Mesothelioma Symptoms...

For the past several decades, information about mesothelioma had been scarce and inconclusive, making this form of cancer one of the most indefinite and unspecified diseases in modern history. As physicians, scientists and various medical research experts learn more about this fatal disease, we’ve been able to determine that the greatest asset we have in battling this disease is information. Because mesothelioma carries such a great latency period, this disease is often misdiagnosed because the symptoms are so similar to more common and treatable illnesses.

MesotheliomaSymptoms.com is an extensive database of information and resources for patients and their families to better understand the symptoms of mesothelioma and the various aspects of diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, and many other factors of survival. Information regarding mesothelioma will continue to become more prevalent over the next 10 years, as scientists are working effortlessly to better understand this terrible disease. With this new information comes hope and progress, and patients, their families, and the general public can continue their growth in knowledge and awareness, and through that this disease can be combated.

Currently, as many as 3,000 people will be diagnosed with mesothelioma each year, and that number is only expected to increase in conjunction with the widespread use of asbestos throughout the last century. There is no cure for mesothelioma, but that does not mean that something cannot be done to prevent the spread of this cancer. By identifying symptoms early, life expectancy can be increased, creating a better quality of life for patients and their loved ones.

Types of Mesothelioma

There are four malignant types of mesothelioma, and a benign type of mesothelioma, which is non-cancerous.

Pleural mesothelioma is the most common type of this disease, occurring in 75 percent of cases. This cancer develops in the pleura, which is the lining of the lung.

Peritoneal mesothelioma is found in the peritoneal membrane in the stomach. This type accounts for less than 20 percent of cases.

Pericardial mesothelioma forms in the pericardium, which is the lining of the heart. This type accounts for less than 5 percent of cases.

Testicular mesothelioma is the rarest form of the cancer. It develops in the testicles. There have been very few diagnosed cases of testicular mesothelioma.

Mesothelioma Symptoms

Symptoms of mesothelioma usually do not appear for 20 to 50 years after asbestos exposure. When symptoms do appear, it may still be difficult to diagnose mesothelioma, as the symptoms often mimic other diseases like asbestosis, as well as typical respiratory illnesses and even the common cold. The symptoms vary according to the type of mesothelioma. Those with pleural mesothelioma often exhibit persistent coughing, chest pains, shortness of breath, fatigue and lumps on the chest, under the skin. Those with the peritoneal type may experience abdominal pain, weight loss and nausea. Pericardial mesothelioma causes irregular heartbeats, palpitations, breathing difficulties, chest pain and night sweats. Testicular mesothelioma causes lumps on the testicles that may or may not be painful.

Diagnosis

A physician will perform a review of a patient's medical history and conduct a physical examination. If the findings suggest something abnormal, the doctor may order some diagnostic tests, such as X-rays, MRI scans, CT scans or PET scans. These tests are used to locate the cancer, identify the size and determine the type of cancer. A biopsy is usually also ordered to test fluid and tissue samples and see if the mesothelioma is benign or malignant.

Treatment

After a diagnosis of mesothelioma is confirmed, the next step is to decide the course of treatment. Treatment may include chemotherapy, radiation or surgery. Patients usually choose a combination of treatments, as it helps the body aggressively fight the cancer and lengthen the patient's life expectancy. Mesothelioma patients are often given only one year to live following diagnosis, although early diagnosis and aggressive treatment may improve the outcome.

Besides the three most common types of treatment, there are also experimental treatments such as gene therapy, immunotherapy and photodynamic therapy. However, these options have not been fully researched and approved for use and may only be available through clinical trials. Participation in clinical trials, though sometimes risky, may increase the chance of a cure being discovered.

Mesothelioma Lawsuits

Throughout the last century, countless numbers of people were exposed to asbestos in their work environment. The dangers were unknown to many, and companies that manufactured products containing asbestos did not make any efforts to protect workers or even make them aware. Many people are able to seek legal recourse to receive compensation for medical bills, pain and suffering.

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 is the treatment for mesothelioma?

There are three traditional kinds of treatment for patients with malignant mesothelioma. Often two or more of these are combined in the course of treatment:

• surgery (taking out the cancer),




• radiation therapy (using high-dose X-rays or other high-energy rays to kill cancer cells), and




• chemotherapy (using drugs to fight the cancer).

Additional information

Surgery: There are several types of surgery used in treating mesothelioma.

• A pleurectomy is the removal of part of the chest or abdomen lining and some of the tissue around it.




• Depending on how far the cancer has spread, a lung also may be removed in an operation called a pneumonectomy.




• In an extrapleural pneumonectomy, the lung is removed along with the lining and diaphragm (the muscle that helps you breathe) on the affected side. In this surgery, the lining around the heart is also removed.




• Sometimes a pleurectomy/decortication is performed. In this surgery, the lining of the lung is removed along with as much of the tumor as possible.

Radiation therapy uses high-energy X-rays to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. Radiation may come from a machine outside the body (external radiation therapy) or from putting materials that produce radiation (radioisotopes) through thin plastic tubes in the area where the cancer cells are found (internal radiation therapy).

If fluid has collected in the chest or abdomen, your doctor may drain the fluid out of your body by putting in a needle into the chest or abdomen and using gentle suction to remove the fluid. If fluid is removed from the chest, this is called thoracentesis. If fluid is removed from the abdomen, this is called paracentesis. Your doctor may also put drugs through a tube into the chest to prevent more fluid from accumulating.

Chemotherapy is the use of drugs to kill cancer cells. Chemotherapy may be administered by pill, or it may be put into the body by a needle in the vein or muscle.

Chemotherapeutic agents can be administered either systemically (through the bloodstream) or intrapleurally (in the pleural cavity). When it is administered intrapleurally, the treatment is localized at the site of the tumor. These drugs are generally very toxic and you should discuss their use very carefully with your physician.