Our firm is dedicated to providing each client with the options, strategy, and experience necessary to effectively resolve your case. At the Law Offices of Michael L. Bilbrey, P.C., we provide attentive, personalized service and strategic advocacy focused on returning optimal results in your case. At our firm, you can trust our service and our record of results.
Resources, strategy, and experience to build your caseIn addition to the more than 65 years of experience possessed by our lawyers, we have a vast resources and technology employed to successfully manage your case. On our staff, we have six investigators specifically dedicated to the research and fact collection for your case. We will contact witnesses, collect medical reports, and identify all defendants in your case. We work with a number of leading experts on all subject matter, including medical, forensic, and industry specialists. We have a wealth of information and resources to ensure that we build the most compelling case on your behalf. Our firm is strategic in obtaining timely testimony and in the expedition of cases to ensure a resolution as soon as possible.
Over $100 million recovered nationwide for victims, families, and survivors
Our attorneys have successfully recovered more than $100 million for injured and ill people throughout the nation in asbestos related and mesothelioma cases. We travel throughout the United States to protect the victims and families of mesothelioma injuries and serious toxic torts.
source : http://www.bilbreylawoffice.com
Edwardsville Mesothelioma Attorney Asbestos Lawyer Illinois
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Mesothelioma And Asbestos
The cause of a number of ailments and diseases, including the deadly cancer mesothelioma, asbestos has actually been in use for centuries. The name asbestos was given to this mineral by the Ancient Greeks, and the word literally means inextinguishable. The Greeks gave it this name because of its amazing fireproof qualities, although they also noted the harmful effects that asbestos had upon workers.
Asbestos is a soft and flexible, which has been widely used for many years for a variety of things. The modern use for this mineral is for insulation, and it has been used in a wide range of items and structures, from ceilings and walls to toasters and hairdryers. This mineral became popular during the industrial revolution as an effective and safe form of insulation – safe in that it was fireproof, but certainly not safe in any other sense. Although the risks involved in using and working with asbestos had been observed several hundred years earlier, these risks were not taken into account when asbestos became widely used for insulation.
It was not until the 1900s that the facts regarding the risks involved to workers began to re-emerge. An English physician carried out a post-mortem on a man who had worked with asbestos for many years, and he found traces of fibres and dust in the man’s lungs. The doctor stated that the man had died due to his exposure to this mineral. Over the next twenty or so years professionals in many countries began to notice the fact that disease, illness and death was uncommonly high amongst asbestos workers.
In the mid 1920s, an English doctor made the first diagnosis of asbestosis, and this was followed by a study which showed that 25% of English asbestos workers showed signs of a related lung disease. Laws were then stepped up in England to provide better ventilation and more protection to workers who were regularly exposed to asbestos. These steps were slowly followed by other countries over the next decade.
This protection was slow to be implemented and did not prove all that effective. Although asbestos manufacturers and companies that used the mineral were now aware of these studies and the risks involved to workers, they continued to use asbestos widely, exposing many workers to the hazards associated with it. These employees continued to work with asbestos, totally oblivious of the harm that it was capable of causing. Asbestos continued to be widely used until the mid-seventies, by which time many workers has been exposed and were already unknowingly affected by what we now know as mesothelioma.
Today, as the disease begins to take its toll on the asbestos workers of the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s, many new cases of the disease are being diagnosed each year. In fact, the number of cases is rising so quickly that many law firms have employed or trained lawyers to deal specifically with these types of cases. The irresponsible companies and manufacturers that were responsible for this exposure have been sued for billions of dollars, with many of them going bankrupt as a result of compensation payouts.
Although the effects of asbestos have been observed, tested and verified, this mineral is still used today in many places around the world. Although the laws and regulations regarding working with asbestos are far more stringent these days, this doesn’t change the fact that this mineral can cause more harm than good and has claimed many victims from all over the world in the form of the deadly disease mesothelioma.
source :http://www.mesotheliomakiller.com
Related vidoes
Mesothelioma And Asbestos
Asbestos is a soft and flexible, which has been widely used for many years for a variety of things. The modern use for this mineral is for insulation, and it has been used in a wide range of items and structures, from ceilings and walls to toasters and hairdryers. This mineral became popular during the industrial revolution as an effective and safe form of insulation – safe in that it was fireproof, but certainly not safe in any other sense. Although the risks involved in using and working with asbestos had been observed several hundred years earlier, these risks were not taken into account when asbestos became widely used for insulation.
It was not until the 1900s that the facts regarding the risks involved to workers began to re-emerge. An English physician carried out a post-mortem on a man who had worked with asbestos for many years, and he found traces of fibres and dust in the man’s lungs. The doctor stated that the man had died due to his exposure to this mineral. Over the next twenty or so years professionals in many countries began to notice the fact that disease, illness and death was uncommonly high amongst asbestos workers.
In the mid 1920s, an English doctor made the first diagnosis of asbestosis, and this was followed by a study which showed that 25% of English asbestos workers showed signs of a related lung disease. Laws were then stepped up in England to provide better ventilation and more protection to workers who were regularly exposed to asbestos. These steps were slowly followed by other countries over the next decade.
This protection was slow to be implemented and did not prove all that effective. Although asbestos manufacturers and companies that used the mineral were now aware of these studies and the risks involved to workers, they continued to use asbestos widely, exposing many workers to the hazards associated with it. These employees continued to work with asbestos, totally oblivious of the harm that it was capable of causing. Asbestos continued to be widely used until the mid-seventies, by which time many workers has been exposed and were already unknowingly affected by what we now know as mesothelioma.
Today, as the disease begins to take its toll on the asbestos workers of the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s, many new cases of the disease are being diagnosed each year. In fact, the number of cases is rising so quickly that many law firms have employed or trained lawyers to deal specifically with these types of cases. The irresponsible companies and manufacturers that were responsible for this exposure have been sued for billions of dollars, with many of them going bankrupt as a result of compensation payouts.
Although the effects of asbestos have been observed, tested and verified, this mineral is still used today in many places around the world. Although the laws and regulations regarding working with asbestos are far more stringent these days, this doesn’t change the fact that this mineral can cause more harm than good and has claimed many victims from all over the world in the form of the deadly disease mesothelioma.
source :http://www.mesotheliomakiller.com
Related vidoes
Mesothelioma And Asbestos
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Fighting For Asbestos Workers' Rights - Plaintiffs Lawyers and the Federal Government Turn the Tide
The turning point in the fight for workers rights was Dr Irving Selikoff's study of asbestos workers, published in 1964. Following the health histories of 1117 members of the International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Asbestos Workers, he showed a clear dose-response relationship between exposure and serious diseases, such as mesothelioma, lung cancer, and asbestosis. The more years a worker had been exposed in the workplace, the greater the probability that the worker would develop cancer. Selikoff found that more than half the workers showed evidence of asbestosis, and he documented a death rate among this population 25% higher than statistically expectable.
Armed with this damning information, plaintiff's lawyers representing workers with lung cancer and mesothelioma began to file product liability lawsuits against the manufacturers. The asbestos companies and their lawyers met them with evasions, misrepresentations, and outright lies. Two years after Dr Selikoff had published his findings a senior executive of Raybestos-Manhattan complained to the press that "We feel that the recent unfavorable publicity over the use of asbestos fibers in many different kinds of industries has been a gross exaggeration of the problems. There is no data available to either prove or disprove the dangers of working closely with asbestos."
Juries saw things differently. As evidence mounted that companies had known of the hazards and had failed to warn and protect their workers, plaintiff's attorneys won in court and delivered long-delayed justice and financial compensation to workers facing fatal cancers.
In 1971 OSHA, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, took a major step toward worker protection when it published a set of exposure standards for asbestos in the workplace. The EPA, the Environmental Protection Agency, was also watching, and in 1973, it determined that spray-on insulation containing asbestos violated air quality standards, and it banned the use of it altogether. Six years later the EPA decided that asbestos was so hazardous to human health that all use of it should be prohibited. The regulation was published in 1989. Companies filed suit, and two years later they prevailed in court.
The fight for justice for terminally ill workers got another assist in 1977 when plaintiff's lawyers found the Simpson papers. Sumner Simpson was president of Raybestos-Manhattan during the 1930's and 40's, when companies continued to insist that they knew of no dangers from asbestos. Simpson's letters to the company lawyers and other companies' officers showed that he and they had full knowledge of the dangers, and the life-threatening implications for their workers. The letters reveal decisions to withhold critical information and to mislead employees about the causes of their illness. Simpson and his peers chose their companies' profits over the lives of their workers.
The Simpson papers were the smoking gun the lawyers needed. When their leaders' own words revealed what the industry knew, the companies' defense crumbled. In a Florida case, brought by an Owens Corning worker with terminal cancer, the Florida Supreme Court determined that the employer had intentionally withheld information from the worker about the danger he faced working asbestos: "It would be difficult to envision a more egregious set of circumstances," the justices wrote. It represented "... a blatant disregard for human safety involving large numbers of people put at life-threatening risk."
Through the 70's and 80's plaintiff's lawyers cited the Simpson papers, and new research on mesothelioma to document the asbestos industry's failure to protect their workers.Workers who had served their country and trusted their employers were able to get compensation for the deceptions worked against them.
Asbestos companies file for bankruptcy In 1982, after a series of legal defeats in asbestos cases, Johns-Manville declared bankruptcy. At time it was the largest US corporation ever to do so. As they continued to lose in court other companies and manufacturers of products using asbestos did the same. Now bankruptcy courts are involved in determining the size of most victims' awards.
Asbestos companies, lawyers, and the US Congress must work out a plan, including legislation, to deal with victims' and their families' needs. The plan must also reckon with the needs of future victims, such as those who breathed the air in lower Manhattan after 9/11. Unsafe exposure still continues, and these victims' illnesses will be diagnosed in the years to come.
Casey Gerry Schenk Francavilla Blatt & Penfield LLP's team of asbestos lawyers led by Frederick Schenk have spent the last quarter century networking compiling and sharing information with colleagues, enabling the ability for attorneys to identify manufacturers, installers, sellers and industrial users of asbestos products. The result of this cooperative work helps enable mesothelioma victims to recover damages for their suffering related to exposure to asbestos.
source:http://ezinearticles.com
Mesothelioma, lung cancer and nutrition
NaturalNews) Mesothelioma doesn't have to be fatal. This rare form of lung cancer has long been feared by workers exposed to asbestos in their work environments, and much of that fear is justified: This form of cancer can be deadly. But it doesn't always have to be.
