Mesothelioma Cancer
Mesothelioma isn't curable but treatment options can extend survival and reduce symptoms. Surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy are all options in conjunction to provide symptom relief.
Mesothelioma can be found in mesothelium cells, a protective membrane that covers organs within the body. The most common mesothelioma type affects the lung. It can also occur in the stomach and heart linings.
What is mesothelioma?
Mesothelioma is a form of cancer that affects the mesothelium membrane that covers most organs of the body. It is caused by exposure to asbestos, a mineral used in construction and manufacturing before it was banned in the 1970s. Asbestos is primarily used for pipe fittings, insulation and materials that are fire-resistant. Workers in mills, factories, power plants and shipyards, as as those who removed or cleaned up asbestos or its material that was contaminated, were at the greatest risk for exposure.
The symptoms of mesothelioma may take between 20 and 30 years to develop. These symptoms include chest discomfort and breathing problems (dyspnea) and swelling in the lungs or abdomen. Other symptoms include a loss in appetite as well as weight loss and an obstruction of the small intestine. Mesothelioma may be diagnosed at the end of the stage, after the tumor has gotten larger.
Doctors can test for mesothelioma using fluid or tissue samples. Doctors can use a needle to remove fluid from the patient's lungs or stomach. If they detect mesothelioma cells, further tests can confirm a diagnosis.
Once mesothelioma is diagnosed, the patient is able to be treated for their specific symptoms. Typical treatments for mesothelioma include chemotherapy, surgery and radiation.
The type of mesothelioma the patient has could also affect their prognosis. There are three types of mesothelioma cells: epithelial (epidermal), Sarcomatoid (sarcoma) and biphasic or mixed. The epithelial type is most widespread, and has a higher rate of survival than any of the other two.
The treatment that a patient receives is dependent on the stage of mesothelioma, as well as other factors like age. The treatment of mesothelioma is more likely to be successful for those who are younger and in better overall health. Treatment options include surgery to remove of a mesothelioma tumor, chemotherapy or other medicines which kill cancerous cells, and radiation therapy to shrink tumors and let patients breathe easier. In some cases treatment options, such as immunotherapy or gene therapy could be utilized. All of these options can improve the survival rate of mesothelioma patients.
Symptoms
Mesothelioma can also be a cancer that begins when the DNA of a cell undergoes mutations. These mutations cause the cells to grow unchecked, and eventually form the form of a tumor or mass. Mesothelioma is a cancer that affects the organs' linings the body, including the lungs, heart, chest and abdomen. It can also spread to the bones or joints.
The asbestos-related diseases that people are exposed to typically develop mesothelioma that affects the pleura (lung lining), the peritonum (abdominal lining) or pericardium (abdominal sac that surrounds the heart). The kind of mesothelioma as well as where the tumor is located within the body will determine the signs a person experiences.
The symptoms of pleural mesothelioma are shortness of breath and chest pain, coughing and a swelling of the lung. It is often difficult to determine because these symptoms are similar to other conditions, such as the common cold or heart disease. The mesothelioma sign usually appears slowly and becomes worse over time.
Patients suffering from mesothelioma should be prepared to explain their symptoms to their doctor. The doctor will take a detailed medical history and may order imaging tests, such as an X ray or CT scan. A doctor may also perform an operation referred to as the thoracentesis where fluid is removed around the lungs to check for mesothelioma.
A thoracentesis procedure can also help relieve chest pressure that builds from the buildup of fluid. If a doctor determines that mesothelioma is present they will discuss treatment options with the patient.
Treatment options for mesothelioma will differ based on the stage and type. Patients can undergo chemotherapy, surgery or radiation therapy. Surgery can be used to eliminate or reduce the size of the tumor and improve breathing. Chemotherapy is the use of drugs that enter the bloodstream to reduce or kill mesothelioma cancer cells. It is administered via mouth or injected into veins.
Because of the latency period mesothelioma is usually diagnosed at an advanced stage. This may limit the treatment options and decrease a patient's lifespan. Many patients are able to improve their odds of survival through aggressive treatment. If you or someone you love has mesothelioma be sure to consult an experienced doctor as quickly as you can.
