mesothelioma patient - Health - Cancer

A mesothelioma patient is any patient who is suffering from the rare form of cancer known as mesothelioma. This disease is usually caused by either direct or indirect exposure to asbestos and is sometimes known as asbestos disease or asbestos poisoning.

Smoking is not a direct cause of mesothelioma but a combination of smoking and asbestos exposure can increase the likelihood of mesothelioma in the lung area.

Symptoms of mesothelioma can include breathing difficulties and coughing, chest pain and other symptoms such as fever, weight loss and pain in abdomen, neck or head. The symptoms might occur several decades after the exposure to asbestos, and the amount of exposure is not clearly correlated with the likelihood of getting the disease.

Diagnosis of Mesothelioma is difficult because all the symptoms can be caused by other less serious diseases and can be supported by chest X-ray and/or CT scan or MRI and biopsy.

Patients don't usually recover from the disease. Median survival times are usually about nine months from presentation with the five-year survival rate being around ten percent, although occasionally people do survive for more than twenty years after contracting it.

Most patients die within one and a half years of finding out that they have this disease not because the disease is so rapidly progressing but because diagnosis of this particular disease is often only definite during the late stages of the disease.

There are many forms of support for patients, including large amounts of relevant information on the internet, and discussion groups etc. as well as specialist medical centers and other forms of support.

Treatment can be expensive, sometimes totaling close to a million dollars, which is one reason most patients take legal action against the employer who exposed them to asbestos. Treatment can include combinations radiation and chemo treatment and surgery but radiation therapy alone has proved ineffective.

Legal actions concerning mesothelioma began around 1930 then increased in 1960 when firm data on the link between asbestos and mesothelioma was proven. More than 500,000 asbestos claims have been filed so far. The amounts received from mesothelioma claims can be considerable and there are specialist asbestos lawyers and attorneys working to help each mesothelioma patient claim as much as possible.

For additional relevant information see our Blog Post Mesothelioma Treatment Options.

For more relevant information see our Blog Mesothelioma Reports

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Mesothelioma Patients Need Fast Help Resources - Health - Mental Health

Growing number of mesothelioma help groups suggest the gravity of the cancer. No doubt it is a good move to create awareness among masses about growing incidence of mesothelioma and its terrible consequences. One must comprehend the facts that mesothelioma is the cancer that requires urgent attention by hundreds of employers those do not care about the safety of their employees while they work in asbestos related industries.

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New Gene Test Provides Approximate Survival Rates for Mesothelioma Patients - Law

According to a study published in the May 6 Journal of the National Cancer Institute(JNCI), scientists have recently devised a test that can accurately predict which mesothelioma patients have the best chance for survival. The test is also useful for identifying which patients would be the best candidates for surgery, another treatment option for mesothelioma cancer.

The test is deceptively simple; it works by identifying the ratios of four genes present in tissue samples of mesothelioma cancer patients and comparing them with samples of tissue from patients who have survived mesothelioma cancer for an extended period of time. The gene test proved to provide consistent and easily repeatable results across different research campuses. Despite different technicians using different instruments in different laboratories, the test showed a high efficacy rate.

The test was devised by Dr. Raphael Bueno, the Associate Chief in the Division of Thoracic Surgery and Director of the Thoracic Surgery Residency Program at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts. Previously, predicting a patient's prognosis was an invasive process; according to Dr. Bueno, major surgery was required to adequately predict the outcome. In the interest of creating a more accessible, less invasive, and accurately informative test, Dr. Bueno and his team looked to preexisting cancer tests. Specifically, the team looked at two gene-based testing methods that have been used in predicting breast cancer recurrence. Though this technology has not been widely used due to heavy logistical requirements, the inspiration provided enough incentive to help Dr. Bueno and his team develop what could be one of the biggest steps forward in accurate mesothelioma diagnosis in recent years.

The study announced in the JNCI was to determine how accurately the test predicted the survival rates of patients. Researchers examined samples of tissue from 120 mesothelioma patients and followed their cases until 2007 or until their death. Using the gene ratio test, researchers categorized the participants in two groups: a good outcome group, and a poor outcome group. On average, the poor outcome group survived 9.5 months; the good outcome group survived 16.8 months, almost double the rate of survival.

