Mesothelioma Tumors Staging Discussed - Health

Mesothelioma cancer is actually a sort of cancer that attacks the lungs and chest cavity. Also recognized as asbestos lung cancer, it forms deadly tumors where mesothelial cancer cells form a protective lining over the lungs, heart, and abdominal organs. It truly is a type of lung cancer that takes quite a few years to develop and generate symptoms. Roughly 3,000 instances per year (mostly men over the age of 40) are reported. It is estimated that number will grow to about 300,000 circumstances before 2030.

Kinds of Mesothelioma Asbestos Cancer

Epithelial mesothelioma can be a rare and fatal form of cancer affecting the membrane lining of the chest cavity, heart, lungs, and abdominal cavity. You can find three forms of epithelial mesothelioma: probably the most popular is Pleural Mesothelioma, the second most prevalent, Peritoneal Mesothelioma (accounting for only a quarter of the instances), as well as the rarest form, pericardial mesothelioma.

Pleural mesothelioma, essentially the most popular type of this illness involves the pleura, a thin membrane located between the lungs and also the chest cavity. The pleura supply a lubricated surface so that the lungs don't rub and chafe against the chest walls. You will find two kinds of pleural mesothelioma the first becoming 'diffuse and malignant'. This kind is cancerous and is generally fatal within a year of diagnosis. The second sort is 'localized and benign' and is generally non-life threatening. It can typically be removed via surgery.

Lung Lining cancer is not to be confused with lung cancer. In lung lining cancer, the effected location of the body is referred to as the mesothelium, a thin membrane that covers lots of of the internal organs of the body. The mesothelium of the lungs is referred to as the pleura. Lung Lining cancer is also sometimes referred to as mesothelioma right after the location in which it occurs.

This thin membrane is comprised of two layers - one that surrounds the organ and yet another that forms an exterior sac around the very first layer. Between the layers of the mesothelium is actually a fluid that makes it possible for crucial organs to glide very easily against objects that come in contact with them.

Localized pleural mesothelioma is not constantly caused by asbestos exposure. Nonetheless, if it has spread to other parts of the body, for instance the lymph nodes, lungs, chest wall, or abdominal organs, then it truly is regarded as malignant and is much more generally than not the result of asbestos exposure.

Peritoneal mesothelioma appears as a tumor inside the peritoneum membrane of the abdomen. This type of mesothelioma is really rare, comprising much less than a fourth of all known circumstances of the disease. There are no successful treatments for this condition, and most patients live less than a year immediately after diagnosis.

Mesentery cancer is likened to peritoneal cancer (mesothelioma). This cancer primarily affects the sections of the peritoneum that attach diverse organs to the wall of the abdominal cavity, (i.e. mesogastrium for the stomach, mesojejunum for the jejunum). Mesentery cancer consists of all abdominal peritoneal extensions. Tumors rarely originate inside the actual mesentery, although it's a frequent route for the spread of mesothelioma by way of the abdominal cavity.

Pericardial mesothelioma will be the rarest type of mesothelioma, affecting the membrane around the heart (called the pericardium or pericardial sac). In this disease, solid masses and effusion (fluid) develop around the pericardium. Not all effusions are strictly related to mesothelioma.

The Causes

Mesothelioma cancer is caused by exposure to asbestos fibers or dust. Workers within the asbestos industry are prime targets for attracting this deadly disease. Asbestos fibers enter the body, either by breathing in the tiny asbestos fibers or by swallowing them. The fibers cause healthy cells to mutate into cancer. Considering that the body is unable to dispel these fibers, the lungs become inflamed (asbestosis). This condition worsens and ultimately becomes malignant. Asbestos exposure is thought to be responsible for roughly 75% of all cases of lung lining cancer.

Symptoms

Mesothelioma is really a pretty complicated cancer to detect in early stages. The early symptoms tend to be generic and even nonexistent in some instances, and it can take as a lot as 15 to 50 years after exposure to develop. The first symptom is typically constant chest discomfort, followed by coughing, lung damage, and shortness of breath. Patients who have peritoneal mesothelioma (a less typical form of mesothelioma) usually expertise abdominal discomfort, loss of appetite, nausea, and abdominal swelling, normally in addition to the symptoms of pleural mesothelioma. They could also develop bowel obstruction or further breathing obstruction.

Stages and Diagnosis of Mesothelioma

There are three staging systems utilized to decide treatment for mesothelioma: Butchart Program, TNM System, plus the Brigham System

Butchart Staging Method

The Butchart Program is the oldest program along with the most typical. This program concentrates upon determining the extent of main tumor mass and divides mesothelioma into 4 stages.

