Pericardial Mesothelioma Symptoms and Misdiagnosis - Health - Medicine

Pericardial mesothelioma is a mesothelioma cancer that starts perilously close to the heart. Misdiagnosis is common, and treatment options are slim. The tumor can be benign, allowing for easier removal, or malignant - fast spreading and deadly. There are many cancers and diseases that affect the pericardial space around the heart, and pericardial mesothelioma is one of the rarest. However, it is the most common primary malignant pericardial tumor. It can also be secondary to malignant pleural mesothelioma.

Five to ten percent of all mesothelioma cases are pericardial mesothelioma, and the failure to diagnose pericardial mesothelioma early enough contributes to its low life expectancy from a few months to less than two years. The failure to detect the disease can also contribute to its statistical status. Early detection of pericardial mesothelioma provides a faint hope for prolonged survival, but only in the rarest and perhaps most medically advanced of mesothelioma cases is this possible.

Exposure to asbestos is the primary cause of pericardial mesothelioma and other mesotheliomas, such as the abdominal peritoneal mesothelioma, and the more common pleural mesothelioma of the lungs. The lungs, the abdomen and the heart are surrounded by a membrane. The cancer tumors of mesothelioma attack these membranes that are made out of mesothelium cells. If you can visualize your heart hanging within a sac, you can visual the membrane that is the subject of pericardial mesothelioma.

Pericardial mesothelioma, pleural mesothelioma and peritoneal mesothelioma all involve the fluid that is retained with the membrane. This fluid is necessary for proper functioning of the heart, lungs and other vital bodily systems. Excess fluid interferes, and even halts normal organ functions. The excess fluid is what is responsible for many of the mesothelioma symptoms of pain.

Chest pain, shortness of breath, coughing, and severe sweating at night have all been recorded as symptoms of malignant pericardial mesothelioma. These are more likely to be symptomatic of a non-cancer pericardial disease such as an inflammation of the pericardium - which is called pericardiocentesis and has identical symptoms. There have been cases where a misdiagnosis of lupus and even tuberculosis turned up as being malignant pericardial mesothelioma. Secondary cancers from lung cancer, breast cancer, lymphoma and leukemia can also attack the pericardium. Malignant mesothelioma in the pericardial region is often not discovered until surgery.

To further complicate matters, a CT scan can be interpreted as fluid, rather than the malignant tumor it is. This happened in 1979 with a 17 year old boy. Computed tomography has fortunately made significant advances since 1979, but CTs, MRIs and PETs must be done quickly. Poor detection and recognition still exist, and a second and third opinion should always be pursued. A patient should persist to find the source of pain and mesothelioma symptoms whenever a physician suggests an unknown etymology.

Pericardial mesothelioma treatment is in its infancy. Research continues in the areas of combination chemotherapies to reduce mass, intracavitary chemotherapy and irradiation, vaccines, molecular therapy and other mesothelioma treatment and preventative measures. As mesothelioma cases increase, so will effective mesothelioma treatments. It may be a long time before a cure for pericardial mesothelioma and other mesotheliomas are discovered. For now, advocacy work to ban asbestos use world wide is one of the best preventative medicines for the future that even a non-scientist can pursue.

Pericardial mesothelioma is often underdiagnosed in traditional tests and not found until heart surgery. The pain of pericardial mesothelioma and other malignant mesothelioma cancers can be quite severe. If a patient has pericardial mesothelioma with severe pain, the chances of survival and mesothelioma life expectancy is under two years. In 2004 a pericardiectomy was performed on a 19 year old boy and he died soon after surgery. A case study on a 54 year old man reported in the 2008 publication of the Annals of Thoracic Cardiovacular Surgery concluded that pain been shown to be reduced with resectioning the tumor and a pericardiectomy, which removes the pericardium, or a section of the pericardium.

Pericardiectomies are used more frequently to reduce constriction. However this barely touches the surface of the disease. The surgery is risky, but as knowledge of the cancer increases, so does the effectiveness of surgery. The earlier the pericardial mesothelioma tumor is found, the less risky the surgery. Pericardial mesothelioma does not respond to radiotherapy. Chemotherapy is used to reduce the cancerous mass.