There are natural ways to greatly extend life, even for those suffering from mesothelioma. Most are based on nutritional therapies, as you'll see below. It may seem counterintuitive to suppose that nutrition could play a role in a disease caused by a physical substance (asbestos), but in fact, antioxidants and phytonutrients that support healthy cellular protection can play a substantial role in preventing the onset of cancer.
Below, we've collected research from a number of noted natural health authors who explain more about what really causes mesothelioma and how to better protect yourself against it using nutritional therapies. It's not a huge collection of solutions, but the information you'll find here should provide more clues for further research.
This is a unique collection of research exclusive to NaturalNews. If you use any quotes from this research, please provide proper credit to both NaturalNews and the original author of the quote.
Natural remedies to help prevent mesothelioma
Asbestos causes cancer, particularly lung cancer and mesothelioma, a rare cancer of the membrane lining the chest or abdominal wall. Exposure to asbestos has also been shown to cause cancers of the mouth, pharynx, larynx, esophagus, stomach, intestines, rectum, and kidney. Smoking greatly increases the likelihood of lung cancer in people exposed to asbestos. One study found that asbestos-exposed smokers have ten times the death rate from lung cancer as exposed nonsmokers. Kidney cancer and gastrointestinal cancers also have been associated with asbestos.
- Staying Healthy in a Risky Environment: The New York University Medical Center Family Guide by Arthur C. Upton, M.D.
In a 1998 study done in Western Australia, 1024 blue asbestos workers known to be at high risk of diseases such as mesothelioma and lung cancer, were enrolled in a cancer prevention program using vitamin A. Half the subjects were given 30 mg per day of beta carotene and the other half 7500 mcg (25,000 IU) of retinol. The workers were followed up from the start of the study in June 1990 until May 1995. Four cases of lung cancer and three cases of mesothelioma were observed in those in the vitamin A group, and six cases of lung cancer and 12 cases of mesothelioma in the beta carotene group.
- The New Encyclopedia of Vitamins, Minerals, Supplements and Herbs by Nicola Reavley
In Louisiana, a study of lung cancer showed fruit intake to be protective, while a small study of mesothelioma suggested that vegetable and carotenoid intake lowers the risk (NCI, 1988). The National Cancer Institute also announced that it had awarded over half a million dollars to the New York Botanical Garden to undertake a worldwide search for natural plant substances that might fight cancer. At the same time, NCI has established a Cancer Nutrition Laboratory and worked out elaborate plans to study "dietary factors associated with cancer risk".
source:http://www.naturalnews.com
Related vidoe:
Mesothelioma lung Cancer
There are natural ways to greatly extend life, even for those suffering from mesothelioma. Most are based on nutritional therapies, as you'll see below. It may seem counterintuitive to suppose that nutrition could play a role in a disease caused by a physical substance (asbestos), but in fact, antioxidants and phytonutrients that support healthy cellular protection can play a substantial role in preventing the onset of cancer.
Below, we've collected research from a number of noted natural health authors who explain more about what really causes mesothelioma and how to better protect yourself against it using nutritional therapies. It's not a huge collection of solutions, but the information you'll find here should provide more clues for further research.
This is a unique collection of research exclusive to NaturalNews. If you use any quotes from this research, please provide proper credit to both NaturalNews and the original author of the quote.
Natural remedies to help prevent mesothelioma
Asbestos causes cancer, particularly lung cancer and mesothelioma, a rare cancer of the membrane lining the chest or abdominal wall. Exposure to asbestos has also been shown to cause cancers of the mouth, pharynx, larynx, esophagus, stomach, intestines, rectum, and kidney. Smoking greatly increases the likelihood of lung cancer in people exposed to asbestos. One study found that asbestos-exposed smokers have ten times the death rate from lung cancer as exposed nonsmokers. Kidney cancer and gastrointestinal cancers also have been associated with asbestos.
- Staying Healthy in a Risky Environment: The New York University Medical Center Family Guide by Arthur C. Upton, M.D.
In a 1998 study done in Western Australia, 1024 blue asbestos workers known to be at high risk of diseases such as mesothelioma and lung cancer, were enrolled in a cancer prevention program using vitamin A. Half the subjects were given 30 mg per day of beta carotene and the other half 7500 mcg (25,000 IU) of retinol. The workers were followed up from the start of the study in June 1990 until May 1995. Four cases of lung cancer and three cases of mesothelioma were observed in those in the vitamin A group, and six cases of lung cancer and 12 cases of mesothelioma in the beta carotene group.
- The New Encyclopedia of Vitamins, Minerals, Supplements and Herbs by Nicola Reavley
In Louisiana, a study of lung cancer showed fruit intake to be protective, while a small study of mesothelioma suggested that vegetable and carotenoid intake lowers the risk (NCI, 1988). The National Cancer Institute also announced that it had awarded over half a million dollars to the New York Botanical Garden to undertake a worldwide search for natural plant substances that might fight cancer. At the same time, NCI has established a Cancer Nutrition Laboratory and worked out elaborate plans to study "dietary factors associated with cancer risk".
source:http://www.naturalnews.com
Related vidoe:
Mesothelioma lung Cancer
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Alternative Treatment for Mesothelioma
Prognosis for victims of mesothelioma is not good. Conventional treatment includes chemotheraphy and surgery, but certain alternatives and natural medicines may help.
Some types of alternative medicines for cancer have been practiced for years in different countries all over the world, but many herbal or natural remedies have not been approved by the FDA.
There is evidence that malignant mesothelioma patients as well as asbestos-exposed persons without mesothelioma have a compromised immune system. Although there is no known cure for mesothelioma, taking care of health and the immune system may prolong the life of the patient for quite a few years.
Before commencing any form of treatment, a patient should consult a doctor for a full evaluation and a patient who suffers from mesothelioma and resorts to alternative treatment should warn his or her doctor first. Concealing the use of alternative medicine may be detrimental to the mesothelioma patient.
Natural Cancer Treatment
A change in diet is recommended by most alternative treatment cancer practitioners, especially in the case of mesothelioma patients, since they need to build up their immune systems.
A diet high in organic fruits and vegetables and certain nuts and grains are said to stop the cancer from spreading.
Read more: http://cancer.suite101.com/article.cfm/alternative_treatment_for_mesothelioma#ixzz0VICUiKZZ
Plenty of organic, fresh dark green vegetables such as cabbage, spinach, broccoli, leeks and onions are said to fight cancer, and berries such as blueberries and goji berries are said to be super-foods in the fight against cancer.
Naturally occurring yellow, orange and red plant pigments found in chillies, tomatoes, peppers and carrots also help in fighting cancer.
Avoiding processed foods, refined sugar and products made with refined flour will result in a better immune system, since refined sugar strips the body of calcium and nutrients and can feed cancer cells.
Additional supplements and therapies may be introduced by a natural cancer treatment practitioner.
Mesothelioma Treatment
Conventional treatment for mesothelioma includes surgery, radiation and chemotheraphy, with varying degrees of success, depending largely on how early on the cancer is diagnosed.
Alternative Mesothelioma Treatment
Types of alternative mesothelioma treatment would include, but is not limited to:
Acupuncture
Antineoplaston Therapy
Gene Therapy
Herbs and diet
Homeopathy
Immuno-Augmentation Therapy
Photodynamic Therapy
Therapeutic massage
Ozone therapy
Mesothelioma Survivors
According to mesothelioma survivors who have tried non-conventional alternative treatment, eating wholesome, organic food including fresh fish and vegetables, eliminating sugar, hydrogenated oils, fried foods and limiting the consumption of meat has helped to fight their cancer.
Research into the field of mesothelioma cancer and other asbestos related illnesses is continuing, giving hope to many people who were previously told to "put their affairs in order". While the prognosis of mesothelioma is generally not good, mostly due to late diagnosis, if the cancer is diagnosed early this obviously raises the chances of fighting mesothelioma successfully.
Source: http://cancer.suite101.com.
Related vidoes:
Treating Mesothelioma Alternative Treatments - Acupuncture
Some types of alternative medicines for cancer have been practiced for years in different countries all over the world, but many herbal or natural remedies have not been approved by the FDA.
There is evidence that malignant mesothelioma patients as well as asbestos-exposed persons without mesothelioma have a compromised immune system. Although there is no known cure for mesothelioma, taking care of health and the immune system may prolong the life of the patient for quite a few years.
Before commencing any form of treatment, a patient should consult a doctor for a full evaluation and a patient who suffers from mesothelioma and resorts to alternative treatment should warn his or her doctor first. Concealing the use of alternative medicine may be detrimental to the mesothelioma patient.
Natural Cancer Treatment
A change in diet is recommended by most alternative treatment cancer practitioners, especially in the case of mesothelioma patients, since they need to build up their immune systems.
A diet high in organic fruits and vegetables and certain nuts and grains are said to stop the cancer from spreading.
Read more: http://cancer.suite101.com/article.cfm/alternative_treatment_for_mesothelioma#ixzz0VICUiKZZ
Plenty of organic, fresh dark green vegetables such as cabbage, spinach, broccoli, leeks and onions are said to fight cancer, and berries such as blueberries and goji berries are said to be super-foods in the fight against cancer.
Naturally occurring yellow, orange and red plant pigments found in chillies, tomatoes, peppers and carrots also help in fighting cancer.
Avoiding processed foods, refined sugar and products made with refined flour will result in a better immune system, since refined sugar strips the body of calcium and nutrients and can feed cancer cells.
Additional supplements and therapies may be introduced by a natural cancer treatment practitioner.
Mesothelioma Treatment
Conventional treatment for mesothelioma includes surgery, radiation and chemotheraphy, with varying degrees of success, depending largely on how early on the cancer is diagnosed.
Alternative Mesothelioma Treatment
Types of alternative mesothelioma treatment would include, but is not limited to:
Acupuncture
Antineoplaston Therapy
Gene Therapy
Herbs and diet
Homeopathy
Immuno-Augmentation Therapy
Photodynamic Therapy
Therapeutic massage
Ozone therapy
Mesothelioma Survivors
According to mesothelioma survivors who have tried non-conventional alternative treatment, eating wholesome, organic food including fresh fish and vegetables, eliminating sugar, hydrogenated oils, fried foods and limiting the consumption of meat has helped to fight their cancer.
