Mesothelioma Treatment

	Mesothelioma is a rare type of cancer that is found typically in the chest and abdominal area. The cancer is mainly caused by excessive exposure to asbestos, though it may take up to 30 or 40 years for the cancer to appear. Once it does appear, it is important for it to be treated quickly or else it could prove fatal. This cancer can be treated by surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy.
	Type of Mesothelioma Treatments
	Before considering mesothelioma surgery for the treatment of malignant cancer, the health of the patient needs to be evaluated. The tests are performed to check whether the cancer has spread to the other parts of the body (mestatic disease) and evaluate the patient’s lung and heart functions. In case of the former, a mesothelioma surgery cannot be performed. The lung functions of the patients may have been decreased because of several reasons, not all of them related to the cancer. Both the heart and lungs need to be properly functioning for the surgery.
	Surgery for Mesothelioma
	Surgery is of two types: aggressive surgery (long-term control) and palliative procedures (relief of symptoms). Aggressive surgery for Mesothelioma Aggressive surgery involves removal of the pleura, the lung, the diaphragm and the pericardium through a procedure known as extra pleural pneumonectomy. This surgery is so named because its intent is to physically remove as much of the tumor as possible. This surgery is highly complicated and carries a high risk of fatality within a month. Extra pleural pneumonectomy is therefore performed only on younger patients who are in good health and can tolerate the surgery. Palliative Procedures for Mesothelioma Palliative procedures are performed when the cancer is in its advanced form. These procedures are performed to allay and/or control the symptoms of mesothelioma rather than cure them. Pleurectomy (also decortications) is the surgical removal of the pleura. This reduces the pain caused by the tumor mass and may also prevent the recurrence of pleural effusion (fluid collection that causes breathlessness). For peritoneal mesothelioma, surgery aims to palliate the symptoms, such as ascites, because complete surgical removal of the entire tumor is not entirely possible.
	Chemotherapy
	Chemotherapy uses drugs to treat mesothelioma. The results of the drugs have been mixed and some patients show only partial success to their use. To improve their efficacy, a combination of these drugs may be used at the same time. Some of these combinations have proved successful and new drugs are being developed for the treatment of this cancer.
	Radiation Therapy
	Radiation therapy uses radiation doses to kill the tumor. This procedure, however, is extremely difficult owing to the location of the malignant cancer. It is surrounded by the heart, lungs and other organs, and they are at the risk of being damaged by the radiation dosage. Lower doses of radiation can be used, though its efficacy is questionable despite its ability to reduce the disease to some extent.
	Dual Therapy
	Both chemotherapy and radiation are used in conjunction with the surgery after it is performed. They both help in killing any remaining tumor cells that were not removed by surgery and may also help in relieving symptoms of the disease like chest pain.

Mesothelioma & Lung Cancer Information

Mesothelioma is a form of cancer that develops in the tissues of cells that line the lungs, heart and stomach. These tissues are called mesothelial cells and they become infected by inhaling particles of dust from asbestos fibers. Once these cells become infected they dry up the fluids surrounding these major organs of the body and tumors begin to develop. The most common form is pleural mesothelioma which accounts for 75% of all malignant cases however there are two other types peritoneal, and pericardial which you may be interested in reading about.


Understanding Mesothelioma

Dealing with mesothelioma is a very difficult process. It will require a lot of physical and emotional endurance, a strong family and social network, and expert medical and professional advice and assistance. The best way to approach dealing with mesothelioma is to first learn everything that you can about the disease. This should include the causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of mesothelioma.


Symptoms

Since mesothelioma takes a long time to develop inside a human body it is often difficult to identify the symptoms. In the early stages there may not even be any symptoms at all. When they do appear the most common early symptoms are shortness of breath and chest pains. These symptoms on their own will not usually identify the disease and are often misdiagnosed as asthma or other respiratory problems like pneumonia.


Tests and Diagnosis

As discussed previously, mesothelioma takes a long time to incubate within a human body before symptoms may appear and cause suffering to the carrier. To be more specific, it can take fifteen to twenty years for this deadly disease to fully show itself and the damage it has done. This presents a very difficult challenge for doctors and the medical community in diagnosing the disease and in many cases patients with this disease are either not aware that they have it or do not ask the doctor to specifically check for symptoms.


Current Treatment

Once mesothelioma has been diagnosed a treatment procedure can be recommended and begun. The correct treatment will depend on a number of factors. They include the location of the tumor, the stage of the disease and how far the cancer has spread in the patient. The recommended treatment for mesothelioma will also depend on the age and overall health of the patient...


