Mesokan

Mesothelioma Chemotherapy

noreply@blogger.com (Bhima Permana) — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 17:46:00 +0700

Chemotherapy is a mesothelioma treatment that uses drugs to stop the growth of mesothelioma cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping the cells from dividing. Doctors also give mesothelioma chemotherapy to help reduce pain and other problems caused by mesothelioma. It may be given alone, with radiation, or with surgery and radiation.

When chemotherapy is taken orally or injected into a vein or muscle, the drugs enter the bloodstream and can reach cancer cells throughout the body (systemic chemotherapy).

When chemotherapy is placed directly into the spinal column, an organ, or a body cavity such as the abdomen, the drugs mainly affect cancer cells in those areas (regional chemotherapy). Combination chemotherapy is the use of more than one anticancer drug.

The way the chemotherapy is administered for mesothelioma treatment depends on the type and stage of the cancer being treated.

Usually mesothelioma chemotherapy is an outpatient treatment given at the hospital, clinic, doctor's office, or home. However, depending on which drugs are given and the patient's general health, the patient may need to stay in the hospital.

Side Effects of Mesothelioma Chemotherapy
The side effects of chemotherapy depend mainly on the drugs and the doses the patient receives. As with other types of mesothelioma treatment, side effects are different for each patient.

Mesothelioma chemotherapy affects rapidly dividing cells throughout the body, including blood cells. Blood cells fight infection, help the blood to clot, and carry oxygen to all parts of the body. When anticancer drugs damage blood cells, patients are more likely to get infections, may bruise or bleed easily, and may have less energy.

Cells in hair roots and cells that line the digestive tract also divide rapidly. As a result, patients may lose their hair and may have other side effects such as poor appetite, nausea and vomiting, or mouth sores.

Usually, these side effects go away gradually during the recovery periods between treatments or after treatment is complete. The healthcare team can suggest ways to relieve side effects.(Source)

Mesothelioma Radiation

noreply@blogger.com (Bhima Permana) — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 17:30:00 +0700

Radiation therapy, also called radiotherapy, involves the use of high-energy rays to kill cancer cells. When used to treat mesothelioma, radiation therapy is directed to a limited area and affects the cancer cells only in that area.

Radiation therapy may be used before surgery to shrink a tumor, or after surgery to destroy any cancer cells that remain in the treated area. Doctors also use mesothelioma radiation therapy, often combined with chemotherapy, as primary mesothelioma treatment instead of surgery. Radiation therapy may also be used to relieve symptoms such as shortness of breath.

For mesothelioma radiation therapy, patients go to the hospital or clinic, often 5 days a week for several weeks.

Mesothelioma Radiation Types
There are two types of radiation therapy. External radiation therapy uses a machine outside the body to send radiation toward the cancer. Internal radiation therapy uses a radioactive substance sealed in needles, seeds, wires, or catheters that are placed directly into or near the cancer.

The way the radiation therapy is given for mesothelioma treatment depends on the type and stage of the cancer being treated.

Side Effects of Mesothelioma Radiation Therapy
Mesothelioma radiation therapy, like chemotherapy, affects normal as well as cancerous cells. Side effects of radiation therapy depend mainly on the part of the body that is treated and the treatment dose.

Common side effects associated with mesothelioma radiation therapy include the following:

    - A dry, sore throat
    - Difficulty swallowing
    - Fatigue
    - Skin changes at the site of treatment
    - Loss of appetite

Patients receiving radiation to the brain may have headaches, skin changes, fatigue, nausea and vomiting, hair loss, or problems with memory and thought processes.(Source)

Diagnosis Mesothelioma

noreply@blogger.com (Bhima Permana) — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 06:48:00 +0700

Making a mesothelioma diagnosis is often difficult because mesothelioma symptoms are similar to those of a number of other conditions.

In order to make a diagnosis of mesothelioma, the healthcare provider will begin with a review of the patient's medical history, including any history of asbestos exposure. He or she will then perform a complete physical examination to look for signs or symptoms of mesothelioma. The doctor may also order some preliminary tests to rule out other, more common conditions. These tests can include x-rays of the chest or abdomen and lung function tests.

Tests and Procedures
If the doctor suspects mesothelioma after the history and physical exam, he or she may order a number of tests to help make a diagnosis.

Some of these tests include:

    - CT Scan
    - MRI
    - Biopsy
    - Thoracoscopy
    - Peritoneoscopy
    - Surgery


CT Scan/MRI
A CT (or CAT) scan or an MRI may also be useful in making a diagnosis. A CT scan is a series of detailed pictures of areas inside the body created by a computer linked to an x-ray machine. In an MRI, a powerful magnet linked to a computer is used to make detailed pictures of areas inside the body. These pictures are viewed on a monitor and can also be printed.

