lungs
causing shortness of breath they can also cause chest pain because of
the added pressure. The pain typically begins on the side and spreads
up to your shoulders and neck.

If you experience either of these symptoms you should consult a doctor
right away. As pleural mesothelioma spreads the symptoms will become
worse. Visit a doctor and make it a point to notify him or her if you
have had any exposure to asbestos and your history of it. There is
evidence that a person can get this cancer indirectly from exposure to
someone that had direct exposure with asbestos. So if your spouse
worked in a high asbestos exposure occupation make sure you tell your
doctor.

Mesothelioma Incedences

Even though the rate of reported incidences has increased in the past
20 years, mesothelioma is still a relatively rare type of cancer. The
incidence rate for this disease is only one out of 1,000,000 people.
With that being said it was estimated that the incidence rate may have
peaked at 15 in 1,000,000 people in the United States in 2004. This
disease can appear in both men and woman at any age, but numbers show
that mesothelioma occurs more often in men than women and that risk
increases with age.

Between 1940 and 1979 approximately 27.5 million people were exposed
to asbestos in the United States. Also between 1973 and 1984 the
increase in the diagnoses of pleural mesothelioma tripled in caucasian
males. From 1980 to the late 1990s the death rate in the United States
from mesothelioma increased from 2,000 people a year to 3,000, with
men being four times more likely to develop it than women. These rates
may not be totally accurate though because it is possible that many
cases of mesothelioma is misdiagnosed as adenocarcinoma of the lung,
which is difficult to tell apart from mesothelioma.

Mesothelioma Risk Factors

The major risk fact for mesothelioma is anyone who has worked with
asbestos. A history of some amount of asbestos exsposure exists in
almost all cases of this disease. However, it is possible and cases
have been reported in some individuals who had no known exposure to
asbestos. Also in some rare cases mesothelioma has been associated
with irradiation, Thorotrast (intrapleural thorium dioxide), and the
inhalation of other fibrous silicates such as erionite.

Asbestos is a group of minerals that occur naturally as strong,
flexible fibers that can be separated into thin threads and woven
together. Asbestos has been widely used in many different industrial
products including: cement, brake linings, roof shingles, flooring
products, textiles, and insulation. When tiny particles of asbestos
float around in the air, especially during the manufacturing process,
they can be inhaled or swallowed, which can cause serious health
problems. Not only does exsposure to asbestos put you at risk for
developing mesothelioma, but it also increases the risk for lung
cancer, a noncancerous chronic lung ailment called asbestosis, and
cancers such as those of the larynx and kidney.

There is no link between smoking and mesothelioma, but it should be
known that the combination of smoking and asbestos exsposure
significantly increases a person's risk of developing cancer of the
airways including lung cancer and bronchial carcinoma. In the 1950's
the Kent brand of cigarettes used asbestos in their filters for the
first few years of production which caused some cases of mesothelioma,
however smoking modern cigarettes does not appear to increase the risk
of mesothelioma.

Mesothelioma Exposure

Asbestos was known in the old days but it wasn't mined and widely used
commercially until the late 1800s. Its use greatly increased during
World War II and since the early 1940s, millions of American workers
have been exposed to asbestos dust. An increased risk of developing
mesothelioma was found amoung shipyard workers, people who worked in
asbestos mines and mills, producers of asbestos products, workers in
the heating and construction industries, and other tradespeople. At
first the risks that were associated with asbestos exsposure was not
publicly known.

Today however, the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration
(OSHA) sets limits on acceptable levels of asbestos exposure in the
workplace. They have also created guidelines for engineering controls
and respirtors, protective clothing, exposure monitoring, hygiene
facilities and practices, warning signs, labeling, recordkeeping, and
medical exams.

Family members and others who live with asbestos workers also have and
increased risk of developing mesothelioma, and possible other asbestos
related diseases. This risk is believed to be the result of exposure
to asbestos dust brought home on the clothing and hair of asbestos
workers. With that being said, to reduce the chance of exposing others
to asbestos fibers, asbestos workers are usually required to shower
and change their clothes before leaving the workplace.

Many public and domestic buildings that were built prior to the
banning of asbestos containing materials may still contain asbestos
within them. Those performing renovation works or do-it-yourself
projects may expose themselves to asbestos dust.