Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer. It is used to describe a cancerous tumor which involves the mesothelial cells of an organ, usually the lungs or abdominal organs.
The most common type of mesothelioma is the pleural mesothelioma. The pleura is a thin membrane found between the lungs and the chest cavity. It provides a lubricated surface so that the lungs do not chafe against the chest walls. Thus, a pleural mesothelioma is often referred to as a “lung” cancer.
Another form of mesothelioma is the peritoneal mesothelioma. The peritoneum is the membrane that encloses the organs of the abdomen. While peritoneal mesothelioma is less common than pleural mesothelioma, it tends to be more invasive, and may thus result in a shorter life expectancy for the patient. Mesothelioma has also been found in the stomach and other abdominal organs.
Why Me?
A common question posed by persons afflicted with mesothelioma is, “Why did this disease develop in me?” The answer is nearly always the same-exposure to asbestos. When diagnosed in the United States, its onset is typically linked to a history of exposure to asbestos fiber. Asbestos is a mineral that was used for decades as a thermal insulation material. It has been widely known since the 1920’s that asbestos is a carcinogen, which means that it causes cancer in humans. However, asbestos was used as an insulator until the mid-1970’s, and is still present in massive quantities in many buildings today. Unfortunately, in many cases very little exposure is required to set this cancer in motion.
Mesothelioma symptoms can be very general and therefore they are often ignored. In most cases, symptoms for this type of cancer arise 2 to 3 months before the cancer is found.
Management of mesothelioma depends largely on the staging of the tumor. Early diagnosis and surgical intervention may lengthen life expectancy. Depending on the age and physical condition of the patient, however, surgery may not be a viable option. In addition to surgical options, radiation treatment and chemotherapy may be helpful in the overall therapeutic program. Pain management and home care are typical alternatives in the later stages of the disease.
See below to learn about the respective symptoms of each type of mesothelioma.
Peritoneal mesothelioma symtoms include:- Wight loss
- Vomiting
- Nausea
- Belly painPleural mesothelioma symptoms include:- Trouble swallowing
- Tireness
- Weight loss
- Progressive loss of appetite’
- Fluid in the ches cavity called “Pleural effusions”
- Pain at the side of the chest or the lower back
- Fever
- Difficulty sleeping
- Cough
Where Do I Go From Here?
After diagnosis, it is important to understand your treatment options. Your doctor or oncologist will provide you with information on the treatments that are available to you.
It is also important to know about your legal rights. If you have mesothelioma, or any other asbestos-related disease, you were most likely exposed to asbestos. Many of the manufacturers of asbestos insulation products knew for decades that asbestos was hazardous, yet made a business decision not to warn people of those hazards. As a result, you may have a right of recovery against those manufacturers, which can help defray the costs of treatment and provide compensation for your pain and suffering.
Treatment options for mesothelioma include surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy. These treatments are sometimes combined. Mesothelioma treatment depends on the location of the cancer, the stage of the disease and the patient’s age and general health.
Surgery
A mesothelioma treatment used either to remove the tumor or to alleviate pain and suffering. If the cancer is relatively contained, surgery can be used to remove part of the lining of the chest or abdomen. The objective is to remove the cancer cells from the body by removing the tissues with large numbers of cancer cells. If the cancer has spread to several organs, it is impossible to remove all of the tissue infected with cancer. In this case, surgery can only be used to relieve pain and suffering.
Chemotherapy
This treatment consists of using drugs to treat the cancer. The drugs can be swallowed in pill form or can be injected by a needle into a vein or muscle. Most of the drugs used in the treatment of lung cancer either directly kill cancer cells or stop them from dividing into new cells. The drug enters the bloodstream and circulates throughout the body to reach and destroy the cancer cells. Chemotherapy targets the entire body and can kill normal cells as well as the diseased cells, causing severe side effects.
Radiation
Radiation therapy is the use of high level radiation to kill cancer cells in a localized area. The radiation injures the cancer cells so they cannot divide or multiply further. With each treatment, more of the cells die and the tumor shrinks. The dead cells are broken down and excreted by the body. Most of the healthy cells are able to recover from this injury, but the damage to them is the cause for the side effects of radiation therapy.
Gene therapy
An experimental medical intervention that involves altering the patient’s genetic material of living cells to fight or prevent disease. The therapy involves injecting a modified gene directly into a patient’s chest cavity. The goal of gene therapy is to supply cells with healthy copies of missing or altered genes. Many different strategies are currently under study.
Immunotherapy
An experimental therapy that uses the body’s natural defenses to fight cancer. This can include stimulating your own immune system to work harder, or using an outside source, such as man-made immune system proteins. Immunotherapy is usually used in conjunction with another type of therapy.
Photodynamic Therapy
An experimental treatment which combines a photosensitizing agent (a drug activated by light) with a light source to destroy cancer cells. The theory is that the photosensitizing agent collects more readily in cancer cells than in normal cells. Thus, when the agent is subsequently exposed to light, it reacts with oxygen to create chemicals that can kill the cancer cells.
Specialized techniques may be used by your doctor to relieve symptoms and control pain, such as
thoracentesis and paracentesis. During these precedures a needle or a thing tube is used to drain fluid that has built up in the chest or abdomen area. Paracentesis is a procedure in which fluid is removed from the abdomen. Removal of fluid from the chest is called Thoracentesis. Drugs may also be administered through a tube by your doctor in order to prevent more fluid from accumulating. Surgery and radiation therapy may also be helpful in relieving sumptoms.
thoracentesis and paracentesis. During these precedures a needle or a thing tube is used to drain fluid that has built up in the chest or abdomen area. Paracentesis is a procedure in which fluid is removed from the abdomen. Removal of fluid from the chest is called Thoracentesis. Drugs may also be administered through a tube by your doctor in order to prevent more fluid from accumulating. Surgery and radiation therapy may also be helpful in relieving sumptoms.
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Occupations that deal with asbestos and which are often associated with the onset of mesothelioma later in life are as follows:
Aerospace Building Engineers Building Managers Building Inspectors Contractors Custodians Demolition Crews Electricians Excavating machine operators Floor Coverers Former US Navy Personnel Glass Factory Worker Heavy Equipment Mechanics | Home Improvement Hospital Insulators Die setters Laborers Manufacturing Workers Mechanic Mixing Operatives Gasket Manufacturing Workers Painters Paper Mill Workers Plasters Plumbers | Pot Tenders Protective Clothing Manufacturing Rubber Worker Sawyers Schools Steam Fitters Teachers Technicians Tile Setters Tinsmiths Warehouse Worker Weavers Welders |
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