Treatment, Care and Medications of Mesothelioma - Health - Cancer

Mesothelioma has no treatment and most chemotherapy drugs only have a limited effect against malignant mesothelioma. Various medications are used like a combination of Pemetrexed (Alimta) and chemotherapy drug Carboplatin.These medications are quite effective and have improved the average survival rate by about 15 months. Other combination of mesothelioma drugs including L-NDDP (aroplatin), Cisplatin, Endostatin, Gemcitabine, Interferon Gamma, and Onconase along with pain-killers and anti-depressant medications are also used formesothelioma.If pleural effusion is suspected, then confirmation needs to be established with a chest x-ray. Ultrasound is also helpful in locating small amounts or collections of isolated pockets of fluid. Chest CT is also used and is very helpful in distinguishing between parenchymal and pleural disease. Chest CT will help to show pleural thickening, pleural based mass, loculecollections of fluid, or pleural calcification.Mesothelioma and Medicati onsThe various drugs and medications which are prescribed for treating mesothelioma are:Alimta (Pemetrexed)is a new drug which is given intravenously every three weeks for treating of malignant pleural mesothelioma cancers. It helps in blocking enzymes that promotes the growth of cancerous tumors. The presence of fluid is usually not detected by a routine checkup because the amount of fluids is usually very small. However, when certain disorders happen, the pleural fluid increases and may buildup causing pulmonary symptoms and signs. Once the buildup of fluid occurs, a diagnosis is required.This drug helps in improving the average survival time. It has a few side effects like anemia, fatigue, diarrhea, shortness of breath, nausea, upset stomach, lower white blood cell count, loss of appetite, and skin rashes.Onconaseis also a new form of chemotherapy drug which causes lesser side-effects as compared to traditional chemotherapy.Gemcitabineisanother chemotherapy drug which is used in combination with Cisplatin, Alimta and Epirubicin.Side effects of Medication for MesotheliomaMost of the medication for mesothelioma causes various forms of side-effects and some of the prominent side effects are:Reduction in bone marrow function causing anemia, risk of bruising or bleeding and more chances of getting infection.Restlessness and illness after being administrated chemotherapy which can be managed with the help of anti-sickness drugsBloating resulting in the swelling in ankles or breathlessness due to fluid retentionOne of the most prominent treatments for Malignant Mesothelioma is surgery to remove the affected tumor. This however, does not cure the disease or improves the average survival time. Therefore, other treatment options are used like radiation therapy and/or chemotherapy following surgery. Radiation treatments ease some pain associated with the disease.

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Mesothelioma – Definition and Symptoms - Health - Cancer

What you don't know can't hurt you. This isn't the case when it comes to your health. With Mesothelioma, as with any cancer, your chances are best when caught early. This is why it is important to be informed, especially if you have ever worked with asbestos.

What is Mesothelioma? The American Cancer Society's web site states, "Mesothelioma affects the tissue that lines different organs and spaces inside the body." The tumors can start in a number of organs including the lungs, the stomach, and the heart. These tumors can be benign, meaning they are not cancerous. On the other hand, they can be Malignant, meaning they are cancerous.

The most common type of Mesothelioma is the epitheliod type. Fortunately, this type has the best survival rate. No matter which type you have, the treatment is pretty much the same.

The American Cancer Society's web site states, "About 3 out of 4 Mesothelioma start in the chest cavity." However, between 10% and 20% of Mesothelioma start in the abdomen. Rarely, Mesothelioma can be found around the heart and even in the tissue around the testicles.

Mesothelioma which is found in the lining of the chest cavity is known as pleural Mesothelioma. The symptoms for this type of Mesothelioma may include the following:

- Lower back pain- Chest pain- Shortness of breath- Hoarseness- Coughing- Fever- Sweating- Fatigue- Weight loss

Mesothelioma which is found in the lining of the abdominal cavity is known as peritoneal Mesothelioma. Symptoms may include the following:

- Stomach pain- Weight loss- Nausea- Vomiting- Swollen abdomen

Most of the symptoms above are general symptoms and can signal many other less serious conditions, but if you have worked with asbestos or have any other reason for believing you may have Mesothelioma, you should talk to your doctor as soon as possible. If your doctor suspects you may have Mesothelioma he will complete a full physical exam, checking for fluid in the chest, abdomen, or heart. Further tests may be ordered which may include imaging tests, fluid or tissue samples, bronchoscopy, or even surgery to remove part or all of the tumor.