Since this test is so revealing about the survival rates of patients, it provides an opportunity for families and individuals to choose the best treatment option for mesothelioma cancer. Patients with good gene ratio test results could be more likely to benefit from surgery, while those in the lower survival rate group seek the best supportive care available.

Mesothelioma is often a very debilitating condition that may require large amounts of physical therapy and treatment options as well as require thousands of dollars in medical costs. It is common for many patients to discuss a mesothelioma lawsuit with an experienced personal injury attorney.

By contacting a mesothelioma lawyer, a patient is increasing their chances of receiving monetary funds as a compensation for the damages endured because of mesothelioma cancer. Additionally, a mesothelioma lawsuit may also result in the reimbursement of expensive medical bills as well as open the door for patients to receive costly medical care that they may have otherwise been able to afford or receive.

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Common Treatments and Medical Procedures for a Mesothelioma Patient - Health

Once a patient has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, both the doctor and the patient must then determine the best possible treatment.Mesothelioma prognosis, or the recovering factor for a patient, will vary based on several different characteristics:

1. Size of the mesothelioma

2. Whether or not the cancer is spreading

3. Where the mesothelioma is located

4. The patient's physical health condition and age

5. How the cells are portrayed under a microscope

Three Different Types of Mesothelioma Cells

1. Mixed Cell Type - This cell type is a mixture of the cancer cells and is normally labeled as an intermediate form of the cancer.

2. Epithelial Cell Type - These cells are the most treatable, and have the best prognosis.

3. Fibrosarcomatous Cell Type - This cell type is the worst type of mesothelioma, and has a negative prognosis.

How a Treatment is Selected

Treatments and procedures for mesothelioma are selected after considering the characteristicsand cell types above. There are standard treatments, which have been tested on previouspatient studies, and are most commonly used. There are also trials and/or experimental treatments that may be explored at the patient's or doctor's wishes.

Malignant Mesothelioma and Standard Treatments

The most common treatment of malignant mesothelioma is a surgery in which the doctor will remove part of the abdomen or chest lining and some tissue surrounding it. A lung may be removed or part of the diaphragm, based on how far the mesothelioma has spread. Removal of the lung is a procedure called "pneumonectomy."Radiation and/or chemotherapy are also a part of the standard treatments along with the surgery. Radiation kills off cancer cells using high-energy rays or x-rays. Chemotherapy kills cancer cells using drugs taken either by pill or needle injection.Each of these treatments will result in side effects, varying from one patient to the next.

Intraoperative Photodynamic Therapy

This is a type of treatment which utilizes light and drugs to kill the cancer cells during a surgical procedure. The goal of the surgery is to remove the cancer (as much as possible), and to shine alight on the pleura, killing additional cancer cells. Studies of this type of surgery are being performed on patients in the early stages of mesothelioma of the chest.

Clinical Tests

Occasionally a mesothelioma patient may be urged to participate in experimental treatment options, where the patient will be exposed to new ideas and procedures that are being developed. Oftentimes, traditional treatments will be combined with new tests to find more effective ways of fighting mesothelioma. These options are available for patients who may not be able to endure the standard treatments for health or physical reasons.

The earlier mesothelioma is detected in a patient, the better the prognosis. Each patient should be aware of all treatment options before making a decision, and also consult with a specialist to learn the best option for them.

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Mesothelioma Patients Need Emotional Care, Too - Health - Cancer

Mesothelioma patients, as well as their caregivers, are under a huge amount of anxiety and stress, and many report that they receive little support to help them deal with the psychological impact of living with the disease, according to a review of studies published in the European Journal of Cancer Care.

Even with the most sophisticated treatments available, mesothelioma survival rates have improved little over the years. Patients often face a poor prognosis; many live for little more than a year after being diagnosed. Patients are left to grapple with the emotional impact of their prognosis, as well as with symptoms that can be severe enough to interfere with every aspect of their lives. Because this cancer is so rare, the psychological toll of mesothelioma on both patients and caregivers hasn't been well studied, and doctors often don't know how to address their patients' emotional needs.

