Mesothelioma Treatment

Diagnosing mesothelioma has proven to be rather challenging, whether it is pleural mesotheolioma or another form. Due to the fact that this disease is such an aggressive and very destructive cancer, victims are often faced with a slim chance of successful treatment. Even though all hope seems as if it is lost, exploiting all viable options is worth it.

Every case of mesothelioma is different in some way or another, however with the expanding options for mesothelioma treatment there are options that will be the best for you depending on a number of factors, such as age, health level and how far along the issue is. With the advancement that the medical field as made over the years, diagnostic tools such as x-rays, MRI's, CT Scans have made it easier for mesothelioma to be detected, these tools have made the difference with mesothelioma treatment as early detection is vital to having a successful treatment and a higher survival rate.

The treatment for mesothelioma usually involves destroying the malignant cells and while preserving the healthy cells. There are a number of ways to accomplish this, at the present, mesothelioma victims have three options for treatment, these include,surgery, radiation or chemotherapy. The option that would be safe and successful for you would be based on a number of these factors:

*the type of mesothelioma and where the tumor or malignant cells are located.

*the size of the tumor.

*the age of the victim

*how far along the cancer has spread.

*the stage of the malignant cancer. advanced, beginning etc.

*last but not least the physical health of the victim.

Mesothelioma treatment may involve you seeing a number of doctors including an oncologist (cancer specialist), pulmonologist (lung specialist. These specialist have laid the basic foundation necessary for a mesothelioma cure. Mesothelioma is considered sucessful treated or cured if surgery or treatment was successful in eradicating all the malignant cells and completely removing all the cancer cells.

This is not to say that the cancer may or will not return, but at least it is one step closer to finding a total cure for the disease. With the many studies that have been taking place all over the world, we can remain hopeful that science has allowed us to make considerable advancements that will aid victims of mesothelioma to know that all hope is not lost.

Mesothelioma treatment is available, you want to ensure that you place your life in the hands of those who are reputable and will ensure that any treatment that takes place will be beneficial to you. Don't get sucked into practitioners, who are just concerned about make a profit off of your disease. Just because you have mesothelioma does not mean that all hope is lost.

Pleural Mesothelioma

Pleural mesothelioma is a malignant disease that affects the lining of the lungs, or lung pleura. Doctors often times refer to this disease as mesothelioma of the pleura. Mesothelioma should not be mistaken as a primary lung cancer; as it is not. Mesothelioma is a cancer of what is called the serous membranes. These membranes cover a large number of organs in the midsection of the body, including the lungs. Pleural mesothelioma, which is the most common type of mesothelioma affects the serous membranes of the lungs.

This terrible cancer mesothelioma can also affect the serous membranes around the abdomen, and at this point is called peritoneal mesothelioma, and when the membranes surrounding the heart, is affected it is called the pericardial mesothelioma. If the mesothelioma or cancerous cells should spread to the lungs from the serous linings of the lungs, abdomen or heart, it is considered to be a secondary lung cancer. Pleural mesothelioma is oftentimes referred to as an asbestos lung cancer. Technically speaking, any cancer that does not originate in the lungs is not considered to be a lung cancer; this can lead to a misunderstanding about pleural mesothelioma and secondary lung cancer. Asbestosis is defines as a type of asbestos lung disease that originates in the lungs and can oftentimes be confused with mesothelioma.

Pleural Mesothelioma Cancer

Pleural mesothelioma cancer is the diagnosis in about 75 percent of all mesothelioma cases. This disease occurs as a result of an individual coming into contact with and inhaling asbestos fibers, which can settle in the lungs and cause the development of malignant cancerous cells. These asbestos fibers if embedded in the lining of the lung (the pleura) may eventually cause chronic inflammation that eventually leads to the growth of cancerous tumors or,and in some cases, result in asbestosis.