As stated above, not knowing whether you have Mesothelioma or simple bronchitis may hurt you. If you are wondering if you have Mesothelioma, don't. Get to your doctor and find out for sure, and always keep yourself informed. More information can be found on the American Cancer Society's web site at

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Mesothelioma: Understanding the Diagnosis and Treatment - Health - Cancer

What is malignant mesothelioma?Mesothelioma, better known as malignant mesothelioma is a form of cancer that affects people who have been exposed to asbestos through working in an environment where they breathed in the asbestos particles, or they lived in a home with asbestos. Many people may have lived in an environment with asbestos particles floating around and never knew it.

Malignant mesothelioma normally starts out in the chest; one breathes in the sharp hooked particles-look like fish hooks when viewed under a microscope-however asbestos fibers can be ingested with food and drink.

The most common form of mesothelioma is plural mesothelioma. Asbestos particles are inhaled, the particles hook into the lungs. From there the particles slowly work their way to infiltrate the plural lining, which is the sac that contains the lungs. The patient cannot excrete these fibers; they stay within the body, because they are durable.

The body tries to fight the foreign particles that have taken up residence in the body. The asbestos particles cause irritation and as a result cancerous tumors start to develop. The plural form of the disease is very aggressive.

If you have been diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma, you have a cancer of the serous membranes, which are the membranes of glandular cells that secrete serous fluid. Serous membranes in the plural cavity allow the lungs to move with inhalation and expiration smoothly without friction. Many people have the have the disease, or know someone that has the disease have the misconception that mesothelioma is a primary form of lung cancer, but it isn't. The cancerous tumors develop in the plural cavity. As the tumors grow there is less space in the plural cavity and the lungs become compressed. With lung compression comes respiratory failure.

What is peritoneal mesothelioma?Peritoneal mesothelioma is cancer of the lining, the serous membranes, of the abdominal cavity. The serous membranes line the cavity and also line the organs. The serous membranes that cover the organs is also called the viscera, or visceral membranes. Peritoneal mesothelioma is the second most common type of mesothelioma. The cause of peritoneal mesothelioma is not clearly understood; however, it is believed the asbestos fibers get to the abdominal cavity two different ways.

It is believed that when a person inhales the asbestos fibers that over time the fibers break apart into smaller particles and find their way into circulation, and then as the blood vessels become smaller the particles work their way through the vessels and into different areas of the body. One such place is the peritoneum, but mesothelioma can develop in the testicles and other parts of the body.

The other theory is that the home is infiltrated with asbestos particles. When the person works in an environment the particles are all over the clothes and float in the air on dust particles. The kitchen are can become loaded with floating particles, and the particles can also settle on plates, glasses and silverware. It is believed that a person can ingest the particles. When they do swallow the asbestos particles they work their way through the stomach lining and invade the lining of the abdomen and the lining of the organs. Once the particles become lodged the peritoneal cavity they cause chronic irritation and then the tumors begin to grow.

What is testicular mesothelioma?Mesothelioma of the testicles is a rare form. It is believed that asbestos fibers travel from the stomach to the peritoneum and through to the testicles, because the lining of the testicles is an out-pouching of the abdominal peritoneal lining.

Misconceptions.Mesothelioma is sometimes called asbestos lung cancer, or asbestosis. Both terms are incorrect. Mesothelioma is not lung cancer, the disease does not cause tumors in the lungs. The tumors are in the plural lining that surrounds the lungs and compresses them until the patient goes into respiratory failure.

Asbestosis is caused by the inhalation of asbestos fibers. They become stuck in the lungs and cause irritation, but does not cause cancerous tumors. This is a very serious lung disease that mimics the symptoms of asthma and emphysema. It is not to be confused with mesothelioma. As the cancer develops in the peritoneum, the serous membranes rapidly secretes fluid into the abdominal area, which causes pain and discomfort as the organs become compressed. Patients are often symptomatic for approximately 6 months before a diagnosis of peritoneal mesothelioma is made.

Staging.There is no staging system specific to mesothelioma; however, the staging is the same as is done with other forms of cancer, which is the TNM system-(T) tumor, (N) lymph nodes, (M) metastasis. The first stage (Tumor) indicates a lesion that has developed into a tumor. The second stage (Lymph Nodes) indicates that the tumors are contained within the organ surfaces and the lining of the abdomen. The third stage (Metastasis) indicates cancer cells are leaving the tumor and invading other organs of the body. Once metastasis has occurred the disease is difficult to treat.