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mesothelioma symptom - Health - Cancer

A mesothelioma symptom might not appear until between twenty and fifty years prior to the exposure to asbestos, which makes the disease difficult to diagnose or screen for, although there are some screening procedures which show some degree of effectiveness.

Symptoms of mesothelioma can include coughing, shortness of breath, pain in the chest, weight loss, swelling and pain of the abdomen, bowel obstruction, blood clotting problems, anemia, fever, general pain, difficulty swallowing, blood in the fluid coughed up, jaundice, low blood sugar level, swelling of the neck and/or face. Different symptoms might occur at different stages of the disease, and with different variations on the disease such as peritoneal mesothelioma or the more common pleural mesothelioma.

However, diagnosis of mesothelioma is often very difficult because any or all these symptoms can be caused by a variety of other less serious medical problems other than mesothelioma. If one has been exposed to asbestos (or other mesothelioma-causing chemicals, asbestos is not the only one), mesothelioma maybe suspected. The patient is usually examined physically first, then chest X-ray and lung function tests. After that, any fluid building up in the chest cavity can be tested, and a biopsy done, which involves taking a small sample of relevant bodily tissue (such as from chest or abdomen) for examination under a microscope by a pathologist.

Mesothelioma is a relatively rare form of cancer. It is found in only about one per million people, compared to a lung cancer incidence of one thousand per million people exposed to smoking. A combination of asbestos exposure and smoking can increase a person's likelihood of getting the mesothelioma, although smoking on its own has not been show to cause the disease.

When diagnosed, mesothelioma can be treated by surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy, often in a combination. Large legal settlements are often obtained by people with the disease. It is important to remember that what might appear to be a mesothelioma symptom is much more likely to be an indication of a less dangerous problem.

For more relevant information see our Blog Post Mesothelioma Symptom

For more relevant information see our Blog Mesothelioma Reports

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Asbestosis and Mesothelioma Symptoms and Signs of Asbestos Disease - Health - Skin Care

Asbestosis and mesothelioma have symptoms that make it hard to distinguish the signs of asbestos disease from the signs of hundreds of other respiratory illnesses. Monitoring your symptoms can help you recognize when the signs of your symptoms start flashing get medical attention now because asbestosis or mesothelioma are on the way. Asbestosis and mesothelioma are both diseases which can be attributed to asbestos exposure. Although some of their symptoms and signs of disease are similar, there are fundamental differences. Asbestosis is a lung disease, referred to as pulmonary fibrosis in medical fields. Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer. Asbestosis can develop into mesothelioma. Anyone who has a history of working or living with asbestos is at risk for either disease, and is also seven times more likely to suffer from lung cancer.

There are symptoms of the disease that are familiar to many heart and lung diseases. For example, swelling at the tops of fingers and toes from an accumulation of excess blood is called clubbing. This is a familiar sign of heart disease or lung disease, and particularly in diagnosing asbestosis.

The most noticeable first symptom of asbestosis and mesothelioma is difficulty breathing. Obviously, this is a symptom of a plethora of diseases and a result of many normal human activities. For smokers, smoking is likely the cause of difficulty breathing. Smoking and asbestos are a deadly combination, and diagnosis of the disease is far more difficult when a person has a history of smoking. However, there are some notable signs that difficulty with breathing is a suspect for asbestosis or mesothelioma, rather than due to smoking. The breathing difficulties will become notably progressively worse and will be wrought with frequent spasms. The difficulty in breathing then leads to chest pain for asbestosis and mesothelioma patients.

Pain in the side of the chest and the lower back while suffering from progressive difficulty breathing is a symptom of Mesothelioma. Symptoms are more severe than asbestosis. High fevers, muscle weakness, and sensory loss are signs that the cancer has attacked the chest or even the abdominal area and coughing up blood is not uncommon.