Biopsy
A biopsy is needed to confirm a mesothelioma diagnosis. In a biopsy, a surgeon or a medical oncologist (a doctor who specializes in diagnosing and treating cancer) removes a sample of tissue for examination under a microscope by a pathologist. A biopsy may be performed in different ways, depending on where the abnormal area is located.

Thoracoscopy
If the cancer is in the chest, the doctor may perform a thoracoscopy. In this procedure, the doctor makes a small cut through the chest wall and puts a thin, lighted tube called a thoracoscope into the chest between two ribs. Thoracoscopy allows the doctor to look inside the chest and obtain tissue samples.

Peritoneoscopy
If the cancer is in the abdomen, the doctor may perform a peritoneoscopy. To obtain tissue for examination, the doctor makes a small opening in the abdomen and inserts a special instrument called a peritoneoscope into the abdominal cavity.

Surgery
If these procedures do not yield enough tissue to make a diagnosis, more extensive diagnostic surgery may be necessary.

Mesothelioma Diagnosis and Staging
If the doctor makes a diagnosis of mesothelioma, he or she will want to determine the mesothelioma stage.

Staging involves more tests in a careful attempt to learn whether the cancer has spread and, if so, to which parts of the body. Knowing the stage of the disease helps the doctor plan mesothelioma treatment.

Mesothelioma is described as localized if the cancer is found only on the membrane surface where it originated. It is classified as advanced if it has spread beyond the original membrane surface to other parts of the body, such as the lymph nodes, lungs, chest wall, or abdominal organs.(source)

Mesothelioma Symptoms and Signs

noreply@blogger.com (Bhima Permana) — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 21:56:00 +0700

An Overview mesothelioma is a benign (noncancerous) or malignant (cancerous) tumor that begins within the mesothelium, a protective lining surrounding most of the organs in the body. Most mesotheliomas begin within the pleura (the membrane that surrounds the lungs and lines the wall of the chest cavity) or the peritoneum (the mesothelial tissue that covers most of the organs in the abdominal cavity). Mesothelioma symptoms will vary, depending on where the tumor is located.

Pleural Symptoms of Mesothelioma
Pleural mesothelioma symptoms are usually due to an accumulation of fluid in the pleura. These symptoms often include:

    - Shortness of breath
    - Pain in the chest or under the ribcage.

Peritoneal Mesothelioma Symptoms
Peritoneal symptoms of mesothelioma may include:

    - Weight loss
    - Lumps in the abdomen
    - Abdominal (stomach) pain
    - Abdominal swelling due to a buildup of fluid in the abdomen (stomach).

Other symptoms may also include:

    - Bowel obstruction
    - Blood-clotting abnormalities
    - Anemia
    - Fever.

Metastatic Mesothelioma Symptoms
If the cancer has spread beyond the mesothelium to other parts of the body, symptoms may include:

    - Pain
    - Trouble swallowing
    - Swelling of the neck or face.

Source : mesothelioma.emedtv.com

What is Mesothelioma ?

noreply@blogger.com (Bhima Permana) — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 21:36:00 +0700

What is mesothelioma ?

Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer (malignancy) that most frequently arises from the cells lining the sacs of the chest (the pleura) or the abdomen (the peritoneum). Pleural mesothelioma is the most common form, often presenting with symptoms in the chest area. Peritoneal mesothelioma is much less common. This can effect the organs in the abdomen, and its symptoms are related to this area of the body, that is, abdominal swelling, nausea, vomiting, and bowel obstruction. The rarest form of mesothelioma is pericardial mesothelioma, which involves the sac surrounding the heart.

There are two major cell types of mesothelioma, epithelial and sarcomatoid. Sometimes both of these cell types can be present. The sarcomatoid type is rarer and occurs in only about 15% of cases; it portends a poorer prognosis. In very rare cases, mesothelioma can originate from benign, non-malignant cells. This so-called benign mesothelioma can be cured surgically.

What are the symptoms of mesothelioma?

Most people present with complaints of shortness of breath. They also can have complaints of chest pain. Surprisingly, this pain is often not pleuritic; that is, it does not get worse with deep breathing. This is surprising in that the pleura (outer surface of the lung) is often involved in this disease, and most other diseases involving the pleura are often associated with pleuritic pain (pain that worsens with deep breathing). Patients may also be asymptomatic, with the disease discovered by physical exam or an abnormal chest X-ray.

As the disease progresses, shortness of breath increases, and weight loss, decreased appetite, and night sweats can develop. Local invasion by the tumor can result in changing of voice, loss of function of the diaphragm, and symptoms specific to the area and involvement of adjacent structures.

What causes mesothelioma?

Most people with malignant mesothelioma have worked on jobs where they breathed asbestos. Usually, this involves men over 40 years of age. Others have been exposed to asbestos in a household environment, often without knowing it. Interestingly, the number of new cases of mesothelioma has been relatively stable since 1983, the same time that the restrictions on asbestos were instituted by the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). In Europe, the number of new cases of mesothelioma continues to rise.

Source : mesothelioma.emedtv.com