Research into the field of mesothelioma cancer and other asbestos related illnesses is continuing, giving hope to many people who were previously told to "put their affairs in order". While the prognosis of mesothelioma is generally not good, mostly due to late diagnosis, if the cancer is diagnosed early this obviously raises the chances of fighting mesothelioma successfully.
Source: http://cancer.suite101.com.
Related vidoes:
Treating Mesothelioma Alternative Treatments - Acupuncture
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Mesothelioma Treatment
For your convenience, we have consolidated mesothelioma treatment information for your review. This section is updated on a weekly basis.
Conventional Therapies
Conventional mesothelioma therapies include surgery, radiation and chemotherapy. You should keep in mind that if you choose one course of action for mesothelioma treatment, you may preclude other courses. All of your options should be considered as soon as possible.
Alternative Treatments
Many of those being treated for serious illness find comfort in different alternative therapies such as massage and acupuncture. These untraditional methods of disease management can complement conventional therapies and allow the patient to be more at peace and comfortable during this difficult time. Meditation and Yoga are common methods used by many to reach a state of relaxation, and release endorphins, our body's natural pain relievers.
Experimental Therapies
Several forms of mesothelioma treatment such as the drug Alimta®, gene therapy, immunotherapy, photodynamic therapy and multimodality therapy are still in their experimental stages. We invite you to read the following articles on experimental therapies for malignant mesothelioma.
Treatment by Stage
This section lists typical treatment strategies based on the stage (using the Butchart staging system) of a pleural mesothelioma.
Leading Doctors
We have become familiar with medical doctors who specialize in aggressively treating malignant mesothelioma. Some of these doctors will review your medical records for free to see if you are a candidate for their mesothelioma treatment protocol.
Cancer Centers
Top Cancer Centers for mesothelioma treatment have been listed alphabetically by state for your convenience. Listings include contact information and Web site links where available.
Clinical Trials
Information about current studies of promising new or experimental mesothelioma treatments.
Ask Your Doctor
As you deal with your cancer and the process of treatment, you need to have honest, open discussions with your cancer care team. We have listed some questions that you might want to ask in this section.
Medical Support for Veterans with Mesothelioma
A diagnosis of mesothelioma cancer is a devastating reality for a veteran and his or her family. There are many treatment options available for veterans, and many avenues for veterans seeking medical support.
Articles & Abstracts
Selected abstracts relating to malignant mesothelioma from PubMed, the National Library of Medicine's search service.
Resources
Links to helpful resources on the World Wide Web for victims of mesothelioma and their families.
Mesothelioma Alerts
Despite Onconase Trial Results Quintessence Moves Ahead
WTN News - Madison, WI
June 6, 2008
In an article posted in this column a few weeks ago, it was reported that researchers at Madison-based Quintessence Bioscience were waiting for the results of a Phase IIIb clinical trial from Alfacell Corp., a significant East Coast competitor, on an anti-cancer therapeutic compound, Onconase. QBI-139, Quintessence's lead drug candidate, is very similar to Onconase but has not yet gone through clinical testing.
A Case Report: Malignant Mesothelioma with Unexpected Contralateral Mediastinal Shift
7thSpace Interactive
May 1, 2008
An unusual clinical feature of mesothelioma is the presentation of contralateral mediastinal shift due to pleural mesothelioma tissue, rather than a pleural effusion.
Heated Intraoperative Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy Developed by Renowned Surgeon
Mesothelioma.com
April 29, 2008
Dr. Paul Sugarbaker, renowned oncologic surgeon specializing in mesothelioma at the Washington Cancer Institute, developed a leading-edge surgical procedure to treat mesothelioma called heated intraoperative intraperitoneal chemotherapy.
Comprehensive Approach for Treating Peritoneal Mesothelioma is Described
Cancer Consultants, ID
April 9, 2008
Researchers have reported that combination resection, intraperitoneal chemotherapy, and whole abdominal radiation therapy is effective for treating malignant peritoneal mesothelioma.
Source
National Cancer Institute - Treatment Options for Malignant Mesothelioma
http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/malignantmesothelioma/Patient/page5
If you have any questions regarding treatment options or your legal rights, please contact us.
Conventional Therapies
Conventional mesothelioma therapies include surgery, radiation and chemotherapy. You should keep in mind that if you choose one course of action for mesothelioma treatment, you may preclude other courses. All of your options should be considered as soon as possible.
Surgery
Depending on the stage of a mesothelioma, surgery may be used to remove the cancer and some of the surrounding tissue. Often, however, an operation is not appropriate and the patient may have only minimally invasive procedures to relieve symptoms. A thoracentesis, where fluid in the chest is removed by placing a needle into the chest cavity, may be done to make a patient more comfortable. Sometimes talc or an antibiotic may be injected into the chest cavity to try to prevent the fluid from returning. These techniques are successful in controlling the fluid, at least temporarily, in as many as 90% of patients. Because pleural fluid can compress the lung and cause shortness of breath, these procedures can help patients breathe more easily, however, they do not cure the cancer. In the case of peritoneal mesothelioma, a needle may be inserted into the abdomen to drain the fluid. Similarly, a needle inserted into the pericardium (sac around the heart) can drain pericardial fluid and help relieve circulatory problems. However, draining this fluid may result in complications. Sometimes the cancer cells spread along the needle path, and a tumor nodule may form under the skin of that area.
Surgery for mesothelioma may be performed for one of two reasons: for palliation (to relieve pain and discomfort caused by the tumor), or to cure. Palliative surgery is typically done in cases where the tumor has already spread beyond the mesothelium and is difficult to completely remove, or in cases where the patient is too ill to tolerate a more extensive operation. Curative surgery is offered when the patient is in otherwise good health and the tumor is thought to be localized and can be completely removed. Unfortunately, microscopic spread of cancer cells into the chest wall and diaphragm are common even when such spread cannot be detected by routine tests. Therefore, given the extent of these operations and their very limited success, the exact role of surgery in treating mesothelioma is often debated.
There are two types of operations that may be offered to patients with pleural mesothelioma: pleurectomy/decortication and extrapleural pneumonectomy. Pleurectomy/decortication is usually a palliative (relieves symptoms without curing the cancer) operation in cases where the entire tumor cannot be removed. It involves removal of the pleura, where the majority of the tumor is located. It is effective in controlling effusions (fluid accumulation) and decreasing the pain caused by the cancer.
Extrapleural pneumonectomy is a far more extensive operation and most often used in cases of localized mesothelioma. The operation is technically difficult and performed only by surgeons in large specialized medical centers. It involves removing the pleura, diaphragm, pericardium, and the whole lung on the side of the tumor. The patient must be in overall good health with no other serious illnesses in order to tolerate the large operation. This operation is intended to remove all or most of the cancer and some surrounding tissues as well.
Surgical treatment of peritoneal mesothelioma is often performed either to help relieve symptoms or to attempt to remove the tumor from the wall of the abdomen and other digestive organs. As with pleural mesothelioma, these tumors are often too extensive to remove completely. Similar operations can be performed to remove a mesothelioma from the pericardium (the sac around the heart).
Click here to browse through related medical literature, articles and abstracts.
Radiation Therapy
Radiation therapy uses high-energy x-rays to kill cancer cells. External beam radiation therapy uses radiation delivered from outside the body that is focused on the cancer. This type of radiation therapy is often used to treat mesothelioma. These treatments are much like getting a diagnostic x-ray except for a longer time. Brachytherapy involves radioactive material being placed directly into the chest or the abdomen at the site of the mesothelioma. Radiation therapy is sometimes used as the main treatment of mesothelioma in some patients, especially those whose general health is too poor to undergo surgery. Adjuvant radiation therapy can be used in addition to surgery to kill small deposits of cancer that cannot be seen and removed during surgery. Palliative radiation therapy can also be used to ease symptoms of mesothelioma such as shortness of breath, pain, bleeding, and difficulty swallowing.
Side effects of radiation therapy may include fatigue and mild skin changes that resemble a sunburn. Often these side effects are temporary. Radiation may also make the side effects of chemotherapy worse. Chest radiation therapy may cause lung damage and lead to difficulty breathing and shortness of breath. Abdominal radiation therapy may cause nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. If you are having any of these side effects of radiation therapy, talk with your doctor since there are ways to help control these symptoms.
Click here to browse through related medical literature, articles and abstracts.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is the use of drugs for treating cancer. The drugs can be swallowed in pill form or they can be injected by a needle into a vein or muscle. Chemotherapy is systemic therapy. This means that the drug enters the bloodstream and circulates throughout the body (through the whole system) to reach and destroy the cancer cells.
In treating mesothelioma, these drugs may also be given intrapleurally (directly into the chest cavity), or intraperitoneally (into the abdominal cavity). Depending on the type and stage of mesothelioma, chemotherapy may be given as the primary (main) treatment or as an adjuvant (addition) to surgery.
Several anticancer drugs have been used to treat mesothelioma. The drug most effective when given alone is doxorubicin (Adriamycin). Other drugs that may be given alone include cisplatin and methotrexate. These anticancer drugs are often given in combination to try to increase their effectiveness. Combinations of drugs used in the treatment of mesothelioma include methotrexate and vincristine; cisplatin and Alimta®, vinblastine and mitomycin; cisplatin and doxorubicin; and doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide (or ifosfamide) and cisplatin. Other drugs such as paclitaxel and irinotecan are currently being studied to determine their effectiveness in treating mesothelioma.
Chemotherapy drugs kill cancer cells but also damage some normal cells. Therefore, careful attention must be given to avoiding or minimizing side effects, which depend on the specific drugs, the amount taken, and the length of treatment. Temporary side effects might include nausea and vomiting, loss of appetite, loss of hair, and mouth sores. Because chemotherapy can damage the blood-producing cells of the bone marrow, patients may have low blood cell counts. This can result in an increased risk of infection (due to a shortage of white blood cells), bleeding or bruising after minor cuts or injuries (due to a shortage of blood platelets), and fatigue or shortness of breath (due to low red blood cell counts).
Most side effects disappear once treatment is stopped. There are remedies for many of the temporary side effects of chemotherapy. For example, antiemetic drugs can be given to prevent or reduce nausea and vomiting. If you experience any side effects, be sure to talk with your doctor.