"It is important for clinicians to understand the social, emotional, and physical impact of the disease if they are to fully meet patient and family member needs," explains Sally Moore, Nursing Research Fellow with Royal Marsden Hospital in Sutton, England. "Most clinicians see very few patients with mesothelioma and teams have tended to 'lump' or group patients with mesothelioma in with their population of patients with lung cancer."

Doctors may assume the experience is the same for both diseases. In reality, mesothelioma patients may need very different care than lung cancer patients, in part because mesothelioma is more difficult to diagnose than lung cancer, and there is far greater uncertainty surrounding its prognosis and treatment, Moore says.

To find out what is already known about the experience of living with mesothelioma, and to identify what still needs to be learned, Moore and her colleagues did a search of the currently available research. They found just 13 relevant studies that discussed patient quality of life and symptoms.

Even though few of these studies were focused specifically on the experience of living with mesothelioma, they did highlight the impact mesothelioma can have on patients, both physically and emotionally. Most patients reported experiencing significant symptoms, particularly pain, breathlessness, cough, appetite loss, fatigue, and difficulty sleeping. These symptoms often were not being treated effectively, and were having a significant affect on patients' social interactions and ability to function on a day-to-day basis.

As significant as these physical symptoms were, the emotional effects of mesothelioma were even more profound. Patients reported feeling anxious, depressed, afraid, and isolated. Their caregivers faced an even higher emotional toll from the disease. Many caregivers indicated that they were not receiving the support they needed from health care professionals.

This study highlights the necessity for more research on the physical and emotional needs of mesothelioma patients, so that health care providers can develop new strategies to meet those needs, Moore says. It's also important for health care providers to recognize the emotional and physical toll of caring for a patient with mesothelioma, she says. "We need better assessment of caregivers' needs and strategies to ensure better preparation, education, and support of caregivers in their care-giving role."

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Symptoms Of A Mesothelioma Patient - Health - Cancer

If you are a mesothelioma patient, there are some important things that you should know about your condition and any possible cure.

Because Mesothelioma is a cancer that takes many years to develop, people who were exposed to asbestos should have regular screening in order to catch the disease while it is at a treatable stage. No matter how long ago or for how short a duration, any exposure to asbestos should be considered as a possible health hazard. People who know they were exposed to asbestos should always be on the lookout for any respiratory or lung problems and should not ignore possible signs of Mesothelioma. The sooner one is diagnosed as a Mesothelioma patient the better.

Knowing what symptoms to look for is important as well as regular examinations and a physician who knows about the asbestos exposure so that he can perform screening and tests. Being exposed to asbestos can simply be considered becoming labeled as a Mesothelioma patient, even before the cancerous cells develop.

Early Symptoms of Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is often not diagnosed until it gets to a late stage due to the fact that there are practically no early symptoms. This leads to a negative prognosis and a shortened life expectancy for the patient. Early detection is a key factor when dealing with Mesothelioma. Occasionally developing Mesothelioma cells may be detected through routine chest x-rays and pulmonary function exams. Suspected Mesothelioma cells must then be excised and a biopsy performed to attain a definite diagnosis. Because of the lack of symptoms patients are often surprised when they receive a Mesothelioma diagnosis. Mesothelioma is a serious disease and does have a short life expectancy if not caught early. But there are many treatments and therapies for Mesothelioma that are helping change the death rate of this form of cancer.

Developed Mesothelioma Symptoms

Once the cancerous cells have developed and begun to grow there are many different symptoms that can occur. Initially if the physician isn't aware of asbestos exposure a wrong diagnosis is often made because the symptoms can also be attributed to other more simple illnesses.

Non productive dry and raspy cough that doesn't seem to go away.

Dysphagia or difficulty swallowing

Night sweats and fever

Unexplained weight loss

Fatigue

Dyspnea or shortness of breath even when resting

Hemoptysis or coughing up blood

Anemia

Diarrhea or constipation

Nausea or vomiting

These are all common symptoms that a Mesothelioma patient may experience. The lack of a certain symptom does not rule out the possibility of Mesothelioma.