Causes and Risk Factors

The fine fibers of asbestos make it a great source for insulation and a fire retardant however the entry of asbestos into the human body can trigger the onset of mesothelioma. It is widely known now that Mesothelioma is almost always caused by exposure to asbestos. Sometimes the fibers enter the body through the lungs by an unsuspecting individual just breathing air containing asbestos fibers. Once they are taken in through the respiratory passages these fibers lodge themselves in the mesothelial cells around the lungs. This can cause direct damage to the lungs by traveling to the ends of their small passages and reaching the pleura area surrounding the lungs.


Types

There are many different types of mesothelioma that can occur in the body, almost always as a result of some form of exposure to asbestos and asbestos fibers. This can include pleural mesothelioma which affects the lungs, peritoneal mesothelioma that affects the stomach or abdominal cavity, and pericardial mesothelioma that refers to a cancer of the lining of the heart.


The Four Stages

Tracking the progress of cancers caused by mesothelomia is called staging and it is commonly accepted that there are four main stages of mesothelomia. These stages are measured by a variety of mechanisms including x-rays, CAT scans, and MRI testing. All of these will tell an attending physician how far the cancer has progressed and help to determine the appropriate level and type of treatment.

Pain Management Techniques

Once a doctor has made a full examination of the patient and correctly diagnosed a case of mesothelioma they will discuss a course of treatment with the patient and their family. This will almost always include a discussion of pain management and a recommended course of pain management and control during the treatment period and beyond. There are a number of options open to doctors and patients in the area of pain management and control and they include drug therapy and epidural implants, as well as psychological approaches that have helped many mesothelioma patients better cope with the impact of pain.

Medical Related Hospitals and Doctors

There are mesothelioma related hospitals and doctors located all over the country. These are normally located in areas with university teaching and research facilities and are dedicated to treating mesothelioma cancers as well as conducting research and clinical trials on treatment and pain management methods for mesothelioma patients.

After Diagnosis

Once there has been a positive identification and diagnosis of mesothelioma there are a number of different reactions and emotional responses that many patients feel as a result of the unexpected news. The first is often a feeling of complete and utter shock that their work or other related exposure to asbestos such a long time ago has resulted in such a dangerous and serious medical condition.

All About Malignant Mesothelioma

Malignant mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that affects the mesothelial cells of the serous membranes in the body. The most common form of mesothelioma, affecting the lining of the lung, is pleural mesothelioma. Two to three thousand new cases of malignant mesothelioma are diagnosed each year.

The mission of All About Malignant Mesothelioma is to provide a one-stop resource for comprehensive, up-to-date mesothelioma information. We cover the full scope of malignant mesothelioma issues including background, history, risk factors, diagnosis, and treatment. Please recommend the site to someone who may benefit from mesothelioma information. All About Malignant Mesothelioma also includes comprehensive information on filing a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit to obtain mesothelioma compensation.

Introduction to Malignant Mesothelioma

Malignant mesothelioma affects the lining or membranes of certain large cavities in the body. These cavities, called the serous cavities, house certain major organs in the body including the heart, lungs, abdomen and others. The membranes that surround these cavities are called the serous membranes. They serve to protect these major organs from the friction and abrasion that occur as the organs move against each other during typical daily functioning, such as breathing and heart beating. The serous membranes derive from specialized cells called mesothelial cells. These cells form to create the mesothelium, which is the major tissue layer of the serous membranes. Cancer that occurs in the mesothelium tissue is called mesothelioma.

Malignant mesothelioma takes on three forms:

• Peritoneal mesothelioma, in the peritoneum or membrane surrounding the abdomen. A rare form of peritoneal mesothelioma can also affect the male testicles, because the lining around the scrotum is an extension of the peritoneum.
• Pericardial mesothelioma, in the perdicardium or lining surrounding the heart.
• Pleural mesothelioma, which is the most common form of malignant mesothelioma and affects the lining of the lung cavity.

All mesotheliomas are now considered to be malignant, or cancerous. They start as a localized tumor and spread rapidly to include most of the surrounding tissues and organs. Originally, fibrous cists and other non-cancerous growths that appeared in the serous membranes were thought to be mesotheliomas and were termed "benign fibrous mesothelioma" and "multicystic mesothelioma." These conditions are now known not to originate in the mesothelial cells, but other cells within the serous membranes. These conditions are typically localized, non-cancerous and do not spread rapidly.

Etiology of Malignant Mesothelioma

Most cases of malignant mesothelioma are associated with a previous exposure to fibrous minerals, of which asbestos is the most important. There is now indisputable evidence of the role of these fibers in the development of this disease. This has been demonstrated in animal experiments and many other experiments. Not everyone who is exposed to asbestos fibers has developed malignant mesothelioma, suggesting that other factors may also be involved.

