Mesothelioma Facts

mesothelioma prognosis

2008-12-26T22:44:00.000-08:00

If you doesn't know about Prognosis for Mesothelioma i got some information to offer you is that...Prognosis for mesothelioma is solely dependent on the merit of diagnosis and the treatment. If treatment is provided with much delay then the survival chance of the victim grows slimmer. Then again, survivability depends heavily on factors like treatment, type of mesothelioma as well as patients health and morale. The stage of the disease during diagnosis is the most crucial factor that decides the prognosis and the minimum survival expectancy of the victim. But disappointingly, mesothelioma unlike other cancers is somewhat difficult to stage. This is because the symptoms of mesothelioma are non-specific due to which the cells are already matured at the time of diagnosis.The determining factors that lead to prognosis? The early detection of the disease is imperative for pursuing any kind of treatment. The location and size of the cancer, response of the cancer to the treatment, the extent to which the cancer has spread, what impression does the cells give under the microscope and the patients age are some of the contributing factors that determine prognosis. It should be pointed out that diagnosis of the disease is not a child’s play. Further more it becomes all the very more difficult because of the deceptive nature of the subtle symptoms of mesothelioma. Like for example, if you are coughing and you might never know that you have contracted the disease unless and until your doctor clarifies it all by providing a mesothelioma prognosis.

mesothelioma asbestos

2008-12-26T22:31:00.000-08:00

In the past, most people outside of the industry were totally unaware of the dangers relating to asbestos. However, over recent years the dangers and deadly effects of asbestos have become all too apparent, with more and more cases of the most deadly of these effects - mesothelioma - coming to light every day.Mesothelioma is a malignant cancer that can start in the cavities of the lungs, the heart, or the abdomen. This cancer is the direct result of exposure to disturbed asbestos, where the fibers become airborne. These airborne asbestos fibers can then be easily ingested or breathed in by those in the vicinity that are not wearing adequate protection. Once the asbestos fibers have lodged themselves within various parts of the body, they cannot be destroyed by the cells of the immune system, which are known as macrophages. Instead, the asbestos fibers lead to scar tissue within the body, and this is what can lead to mesothelioma and other asbestos related injuries.People that have contracted mesothelioma through asbestos exposure do not realize that anything is wrong for years. The typical latency period for this cancer is around twenty to forty years, which means that those affected may not find out for three or four decades following the exposure. Further delays can be experienced because of the symptoms of mesothelioma, which are very non-specific in nature - this means that they could easily be attributed to other more common ailments. This often leads to a delay in diagnosis, causing further delays when it comes to treatment of any sort.

malignant mesothelioma

2008-12-26T22:11:00.000-08:00

When the cancer is in the chest, it affects the pleura or tissue lining the lungs and is called malignant pleural mesothelioma. This is the most common type of mesothelioma. In the abdomen, a cancer of the peritoneum or tissue lining the abdominal cavity and covering various organs is called malignant peritoneal mesothelioma. The least common form of mesothelioma affects the pericardium, or outer lining of the heart. The term mesothelioma literally means a growth of the mesothelium, a layer of tissue from which the pleura, peritoneum and pericardium all develop.The majority of malignant mesotheliomas occur in people who have been exposed to asbestos, either directly or via people they live with. Avoiding exposure to asbestos can largely prevent malignant mesotheliomas. Depending on the location of the cancer, someone with malignant mesothelioma may have one or more of the following symptoms: breathlessness, pain under the rib cage or in the abdomen, an abdominal lump or swelling, and unexplained weight loss.

lung mesothelioma

2008-12-26T21:56:00.000-08:00

Much research work has been dedicated to find out the first symptoms of lung cancer. Extensive research works conducted at Mesothelioma research clinics have uncovered some symptoms of lung cancer closely linked with the disease.The main three symptoms to lung cancer that should not be ignored are shortness of breath, pain when breathing or coughing, and existence of a persistent cough, especially if it is accompanied by expectoration of sputum streaked with blood. Additionally, loss of appetite, fatigue, unusual losses of weight are three symptoms, which are indicative of lung cancer. The website further deals with the symptoms that can indicate and help identify the formulation of the preliminary stages of the disease (though difficult to be detected) so that adequate measures can be taken at the earliest possible opportunity.Stage IV with extensive lymph node involvement or cancer that has spread to other organs, hen treated with chemotherapy and palliative care to reduce symptoms and increase comfort has a one-year survival rate.