Asbestosis and mesothelioma symptoms and signs of disease are so common to other instances of lung disease and heart disease, that diagnosis often requires a long series of tests to distinguish the respiratory symptoms from one disease to another. Providing a history of asbestos exposure to your physician can help the physician prioritize the tests based on the most likely contributors to the cause of your symptoms. Asbestosis and mesothelioma both require substantial medical care as the diseases progress. Although there is not a cure for either, pain can be monitored and reduced with early diagnosis. If youve been exposed to asbestos, even from decades ago, monitor your symptoms and make an appointment with a physician if you begin having the symptoms of asbestosis or mesothelioma. A symptom is a sign of disease - and any signs of asbestosis or mesothelioma should direct you to get the medical attention you need to lessen your pain before it gets any worse.

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High Paying Lateral Keywords

If you run AdSense on your site you know that some words pay more than others, much more in fact. More than likely you have also learned that terms like "structured settlements" and "mesothelioma" can produce incredibly high PPC revenue, if they show up on your site at all. Unfortunately hundreds of thousands of other webmasters are "on" to this practice judging by the number of sites created regularly to capitalize on the phenomenom. So, where does this leave you? Out in the cold? No, by going after "lateral" keywords and terms you can produce a site that is even more profitable than these other sites. I will show you how you can do just that.

What do I mean by "high paying lateral keywords?" Essentially, these are words, or terms, that webmasters dismiss as not being relevant or are unrelated to certain high paying keywords. For instance, you know that the term "free adware" has a nice payout. You gear your article or page accordingly to have AdSense produce the lucrative ads and, instead, you come up with ads that are relevant but not big payers. Should you give up? No, of course not. Instead, research similar terms that can also serve up high paying ads and go with them. In this case the following could be considered:

adware blocker

adware removal

lavasoft adware

free adware removal

adware spy removal tool

remove adware

get adware

adware search and destroy

As you can see, each term contains the keyword "adware" but other words are added. In a recent survey that I conducted some of these "lateral" keywords/terms paid even more than the "free adware" terms. In addition, some nice ads were served up too.

What about mesothelioma? Isn't that a hot keyword? Yes, and an overworked one. Lateral keywords for your consideration here can include:

lawyers

attorneys

asbestos cancer

lung cancer

personal injury lawyer

personal injury attorney

The common thread with these keywords? Mesothelioma wasn't even mentioned. Sure, when you think "attorney" or "lawyer" you think of ambulance chasing terms like: bextra, malpractice, and physician neglect. Heck, if other ads are served up instead of mesothelioma ads, do not despair. Chances are that the deep pocket lawyers give a nice payout per click for these keywords too!

Alright, one final example before I turn you loose to do your own research. The keywords: credit cards.

student credit card

airline credit card

business credit card

Visa credit cards

credit card consolidation

rewards credit cards

online credit cards

0% interest credit cards

cash back credit cards

credit card counseling

The options for some keywords are obviously greater than others. If you write your own articles and/or web content you may need to experiment in order to produce the highest paying keywords. Still, these "lateral" keywords will push up your profits almost as much as standard keywords. Now, go and do your own research!

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How To Be Rejected By The Article Directories

Article writing is one of the best ways to increase your traffic and get more sales. You've heard it a million times so you decide to finally just do it. You write an article and submit it to the article directories, eagerly anticipating the flow of traffic. Instead you receive the dreaded rejection letter.

What did you do wrong?

1. Did you proof-read your article before you submitted it?

Popular article directory sites receive hundreds of submissions each day. It's much easier for the owner to click "decline" than to edit your typo-filled or unformatted article. Before submitting, proof the article and proof it again. If grammar and spelling make you sweat, then hire a Copywriter or ask a friend to help you before you click that submit button.

2. Is it an Advertisement or an Article?

Article directory sites are looking for informative, useful content, not press releases or ads. If your submission reads like an ad, it will not be accepted. And, think about it -- even if was approved on a fluke, do you think that website owners will be clamoring to publish your 500 word advertisement? Not a chance.

If your goal is to write and submit a press release, then check out places like prweb.com.