Click here to browse through related medical literature, articles and abstracts.
Sources
American Cancer Society - Detailed Guide: Malignant Mesothelioma Surgery
http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_4_4X_Surgery_29.asp?rnav=cri
American Cancer Society - Detailed Guide: Malignant Mesothelioma - Radiation Therapy
http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_4_4X_Radiation_Therapy_29.asp?rnav=cri
American Cancer Society - Detailed Guide: Malignant Mesothelioma - Chemotherapy
http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_4_4X_Chemotherapy_29.asp?rnav=cri
Oncolink - Cancer Types
http://www.oncolink.com/types/article.cfm?c=9&s=32&ss=252&id=9467
If you have any questions regarding treatment options or your legal rights, please contact us.
Surgery
Depending on the stage of a mesothelioma, surgery may be used to remove the cancer and some of the surrounding tissue. Often, however, an operation is not appropriate and the patient may have only minimally invasive procedures to relieve symptoms. A thoracentesis, where fluid in the chest is removed by placing a needle into the chest cavity, may be done to make a patient more comfortable. Sometimes talc or an antibiotic may be injected into the chest cavity to try to prevent the fluid from returning. These techniques are successful in controlling the fluid, at least temporarily, in as many as 90% of patients. Because pleural fluid can compress the lung and cause shortness of breath, these procedures can help patients breathe more easily, however, they do not cure the cancer. In the case of peritoneal mesothelioma, a needle may be inserted into the abdomen to drain the fluid. Similarly, a needle inserted into the pericardium (sac around the heart) can drain pericardial fluid and help relieve circulatory problems. However, draining this fluid may result in complications. Sometimes the cancer cells spread along the needle path, and a tumor nodule may form under the skin of that area.
Surgery for mesothelioma may be performed for one of two reasons: for palliation (to relieve pain and discomfort caused by the tumor), or to cure. Palliative surgery is typically done in cases where the tumor has already spread beyond the mesothelium and is difficult to completely remove, or in cases where the patient is too ill to tolerate a more extensive operation. Curative surgery is offered when the patient is in otherwise good health and the tumor is thought to be localized and can be completely removed. Unfortunately, microscopic spread of cancer cells into the chest wall and diaphragm are common even when such spread cannot be detected by routine tests. Therefore, given the extent of these operations and their very limited success, the exact role of surgery in treating mesothelioma is often debated.
There are two types of operations that may be offered to patients with pleural mesothelioma: pleurectomy/decortication and extrapleural pneumonectomy. Pleurectomy/decortication is usually a palliative (relieves symptoms without curing the cancer) operation in cases where the entire tumor cannot be removed. It involves removal of the pleura, where the majority of the tumor is located. It is effective in controlling effusions (fluid accumulation) and decreasing the pain caused by the cancer.
Extrapleural pneumonectomy is a far more extensive operation and most often used in cases of localized mesothelioma. The operation is technically difficult and performed only by surgeons in large specialized medical centers. It involves removing the pleura, diaphragm, pericardium, and the whole lung on the side of the tumor. The patient must be in overall good health with no other serious illnesses in order to tolerate the large operation. This operation is intended to remove all or most of the cancer and some surrounding tissues as well.
Surgical treatment of peritoneal mesothelioma is often performed either to help relieve symptoms or to attempt to remove the tumor from the wall of the abdomen and other digestive organs. As with pleural mesothelioma, these tumors are often too extensive to remove completely. Similar operations can be performed to remove a mesothelioma from the pericardium (the sac around the heart).
Click here to browse through related medical literature, articles and abstracts.
Radiation Therapy
Radiation therapy uses high-energy x-rays to kill cancer cells. External beam radiation therapy uses radiation delivered from outside the body that is focused on the cancer. This type of radiation therapy is often used to treat mesothelioma. These treatments are much like getting a diagnostic x-ray except for a longer time. Brachytherapy involves radioactive material being placed directly into the chest or the abdomen at the site of the mesothelioma. Radiation therapy is sometimes used as the main treatment of mesothelioma in some patients, especially those whose general health is too poor to undergo surgery. Adjuvant radiation therapy can be used in addition to surgery to kill small deposits of cancer that cannot be seen and removed during surgery. Palliative radiation therapy can also be used to ease symptoms of mesothelioma such as shortness of breath, pain, bleeding, and difficulty swallowing.
Side effects of radiation therapy may include fatigue and mild skin changes that resemble a sunburn. Often these side effects are temporary. Radiation may also make the side effects of chemotherapy worse. Chest radiation therapy may cause lung damage and lead to difficulty breathing and shortness of breath. Abdominal radiation therapy may cause nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. If you are having any of these side effects of radiation therapy, talk with your doctor since there are ways to help control these symptoms.
Click here to browse through related medical literature, articles and abstracts.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is the use of drugs for treating cancer. The drugs can be swallowed in pill form or they can be injected by a needle into a vein or muscle. Chemotherapy is systemic therapy. This means that the drug enters the bloodstream and circulates throughout the body (through the whole system) to reach and destroy the cancer cells.
In treating mesothelioma, these drugs may also be given intrapleurally (directly into the chest cavity), or intraperitoneally (into the abdominal cavity). Depending on the type and stage of mesothelioma, chemotherapy may be given as the primary (main) treatment or as an adjuvant (addition) to surgery.
Several anticancer drugs have been used to treat mesothelioma. The drug most effective when given alone is doxorubicin (Adriamycin). Other drugs that may be given alone include cisplatin and methotrexate. These anticancer drugs are often given in combination to try to increase their effectiveness. Combinations of drugs used in the treatment of mesothelioma include methotrexate and vincristine; cisplatin and Alimta®, vinblastine and mitomycin; cisplatin and doxorubicin; and doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide (or ifosfamide) and cisplatin. Other drugs such as paclitaxel and irinotecan are currently being studied to determine their effectiveness in treating mesothelioma.
Chemotherapy drugs kill cancer cells but also damage some normal cells. Therefore, careful attention must be given to avoiding or minimizing side effects, which depend on the specific drugs, the amount taken, and the length of treatment. Temporary side effects might include nausea and vomiting, loss of appetite, loss of hair, and mouth sores. Because chemotherapy can damage the blood-producing cells of the bone marrow, patients may have low blood cell counts. This can result in an increased risk of infection (due to a shortage of white blood cells), bleeding or bruising after minor cuts or injuries (due to a shortage of blood platelets), and fatigue or shortness of breath (due to low red blood cell counts).
Most side effects disappear once treatment is stopped. There are remedies for many of the temporary side effects of chemotherapy. For example, antiemetic drugs can be given to prevent or reduce nausea and vomiting. If you experience any side effects, be sure to talk with your doctor.
Click here to browse through related medical literature, articles and abstracts.
Sources
American Cancer Society - Detailed Guide: Malignant Mesothelioma Surgery
http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_4_4X_Surgery_29.asp?rnav=cri
American Cancer Society - Detailed Guide: Malignant Mesothelioma - Radiation Therapy
http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_4_4X_Radiation_Therapy_29.asp?rnav=cri
American Cancer Society - Detailed Guide: Malignant Mesothelioma - Chemotherapy
http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_4_4X_Chemotherapy_29.asp?rnav=cri
Oncolink - Cancer Types
http://www.oncolink.com/types/article.cfm?c=9&s=32&ss=252&id=9467
If you have any questions regarding treatment options or your legal rights, please contact us.
source: http://www.mesothelioma.com
Related vidoes
Mesothelioma Treatment Options: Chemotherapy
Conventional Therapies
Conventional mesothelioma therapies include surgery, radiation and chemotherapy. You should keep in mind that if you choose one course of action for mesothelioma treatment, you may preclude other courses. All of your options should be considered as soon as possible.
Alternative Treatments
Many of those being treated for serious illness find comfort in different alternative therapies such as massage and acupuncture. These untraditional methods of disease management can complement conventional therapies and allow the patient to be more at peace and comfortable during this difficult time. Meditation and Yoga are common methods used by many to reach a state of relaxation, and release endorphins, our body's natural pain relievers.
Experimental Therapies
Several forms of mesothelioma treatment such as the drug Alimta®, gene therapy, immunotherapy, photodynamic therapy and multimodality therapy are still in their experimental stages. We invite you to read the following articles on experimental therapies for malignant mesothelioma.
Treatment by Stage
This section lists typical treatment strategies based on the stage (using the Butchart staging system) of a pleural mesothelioma.
Leading Doctors
We have become familiar with medical doctors who specialize in aggressively treating malignant mesothelioma. Some of these doctors will review your medical records for free to see if you are a candidate for their mesothelioma treatment protocol.
Cancer Centers
Top Cancer Centers for mesothelioma treatment have been listed alphabetically by state for your convenience. Listings include contact information and Web site links where available.
Clinical Trials
Information about current studies of promising new or experimental mesothelioma treatments.
Ask Your Doctor
As you deal with your cancer and the process of treatment, you need to have honest, open discussions with your cancer care team. We have listed some questions that you might want to ask in this section.
Medical Support for Veterans with Mesothelioma
A diagnosis of mesothelioma cancer is a devastating reality for a veteran and his or her family. There are many treatment options available for veterans, and many avenues for veterans seeking medical support.
Articles & Abstracts
Selected abstracts relating to malignant mesothelioma from PubMed, the National Library of Medicine's search service.
Resources
Links to helpful resources on the World Wide Web for victims of mesothelioma and their families.
Mesothelioma Alerts
Despite Onconase Trial Results Quintessence Moves Ahead
WTN News - Madison, WI
June 6, 2008
In an article posted in this column a few weeks ago, it was reported that researchers at Madison-based Quintessence Bioscience were waiting for the results of a Phase IIIb clinical trial from Alfacell Corp., a significant East Coast competitor, on an anti-cancer therapeutic compound, Onconase. QBI-139, Quintessence's lead drug candidate, is very similar to Onconase but has not yet gone through clinical testing.
A Case Report: Malignant Mesothelioma with Unexpected Contralateral Mediastinal Shift
7thSpace Interactive
May 1, 2008
An unusual clinical feature of mesothelioma is the presentation of contralateral mediastinal shift due to pleural mesothelioma tissue, rather than a pleural effusion.