Stage I of the Butchart System consists of the presence of mesothelioma within the lining of the best or left lung and may also involve the diaphragm on the very same side. Stage II consists of the progression of mesothelioma into the chest wall, esophagus, or lung lining on bother sides. There may perhaps also be lymph nodes within the chest. The onset of Stage III begins when the mesothelioma surpasses the diaphragm into the lining of the abdominal cavity or peritoneum. In this stage the cancer may perhaps also affect the lymph nodes extending beyond those inside the chest. Doctors identify Stage IV, the final stage, when evidence of the spread of cancer to other organs (metastasis) is confirmed.

TNM System

Stage I of the TNM Method involves the lining of the proper or left lung, pericardium, or diaphragm on the exact same side. At this stage, lymph nodes aren't involved. Stage II begins when mesothelioma spreads from the lining of the lung on one side to a lymph node on the identical side. At this stage, the cancer could also spread to the lung, pericardium, or diaphragm on the very same side. Stage III begins when mesothelioma is present inside the chest wall, muscle, ribs, heart, esophagus, or other organs inside the chest on the identical side as the primary tumor. Within the final stage, Stage IV, the mesothelioma has travelled into the lymph nodes inside the chest on the side opposite the main tumor, into the lung opposite the main tumor, or directly into the organs within the abdominal cavity or neck. Metastasis is the final result in this stage.

Brigham Method

The Brigham Method determines the resectability (the capability to surgically eliminate) the mesothelioma mass. In Stage I the tumor is resectable, while lymph nodes remain unaffected. In Stage II the tumor remains respectable but the mesothelioma affects the lymph nodes. In Stage III the tumor becomes unresectable. It has penetrated by way of the diaphragm, or peritoneum. Stage III can happen with or with out lymph involvement and extends into the chest wall and heart. Stage IV occurs when doctors discover metastatic illness involving distant organs.

Right after doctors identify the stage of a patient's malignant mesothelioma, the patient and physician think about the different treatment possibilities out there. Mesothelioma treatment programs are contingent upon several elements, which includes the stage of the cancer, the location of the cancer, the spread of mesothelioma cancer, the characteristics of the cancer cells under a microscope as well as the patient's age and concerns.

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Mesothelioma and Asbestos-A Deadly Alliance - Other

Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that affects the thin membrane (called the mesothelium) lining the chest, lungs, abdomen and sometimes the heart. Mesothelioma is a relatively rare cancer with more than two hundred people affected in the US annually. The majority of mesothelioma cases are directly linked to asbestos exposure.

The disease has a very long latency period so most victims are of an average age of 50-70 years. Mesothelioma most often affects men, most of them were exposed to asbestos at their place of industrial typed jobs. Mesothelioma symptoms include respiratory problems, shortness of breath, continual cough and pneumonia. Other mesothelioma symptoms include weight loss, abdominal problems and swelling. In some mesothelioma patients, the mesothelioma symptoms are not very specific, making diagnosis very difficult.

Mesothelioma doctors specialize in the study, research, and treatments of Mesothelioma cancers.Mesothelioma (or the cancer of the mesothelium) is a disease in which cells become abnormal and replicate without control, these abnormal cells spread and invade other normal organs and tissues in the body. Mesothelioma cancer cells can spread throughout the body ultimately leading to death.

Mesothelioma treatments and Mesothelioma clinical trials and testsThere are many mesothelioma treatment options available. The conventional treatments include surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy and the mesothelioma treatment depends on the patient's age, general health and stage of the cancer. There has however been much mesothelioma research conducted throughout the recent years to find new treatment methods.Through mesothelioma research, The National Cancer Institute has sponsored mesothelioma tests and clinical trials that are designed to find new treatment methods.

Because of the increase in number of mesothelioma cases in the United States, both governments have increased funding for mesothelioma research. Mesothelioma research and clinical trials have been successful in developing new techniques to fight this cancer and the outlook for more advanced mesothelioma treatments is promising.

Surgery is the most common treatment method for malignant mesothelioma. Tissues and linings affected by mesothelioma are removed by the doctor and may include the lung or even diaphragm.

A second mesothelioma treatment method is radiation therapy through the use of high energy x-rays that kill the cancer cells. Radiation therapy can be outside or inside the body.

A third mesothelioma treatment method is chemotherapy. Through pills or drugs through needles, chemotherapy drugs are used to kill cancer cells.

A new mesothelioma treatment method is called intraoperative photodynamic therapy. In this treatment, light and drugs are used to kill cancer cells during surgery for early stages of mesothelioma in the chest.

Although there are numerous treatments and drugs for mesothelioma, doctors are loosing the battle against this deadly disease. Most mesothelioma treatments involve old techniques combined with different drug cocktails. However, in most cases, these mesothelioma treatments have many side effects including organ damage, nausea, increase in heart failure etc. Research to find a more effective mesothelioma treatment or even cure is ongoing at numerous clinical labs across the nation. Let's hope that the mesothelioma research will one day lead to the discovery of an effective treatment to cure mesothelioma cancer and asbestosis.