Prognosis and treatment.Treatment of mesothelioma depends on the location and stage, and it also depends on the condition of the patient, because patients are often told their survival rate is between 8 and 12 months. Although there are special cancer centers around the country that do have better statistics. There are three types of treatments to treat mesothelioma: surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. Very often it takes more than one form of treatment, such as surgery with radiation or chemotherapy with radiation. Surgery normally does not remove all of the cancer from the body. Time is of the essence in the prognosis and treatment of mesothelioma. When the cancer has metastasized to other organs it is much more difficult to treat.

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Asbestos Induced Abdominal Cancer - Health

Abdominal Asbestos Mesothelioma is the official term used by doctors for a rare but dangerous type of cancer that is generally caused by the ihalation or ingestion of asbestos fibers. Asbestos is a fibrous fire retardant material that is heavily used in most industries, and as such people who work in these environments are at the highest level of risk.

Because of the fibrous nature of asbestos, it's small fibers can be inhaled easily by people, and it can also cling to the skin and clothes, so people who don't work directly exposed to asbestos can still contract Abdominal Asbestos Mesothelioma. People who live with those who have been around asbestos are equally at risk and can still contract this cancer.

The most common cause of mesothelioma is inhalation or ingesting the particles or asbestos, which leads to the development of malignant cells in the lining which covers most of the body's internal organs. These malignant cells are what cause the cancer. Thankfully, it is not a contagious disease and is relatively rare, with only around three thousand cases being diagnosed annually worldwide.

Symptoms

Mesothelioma symptoms do not manifest until around twenty to fifty years after asbestos fibers have entered the body, so often the people who are diagnosed are in their middle to late years in life. One of the ways to detect Abdominal Asbestos Mesothelioma is by sudden and rapid loss of weight, and swelling in the stomach area accompanied by sharp pains due to pressure from an increase in body fluids in the abdominal lining.

Another set of symptoms are difficulty in bowel movement, blood clotting, and fevers similar to intestinal flu. The problem with the symptoms of Abdominal Asbestos Mesothelioma is that they are often misdiagnosed because they can easily be taken as symptoms of some other, less dangerous illnesses.

Effects

The effects of Abdominal Asbestos Mesothelioma can be ultimately fatal if left unchecked. One of the more dangerous effects is the development of tumors in the stomach lining due to fluid buildup and the presence of the malignant cells in the body. The tumors cause blood clotting, as mentioned, and can spread from the abdominal area upwards to the chest cavity, affecting both the heart and lungs.

A few of the more severe effect of Abdominal Asbestos Mesothelioma include bleeding in the internal organs once the malignant cells grow to a sufficient level. Left unchecked, this internal bleeding is fatal. Pulmonary Emboli is another effect of this sickness, which is the formation of clots of dried or coagulated blood in the lungs. Again, this is ultimately fatal if left unchecked.

Treatment

Abdominal Asbestos Mesothelioma is treated in a variety of fashions, and while it is generally approached like any other cancer, some of the methods commonly used to treat the more common forms of cancer don't prove as effective. For one thing, surgery to remove the malignant cells have shown a very low survivability rate among the patients, with an average life expectancy of only 5 years post operation.

The most successful treatments of Abdominal Asbestos Mesothelioma have stemmed from general chemotherapy as well a a fairly new method known as heated intraoperative intraperitoneal chemotherapy. This method combines chemotherapy with a heat surgery treatment that removes the malignant cells without causing any damage to the healthy surrounding tissue. The application of heat to the malignant cells also allows a more efficient introduction to the body of the medical agents used in the chemotherapy.

Avoidance/Safety Tips

On a personal level, one of the most obvious ways to avoid exposure to this cancer would be to stay away from places which have high concentrations of asbestos. There are many different forms of asbestos now being developed, and the ones which have been noted as causing Abdominal Asbestos Mesothelioma were versions primarily developed in the 1970s and 1980s. Modern fire retardant materials are much safer and have been mandated in some parts of the world to replace asbestos entirely.