diagnosis mesothelioma

2008-12-26T21:45:00.000-08:00

A computerized tomography (CT) or a computerized axial tomography (CAT) scan may be useful, along with a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).The CT scan allows a computer x-rays machine to create a series of detailed pictures of inner body areas. The MRI allows to obtain detailed images of areas inside the body through a powerful magnet linked to a computer.The way to confirm a Mesothelioma diagnosis is a biopsy, in which an oncologist or a doctor specialized in diagnosing and treating cancer pathologies takes a sample of tissue from the patient to examine it under a microscope. The biopsy may be performed in various ways. In a thoracoscopy the name of the biopsy if the cancer is in the chest the doctor makes a small cut through the patient's chest and introduce a tube called thoracoscope to look inside and take tissue samples.In a peritoneoscopy if the cancer is in the abdomen the doctor makes the same procedure but in the patient's abdominal cavity to obtain tissue for examination.The stage of the disease is important to know if cancer is metastasized to other parts of the body, and to apply the best treatment for the patient.The disease will be 'localized' if the cancer is found only on the surface of the membrane, but it will be 'advanced' if it has spread to other parts of the body, such as lungs, abdominal organs, chest wall, lymph nodes.

mesothelioma cancer

2008-12-26T21:42:00.000-08:00

Everybody has listened the word mesothelioma at least once, but very few people know what this rare type of cancer really is. Through of a series of articles about this subject, you will know and learn rapidly about this cancer disease that affects either, men or women at any age without any kind of distinction. Lets review some basic concepts and what this disease exactly is.The cancer of the mesothelium appears when the cells of the membrane that forms the lining of several internal organs within the different body cavities, the pleura in the thoracal cavity, the peritoneum in the abdominal cavity and the pericardium in the heart sac, become abnormal or 'malignant' and divide neither with control nor order.The mesothelium is composed by two layers of cells, which produce a fluid that enable the expanding and contracting movements of organs, such as the heart beating and the corresponding lungs movements.Although most Mesothelioma cases start in the pleura or peritoneum, the problem increases when these cancerous cells can damage nearby tissues and organs or even metastasize or spread to other parts of your body.

peritoneal mesothelioma

2008-12-26T21:30:00.000-08:00

This disease attacks and destroys soft tissue and nearby nerves, causing intense pain to the patient.The first symptom is abdominal pain. At the initial stage, pain can be eased with analgesics, such as aspirin, acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin). Treatment can include surgery, radiation and chemotherapy, which are aimed at stopping the spread of the disease and at alleviating the pain. Another reason why this form of mesothelioma is so hard to treat is that the symptoms are often dormant and surface only after 35-40 years of exposure to asbestos. Peritoneal mesothelioma, like all forms of mesothelioma, is mainly caused by exposure to asbestos over a period of time. Construction workers, their families, and people who live in asbestos-insulated buildings where the asbestos fibers are exposed, are most at risk of contacting mesothelioma. Symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma include weight loss and abdominal pain and swelling due to a buildup of fluid in the abdomen. Other symptoms may include bowel obstruction; blood clotting abnormalities, anemia, and fever. If the cancer has spread beyond the mesothelium to other parts of the body, symptoms may include pain, trouble swallowing, or swelling of the neck or face.

