Mesothelioma Cancer
Mesothelioma can't be treated, but treatments can prolong the life of patients and reduce symptoms. Combining surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy can offer symptom relief.
Mesothelioma is a cancer that develops in cells of the mesothelium, a membrane that covers organs inside the body. The lungs are the most common site of mesothelioma. It can also affect stomach and the linings of the heart.
What is mesothelioma?
Mesothelioma, also known as mesothelioma is a cancerous tumor that affects the organs' linings. It is caused by exposure to asbestos, a mineral used in manufacturing and construction before it was banned in the 1970s. Asbestos is used primarily for pipe fittings, insulation and materials that are fire-resistant. People who worked in mills, factories, power plants and shipyards, as as those who removed or cleaned asbestos or material that was contaminated were at greatest danger of exposure.
Symptoms of mesothelioma can take between 20 and 30 years to develop. These symptoms include chest discomfort and breathing problems (dyspnea), and swelling of the abdomen or lungs. Other symptoms can include a loss of appetite, weight loss and obstruction in the small intestine. Mesothelioma may be diagnosed at late stages, when the tumor has gotten larger.
Doctors can check for mesothelioma by using tissue or fluid samples. Doctors can use a needle to remove the patient's lungs or stomach. If they discover mesothelioma cells, further tests may confirm the diagnosis.
If mesothelioma has been confirmed, a patient can be treated for their specific symptoms. Treatments for mesothelioma usually include chemo, surgery, and radiation.
The type of mesothelioma that a patient is suffering from can affect their prognosis. There are three mesothelioma cells types that include epithelial, sarcomatoid, and biphasic or mixed type. The most commonly used type is epithelial mesothelioma with a higher survival rate than the two other types.
The treatment patients receive is contingent on the stage of mesothelioma as well as other factors such age. People who are younger and have better overall health have a better chance of a positive outcome from their mesothelioma treatment. Treatment options include surgery to remove of mesothelioma tumors, chemotherapy or other medicines that kill cancer cells and radiation therapy to shrink tumors and aid patients breathe more easily. In some cases immunotherapy and gene therapy are utilized. All of these options can improve the survival rate of mesothelioma patients.
Signs and symptoms
Like other cancers, mesothelioma starts when a cell's DNA undergoes mutations. These mutations cause cells to grow unchecked, and eventually form the form of a tumor or mass. Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that affects the linings of organs within the body, like the lungs, heart, chest and abdomen. It may also spread to joints or bones.
The asbestos-related diseases that people are exposed to typically develop mesothelioma that affects the pleura (lung lining) or peritonum (abdominal lining) or pericardium (abdominal sac that surrounds the heart). The mesothelioma symptoms of a person will depend on where in the body the cancer develops and which type of mesothelioma it is.
Shortness of breath chest pain, shortness of breath, and swelling of the lung are all signs of pleural Mesothelioma. It is often difficult to determine because these symptoms are similar to other illnesses, like the common cold or heart disease. The mesothelioma symptoms usually manifest slowly and gets worse with time.
Patients with mesothelioma should be prepared to discuss their symptoms to their physician. The doctor will collect a detailed medical history and may also order imaging tests, such as an X ray or CT scan. A physician may also perform the procedure known as a thoracentesis. This is where fluid is removed from around the lung to determine mesothelioma cells.
A thoracentesis can also help relieve the chest pressure that is caused by the accumulation of fluid. If a doctor decides that mesothelioma has been detected, they will discuss the treatment options with patients.
The types of mesothelioma treatment will vary depending on the type and stage of the cancer. Patients may undergo chemotherapy, surgery or radiation therapy. Surgery removes or reduces the size of tumors and can improve breathing. Chemotherapy involves the use of drugs that enter bloodstreams to kill or shrink the cells of mesothelioma. This can be given by mouth or injected into the veins.