Diagnosis
Mesothelioma is a rare condition and is often misdiagnosed before the first indication of symptoms. The symptoms may include chest pain, coughing and shortness of breath. These symptoms are akin to other ailments, such as the flu or pneumonia. Mesothelioma can also trigger an accumulation of fluid in the abdomen or chest. This can lead to abdominal pain, fatigue and weight loss.
Doctors will examine a patient and take their medical history to diagnose mesothelioma. The doctor will be looking for symptoms and ask about the person's previous exposure to asbestos. This is because asbestos-related cancer most commonly affects people who worked with asbestos in factories or in schools.
A lung CT scan can also confirm a diagnosis of mesothelioma. The test uses X scans and a PC to create cross-sectional chest images. These images can reveal calcium deposits on the lung's lining (pleural thickening), fluid in the abdomen or chest and other changes that suggest mesothelioma.
Doctors may also recommend an examination of blood to determine the level of protein in the patient, which can help identify mesothelioma. These tests can also help the doctor determine what kind of cancer is present. Different types of mesothelioma are identified by different cell compositions and react differently to treatment.
If mesothelioma is found to be the cause it is a biopsy required to make an precise diagnosis of mesothelioma. This is accomplished by taking a small sample of tissue or fluid from the tumor. The mesothelioma specialist will then examine the tissue using an optical microscope to determine if it is cancerous.
The mesothelioma specialist can make use of this sample to determine the mesothelioma's severity. This helps them decide what treatment is appropriate for the patient. Mesothelioma can be treated with radiation, chemotherapy or surgery. If the mesothelioma is at a late stage, doctors might recommend palliative care to improve quality of life and manage symptoms such as breathing problems or pain. These treatments may include draining fluid out of the chest cavity or lungs, or inserting a tube into the chest cavity to help with breathing. Mesothelioma treatment may also be combined with other methods that include immunotherapy or targeted therapy.
Treatment
There are a variety of treatment options available to treat mesothelioma. There are a variety of treatment options available to treat. Talk to your doctor about the different treatment options available and their potential side effects.
Most doctors treat mesothelioma by using chemotherapy. This treatment is effective in killing cancerous cells and preventing them from forming. Doctors often combine chemotherapy with surgery or other treatments to boost the chance of finding a cure.
There are different types of chemotherapy that are more effective than others in treating mesothelioma. The type your doctor prescribes depends on where the cancer is located within your body as well as the type of mesothelioma that you have. For the pleural cancer, pemetrexed, cisplatin (Alimta) or carboplatin are usually prescribed.
Other forms of chemotherapy are used to treat peritoneal mesothelioma as well as mesothelioma pericardial. Doctors can also employ a combination of doxorubicin (Adriamycin) and chemotherapeutic agents such as paclitaxel, doxorubicin-liposome injection, or gemcitabine. Clinical trials are also evaluating new targeted treatments for mesothelioma. They include drugs that block the growth of tumors and drugs that target specific protein in cancer cells.
For pleural mesothelioma, surgery could be a viable option to remove the tumor and relieve symptoms. The surgeon might perform an extrapleural pneumonectomy which involves removing what causes mesothelioma the affected lung, the diaphragm and a small portion of the heart's lining; or a pleurectomy that includes pulmonary decortication, where they take out the pleura and as much of the cancer as possible. Peritoneal mesothelioma surgeries are not as common, but a doctor might be able to remove a part or all of the lining on the abdomen, in an operation known as a pleurectomy that includes peritoneal dissection.
Some mesotheliomas in the early stages are able to be monitored closely and without treatment. This is the norm with stage I or 2 pleural tumors that do not cause symptoms. However, a mesothelioma in this stage can still expand rapidly and become more difficult to treat later on.
If you suffer from mesothelioma that is in an advanced stage, you will be required to participate in a clinical trial of an innovative treatment. Mesothelioma is a difficult cancer to treat. Doctors are always trying to improve the outcome for their patients.