Heated Intraoperative Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy Developed by Renowned Surgeon
Mesothelioma.com
April 29, 2008
Dr. Paul Sugarbaker, renowned oncologic surgeon specializing in mesothelioma at the Washington Cancer Institute, developed a leading-edge surgical procedure to treat mesothelioma called heated intraoperative intraperitoneal chemotherapy.
Comprehensive Approach for Treating Peritoneal Mesothelioma is Described
Cancer Consultants, ID
April 9, 2008
Researchers have reported that combination resection, intraperitoneal chemotherapy, and whole abdominal radiation therapy is effective for treating malignant peritoneal mesothelioma.
Source
National Cancer Institute - Treatment Options for Malignant Mesothelioma
http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/malignantmesothelioma/Patient/page5
If you have any questions regarding treatment options or your legal rights, please contact us.
Conventional Therapies
Conventional mesothelioma therapies include surgery, radiation and chemotherapy. You should keep in mind that if you choose one course of action for mesothelioma treatment, you may preclude other courses. All of your options should be considered as soon as possible.
Surgery
Depending on the stage of a mesothelioma, surgery may be used to remove the cancer and some of the surrounding tissue. Often, however, an operation is not appropriate and the patient may have only minimally invasive procedures to relieve symptoms. A thoracentesis, where fluid in the chest is removed by placing a needle into the chest cavity, may be done to make a patient more comfortable. Sometimes talc or an antibiotic may be injected into the chest cavity to try to prevent the fluid from returning. These techniques are successful in controlling the fluid, at least temporarily, in as many as 90% of patients. Because pleural fluid can compress the lung and cause shortness of breath, these procedures can help patients breathe more easily, however, they do not cure the cancer. In the case of peritoneal mesothelioma, a needle may be inserted into the abdomen to drain the fluid. Similarly, a needle inserted into the pericardium (sac around the heart) can drain pericardial fluid and help relieve circulatory problems. However, draining this fluid may result in complications. Sometimes the cancer cells spread along the needle path, and a tumor nodule may form under the skin of that area.
Surgery for mesothelioma may be performed for one of two reasons: for palliation (to relieve pain and discomfort caused by the tumor), or to cure. Palliative surgery is typically done in cases where the tumor has already spread beyond the mesothelium and is difficult to completely remove, or in cases where the patient is too ill to tolerate a more extensive operation. Curative surgery is offered when the patient is in otherwise good health and the tumor is thought to be localized and can be completely removed. Unfortunately, microscopic spread of cancer cells into the chest wall and diaphragm are common even when such spread cannot be detected by routine tests. Therefore, given the extent of these operations and their very limited success, the exact role of surgery in treating mesothelioma is often debated.
There are two types of operations that may be offered to patients with pleural mesothelioma: pleurectomy/decortication and extrapleural pneumonectomy. Pleurectomy/decortication is usually a palliative (relieves symptoms without curing the cancer) operation in cases where the entire tumor cannot be removed. It involves removal of the pleura, where the majority of the tumor is located. It is effective in controlling effusions (fluid accumulation) and decreasing the pain caused by the cancer.
Extrapleural pneumonectomy is a far more extensive operation and most often used in cases of localized mesothelioma. The operation is technically difficult and performed only by surgeons in large specialized medical centers. It involves removing the pleura, diaphragm, pericardium, and the whole lung on the side of the tumor. The patient must be in overall good health with no other serious illnesses in order to tolerate the large operation. This operation is intended to remove all or most of the cancer and some surrounding tissues as well.
Surgical treatment of peritoneal mesothelioma is often performed either to help relieve symptoms or to attempt to remove the tumor from the wall of the abdomen and other digestive organs. As with pleural mesothelioma, these tumors are often too extensive to remove completely. Similar operations can be performed to remove a mesothelioma from the pericardium (the sac around the heart).
Click here to browse through related medical literature, articles and abstracts.
Radiation Therapy
Radiation therapy uses high-energy x-rays to kill cancer cells. External beam radiation therapy uses radiation delivered from outside the body that is focused on the cancer. This type of radiation therapy is often used to treat mesothelioma. These treatments are much like getting a diagnostic x-ray except for a longer time. Brachytherapy involves radioactive material being placed directly into the chest or the abdomen at the site of the mesothelioma. Radiation therapy is sometimes used as the main treatment of mesothelioma in some patients, especially those whose general health is too poor to undergo surgery. Adjuvant radiation therapy can be used in addition to surgery to kill small deposits of cancer that cannot be seen and removed during surgery. Palliative radiation therapy can also be used to ease symptoms of mesothelioma such as shortness of breath, pain, bleeding, and difficulty swallowing.
Side effects of radiation therapy may include fatigue and mild skin changes that resemble a sunburn. Often these side effects are temporary. Radiation may also make the side effects of chemotherapy worse. Chest radiation therapy may cause lung damage and lead to difficulty breathing and shortness of breath. Abdominal radiation therapy may cause nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. If you are having any of these side effects of radiation therapy, talk with your doctor since there are ways to help control these symptoms.
Click here to browse through related medical literature, articles and abstracts.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is the use of drugs for treating cancer. The drugs can be swallowed in pill form or they can be injected by a needle into a vein or muscle. Chemotherapy is systemic therapy. This means that the drug enters the bloodstream and circulates throughout the body (through the whole system) to reach and destroy the cancer cells.
In treating mesothelioma, these drugs may also be given intrapleurally (directly into the chest cavity), or intraperitoneally (into the abdominal cavity). Depending on the type and stage of mesothelioma, chemotherapy may be given as the primary (main) treatment or as an adjuvant (addition) to surgery.
Several anticancer drugs have been used to treat mesothelioma. The drug most effective when given alone is doxorubicin (Adriamycin). Other drugs that may be given alone include cisplatin and methotrexate. These anticancer drugs are often given in combination to try to increase their effectiveness. Combinations of drugs used in the treatment of mesothelioma include methotrexate and vincristine; cisplatin and Alimta®, vinblastine and mitomycin; cisplatin and doxorubicin; and doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide (or ifosfamide) and cisplatin. Other drugs such as paclitaxel and irinotecan are currently being studied to determine their effectiveness in treating mesothelioma.
Chemotherapy drugs kill cancer cells but also damage some normal cells. Therefore, careful attention must be given to avoiding or minimizing side effects, which depend on the specific drugs, the amount taken, and the length of treatment. Temporary side effects might include nausea and vomiting, loss of appetite, loss of hair, and mouth sores. Because chemotherapy can damage the blood-producing cells of the bone marrow, patients may have low blood cell counts. This can result in an increased risk of infection (due to a shortage of white blood cells), bleeding or bruising after minor cuts or injuries (due to a shortage of blood platelets), and fatigue or shortness of breath (due to low red blood cell counts).
Most side effects disappear once treatment is stopped. There are remedies for many of the temporary side effects of chemotherapy. For example, antiemetic drugs can be given to prevent or reduce nausea and vomiting. If you experience any side effects, be sure to talk with your doctor.
Click here to browse through related medical literature, articles and abstracts.
Sources
American Cancer Society - Detailed Guide: Malignant Mesothelioma Surgery
http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_4_4X_Surgery_29.asp?rnav=cri
American Cancer Society - Detailed Guide: Malignant Mesothelioma - Radiation Therapy
http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_4_4X_Radiation_Therapy_29.asp?rnav=cri
American Cancer Society - Detailed Guide: Malignant Mesothelioma - Chemotherapy
http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_4_4X_Chemotherapy_29.asp?rnav=cri
Oncolink - Cancer Types
http://www.oncolink.com/types/article.cfm?c=9&s=32&ss=252&id=9467
If you have any questions regarding treatment options or your legal rights, please contact us.
Surgery
Depending on the stage of a mesothelioma, surgery may be used to remove the cancer and some of the surrounding tissue. Often, however, an operation is not appropriate and the patient may have only minimally invasive procedures to relieve symptoms. A thoracentesis, where fluid in the chest is removed by placing a needle into the chest cavity, may be done to make a patient more comfortable. Sometimes talc or an antibiotic may be injected into the chest cavity to try to prevent the fluid from returning. These techniques are successful in controlling the fluid, at least temporarily, in as many as 90% of patients. Because pleural fluid can compress the lung and cause shortness of breath, these procedures can help patients breathe more easily, however, they do not cure the cancer. In the case of peritoneal mesothelioma, a needle may be inserted into the abdomen to drain the fluid. Similarly, a needle inserted into the pericardium (sac around the heart) can drain pericardial fluid and help relieve circulatory problems. However, draining this fluid may result in complications. Sometimes the cancer cells spread along the needle path, and a tumor nodule may form under the skin of that area.
Surgery for mesothelioma may be performed for one of two reasons: for palliation (to relieve pain and discomfort caused by the tumor), or to cure. Palliative surgery is typically done in cases where the tumor has already spread beyond the mesothelium and is difficult to completely remove, or in cases where the patient is too ill to tolerate a more extensive operation. Curative surgery is offered when the patient is in otherwise good health and the tumor is thought to be localized and can be completely removed. Unfortunately, microscopic spread of cancer cells into the chest wall and diaphragm are common even when such spread cannot be detected by routine tests. Therefore, given the extent of these operations and their very limited success, the exact role of surgery in treating mesothelioma is often debated.
There are two types of operations that may be offered to patients with pleural mesothelioma: pleurectomy/decortication and extrapleural pneumonectomy. Pleurectomy/decortication is usually a palliative (relieves symptoms without curing the cancer) operation in cases where the entire tumor cannot be removed. It involves removal of the pleura, where the majority of the tumor is located. It is effective in controlling effusions (fluid accumulation) and decreasing the pain caused by the cancer.
Extrapleural pneumonectomy is a far more extensive operation and most often used in cases of localized mesothelioma. The operation is technically difficult and performed only by surgeons in large specialized medical centers. It involves removing the pleura, diaphragm, pericardium, and the whole lung on the side of the tumor. The patient must be in overall good health with no other serious illnesses in order to tolerate the large operation. This operation is intended to remove all or most of the cancer and some surrounding tissues as well.
Surgical treatment of peritoneal mesothelioma is often performed either to help relieve symptoms or to attempt to remove the tumor from the wall of the abdomen and other digestive organs. As with pleural mesothelioma, these tumors are often too extensive to remove completely. Similar operations can be performed to remove a mesothelioma from the pericardium (the sac around the heart).