Due to the latency period of mesothelioma, it is typically detected at an advanced stage. This may limit the options for treatment and also reduce a patient's lifespan. Many people can improve their prognosis by undergoing aggressive treatment. If you or someone you know has mesothelioma, make sure you consult an a qualified doctor as soon as possible.
Diagnosis
Mesothelioma is a rare condition and is often misdiagnosed prior to the first sign of symptoms. The symptoms could include chest pain, coughing and breath shortness. They are similar to symptoms of many diseases, such as pneumonia or the flu. Fluid accumulation in the abdomen and chest can also what is mesothelioma be a result of mesothelioma. This can result in abdominal pain and fatigue, weight loss, and fatigue.
To diagnose mesothelioma doctors will look over a person's complete medical history and conduct a physical exam. The doctor will look for symptoms and ask about the person's previous exposure to asbestos. The cancer is most prevalent for those who worked with asbestos at 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 scans. These images may reveal calcium deposits in the lining of a lung (pleural thickness) as well as fluid in the abdomen or chest as well as other changes that are indicative of mesothelioma.
Doctors may also recommend a blood test to check the levels of protein in a person's blood that can help in identifying mesothelioma. These tests can also help the doctor determine what type of cancer is present. Different types of mesothelioma can be identified by different cell compositions and react differently to treatment.
If mesothelioma is found to be the cause the biopsy is needed to get a more precise diagnosis of mesothelioma. This is accomplished by taking a small amount of liquid or tissue from the tumor. The mesothelioma specialist will then look at the tissue under the aid of a microscope to determine whether it is cancerous.
The mesothelioma physician can also use this sample to determine the severity of mesothelioma. This will help them decide on the treatment to recommend for the patient. Mesothelioma treatments include chemotherapy, radiation or surgery. Palliative care may be recommended to improve quality of life and manage symptoms like breathing difficulties or pain when mesothelioma is at a late stage. These treatments may include removal of fluid from the chest cavity or lungs (pleurodesis), or putting a tube inside the chest to assist in breathing (pleurobotics). Mesothelioma treatment can also be combined with other methods, such as immunotherapy or targeted therapy.
Treatment
There are a variety of treatment options for mesothelioma. Speak to your doctor about the various treatment options available and their potential side effects.
Most doctors treat mesothelioma with chemotherapy. This type of treatment kills cancerous cells and preventing the growth of cancerous cells. Doctors often combine chemotherapy with surgery or other treatments to improve the chances of getting cured.
There are different types of chemotherapy that are more effective than others in treating mesothelioma. The type that your doctor recommends is based on the location where the cancer is located in your body as well as the type of mesothelioma that you have. For pleural cancer, pemetrexed and cisplatin (Alimta) or carboplatin are the most commonly prescribed.
Other types of chemotherapy can be used to treat peritoneal mesothelioma as well as mesothelioma pericardial. Doctors may also utilize a combination of doxorubicin (Adriamycin) and chemotherapeutic agents such as Paclitaxel, doxorubicin, doxorubicin lipo or gemcitabine. Lastly, new targeted treatments for mesothelioma are being evaluated in clinical trials. This includes medications that hinder the development of tumors and drugs that target specific proteins found in cancer cells.
Surgery may be used to remove tumors and relieve symptoms in mesothelioma pleural. The surgeon might perform an extrapleural pneumonectomy which involves removing the affected lung, diaphragm and a part of the heart's lining or a pleurectomy that includes pulmonary decortication, in which they take out the pleura and as much of the cancer as they can. Pleurectomy with peritoneal disection is a less well-known procedure for peritoneal mesothelioma. The surgeon may remove all or a portion of the lining around the abdomen.
Some mesotheliomas that are in the early stages may be monitored closely without treatment. This is typically the case for stage I and II pleural mesotheliomas which don't cause any symptoms. However, mesothelioma at this stage could grow quickly and become harder to treat later.
If you've been diagnosed with advanced mesothelioma, you may need to take part in a clinical study of an innovative treatment. Mesothelioma can be a challenge to treat. Doctors are always trying to improve the outcome for their patients.