3. Did you read the Submission Guidelines?

Each article directory has a different culture. Glance through the Submission Guidelines before setting up an account to make sure your article will be welcome before you submit it. If an article directory is based around a niche like gardening, then please resist the urge to submit your Mesothelioma articles. There are plenty of article directories that want your articles. It

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Officials Test Levels of Asbestos at WTC Site

Since the twin towers at the World Trade Center in New York collapsed on Sept. 11, there has been a concern about asbestos being released into the air at the site.

The Environmental Protection Agency has been conducting tests to measure the levels of asbestos and other pollutants in dust and air samples at ground zero. Fortunately, in the two months following the attacks, few samples were found to be above federal standards in thousands tested.

However, some workers at ground zero have reported a persistent cough, sore throat and other respiratory problems they claim is a result of prolonged exposure to the smoke and dust. The condition has been dubbed the "World Trade Center cough."

Although the majority of the tests show levels of contaminants including asbestos at low risk to the general public, workers at ground zero could be at a higher risk because of the long hours they spend in the dusty environment. Therefore, workers are encouraged to wear protective gear. Meanwhile, officials continue to monitor the site.

Commercial production of asbestos insulation began in 1879, and until the early 1970s, asbestos was widely used for insulation and fireproofing because its fibers are strong, flexible and do not burn.

However, it was discovered that asbestos is potentially harmful when dust from the manufacture and installation of asbestos-laden materials releases fibers into the air. When inhaled, it can lead to serious health problems including lung cancer and mesothelioma - a cancer of the lining of the chest or abdomen.

Because of the long latency period of asbestos disease, which can span 15 to 30 years, people do not develop it immediately after exposure.

Despite a federal ban on the production of most asbestos products in the early 1970s, installation of these products continued through the late '70s and into the early '80s. Workers in many industries including construction, automotive and shipping have come in contact with asbestos- containing material. Because asbestos fibers are airborne, workers can bring them home on their clothes.

If you have been exposed to airborne asbestos on the job and have been diagnosed with a related illness, you may be able to receive financial compensation by filing a lawsuit against the manufacturers of the asbestos products to which you were exposed. Weitz and Luxenberg, a 51-attorney firm in New York that specializes in asbestos cases, can help you through the procedure.

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What is mesothelioma

"Mesothelioma" is the term used to describe a cancerous tumor that involves the mesothelial cells of an organ. Mesothelial cells are cells that form a protective lining over the lungs, heart and abdominal organs. The most common type of mesothelioma is pleural mesothelioma. The pleura is a thin membrane found between the lungs and the chest cavity. It provides a lubricated surface so that the lungs do not rub and chafe against the chest walls.

What causes it?

Virtually all cases of mesothelioma are related to inhaling of asbestos fibers. There are about 3,000 cases per year (mostly men over the age of 40) and there will be about 300,000 cases before 2030. Mesothelioma usually spreads rapidly through the mesothelial cells to the heart and abdominal organs. The life span is typically 24 months after diagnosis, but it depends on what stage the cancer is detected, the health of the patient and other factors.

Although asbestos exposure causes mesothelioma, it has a latency period after exposure that could last 15 to 50 years. This means that someone who worked in a factory with asbestos 40 years ago could be developing mesothelioma now. Anyone who knows they were exposed to loose asbestos fibers should be tested regularly for mesothelioma.

Diagnosis

The onset of mesothelioma is usually very slow. The first symptom is a constant pain in the chest. This pain is later accompanies by difficulty breathing due to an accumulation of fluid in the chest. Other symptoms include coughing, fever and weight loss. Mesothelioma can be diagnosed by your doctor with a chest CT-scan.

Prognosis (the outcome)

Mesothelioma advances in 4 stages:

Stage I - the tumor is limited to the area of the lining of the lung and usually limited to only one side of the chest.

Stage II - the tumor extends to other organs within the chest cavity, such as the heart or lymph nodes in the chest.

Stage III - the tumor expands to the other side of the chest or it spreads into the abdominal organs. The lymph nodes outside the chest are affected.

Stage IV -the cancer spreads to different parts of the body far outside the chest area (liver, brain, bone, etc...).

Mesothelioma is an extremely deadly disease. The average survival time is about one year from date of diagnosis. About 20% of patients who find their cancer early and treat it aggressively will reach the five-year mark.

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