Since asbestos fibers normally have to be ingested or inhaled to cause mesothelioma then using a face mask and avoiding eating around asbestos is a good safety practice. However, since the fibers are invisible to the naked eye and can actually be carried on skin and clothing, another safety tip is to wear a completely different set of clothing when working around asbestos, and to both remove the clothing and bathe completely after exposure. This minimizes the risk that any fibers will be taken home to one's families after work and consequently avoid abdominal mesothelioma caused by asbestos exposure.

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Mesothelioma - When That Stomach Ache Means More Than A Bad Borrito - Health - Cancer

Peritoneal Mesothelioma is the second most common form of Mesothelioma. This type focuses on the gastrointestinal tract instead of the upper chest area.

There is a general misconception about asbestos. Most seem to believe that you must breathe it in before it can do you any harm. This is nonsense. The probative problem with asbestos is the nature of the fibers. They embed themselves into any organic material they can and are very hard to remove. As a result, they are very dangerous regardless of how exactly they get into your body. One needs only consider Peritoneal Mesothelioma to recognize this.

The peritoneum is a thin layer of mesothelium that protects the organs involved in the digestion of food. This includes the stomach, small intestine, large intestine and so on. The peritoneum provides some cushion, but is primarily a lubricating mechanism. To digest food, the parts of the digest system must move. With the movement, they simply will not work.

Peritoneal Mesothelioma occurs not when asbestos is inhaled into the lungs, but when it is ingested into the stomach. This can occur when a person eats something in an area where there is asbestos dust in the air or, if really unlucky, when they simply inhale the fibers and they go down "the wrong pipe."

Peritoneal Mesothelioma is treated very aggressively with surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Unfortunately, only the lucky few survive for long after being diagnosed. The problem is the cancerous growths on the peritoneum are extremely hard to diagnose until the very late stages. Instead, many are diagnosed as having general digestive problems such as diverticulitis, ulcers and so on. Of the various forms of Mesothelioma, this is considered the deadliest by far.

Nobody wants to get Mesothelioma. That being said, if it does happen, pray that you or a loved one is not diagnosed with Peritoneal Mesothelioma. The 5 year survival rates are abysmal.

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Find out how to treat Mesothelioma cancer - Health - Cancer

Known as one of the most life threatening diseases, cancer today is not very rare. It is a very common medical condition and the diagnosis rate has increased relatively over the last decade. What is more shocking is that even though some forms of cancer are curable yet there are new forms being discovered that are fatal and incurable. It appears as if every little parts of the human body can be prone to cancerous conditions. Although the most common types of cancers being;

Leukaemia

Thalassemia

Breast cancer

Lung cancer

Testicular cancer

Throat cancer

But Mesothelioma cancer is an incurable form of asbestos cancer that develops in the mesothelical cells and is mostly found in men. Mesothelical cells are tissues that surround the lung, heart and stomach and protect them by producing fluids that helps them to function smoothly. There are 3 types of mesothelioma cancer namely; Pleural Mesothelioma, Peritoneal Mesothelioma and Pericardial Mesothelioma. The first one account for 75 % of all the cases, the second one account for less than 20 % and the last one is the rarest of all cases. The mesothelioma survival rate is very low, almost nil, because Mesothelioma Cancer is detected almost at the last stage which mostly results into mortality. Mesothelioma cancer is mostly detected in people who are exposed to asbestos. For e.g; people who work in construction site or make buildings are mostly prone to such type of cancer. With a very long latency stage, this cancer shows up at a later stage when nothing can be done and hence the Mesothelioma survival rate is very low rather zilch.

Although it is earlier stated that mesothelioma cancer is incurable yet there are treatments that are available. Because it is detected at later stages so the treatment is a bit difficult. There is Surgery, Chemotherapy and Radiation which includes Brachytherapy.

Most of the surgeries are performed to reduce the pain and the amount of cancer. These surgeries do not treat the cancer but are operated on the large tumours and cancerous tissues that help reduce the pain. There are various kinds of surgeries that can take place;

Pneumonectomy

Thoracoscopy

Thoracentesis

Pleurodesis

Thoracotomy

Paracentesis

Then there is the classic chemotherapy that includes intravenous injection of anti-cancer drugs and sometimes can affect the growth of mesothelioma cancer cells.