Pleural effusion is the main cause of the symptoms which alert people to the possibility of Mesothelioma. A pleural effusion is the build up of fluid between the layers of tissue that line the lungs and chest. This can be caused by many things and is associated with pneumonia but is a known indicator of Mesothelioma.

Curing Mesothelioma

While there is no known cure for Mesothelioma there are many different treatments. As with most medical treatments at times the cure can seem worse than the disease. Whether aMesothelioma patientis treated with radiation therapy, surgery, chemotherapy or a clinical trial treatment they face many side effects including pain, nausea, jaundice, weight and hair loss, weakness and an extensive period of recuperation. However all of this is worth it in the end when the patient beats the Mesothelioma and goes on to live a long and full life.

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Mesothelioma Treatment Options for Malignant Mesothelioma - Health - Medicine

Mesothelioma treatment options for malignant mesothelioma can relieve pain and provide hope for the future. In many cases, new mesothelioma treatment options can increase mesothelioma life expectancy beyond original expectations. Even if advanced malignant mesothelioma has reached a seemingly incurable stage, participating in clinical trials gives a breath of hope to the future generations of mesothelioma cancer patients.

Treatment for malignant mesothelioma can start with surgery, although this is not always recommended in mesothelioma treatment options since older patients may have a difficult time with surgery. The objective is to remove the tumor, or at least most of it, and slow down the disease. With advanced mesothelioma, the tumor has often tragically spread throughout the body and has invaded life-giving organs, making surgery more risky than living with cancer itself. However in the early stages of malignant mesothelioma, a localized tumor is more likely to be successfully removed.

Radical surgery is a mesothelioma treatment option for advanced malignant mesothelioma that has been used in small clinical trials, but has resulted in almost half the patients (48%) living at least five years past their predetermined mesothelioma life expectancy date. Extrapleural pneumonectomy involves removing the internal body parts that mesothelioma cancer cells love to invade. Surgery removes the parietal pleura (pleural mesothelioma), the pericardium (pericardial mesothelioma) and the diaphragm, as well as the removal of a lung. This surgery is combined with pre and post operative chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Cancer Research UK is funding a MARS clinical trial (mesothelioma and radical surgery) to formally undergo pilot testing. Since the patients must be followed for five years, the results are not yet available and the success of these mesothelioma treatment options has yet to be discovered. UK medical reports do claim that US trial results have thus far demonst rated that a heavier dose of radiotherapy after the EPP surgery extends mesothelioma life expectancy.

Mesothelioma treatment options almost always include chemotherapy. Progress is seen in mesothelioma treatment when chemotherapy is combined with drug therapy. There are clinical trials for mesothelioma treatment options around the world that are seeking to find the chemotherapy and drug mix that can prolong mesothelioma life expectancy. Clinical trials are listed at many cancer organizations and research hospitals, and many seek mesothelioma patients wanting mesothelioma treatment options for advanced malignant mesothelioma. In advanced malignant mesothelioma, participating in a clinical trial can be a lifesaving mesothelioma treatment option.

Mesothelioma treatment options for advanced malignant mesothelioma can also be found in clinical trials for anti-angiogenic therapy. Anti-angiogenic mesothelioma treatment options are biological therapies that revolve around blood vessel growth. A cancer needs its own blood supply to grow. Two primary chemicals contribute to growth, VEGF and FGF-2. Mesothelioma patients with advanced malignant mesothelioma have higher levels of VEGF compared to patients suffering from other cancers. The theory the clinical trials are hoping to prove is that blocking VEFG will stop the blood vessel growth that supports the cancer growth.

Mesothelioma treatment options for malignant mesothelioma also includes clinical trials in phototherapy, immunotherapy, gene therapy and other therapies. Medical specialists are scrambling to find the mesothelioma treatment options for malignant mesothelioma that can protect and cure the projected increase in mesothelioma patients of the future. Participating in clinical trials can extend mesothelioma life expectancy and provide hope for future generations.

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