Click here to browse through related medical literature, articles and abstracts.
Radiation Therapy
Radiation therapy uses high-energy x-rays to kill cancer cells. External beam radiation therapy uses radiation delivered from outside the body that is focused on the cancer. This type of radiation therapy is often used to treat mesothelioma. These treatments are much like getting a diagnostic x-ray except for a longer time. Brachytherapy involves radioactive material being placed directly into the chest or the abdomen at the site of the mesothelioma. Radiation therapy is sometimes used as the main treatment of mesothelioma in some patients, especially those whose general health is too poor to undergo surgery. Adjuvant radiation therapy can be used in addition to surgery to kill small deposits of cancer that cannot be seen and removed during surgery. Palliative radiation therapy can also be used to ease symptoms of mesothelioma such as shortness of breath, pain, bleeding, and difficulty swallowing.
Side effects of radiation therapy may include fatigue and mild skin changes that resemble a sunburn. Often these side effects are temporary. Radiation may also make the side effects of chemotherapy worse. Chest radiation therapy may cause lung damage and lead to difficulty breathing and shortness of breath. Abdominal radiation therapy may cause nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. If you are having any of these side effects of radiation therapy, talk with your doctor since there are ways to help control these symptoms.
Click here to browse through related medical literature, articles and abstracts.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is the use of drugs for treating cancer. The drugs can be swallowed in pill form or they can be injected by a needle into a vein or muscle. Chemotherapy is systemic therapy. This means that the drug enters the bloodstream and circulates throughout the body (through the whole system) to reach and destroy the cancer cells.
In treating mesothelioma, these drugs may also be given intrapleurally (directly into the chest cavity), or intraperitoneally (into the abdominal cavity). Depending on the type and stage of mesothelioma, chemotherapy may be given as the primary (main) treatment or as an adjuvant (addition) to surgery.
Several anticancer drugs have been used to treat mesothelioma. The drug most effective when given alone is doxorubicin (Adriamycin). Other drugs that may be given alone include cisplatin and methotrexate. These anticancer drugs are often given in combination to try to increase their effectiveness. Combinations of drugs used in the treatment of mesothelioma include methotrexate and vincristine; cisplatin and Alimta®, vinblastine and mitomycin; cisplatin and doxorubicin; and doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide (or ifosfamide) and cisplatin. Other drugs such as paclitaxel and irinotecan are currently being studied to determine their effectiveness in treating mesothelioma.
Chemotherapy drugs kill cancer cells but also damage some normal cells. Therefore, careful attention must be given to avoiding or minimizing side effects, which depend on the specific drugs, the amount taken, and the length of treatment. Temporary side effects might include nausea and vomiting, loss of appetite, loss of hair, and mouth sores. Because chemotherapy can damage the blood-producing cells of the bone marrow, patients may have low blood cell counts. This can result in an increased risk of infection (due to a shortage of white blood cells), bleeding or bruising after minor cuts or injuries (due to a shortage of blood platelets), and fatigue or shortness of breath (due to low red blood cell counts).
Most side effects disappear once treatment is stopped. There are remedies for many of the temporary side effects of chemotherapy. For example, antiemetic drugs can be given to prevent or reduce nausea and vomiting. If you experience any side effects, be sure to talk with your doctor.
Click here to browse through related medical literature, articles and abstracts.
Sources
American Cancer Society - Detailed Guide: Malignant Mesothelioma Surgery
http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_4_4X_Surgery_29.asp?rnav=cri
American Cancer Society - Detailed Guide: Malignant Mesothelioma - Radiation Therapy
http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_4_4X_Radiation_Therapy_29.asp?rnav=cri
American Cancer Society - Detailed Guide: Malignant Mesothelioma - Chemotherapy
http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_4_4X_Chemotherapy_29.asp?rnav=cri
Oncolink - Cancer Types
http://www.oncolink.com/types/article.cfm?c=9&s=32&ss=252&id=9467
If you have any questions regarding treatment options or your legal rights, please contact us.
source: http://www.mesothelioma.com
Related vidoes
Mesothelioma Treatment Options: Chemotherapy
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Mesothelioma Signs & Symptoms
Mesothelioma is a serious type of cancer that attacks the membrane surrounding various organs. symptoms of mesothelioma may take anywhere between 20 to 40 years or more to manifest themselves. And because early mesothelioma symptoms tend to be general, they often go ignored or else confused for symptoms of less serious ailments. Generally, however, individuals begin to manifest mesothelioma symptoms two to three months prior to being diagnosed .
There are three types of mesothelioma – pleural, peritoneal, and pericardial – and symptoms tend to vary according to type.
Pleural Mesothelioma Symptoms
Pleural mesothelioma affects the lining of the chest. Symptoms of pleural mesothelioma may include:
Shortness of breath
Difficulty swallowing
Coughing
Sweating
Fever
Weight loss
Fatigue
Swelling in the upper body, especially the face and arms
Lower back pain
Pain in the side of the chest
Muscle weakness
Peritoneal Mesothelioma Symptoms
Mesothelioma that affects the lining of the abdominal cavity is called peritoneal mesothelioma. Symptoms of this type of mesothelioma include:
Stomach pain
Weight loss
Nausea
Vomiting
Swollen belly
Bowel obstruction
Anemia
Fever
Blood clotting abnormalities
Pericardial Mesothelioma Symptoms
The pericardium is the lining that surrounds the heart. Mesothelioma affecting this area of the body is known as pericardial mesothelioma and symptoms include:
Heart palpitations
Chest pain
Shortness of breath
Persistent coughing
If you have a history of asbestos exposure and have experienced any of these symptoms, you should consult with a physician immediately. To speak with a mesothelioma lawyer, please contact us.
Learn MoreImportant TopicsAsbestosis Symptoms
Asbestos Exposure
Asbestos Lawsuits
COPD Symptoms
Workplace Exposure
MesotheliomaMesothelioma Cancer
Malignant Mesothelioma
Abdominal Mesothelioma
Peritoneal Mesothelioma
Epithelial Mesothelioma
Pleural Mesothelioma
Pericardial Mesothelioma
Pleural Effusion Causes
Asbestos Lung Cancer
Legal HelpMesothelioma Attorney
Mesothelioma Lawsuit
Asbestos Litigation
File Asbestos Claims
Medical HelpMesothelioma Diagnosis
Mesothelioma Prognosis
Mesothelioma Symptoms
Mesothelioma Treatment
Mesothelioma Doctors
StatisticsMesothelioma Deaths by Industry
Mesothelioma Deaths by Occupation
Mesothelioma Statistics
Asbestos Cancer
source : http://www.asbestosnews.com/
Related vidoes
Mesothelioma - ATL Part 1
Mesothelioma - ATL Part 2
There are three types of mesothelioma – pleural, peritoneal, and pericardial – and symptoms tend to vary according to type.
Pleural Mesothelioma Symptoms
Pleural mesothelioma affects the lining of the chest. Symptoms of pleural mesothelioma may include:
Shortness of breath
Difficulty swallowing
Coughing
Sweating
Fever
Weight loss
Fatigue
Swelling in the upper body, especially the face and arms
Lower back pain
Pain in the side of the chest
Muscle weakness
Peritoneal Mesothelioma Symptoms
Mesothelioma that affects the lining of the abdominal cavity is called peritoneal mesothelioma. Symptoms of this type of mesothelioma include:
Stomach pain
Weight loss
Nausea
Vomiting
Swollen belly
Bowel obstruction
Anemia
Fever
Blood clotting abnormalities
Pericardial Mesothelioma Symptoms
The pericardium is the lining that surrounds the heart. Mesothelioma affecting this area of the body is known as pericardial mesothelioma and symptoms include:
Heart palpitations
Chest pain
Shortness of breath
Persistent coughing
If you have a history of asbestos exposure and have experienced any of these symptoms, you should consult with a physician immediately. To speak with a mesothelioma lawyer, please contact us.
Learn MoreImportant TopicsAsbestosis Symptoms
Asbestos Exposure
Asbestos Lawsuits
COPD Symptoms
Workplace Exposure
MesotheliomaMesothelioma Cancer
Malignant Mesothelioma
Abdominal Mesothelioma
Peritoneal Mesothelioma
Epithelial Mesothelioma
Pleural Mesothelioma
Pericardial Mesothelioma
Pleural Effusion Causes
Asbestos Lung Cancer
Legal HelpMesothelioma Attorney
Mesothelioma Lawsuit
Asbestos Litigation
File Asbestos Claims
Medical HelpMesothelioma Diagnosis
Mesothelioma Prognosis
Mesothelioma Symptoms
Mesothelioma Treatment
Mesothelioma Doctors
StatisticsMesothelioma Deaths by Industry
Mesothelioma Deaths by Occupation
Mesothelioma Statistics
Asbestos Cancer
source : http://www.asbestosnews.com/
Related vidoes
Mesothelioma - ATL Part 1
Mesothelioma - ATL Part 2
Monday, November 2, 2009
Monoclonal Antibodies in Cancer Therapy 2009-2024
Monoclonal antibodies in cancer therapy – significant commercial opportunities with developing technologies and innovative products – our new report explains prospects
Monoclonal antibody-based therapies for cancer are a thriving part of the biotechnology sector, as our new market report explains. The oncology market continues to expand worldwide, with high demand for more-efficacious and better-tolerated cancer therapies. The monoclonal antibodies oncology market has been growing at a significant rate and holds high potential for continued growth in both developed and emerging geographical markets. Currently, new technologies are removing some of the drawbacks that monoclonal antibody therapies have experienced. Leading pharma companies are already investing heavily in monoclonal antibody technologies. Monoclonal antibodies with great commercial potential are in the oncology pipeline, as our new report - Monoclonal Antibodies in Cancer Therapy 2009-2024 – also explains.
The period 2009 to 2019 will reveal volatility in the monoclonal antibody therapies market as current-leading products reach peak sales and new-generation drugs emerge. Will technological advances further benefit monoclonal antibody-based therapies and their overall sales? Will better immunotoxicity profiles lead to higher revenues for products? What types of monoclonal antibody therapies will enter the market from 2009 onwards, and can they dominate this market? Where will the opportunities lie, and what are the market drivers and restraints? This report will provide you with the information that you need to understand current trends and future possibilities. In particular, we discuss prospects for the following products:
• Rituxan
• Avastin
• Herceptin
• Erbitux
• Vectibix
• Campath.