Patients stricken by Mesothelioma and their families require support and current information. Mesothelioma Online Resources hopes to educate and give hope to survivors and victims. Such information can be obtained from

Mesothelioma is such a terrible disease. Not only does it take years for symptoms to appear, but there are limited treatments and drugs that only most of the time just prolong the lifespan of most patients by a few months to years. In many cases, the death rate of mesothelioma is unfortunately very high.

However, with increased funding in mesothelioma research through the government and private grants, the outlook for a mesothelioma cure is quite possible. In the meantime, mesothelioma support groups and local discussions provide the ongoing support for mesothelioma patients.

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Mesothelioma Treatment Options - Health - Cancer

Mesothelioma is a form of cancer that develops from the protective lining that covers many of the body's internal organs.It is caused mainly because of exposure to asbestos. This disease mainly catches the internal organs like pericardium or tunica vaginalis.

Mesothelioma mainly occurs in people who worked on jobs where they inhale asbestos particles or exposed to asbestos dust particles.Unlike lung cancer smoking is not a reason for mesothelioma. But keep in mind the fact that smoking regularly greatly increase the risk of asbestos-induced cancers. Also note that washing the cloth of a family member who work with asbestos can put the person at a risk of bieng attacked by mesothelioma.

Symptoms of Mesothelioma

Not lets discuss about the main symptoms of mesothelioma

1. Shortness of breath due to pleural effusion.

pleural effusion is the fluid between lung and chest wall.

2. Chest pain.

3. Weight loss.

4. Fatigue or anemia.

5. Wheezing and Cough.

6. Blood in sputum.

These are the main symptoms os mesothelioma

Now lets find the the reason or cause for mesothelioma

Cause of Mesothelioma

1. Asbestos - As discussed earlier working on asbestos posses great risk of being attacked by mesothelioma.

2. Environmental exposures.

3. Asbestos in building.

4.Occupational.

Working on jobs related to asbestos or exposure to asbestos fibers has been recognized as an occupational health hazard since the early 1900s. Various studies revealed that occupational exposure to asbestos with the development of pleural plaques, diffuse pleural thickening, asbestosis, carcinoma of the lung and larynx, gastrointestinal tumors, and diffuse malignant mesothelioma of the pleura and peritoneum. Asbestos has been widely used in many industrial products, including cement, brake linings, gaskets, roof shingles, flooring products, textiles, and insulation.

Mesothelioma Treatment Options

There are several types of treatment available for patients with mesothelioma. The most commonly used treatments are surgery,chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

Now lets go into further details of treatment in mesothelioma.

1. Surgery

This is one of the the treatment for mesothelioma. However surgery for mesothelioma is disappointing since the chace of curing from mesothelioma is very rare by means of surgery. A pleurectomy/decortication is the most common surgery, in which the lining of the chest is removed. Less common is an extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP), in which the lung, lining of the inside of the chest, the hemi-diaphragm and the pericardium are removed.

Note: Surgery can only be performed during mesothelioma stages I and II.

Most recommended treatment for mesothelioma is radiation and therapy

2. Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is the only treatment for mesothelioma that has been proven to improve survival in randomised and controlled trials. Most forms of chemotherapy involve the intravenous administration of drugs such as Alimta and Cisplatin. Chemotherapeutic drugs are targeted to kill cells that are rapidly dividing by interfering with processes that occur during cell division.

However, while cancer cells themselves divide rapidly, so do some types of healthy cells, causing some of the unpleasant side effects that are often associated with this form of treatment. Though older chemotherapy medications seemed to do little to fight mesothelioma, newer chemotherapy drugs are showing much promise.

A new form of chemotherapy called heated chemotherapy will be a relief for those who are suffering from peritoneal mesothelioma. So heated chemotherapy is good treatment option for mesothelioma for those who are suffering from peritoneal mesothelioma.

3. Radiation

This is also a best treatment option of mesothelioma. By radiation we mean the killing of cancer cells and to prevent the further spread of cancer.For patients with mesothelioma, radiation therapy is most often used in conjunction with surgery. So this is the main treatment option for mesothelioma. The main disadvantage of radiation is that it only provide a short-term symptomatic relief. Radiation is also a preferred mesothelioma treatment options but it provides only short term relief from mesothelioma symptoms.

Brachytherapy is a newer type of radiation treatment. In this method tiny radiactive rods are implanted within the tumour to provide concentrated dose of radiation to tumors. But some healthy cells are destroyed in this method.

4. Gene therapy

Most used gene therapy for the treatment of mesothelioma is "suicide gene therapy".the name because it forces cancer cells to produce substance which will cause their death.

In this type of gene therapy, mesothelioma patient is treated with a non infectious virus with alters genetic materials which will makes them to produce proteins.

After this procedure the patient is then treated with a chemotherapeutic medication that is specially formulated to be toxic only to cancer cells. After various research it has found that this treatment for mesothelioma is promising one and reduced the cancer cells to great extent. One of the recommended mesothelioma treatment option is gene therapy.

