mesothelioma: Malignant Mesothelioma Symptoms and Info

Mesothelioma is a rare cancer that is generally the result of being exposed to asbestos. Treatment is available but the disease typically has a poor prognosis.

Mesothelioma is a relatively rare cancer caused by asbestos exposure. When asbestos fibers are inhaled they become lodged the membranes that surround the lungs, heart or abdomen. Over a period of time these fibers cause tissue abnormalities, resulting in mesothelioma cancer.

Symptoms of Mesothelioma
Early symptoms of mesothelioma include shortness of breath, chest pain, persistent cough, weight loss and/or general flu symptoms. Because the symptoms are vague enough to be thought of as flu by the patient, diagnosis is often delayed. Some patients show no symptoms at all.

Since only a qualified medical doctor can make a definitive diagnosis, patients who suspect mesothelioma or a serious health condition should undergo a thorough medical examination.

Chances of Being Cured of Mesothelioma
Because diagnosis often comes too late, the prognosis is not good. Mesothelioma is a serious disease - the average survival time is about one year after diagnosis, according to the National Cancer Institute. A cure often depends on finding a doctor who is experienced treating mesothelioma, taking the initiative to find as much information as possible and exploring all the treatment options to make the best decision regarding treatment.

Chemotherapy and Surgery for Mesothelioma
Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy drugs or a combination of chemotheraphy drugs such as Cisplatin combined with Alimta are said to be effective chemotheraphy treatment. Cisplatin treatment is often used for malignant mesothelioma patients who are not good candidates for surgery.

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Surgery: A doctor will carefully evaluate a patient before surgery. Patients undergo surgery to remove the majority of the cancerous mesothelioma cells with chemotheraphy treatment to follow in an attempt to kill off the remaining cells.

Palliative surgical procedures are sometimes performed in an attempt to lessen the symptoms for a patient when it is almost certain that there is no hope of recovery from mesothelioma.

Malignant Mesothelioma - Survival Rates
Indicators of a better prognosis include:

Diagnosis made when the patient is under the age of 65,
Absence of chest pain,
Presence of symptoms more than six months before diagnosis. This may be an indication of a less aggressive form of mesothelioma, according to Dr. Michael Milano.
Good performance status (that is a measurement of well-being based on ability to work, care for self, etc).
Asbestos Cancer Victims
As mentioned, most people who develop mesothelioma get it because of exposure to asbestos. Asbestos is resistant to heat, fire and chemicals and does not conduct electricity, so it has been used in many construction projects and in other uses through the years.

A person's risk of developing mesothelioma depends on how much asbestos that person has been exposed to and for how long. Many people have taken legal action because their working conditions have not been safe, compounding the risk of contracting this often fatal disease.

More Articles on Cancer that may Interest the Reader:
How to Identify Breast Cancer Symptoms

Alternative Treatment for Prostate Cancer

Source:

asbestos.net, article "Mesothelioma Overview", Dr. Michael Milano, information retrieved 24 October 2009

The copyright of the article Malignant Mesothelioma Symptoms and Info in Cancer is owned by Fleur Hupston. Permission to republish Malignant Mesothelioma Symptoms and Info in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

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