Comprehensive analysis of this important market area
Monoclonal Antibodies in Cancer Therapy 2009-2024 examines that market sector critically, through a comprehensive review of information sources, including consultations with relevant experts. This report provides detailed sales forecasts, discussions of pipeline developments and analysis of commercial drivers and restraints, including a SWOT analysis. There are over 55 tables and figures included. The result is a comprehensive market- and industry-centred report with detailed analyses and informed opinion.
Why you should buy this report
Benefits that you will gain from Monoclonal Antibodies in Cancer Therapy 2009-2024 include:
• Appraisal of the existing market for monoclonal antibody cancer therapies
• Forecasting and discussion of market values for monoclonal antibody cancer therapies, including detailed sales forecasts for 2009 to 2024
• Discussion of leading products, including sales forecasts, growth and market share analyses
• Analyses of 10 leading national markets for monoclonal antibody cancer therapies, including China and India, with forecasted sales and market shares
• Coverage of R&D pipeline developments, with trends to watch out for
• Exclusive interviews with a leading academic and mAbs journal chief editor and with a chief scientist in oncology within a leading pharma company
• Informed analyses of strengths and weaknesses of the technologies from 2009 onwards
• Balanced assessments of commercial drivers and restraints that the market area faces from 2009 to 2024.
Nobody with a commercial interest in biotechnology or in cancer therapies can afford to overlook this new study from visiongain. The market environment in many countries will change. There will also be further development of the Chinese and Indian biotechnology sectors - especially relevant from next decade onwards. Importantly, there will be increases in demand in both developed and developing national markets. With an impressive R&D pipeline, this area holds great potential for new products. Do you want to know more about this important market?
To know more and to buy a copy of your report feel free to visit : http://www.bharatbook.com/Market-Research-Reports/Monoclonal-Antibodies-in-Cancer-Therapy.html
Or
Contact us at:
Bharat Book Bureau
Tel: +91 22 2757 8668
Fax: +91 22 2757 9131
Email: info@bharatbook.com
Website: www.bharatbook.com
source: http
related vidoes
Inflammation as a Target for Anti-cancer Therapy
DCA Possible Cure for Cancer
Monoclonal antibody-based therapies for cancer are a thriving part of the biotechnology sector, as our new market report explains. The oncology market continues to expand worldwide, with high demand for more-efficacious and better-tolerated cancer therapies. The monoclonal antibodies oncology market has been growing at a significant rate and holds high potential for continued growth in both developed and emerging geographical markets. Currently, new technologies are removing some of the drawbacks that monoclonal antibody therapies have experienced. Leading pharma companies are already investing heavily in monoclonal antibody technologies. Monoclonal antibodies with great commercial potential are in the oncology pipeline, as our new report - Monoclonal Antibodies in Cancer Therapy 2009-2024 – also explains.
The period 2009 to 2019 will reveal volatility in the monoclonal antibody therapies market as current-leading products reach peak sales and new-generation drugs emerge. Will technological advances further benefit monoclonal antibody-based therapies and their overall sales? Will better immunotoxicity profiles lead to higher revenues for products? What types of monoclonal antibody therapies will enter the market from 2009 onwards, and can they dominate this market? Where will the opportunities lie, and what are the market drivers and restraints? This report will provide you with the information that you need to understand current trends and future possibilities. In particular, we discuss prospects for the following products:
• Rituxan
• Avastin
• Herceptin
• Erbitux
• Vectibix
• Campath.
Comprehensive analysis of this important market area
Monoclonal Antibodies in Cancer Therapy 2009-2024 examines that market sector critically, through a comprehensive review of information sources, including consultations with relevant experts. This report provides detailed sales forecasts, discussions of pipeline developments and analysis of commercial drivers and restraints, including a SWOT analysis. There are over 55 tables and figures included. The result is a comprehensive market- and industry-centred report with detailed analyses and informed opinion.
Why you should buy this report
Benefits that you will gain from Monoclonal Antibodies in Cancer Therapy 2009-2024 include:
• Appraisal of the existing market for monoclonal antibody cancer therapies
• Forecasting and discussion of market values for monoclonal antibody cancer therapies, including detailed sales forecasts for 2009 to 2024
• Discussion of leading products, including sales forecasts, growth and market share analyses
• Analyses of 10 leading national markets for monoclonal antibody cancer therapies, including China and India, with forecasted sales and market shares
• Coverage of R&D pipeline developments, with trends to watch out for
• Exclusive interviews with a leading academic and mAbs journal chief editor and with a chief scientist in oncology within a leading pharma company
• Informed analyses of strengths and weaknesses of the technologies from 2009 onwards
• Balanced assessments of commercial drivers and restraints that the market area faces from 2009 to 2024.
Nobody with a commercial interest in biotechnology or in cancer therapies can afford to overlook this new study from visiongain. The market environment in many countries will change. There will also be further development of the Chinese and Indian biotechnology sectors - especially relevant from next decade onwards. Importantly, there will be increases in demand in both developed and developing national markets. With an impressive R&D pipeline, this area holds great potential for new products. Do you want to know more about this important market?
To know more and to buy a copy of your report feel free to visit : http://www.bharatbook.com/Market-Research-Reports/Monoclonal-Antibodies-in-Cancer-Therapy.html
Or
Contact us at:
Bharat Book Bureau
Tel: +91 22 2757 8668
Fax: +91 22 2757 9131
Email: info@bharatbook.com
Website: www.bharatbook.com
source: http
://www.articleshub.org/
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Inflammation as a Target for Anti-cancer Therapy
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Frequently Asked Questions About Mesothelioma
Many people have never heard of Mesothelioma and are unaware of its symptoms. Although considered a rare form of cancer, each year the number of cases grows. With the prevalence of this disease on the rise, it is critical to understand why and Mesothelioma develops and what courses of action can be taken in the event of diagnosis. The following is a list of frequently asked questions and answers that will provide you with some information on Mesothelioma, and the legal issues surrounding it.
What is Mesothelioma?
Mesothelioma is the term used to describe a cancerous tumor found in the mesothelial cells of an organ. The organs where this form of cancer is most commonly found are the lungs, heart and abdominal organs. Pleural Mesothelioma is cancer of the lung lining and is the most common form of Mesothelioma.
What causes Mesothelioma?
Mesothelioma is almost always caused by exposure to asbestos. Asbestos is often found in building materials used before the mid 1970’s. In addition, materials such as pipes, boiler insulation, floor, ceiling and roof tiles may contain asbestos.
How much asbestos exposure will cause Mesothelioma?
Generally, the probability of developing this form of cancer is in accordance with the length of time you are exposed to asbestos. Also, your health is at risk if your exposure to asbestos is intense. It should be noted that Mesothelioma has a latency period of 20 to 50 years. This means that you may develop the disease long after your exposure to asbestos. On average, people tend to develop Mesothelioma somewhere between 35 and 40 years after exposure.
How quickly does Mesothelioma progress?
The onset of Mesothelioma is quite slow. Patients will begin to experience symptoms such as lower back pain and chest pain. These symptoms may also be accompanied by weight loss, fever and difficulty breathing. Unfortunately, once Mesothelioma develops, it quickly becomes aggressive and treatment must be sought immediately.
Can Mesothelioma be treated?
Doctors are able to use several traditional methods of cancer treatment for Mesothelioma, including surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. Like all forms of cancer, detecting the disease at the earliest stage possible greatly increases the patient’s chances for survival. If you have worked in an industry such as construction or suspect that you may have been exposed to asbestos, be alert for symptoms and contact your doctor immediately.
What legal courses of action can be taken?
Anyone suffering from Mesothelioma is entitled to compensation from asbestos manufacturers. Additionally, if you are the spouse or child of someone who has died from Mesothelioma, you are entitled to file a claim and seek compensation.
Article Source:
related vidoes
How is Mesothelioma Diagnosed?
What is Mesothelioma?
Mesothelioma is the term used to describe a cancerous tumor found in the mesothelial cells of an organ. The organs where this form of cancer is most commonly found are the lungs, heart and abdominal organs. Pleural Mesothelioma is cancer of the lung lining and is the most common form of Mesothelioma.
What causes Mesothelioma?
Mesothelioma is almost always caused by exposure to asbestos. Asbestos is often found in building materials used before the mid 1970’s. In addition, materials such as pipes, boiler insulation, floor, ceiling and roof tiles may contain asbestos.
How much asbestos exposure will cause Mesothelioma?
Generally, the probability of developing this form of cancer is in accordance with the length of time you are exposed to asbestos. Also, your health is at risk if your exposure to asbestos is intense. It should be noted that Mesothelioma has a latency period of 20 to 50 years. This means that you may develop the disease long after your exposure to asbestos. On average, people tend to develop Mesothelioma somewhere between 35 and 40 years after exposure.
How quickly does Mesothelioma progress?
The onset of Mesothelioma is quite slow. Patients will begin to experience symptoms such as lower back pain and chest pain. These symptoms may also be accompanied by weight loss, fever and difficulty breathing. Unfortunately, once Mesothelioma develops, it quickly becomes aggressive and treatment must be sought immediately.
Can Mesothelioma be treated?
Doctors are able to use several traditional methods of cancer treatment for Mesothelioma, including surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. Like all forms of cancer, detecting the disease at the earliest stage possible greatly increases the patient’s chances for survival. If you have worked in an industry such as construction or suspect that you may have been exposed to asbestos, be alert for symptoms and contact your doctor immediately.
What legal courses of action can be taken?
Anyone suffering from Mesothelioma is entitled to compensation from asbestos manufacturers. Additionally, if you are the spouse or child of someone who has died from Mesothelioma, you are entitled to file a claim and seek compensation.
Article Source:
http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Maggie_Kay
related vidoes
How is Mesothelioma Diagnosed?
Mesothelioma: Questions and Answers
Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer in which malignant (cancerous) cells are found in the mesothelium, a protective sac that covers most of the body’s internal organs. Most people who develop mesothelioma have worked on jobs where they inhaled asbestos particles.
What is the mesothelium?