5. Immunotherapy

As the name suggests in this method the mesothelioma patient's own immune system is tricked to kill the cancer cells.The two types of immunotherapy is active and passive.

In the case of active immunotherapy mesothelioma cancer cells are removed from a patient and then treated in a laboratory to turn them into a vaccine.after this procedure patient is give a vaccine and if the treatment is successful, patients immune system must recognize the vaccine as harmful and thus identify the cancer as bieng harmful as well.

Passive immunotherapy is not related with immune systems. Instead, it uses substances such as cytokines (molecules that direct and regulate the immune system) and other agents to help boost the patient's immune response to their cancer.

These are the commonly and effective treatment of mesothelioma. Other treatment of mesothelioma include Multimodality Therapy & Epidemiology.

My advise to all readers is that the main cause of mesothelioma is asbestos,so maximum try to avoid work with or job related with asbestos. Also if any one is affected with mesothelioma then dont get panic there are many mesothelioma treatment option available. Also dont forget the fact that prevention is better than cure. So inorder to prevent mesothelioma asbestos should not be used.

Mesothelioma treatment option are effective and i recommend the mesothelioma patients to consult mesothelioma doctor or seek any mesothelioma treatment option.

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All About Mesothelioma Cancer - Health - Cancer

Is mesothelioma curable? The straight answer to this question is 'No'. Well, there are medications and treatments that help in easing the pain and may help to prolong life, but these treatments are not enough to save life. Mesothelium refers to the wrapping structure of most of the bodily organs in our body and mesothelioma is the cancer that occurs in mesothelium.Like any other cancerous conditions, abnormal cell growth is observed in the area of mesothelium when someone suffers from mesothelioma. When these abnormal cells start growing rapidly, they cause harm to the nearby cells, leading to the metastatic condition, which means that the cancer spreads to the nearby tissues and organs.

Mesothelioma is mostly noticed in the lung area, precisely in the pleura - the thin lining wrapping the chest cavity and lung. Apart from that, mesothelioma also affects areas pericardium, the wrapping structure of heart and peritoneum, the wrapping structure of abdominal cavity.

The Major Causes of MesotheliomaThe major causes of mesothelioma are not very common. However, the cure of mesothelioma is nearly impossible and thus the recovery is much tougher, once diagnosed. As we know, prevention is always better than cure, so being aware of the causes of mesothelioma may offer some advance benefits in prevention of mesothelioma. Let us discuss it here now.

Not a surprise now, but the people from western countries are higher risk for developing mesothelioma cancer than people from developing countries. Do you know why? The simple reason is industrialization. It's true that modern science has offered us a wide variety of luxuries and hi-tech facilities, but it hasn't offered it for free, but it has taken its toll.

The leading cause of developing mesothelioma cancer is asbestos exposure. Quite naturally, the exposure to asbestos is quite higher in the industrial zone than any other areas. Although no concrete reason has found in support of this fact, it has been seen that men are at higher risk for developing mesothelioma cancer than women. Also, mesothelioma cancer can develop at any age, but elderly people are more prone due to reduced immune level.

Although asbestos has been identified as the primary trigger for the development of mesothelioma cancer, few cases have been also reported as the instances of not getting exposed to asbestos. In some cases, radiation has also been found to cause mesothelioma cancer. In rarest cases, thorium dioxide may also trigger mesothelioma cancer.

Signs and Symptoms of MesotheliomaIt is very important to understand the symptoms of mesothelioma at an earlier stage, so that the recovery could be possibly easier. Unfortunately, it is really difficult to understand the mesothelioma symptoms at an earlier stage, because doctors, health practitioners and even patients frequently become confused to understand as they resemble so much with any other non-fatal and common health conditions.

However, if the patient suspects that he or she might have been developed mesothelioma cancer, it is important not to neglect the condition and seek help from the doctors. A regular medical check up of thoracic zone and abdominal area can help in diagnosing mesothelioma cancer in earlier stages. If someone is working in asbestos factory or industries involved in asbestos manufacturing or molding job should frequently check them up in the mesothelioma clinic.

The most specific symptoms of mesothelioma cancer are breathing troubles, swallowing problem, sudden weight loss, back pain, cough, excessive and abnormal sweating, and chest pain. Admitted, these symptoms are very common and in most of the cases may not lead to any serious problems, the concerned individual should not be left unattended, once diagnosed with such signs and symptoms.

If you or your near ones are working in asbestos factories and these symptoms become apparent, consulting doctors should be an emergency. Always remember that mesothelioma symptoms do not occur at an earlier stage, but in majority of the cases the symptoms occur at advanced stages due to the pressure created by the cancerous cells over the nerve cells and other tissues and organs.

Diagnosis of MesotheliomaWhen someone is suspected developing mesothelioma cancer, doctors take an account of the degree of the asbestos exposure of the concerned person. The exposure to asbestos is considered as the precursor of the mesothelioma. Predominantly, diagnostic tests are done by lung function test and chest x-ray or abdominal x-ray. Apart from these diagnostic tests, imaging tests like CT (Computer Tomography) scan, MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) and PET (Positron Emission Tomography) scan are also conducted.