Although malignant mesothelioma is rare, it is a serious, deadly disease. It is often in the advanced stages when it is detected, so the outlook for the patients is not as good as it is for the cancers that are detected earlier. The average survival time after detection is 1 to 2 years. This survival time also depends on the type of mesothelioma.

Further Malignant Mesothelioma Information

Please continue reading the articles on this website for more mesothelioma information and asbestos information. In addition, we recommend the following malignant mesothelioma resources:

• American Cancer Society
• MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine (NIH)
• National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health
• Yahoo! Health

Mesothelioma & Suggested Steps Following Diagnosis

Exposure to asbestos has proven to result in a wide range of health conditions, including mesothelioma, a deadly cancer that attacks the lining of the lungs, heart, or abdomen. This rare form of cancer is almost exclusively caused by asbestos exposure.

A range of tests are used to diagnose mesothelioma, such as imaging scans & biopsies.

Recommended Topics

Mesothelioma Overview

Mesothelioma Types

Mesothelioma Diagnosis

Pleural Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma Symptoms

Pericardial Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma Diagnosis

Peritoneal Mesothelioma

Due to a long latency period, mesothelioma symptoms (shortness of breath, severe cough, chest pain) may not appear for 20 or more years. For this reason, mesothelioma is often diagnosed in later stages of development, which severely complicates treatment and chances of survival.

To learn more about this elusive and often puzzling disease, please review our extensive resources, featuring information on mesothelioma causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and more.

Mesothelioma Treatments

We've compiled the most comprehensive and updated information on mesothelioma treatments, including traditional and unconventional treatments, alternative medicine and other therapies, and the latest in clinical trials, and more.

Radiation & chemotherapy are common mesothelioma treatment options.

Recommended Topics

Treatment Overview

Treatment Centers

Top Doctors

Surgery

Clinical Trials

Chemotherapy

Highlighting topics such as top doctors, associated tests, and cancer centers, our treatment section offers the most helpful information available to mesothelioma victims.

Recent clinical studies have found that caffeine may prove to be beneficial in mesothelioma treatment and that the efficacy of current chemotherapy options is not as effective as once presumed. Make sure check back frequently for current research and advancements in mesothelioma treatments.

Mesothelioma Cancer and Asbestos Exposure Among Veterans

From the 1930s through the 1970s, the U.S. Navy used hundreds of asbestos-contaminated products in all of its vessels, which led to hazardous asbestos exposure among thousands of veterans.

Millions of veterans have been exposed to asbestos while serving the country.

Recommended Topics

Veterans Overview

Shipyard Exposure

Navy Veterans

Navy Ships

VA Claims

Many veterans who worked in shipyards and aboard warships and submarines were heavily exposed to asbestos through standard operations.

As a result, more than 30 percent of mesothelioma victims are veterans. In addition to mesothelioma, Navy veterans account for 16 percent of asbestos-related lung cancer. To learn more about when, where, and how veterans were exposed, visit our informative veterans and mesothelioma section.

To enhance our resources for veterans, we have recently added a comprehensive index of Navy ships that have a history of asbestos contamination. In addition, the Mesothelioma Center now offers free assistance to veterans with VA claims, which can often be a complicated and exhausting process.

Asbestos-Related Cancer Resources

For many decades asbestos exposure has been known to cause asbestosis, lung cancer, and mesothelioma cancer. However, a battery of scientific studies linking asbestos to an assortment of other cancers and illnesses has failed to be addressed within the community of asbestos awareness.

A number of various cancers have been linked to asbestos, including gastrointestinal and colon cancer.

Recommended Topics

Cancer Overview

Cancer Centers

Lung Cancer

Nutrition & Cancer

Cancer Facts

Through extensive research efforts, the Mesothelioma Center has gathered comprehensive information from a multitude of clinical studies that have observed a link between asbestos exposure and a range of serious diseases.

Please take a moment to visit our new asbestos cancer section, featuring scientific and clinically based information on a variety of cancers and diseases that may share a causal relationship with asbestos exposure.

Hazardous Jobsites: Mesothelioma and Asbestos Exposure

Despite growing numbers of asbestos-related illness among those who have never worked with asbestos, the majority of people diagnosed with an asbestos-induced disease received exposure in an occupational setting. This is largely due to the likelihood of repeated exposures, as well as elevated levels of exposure, that occur throughout a range of occupations, industries, and jobsites.

Numerous occupations, ranging from electricians to firefighters, share a history of asbestos exposure.

Recommended Topics

Asbestos Exposure

Occupations

Metal Works

Asbestos Products

Power Plants

State Index

Some jobsites are widely known to be occupational sources of asbestos exposure, such as asbestos mines, processing plants, and manufacturing plants where asbestos products are produced. But a variety of other jobsites, ranging from shipyards to chemical and power plants to oil refineries, also bear a history of asbestos exposure.