Besides these there is also radiation that causes energy Xrays to treat the cancerous tumours and tissues. Apart from the regular cancer treatments and therapies there are some experimental therapies that can prove beneficial. Some of the experimental therapies include:

Photodynamic Therapy

Anti-Angiogenesis Therapy

Gene therapy

Immunotherapy

If you are suffering from Mesothelioma cancer and are startled by the mesothelioma survival rates then do not lose hope. Getting cancer treated is an important decision. Make sure you take that decision keeping all the odds in your mind. If you are trying to save your loved ones from such a life threatening disease then pick the right kind of medication.

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Asbestos Poisoning Compensation - Get A Cash Advance Loan On Your Lawsuit Before The Trial Starts - Other

If you are experiencing Mesothelioma or a family member has died from Mesothelioma, and you happen to be a plaintiff a party to a Mesothelioma lawsuit(asbestos court action), and have appointed a lawyer to represent your claim you may qualify for Mesothelioma lawsuit funding or lawsuit loan against the potential future proceeds you may receive from your current lawsuit.

This is called Mesothelioma lawsuit funding, Asbestos lawsuit advance loan, legal funding or litigation funding. It might be called an Asbestos Lawsuit loan. But in a true sense, most are not loans because loans are repayable unquestionably. But the Mesothelioma or Asbestos lawsuit funding is usually a non recourse cash advance and it doesn't have to be paid back unless the case is won or even settled.

What is the definition of Mesothelioma?

Mesothelioma is a scientific term used to describe a dangerous tumor that involves the mesothelial cells that are part of a body organ. Mesothelial cells are cells that make up a protective lining in conjunction with the lungs, heart and abdominal organs. The most common type associated with Mesothelioma is pleural Mesothelioma.

Exactly what causes it? Asbestos leads to Mesothelioma:

Asbestos is that major cause of a variety of ailments and conditions, including the dangerous cancer Mesothelioma in America. Asbestos has actually been being used for centuries. The name asbestos was given to this mineral from the Ancient Greeks. The word literally indicates inextinguishable.

Who has the qualifications to file a lawsuit to get compensation for Mesothelioma?

A Mesothelioma lawsuit might be filed by a person who has contracted Mesothelioma through exposure to asbestos. When the individual has passed away, the lawsuit is often filed by a family member of the victim, and even by the administrator or maybe the executor from the estate of the deceased. A lawsuit is usually filed by a relative who has come down with the Mesothelioma disease through close contact while being around the victim person who was exposed to asbestos.

If you a plantiff in a Mesothelioma or perhaps an Asbestos lawsuit you recognize very well that thanks to our tiresome court process lawsuit moves forward in a very slow and unhurried style. Very often defendants tend to be represented by lawyers hired by big insurance carriers. Therefore, even in the event, the law is in your side, deep-pocket defendants could manipulate or manage to buy time with legal ploys and delays, and manoeuver to frustrate you. From the legal battle, victory belongs to those who are most persevering.

In the confrontation between the stream and the rock, the stream always wins not through power but by determination. What your attorney needs, in order to get you the very best settlement or fairest trial, is time. Just as the defendants can obtain time, so can you. Mesothelioma lawsuit money, the non-recourse loan helps you to get instant cash.

A lawsuit loan or lawsuit funding on your expected Asbestos / Mesothelioma lawsuit settlement may help you now. If have been suffering from Mesothelioma, you might need money to cover medical costs and also other monthly bills.

From a most respected and good lawsuit funding company, you can obtain your Mesothelioma personal injury loan in 3 easy to complete steps:

A. Step - Submit the ap: When you apply for Asbestos lawsuit loan there isn't any application fee. An honest lawsuit funding company can't charge any consultation fee or an application fee, processing fee or any monthly fee.

B. Step - The attorney faxes the required documents to Mesothelioma court action loan funding provider.

C. Step - If approved for a cash advance, funds are wired into your account, the same day. Of course, you may take a bank check also.

When you finally get a Mesothelioma court action funding, you don't pay back unless you win or settle the case. If you don't win your Asbestos lawsuit, you do not owe anything at all to the lawsuit finance company. The loan that was advanced by lawsuit funding company is not owed. Any fees which may have accrued may not be owed. You pay off lawsuit loan only if you win or settle the suit. No Win- No Repayment, Period

If you're involved in an Asbestos lawsuit , you are under a financial pressure, the expected substantial settlement in future will not take care of your present fiscal and emotional requirements.

Mesothelioma lawsuit capital or Asbestos lawsuit loans, allow you to get relief from present financial pressures, so you do not have to settle your case for the reason that you need whatever money you can get now.

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