Treatment of MesotheliomaUnfortunately, conventional treatments do not bring enough success in the treatment of mesothelioma cancer. Once diagnosed, the expected remaining life span lies from 6 months to 1 year. The severity of mesothelioma cancer depends on a wide variety of reasons. One of these factors is the elongated latency period between the development of the disease and asbestos exposure.

Surgical InterventionSurgical intervention is one of the commonest modes of treatment of mesothelioma cancer. When the surgery is performed, depending on the condition of the disease and the person concerned, doctors conduct either the surgery alone or in combination with adjuvant therapy. However, none of these modes are enough promising, since the survival rate is really too less, say, lesser than 10%. Pleurectomy is the most common form of surgery. In this surgical procedure, the chest lining is fully confiscated.

Radiation TherapyAlthough mesothelioma cancer is extremely resistant to radiation therapy, this treatment method is still employed in order to trim down the pain that develops as a result of mesothelioma cancerous growth. The radiation therapy is most commonly used to prevent cancerous growth along the chest wall.

ChemotherapyIn the year 2004, FDA approved Pemetrexed drug for the chemotherapy treatment of pleural malignant mesothelioma cancer. This drug is administered in combination with cisplatin. Folic acid is applied in order to minimize the adverse side effects of Pemetrexed drug.

ImmunotherapyImmunotherapy is another mode of treatment for mesothelioma cancer. The results of immunotherapy significantly vary from person to person. While Bacillus calmette-Guerin offers benefit to the immunotherapy treatment urinary bladder cancer, it does not provide any positive result in the treatment of mesothelioma cancer.

On the other hand, vitrolysis by LAK is found to be effective in obliterating mesothelioma cancerous cells. However, the biggest drawback of this treatment is the extreme adverse side effects. In fact, this treatment is terminated due to the serious adverse side effects of interleukin-2 toxicity. When it is developed, patients start suffering from fever and cachexia. Interferon alpha produces positive benefit, however, lately. Nearly 50% reduction in the tumor size is observed during this phase.

Legal Help for Mesothelioma CancerMany patients suffering from mesothelioma cancer seek legal help from mesothelioma attorneys. People need to seek for mesothelioma attorney when they are about to file a case for compensation against the company responsible for their exposure to asbestos. It is due to the fact that asbestos causes mesothelioma cancer. A prolonged exposure to asbestos or products manufactured from asbestos may cause cancer, so patients with such exposure can claim for compensation.

Mesothelioma LawsuitsQuite obviously, attorneys specializing on mesothelioma cancer and the causes can offer someone more help if he is suffering from mesothelioma cancer due to the result of asbestos exposure in the professional sector than any other general attorneys. So, it is important to seek help from mesothelioma attorneys to file a compensation case against any company. It can be filed for a group of individuals and this type of group filing is referred to as class action lawsuits. Needless to say, this type of lawsuit draws more public attention since there are a huge number of people involved.

Typically, the fees of mesothelioma attorneys are quite higher. However, one does not need to cover the fees if the attorneys lose the case. So the patients do not need to hesitate to file for a mesothelioma lawsuit, since it does not involve any financial burden. For individual cases, it completes faster, however, for the group, it needs some time to finish the case.

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Mesothelioma Treatment In India At Delhi At low Cost - Health

Malignant mesothelioma is a rare cancer that occurs in the thin layer of tissue that covers the majority of your internal organs (mesothelium).

Doctors divide mesothelioma into different types based on what part of the mesothelium is affected, including : -

malignant mesothelioma, which affects the tissue that surrounds the lungs and is the most common form of mesothelioma.

Peritoneal mesothelioma, which occurs in the tissue in your abdomen.

Pericardial mesothelioma, which affects the tissue surrounding the heart.

Mesothelioma of the tunica vaginalis, which occurs in the lining around the testicles.

Symptoms of Mesothelioma

Signs and symptoms of mesothelioma vary depending on where the cancer occurs. Pleural mesothelioma signs and symptoms may include : -

Shortness of breath Painful breathing (pleurisy) Painful coughing Chest pain under the rib cage Unusual lumps of tissue under the skin on your chest Unexplained weight loss Dry (nonproductive) cough

Peritoneal mesothelioma signs and symptoms may include : -

Abdominal pain Abdominal swelling A change in your bowel habits, such as more frequent diarrhea or constipation Lumps of tissue in the abdomen Unexplained weight loss

Other forms of mesothelioma

Signs and symptoms of pericardial mesothelioma and mesothelioma of the tunica vaginalis are unclear. These forms are so rare that not much information is available. Pericardial mesothelioma signs and symptoms may include difficulty breathing or chest pains. Mesothelioma of the tunica vaginalis may be first detected as a mass on a testicle.