pleural mesothelioma

2008-12-26T18:36:00.000-08:00

It is known that this form of cancer is caused by the inhaling of asbestos particles either during manufacturing or coming in contact whit the material or from living next to surroundings where asbestos is used. About three thousand new occurrences are brought to light in the USA every year.The time mesothelioma needs to break out can be very long and vary highly. Sometimes it takes 15 years but there were also cases in the past where it took up to 40 years and longer. So most patients diagnosed with this disease are in the age group of sixties or also seventies. Because of this long latency period the disease can be in an advanced stage before it is diagnosed correctly. So the following treatment may be less effective.It is very hard to diagnose pleural mesothelioma because this disease has no striking symptoms at the first view. The alarming indicators are disphagia (difficulty in swallowing), dyspnea (shortness of breath), persistent coughing and tightness in chest accompanied by chest pain. Warnings that the cancer has spread can be: a swollen neck, face and sometimes engorged arms. Other indications could also be fever, sweating, hoarseness or overfatigue. A further and more sophisticated stage of the symptoms can be the coughing up of blood. In this case those symptoms are mainly caused by a fluid collection in the thoracic area (effusion). It is also possible that the weak pellicle which is covering the lungs may fatten and decrease expansion and contraction. So it’s harder to breathe. The cancer can spread without noticing. In certain circumstances no noticeable signs may show till it is out of hand.84% of the patients have pleural effusions (fluid collection). The major symptoms of the pleural mesothelioma are shortness of breath (88%) and weight loss (28%).

About Asbestos & Mesothelioma

2008-12-25T23:47:00.000-08:00

Asbestos is a mineral that has been exposed to extreme pressure and has undergone physical and chemical change. This is a metamorphic rock, meaning it has changed its form, contains water and magnesium (from seawater), and silicate – a compound found in the earth’s crust. Asbestos was formed millions of years ago. Heat, pressure, and chemical activity impacted on the physical and chemical characteristics of pre-existing rocks. If observed closely, asbestos has thread-like filaments hence it is flexible. Unlike other minerals, it does not consist of tightly bound crystals. What are the uses of asbestos in industry? Asbestos is fire-resistant and has been used as a component in fire-proofing materials. It is used in the construction and other related industries. What are the dangers of asbestos? The discovery that asbestos has a direct link to mesothelioma cancer was established just before the turn of the century. Common symptoms are chest wall pain, fluid in the lungs, shortness of breath, unexplained fatigue, anemia, blood in sputum, as well as wheezing, coughing, and hoarseness. In severe cases, a person may develop tumor masses or his lungs may collapse. The disease may spread to the other parts of the body. In severe cases, blood clots will build up in the veins or lungs, body organs may bleed, jaundice will develop, blood sugar levels will lower, and severe ascitis may be developed. The risk of acquiring mesothelioma cancer is high. Other diseases are asbestosis, lung cancer, and pleural diseases. What is mesothelioma cancer? This is a ravaging disease that affects the tissues that hold the internal organs. It usually occurs in the abdominal cavity and affects the lungs. People also develop tumors as a consequence of this cancer. This type of cancer develops after 15-25 years after exposure to asbestos. Once diagnosed, it is fatal. The survival rate of those diagnosed with mesothelioma is between 6 and 24 months. How can asbestos be detected? The deadly asbestos fibers are invisible to the human eye. It cannot be smelled or tasted. The fibers are airborne and fibers can be inhaled or swallowed. The damage is permanent and irreversible. What are the areas in US with high asbestos exposure? Dallas, Texas; Denver, Colorado; Beltsville, Maryland; Dearborn, Michigan; Easthampton, Massachusetts; Trenton, Edgewater, New Jersey; Newcastle and Ellwood City, Pasadena; Phoenix and Glendale, Arizona; Honolulu, Hawaii; Marysville, Ohio; Minneapolis, Minnesota; Newark, New Orleans and Los Angeles, Santa Ana, California; Minot, North Dakota; Omaha, Nebraska; Portland, Oregon; St. Louis , Missouri; Tampa, Florida; Weedsport, New York; West Chicago, Illinois; Wilder, Kentucky; Spokane, Washington. Asbestos mining is also done in Europe, Australia, South Africa Canada and United Kingdom. How many individuals have been exposed to asbestos? Records indicate there have been 730,000 individuals who have been exposed to asbestos and some 8,400 companies have been sued. The sheer bulk of litigation has caused the defendants and insurers to spend 70 billion dollars. Who can file an asbestos lawsuit? An asbestos lawsuit can be filed by a family member with a relative who has developed mesothelioma and has already passed away. A suit can also be filed by a person has unwittingly developed the disease through a close contact with a person exposed to the asbestos.