Pleural mesothelioma cancer frequently appears as multiple tumor masses affecting the parietal surface (area further from the lung) and visceral surface (area closer to the lung) of the pleura. In most cases, the parietal surface is more easily affected than the visceral. Studies have shown that their is a slightly higher incidence of mesothelioma in the right lung, apparently this is due to the fact that the right lung is much larger and has a greater amount of pleural surface area. The lower lungs typically shows more tumor masses than the upper lung (right lung). This is believed to be due gravitational forces that influence how the asbestos fibers eventually settles in the lungs after they have been inhaled.

Abnormal growths in the pleura is normally found in patients upon diagnosis. As the diseases spreads, the growth of these cancerous cells results a complete deterioration of the lung cavity. The tumors can oftentimes spread from the lung pleura to other organs in the body,which including the heart and abdomen. Mesothelioma is also known to invade the lymph nodes and circulatory system in some cases.

Tumors that are not related to pleural mesothelioma can also grow in the pleura. These tumors start in other parts of the body and gradually moves to the pleura. The most common form of non-pleural mesothelioma cancer that occurs is lung cancer,whic accounts for about 36 percent of the cancer occurring in the pleura. The next most common forms of cancer are breast cancer which accounts for approximately 25 percent, ovarian cancer 5 percent and gastric cancer 2 percent. Lymphoma also accounts for a very small portion of cancers that metastasize to the pleura.

Pleural Mesothelioma Symptoms

As with many disease pleural mesothelioma comes with many symptoms that may be misleading. The most common symptom associated with pleural mesothelioma patients is a chest pain. However, the pain oftentimes not associated with the lung pleura and often appears in the shoulder or upper abdomen. A shortness of breath, called dyspnea, is also a common symptom associated with this disease. Cough, weight loss and anorexia have been reported in some patients, but are less common symptoms. Finally, the epidemic growth of the pleural mesothelioma tumors enlarges the pleural space causing it to fill with fluid. This buildup of fluid which is known as a pleural effusion causes great discomfort or pain associated with first detection of the disease.

Pleural mesothelioma patients oftentimes have all three types of mesothelioma cancer cells: epithelioid mesothelioma, sarcomatoid mesothelioma and biphasic mesothelioma.

Pleural Mesothelioma Prognosis

Most patients' mesothelioma prognosis is quite bleak. In a study involving 167 patients with proven pleural mesothelioma, the median survival rate of patients following diagnosis was 242 days. The survival rate was also affected by the type of mesothelioma cancer cells; patients with biphasic cell types have the shortest life expectancy.

Sources:

1. Dodson, R. and Hammar, S. Asbestos: Risk Assessment, Epidemiology, and Health
Effects. Taylor & Francis: Boca Raton. 2006.

2. Pass, I., Vogelzang, N., Carbone, M. Malignant Mesothelioma: Advances in
Pathogenesis, Diagnosis, and Transitional Therapies. Springer: New York. 2005.
3. Castleman, B. Asbestos: Medical and Legal Aspects. Aspen Publishers:
New York.2005.
4. http://www.umm.edu/thoracic/mesothelioma.htm
5. http://www.cancerhelp.org.uk/help/default.asp?page=4473
6. http://www.cancer.org/downloads/PUB/DOCS/SECTION28/89.pdf

Define Mesothelioma

What Is Mesothelioma?

Mesothelioma is defined as a rare malignant cancer found in the mesothelium. The mesothelium is a protective sac which covers majority of the body's internal organs. The cancerous cells found in the mesothelium is often times found in most individuals who worked on jobs where they inhaled asbestos dust particles.

To Successfully define mesothelioma, asbestos has to be taken into consideration. This is so as about 70-80 percent of individuals diagnosed with mesothelioma had some form of exposure or contact with asbestos. However, mesothelioma has also been reported in individuals with no know exposure to asbestos.

To further clarify what asbestos is, it is the name given to a group of minerals that occur naturally as masses of strong, flexible fibers that may be separated into thin threads and woven. Hence, asbestos is found in many industrial products, including cement, brake linings, roof shingles, floor products and the list goes on.

Due to the fact that mesothelioma cancer is a by product of asbestos; to define mesothelioma without mentioning asbestos is almost impossible.