When to see a doctor

See your doctor if you have signs and symptoms that may indicate mesothelioma. Signs and symptoms of mesothelioma aren't specific to this disease and, due to the rarity of mesothelioma, are more likely to be related to other conditions. If any persistent signs and symptoms seem unusual or bothersome to you, ask your doctor to evaluate them.

Causes of Mesothelioma

In general, cancer begins when a series of genetic mutations occur within a cell, causing the cell to grow and multiply out of control, when healthy cells would normally die. The accumulating abnormal cells form a mass (tumor). Cancer cells invade nearby tissues and can break off from an initial tumor to spread elsewhere in the body (metastasize).

It isn't clear what causes the initial genetic mutations that lead to mesothelioma, though researchers have identified factors that may increase the risk. It's likely that cancers form because of an interaction between many factors, such as inherited conditions, your environment, your health conditions and your lifestyle choices.

Benign pleural mesothelioma

A form of noncancerous (benign) tumor that can occur in the chest is sometimes called benign mesothelioma. However, this name is misleading. Benign mesothelioma doesn't begin in the same cells where the cancerous forms of mesothelioma begin. And, in a minority of cases, benign mesothelioma can be very aggressive, despite the term "benign." For this reason, some doctors now refer this tumor as solitary fibrous tumor.

Solitary fibrous tumor usually doesn't cause signs and symptoms. Most cases are inadvertently discovered during tests and procedures for other conditions. It isn't clear what causes solitary fibrous tumors, but they aren't linked to asbestos exposure. Treatment for solitary fibrous tumor typically includes surgery.

Risk factors of Mesothelioma

Asbestos exposure: The primary risk factor for mesothelioma

Asbestos is a mineral that's found naturally in the environment. Asbestos fibers are strong and resistant to heat, making them useful in a wide variety of applications, such as in insulation, cement, brakes, shingles, flooring and many other products. People who work around asbestos fibers are thought to have the greatest risk of mesothelioma.

When asbestos is broken up, such as during the mining process or when removing asbestos insulation, dust may be created. If the dust is inhaled or swallowed, the asbestos fibers may settle in the lungs or in the stomach, where they can cause irritation that may lead to mesothelioma, though how exactly this happens isn't understood.

Mesothelioma risk is believed to be increased in people who are exposed to high levels of asbestos, in people who are exposed to asbestos over a long period of time and in people exposed to asbestos at a young age. It can take 30 to 40 years or more for mesothelioma to develop as a result of asbestos exposure.

Some people with years of asbestos exposure never develop mesothelioma. And yet, others with very brief exposure develop the disease. This indicates that other factors may be involved in determining whether someone gets mesothelioma or doesn't. For instance, you could inherit a predisposition to cancer or some other condition could increase your risk.

Possible risk factors Factors that may increase the risk of mesothelioma include : -

Personal history of asbestos exposure : - If you've been directly exposed to asbestos fibers at work or at home, your risk of mesothelioma is greatly increased.

Living with someone who works with asbestos : -People who are exposed to asbestos may carry the fibers home on their skin and clothing. These stray fibers can put others in the home at risk of mesothelioma. People who work with asbestos should shower and change clothes before leaving work.

Smoking : - Risk of mesothelioma is increased greatly in smokers who are exposed to asbestos.

SV40 : - Some research indicates a link between mesothelioma and simian virus 40 (SV40), a virus originally found in monkeys. Millions of people may have been exposed to SV40 when receiving polio vaccinations between 1955 and 1963, because the vaccine was developed using monkey cells. Once it was discovered that SV40 was linked to certain cancers, the virus was removed from the polio vaccine. Whether SV40 increases the risk of mesothelioma is a point of debate, and more research is needed.

Radiation : - Some research links mesothelioma to the radioactive substance thorium dioxide, which was used along with X-rays to diagnose various health conditions from the 1920s to the 1950s. Thorium dioxide was later found to cause cancer and is no longer used.

Family history : - A family history of mesothelioma may increase your risk of mesothelioma, but more research is needed to understand this theory.

Tests and diagnosis of Mesothelioma

If you have signs and symptoms that might indicate mesothelioma, your doctor will conduct a physical exam to check for any lumps or other unusual signs. Your doctor may order imaging scans, such as a chest X-ray or a computerized tomography (CT) scan of your chest or abdomen, to look for abnormalities.

It's not uncommon for mesothelioma to be misdiagnosed initially because mesothelioma is rare, and its signs and symptoms aren't specific. Your doctor will likely rule out other more common conditions before considering mesothelioma.

Biopsy

Biopsy, a procedure to remove a small portion of tissue for laboratory examination, is the only way to determine whether you have mesothelioma. Depending on what area of your body is affected, your doctor selects the right biopsy procedure for you Options include : -

Fine-needle aspiration : - The doctor removes fluid or a piece of tissue with a small needle inserted into your chest or abdomen.

Thoracoscopy : -Thoracoscopy allows the surgeon to see inside your chest. In this procedure, the surgeon makes one or more small incisions between your ribs. A tube with a tiny video camera is then inserted into your chest cavity - a procedure sometimes called video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS). Special surgical tools allow your surgeon to cut away tissue for testing.

Laparoscopy : - Laparoscopy allows the surgeon to see inside your abdomen. Using one or more small incisions into your abdomen, the surgeon inserts a tiny camera and special surgical tools to obtain a small piece of tissue for examination.

Thoracotomy : - Thoracotomy is surgery to open your chest between the ribs to allow a surgeon to check for signs of disease. He or she removes a sample of tissue for testing.

Laparotomy : - Laparotomy is surgery to open your abdomen to allow a surgeon to check for signs of disease. He or she removes a sample of tissue for testing.

The tissue sample is analyzed under a microscope to see whether the abnormal tissue is mesothelioma and what types of cells are involved. The type of mesothelioma you have determines your treatment plan.

Staging

Once mesothelioma is diagnosed, your doctor orders other tests to determine the extent, or stage, of the cancer. Imaging tests that may help determine the stage of your cancer include : -

Chest X-ray CT scans of the chest and abdomen Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) Positron emission tomography (PET)

Once the extent of pleural mesothelioma is determined, a stage is assigned. Formal stages aren't available for other types of mesothelioma because these types are rare and aren't well studied. The stages of pleural mesothelioma are : -

I : - Stage I pleural mesothelioma is considered localized cancer, meaning it's limited to one portion of the lining of the chest.

II : - Stage II mesothelioma may have spread beyond the lining of the chest to the diaphragm or to a lung.

III : -Stage III mesothelioma may have spread to other structures within the chest and may involve nearby lymph nodes.

IV : - Stage IV mesothelioma is an advanced cancer that has spread to distant areas (metastasized). Mesothelioma most commonly spreads (metastasizes) to the brain, lymph nodes in the chest and areas of the lung that are away from the tumor.

Treatments of Mesothelioma

What treatment you undergo for mesothelioma depends on your health and certain aspects of your cancer, such as its stage and location. Unfortunately, mesothelioma often is an aggressive disease and for most people a cure isn't possible. Mesothelioma is usually diagnosed at an advanced stage - when it isn't possible to remove the cancer through an operation. Instead, your doctor may work to control your cancer to make you more comfortable.

Discuss treatment goals with your doctor. Some people want to do everything they can to treat their cancer, even if that means enduring side effects for a small chance of an improvement. Others prefer treatments that make them comfortable so that they can live their remaining months as symptom-free as possible.

Surgery

Surgeons work to remove mesothelioma in instances where it is diagnosed at an early stage. Sometimes it isn't possible to remove all of the cancer. In those cases, surgery may help to reduce the signs and symptoms caused by mesothelioma spreading in your body. Surgical options may include : -

Surgery to decrease fluid buildup : - Pleural mesothelioma may cause fluid to build up in your chest, causing difficulty breathing. Surgeons insert a tube or catheter into your chest to drain the fluid. Surgeons may also inject medicine into your chest to prevent fluid from returning (pleurodesis).

Surgery to remove the tissue around the lung or abdomen : - Surgeons may remove the tissue lining the ribs and the lungs (pleurectomy) or the tissue lining the abdominal cavity (peritonectomy) in order to relieve signs and symptoms of mesothelioma.

Surgery to remove as much of the cancer as possible (debulking) : - If all of the cancer can't be removed, surgeons may attempt to remove as much as possible.

Surgery to remove a lung and the surrounding tissue : - Removing the affected lung and the tissue that surrounds it may relieve signs and symptoms of pleural mesothelioma. This procedure also allows doctors to use higher doses of radiation against any remaining mesothelioma, since they won't need to worry about protecting your lung from damaging radiation.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy uses chemicals to kill cancer cells. Systemic chemotherapy travels throughout the body and may shrink or slow the growth of a pleural mesothelioma that can't be removed using surgery. Chemotherapy may also be used before surgery (neoadjuvant chemotherapy) to make an operation easier or after surgery (adjuvant chemotherapy) to reduce the chance that cancer will return.

Chemotherapy drugs may also be heated and administered directly into the abdominal cavity (intraperitoneal chemotherapy), in the case of peritoneal mesothelioma, or into the chest cavity (intrapleural chemotherapy), in the case of pleural mesothelioma. Using this strategy, chemotherapy drugs can reach the mesothelioma directly without injuring healthy cells in other parts of the body. This allows doctors to administer higher doses of chemotherapy drugs.

Intraperitoneal chemotherapy may also be used to reduce the signs and symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma that can't be removed through surgery.

Radiation therapy

Radiation therapy focuses high-energy beams to a specific spot or spots on your body. Radiation may reduce signs and symptoms in people with pleural mesothelioma. Doctors aim radiation at the entire chest to obtain the best result. However, many sensitive organs are in the chest, such as the heart, lungs, esophagus and spinal cord, so doctors must use low doses of radiation to spare these organs. Radiation therapy is sometimes used after biopsy or surgery to prevent mesothelioma from spreading to the surgical incision.

Radiation therapy is used occasionally in people with peritoneal mesothelioma to reduce signs and symptoms caused by the cancer.

Combination therapy

Surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy may be combined. This aggressive therapy can be grueling and may not be appropriate for everyone. Younger, healthier people and those with earlier stage mesothelioma may be more able to endure this treatment. Combination therapy has shown the most promise in treating mesothelioma. However, most people will eventually experience a recurrence of this cancer despite aggressive treatment. Combination therapy has been used in both pleural mesothelioma and peritoneal mesothelioma.

Treatment for other types of mesothelioma

Pericardial mesothelioma and mesothelioma of the tunica vaginalis are very rare and can be very aggressive. Early-stage cancer may be removed through surgery. Doctors have yet to determine the best way to treat later stage cancers, though. Your doctor may recommend other treatments to improve your quality of life.Please Log On To: /cancer-treatment/mesothelioma-treatment-india.htmlEmail Us:

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Mesothelioma on the Rise in the UK - Health - Cancer

It is a rare cancer disease with cases that has been increasing significantly in the UK every year. It is caused by exposure to asbestos. A person contracts the disease either through contact with the skin or cloth or, worst, through direct inhalation. It has been diagnosed that it takes years and years before the disease eventually manifests and starts destroying the body. Upon contracting the disease, the malignant cells start lining the chest cavities, abdominal region, and the surrounding areas of the heart.It takes years - sometimes decades - before the cancer patient shows indications of suffering from mesothelioma. The progression from diagnosis to a chain of eventual degeneration is quiet long and very erratic. This is the reason why experts find it difficult to get accurate data concerning this disease.Asbestos exposure of one single member in the family can already be detrimental because the disease could quickly contaminate all other household members. No matter how small the contamination is, the percentage of infection would still be very higher. At present, it is reported that about 3000 patients have been confirmed as having the disease and about 1,700 mesothelioma cancer patients die every year.Smokers are more susceptible to mesothelioma. However, there are those who contract the disease who are declared to be smokers even if they are not. The signs and symptoms of mesothelioma are very common. Chances are at the very first time that symptoms manifest, they are ignored or simply dismissed as those of an ordinary illness. The reason why a patient's health could decline quickly is the lack of proper and immediate treatment owing to this.The typical symptoms that denote the severity of a patient's condition are: dyspnea, pleuritic pain, lingering cough, unreasonable weight loss, frequent collapse of strength. Not all mesothelioma victims exhibit symptoms before the terminal stage is reached. But it is a must that a thorough chec k up must be done by an expert to get an accurate assessment.

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Why we need to raise Mesothelioma & Asbestos awareness? - Law

We live in a time where cancer is very prevalent, even with advances in medical technology, millions die from some form of cancer each year. Many forms of cancer can be nearly unavoidable due to genetics; however there are some forms of cancer that are caused by our day by day activities and can be avoided. Lung Cancer and Mesothelioma are both really good examples of the latter; smoking has been linked to being one of the major causes to lung cancer, where Mesothelioma is caused solely due to exposure to Mesothelioma.Generally when we look to spread Cancer Awareness, we spread awareness about Breast Cancer, Lung Cancer, and just the general umbrella of cancer. While over 200,000 cases of lung cancer and over 175,000 cases of breast cancer are diagnosed each year, about only 3,000 cases of Mesothelioma are diagnosed each year. Though Mesothelioma may not have the mainstream media eyes or the number of victims that Breast Cancer and Lung Cancer claims, it is still important that we spread awareness of Mesothelioma and the dangerous fibers that cause it: Asbestos.Much like smoking, the use of asbestos in products and construction wasn't thought to have deadly side effects, however also like smoking time has shown that there is a deadly side effect of asbestos. Asbestos has been the sole link to the incurable Mesothelioma cancer that generally claims the lives of elder males. There are many issues that make Mesothelioma such a deadly cancer, notably the latency period that occurs between the time the victim was exposed to asbestos and when they see symptoms of Mesothelioma. Typically the Mesothelioma latency period is between 30-40 years, but can also be between 10 and 60 years after the victim was exposed to Mesothelioma. The latency period typically causes symptoms of Mesothelioma to not appear until the late stages of the cancer, making the cancer untreatable, and limiting the lifespan of its victims to an average of 4-18 months after diagnos es.It's important that we raise awareness for this cancer as Asbestos is still in use today in the United States. Every day countless people work products that can have asbestos making up as much as 70% of the product, while the government and court system know the dangers Asbestos has. Though an ideal replacement has not been found for Asbestos, there are many suitable substitutes that can be used and save thousands of lives. The public needs to raise up against Mesothelioma and get Asbestos banned in the country for good.

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