The mesothelium is a membrane that covers and protects most of the internal organs of the body. It is composed of two layers of cells: One layer immediately surrounds the organ; the other forms a sac around it. The mesothelium produces a lubricating fluid that is released between these layers, allowing moving organs (such as the beating heart and the expanding and contracting lungs) to glide easily against adjacent structures.
The mesothelium has different names, depending on its location in the body. The peritoneum is the mesothelial tissue that covers most of the organs in the abdominal cavity. The pleura is the membrane that surrounds the lungs and lines the wall of the chest cavity. The pericardium covers and protects the heart. The mesothelial tissue surrounding the male internal reproductive organs is called the tunica vaginalis testis. The tunica serosa uteri covers the internal reproductive organs in women.
What is mesothelioma?
Mesothelioma (cancer of the mesothelium) is a disease in which cells of the mesothelium become abnormal and divide without control or order. They can invade and damage nearby tissues and organs. Cancer cells can also metastasize (spread) from their original site to other parts of the body. Most cases of mesothelioma begin in the pleura or peritoneum.
How common is mesothelioma?
Although reported incidence rates have increased in the past 20 years, mesothelioma is still a relatively rare cancer. About 2,000 new cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed in the United States each year. Mesothelioma occurs more often in men than in women and risk increases with age, but this disease can appear in either men or women at any age.
What are the risk factors for mesothelioma?
Working with asbestos is the major risk factor for mesothelioma. A history of asbestos exposure at work is reported in about 70 percent to 80 percent of all cases. However, mesothelioma has been reported in some individuals without any known exposure to asbestos.
Asbestos is the name of a group of minerals that occur naturally as masses of strong, flexible fibers that can be separated into thin threads and woven. Asbestos has been widely used in many industrial products, including cement, brake linings, roof shingles, flooring products, textiles, and insulation. If tiny asbestos particles float in the air, especially during the manufacturing process, they may be inhaled or swallowed, and can cause serious health problems. In addition to mesothelioma, exposure to asbestos increases the risk of lung cancer, asbestosis (a noncancerous, chronic lung ailment), and other cancers, such as those of the larynx and kidney.
Smoking does not appear to increase the risk of mesothelioma. However, the combination of smoking and asbestos exposure significantly increases a person’s risk of developing cancer of the air passageways in the lung.
Who is at increased risk for developing mesothelioma?
Asbestos has been mined and used commercially since the late 1800s. Its use greatly increased during World War II. Since the early 1940s, millions of American workers have been exposed to asbestos dust. Initially, the risks associated with asbestos exposure were not known. However, an increased risk of developing mesothelioma was later found among shipyard workers, people who work in asbestos mines and mills, producers of asbestos products, workers in the heating and construction industries, and other tradespeople. Today, the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) sets limits for acceptable levels of asbestos exposure in the workplace. People who work with asbestos wear personal protective equipment to lower their risk of exposure.
The risk of asbestos-related disease increases with heavier exposure to asbestos and longer exposure time. However, some individuals with only brief exposures have developed mesothelioma. On the other hand, not all workers who are heavily exposed develop asbestos-related diseases.
There is some evidence that family members and others living with asbestos workers have an increased risk of developing mesothelioma, and possibly other asbestos-related diseases. This risk may be the result of exposure to asbestos dust brought home on the clothing and hair of asbestos workers. To reduce the chance of exposing family members to asbestos fibers, asbestos workers are usually required to shower and change their clothing before leaving the workplace.
What are the symptoms of mesothelioma?
Symptoms of mesothelioma may not appear until 30 to 50 years after exposure to asbestos. Shortness of breath and pain in the chest due to an accumulation of fluid in the pleura are often symptoms of pleural mesothelioma. Symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma include weight loss and abdominal pain and swelling due to a buildup of fluid in the abdomen. Other symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma 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.
These symptoms may be caused by mesothelioma or by other, less serious conditions. It is important to see a doctor about any of these symptoms. Only a doctor can make a diagnosis.
How is mesothelioma diagnosed?
Diagnosing mesothelioma is often difficult, because the symptoms are similar to those of a number of other conditions. Diagnosis begins with a review of the patient’s medical history, including any history of asbestos exposure. A complete physical examination may be performed, including x-rays of the chest or abdomen and lung function tests. A CT (or CAT) scan or an MRI may also be useful. 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.
A biopsy is needed to confirm a diagnosis of mesothelioma. 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 done in different ways, depending on where the abnormal area is located. 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. 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. If these procedures do not yield enough tissue, more extensive diagnostic surgery may be necessary.
If the diagnosis is mesothelioma, the doctor will want to learn the stage (or extent) of the disease. Staging involves more tests in a careful attempt to find out whether the cancer has spread and, if so, to which parts of the body. Knowing the stage of the disease helps the doctor plan 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.
How is mesothelioma treated?
Treatment for mesothelioma depends on the location of the cancer, the stage of the disease, and the patient’s age and general health. Standard treatment options include surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. Sometimes, these treatments are combined.
Surgery is a common treatment for mesothelioma. The doctor may remove part of the lining of the chest or abdomen and some of the tissue around it. For cancer of the pleura (pleural mesothelioma), a lung may be removed in an operation called a pneumonectomy. Sometimes part of the diaphragm, the muscle below the lungs that helps with breathing, is also removed.
Radiation therapy, also called radiotherapy, involves the use of high-energy rays to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. Radiation therapy affects the cancer cells only in the treated area. The radiation may come from a machine (external radiation) or from putting materials that produce radiation through thin plastic tubes into the area where the cancer cells are found (internal radiation therapy).
Chemotherapy is the use of anticancer drugs to kill cancer cells throughout the body. Most drugs used to treat mesothelioma are given by injection into a vein (intravenous, or IV). Doctors are also studying the effectiveness of putting chemotherapy directly into the chest or abdomen (intracavitary chemotherapy).
To relieve symptoms and control pain, the doctor may use a needle or a thin tube to drain fluid that has built up in the chest or abdomen. The procedure for removing fluid from the chest is called thoracentesis. Removal of fluid from the abdomen is called paracentesis. Drugs may be given through a tube in the chest to prevent more fluid from accumulating. Radiation therapy and surgery may also be helpful in relieving symptoms.
Are new treatments for mesothelioma being studied?
Yes. Because mesothelioma is very hard to control, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) is sponsoring clinical trials (research studies with people) that are designed to find new treatments and better ways to use current treatments. Before any new treatment can be recommended for general use, doctors conduct clinical trials to find out whether the treatment is safe for patients and effective against the disease. Participation in clinical trials is an important treatment option for many patients with mesothelioma.
source : www.mesotheliomakiller.com
Related vidoes
Mesothelioma And Asbestos Cancer Prevention
Mesothelioma Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the mesothelium?
The mesothelium is a membrane that covers and protects most of the internal organs of the body. It is composed of two layers of cells: One layer immediately surrounds the organ; the other forms a sac around it. The mesothelium produces a lubricating fluid that is released between these layers, allowing moving organs (such as the beating heart and the expanding and contracting lungs) to glide easily against adjacent structures.
The mesothelium has different names, depending on its location in the body. The peritoneum is the mesothelial tissue that covers most of the organs in the abdominal cavity. The pleura is the membrane that surrounds the lungs and lines the wall of the chest cavity. The pericardium covers and protects the heart. The mesothelial tissue surrounding the male internal reproductive organs is called the tunica vaginalis testis. The tunica serosa uteri covers the internal reproductive organs in women.
What is mesothelioma?
Mesothelioma (cancer of the mesothelium) is a disease in which cells of the mesothelium become abnormal and divide without control or order. They can invade and damage nearby tissues and organs. Cancer cells can also metastasize (spread) from their original site to other parts of the body. Most cases of mesothelioma begin in the pleura or peritoneum.
How common is mesothelioma?
Although reported incidence rates have increased in the past 20 years, mesothelioma is still a relatively rare cancer. About 2,000 new cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed in the United States each year. Mesothelioma occurs more often in men than in women and risk increases with age, but this disease can appear in either men or women at any age.
What are the risk factors for mesothelioma?
Working with asbestos is the major risk factor for mesothelioma. A history of asbestos exposure at work is reported in about 70 percent to 80 percent of all cases. However, mesothelioma has been reported in some individuals without any known exposure to asbestos.
Asbestos is the name of a group of minerals that occur naturally as masses of strong, flexible fibers that can be separated into thin threads and woven. Asbestos has been widely used in many industrial products, including cement, brake linings, roof shingles, flooring products, textiles, and insulation. If tiny asbestos particles float in the air, especially during the manufacturing process, they may be inhaled or swallowed, and can cause serious health problems. In addition to mesothelioma, exposure to asbestos increases the risk of lung cancer, asbestosis (a noncancerous, chronic lung ailment), and other cancers, such as those of the larynx and kidney.
Smoking does not appear to increase the risk of mesothelioma. However, the combination of smoking and asbestos exposure significantly increases a person’s risk of developing cancer of the air passageways in the lung.
Who is at increased risk for developing mesothelioma?
Asbestos has been mined and used commercially since the late 1800s. Its use greatly increased during World War II. Since the early 1940s, millions of American workers have been exposed to asbestos dust. Initially, the risks associated with asbestos exposure were not known. However, an increased risk of developing mesothelioma was later found among shipyard workers, people who work in asbestos mines and mills, producers of asbestos products, workers in the heating and construction industries, and other tradespeople. Today, the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) sets limits for acceptable levels of asbestos exposure in the workplace. People who work with asbestos wear personal protective equipment to lower their risk of exposure.
The risk of asbestos-related disease increases with heavier exposure to asbestos and longer exposure time. However, some individuals with only brief exposures have developed mesothelioma. On the other hand, not all workers who are heavily exposed develop asbestos-related diseases.
There is some evidence that family members and others living with asbestos workers have an increased risk of developing mesothelioma, and possibly other asbestos-related diseases. This risk may be the result of exposure to asbestos dust brought home on the clothing and hair of asbestos workers. To reduce the chance of exposing family members to asbestos fibers, asbestos workers are usually required to shower and change their clothing before leaving the workplace.
What are the symptoms of mesothelioma?
Symptoms of mesothelioma may not appear until 30 to 50 years after exposure to asbestos. Shortness of breath and pain in the chest due to an accumulation of fluid in the pleura are often symptoms of pleural mesothelioma. Symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma include weight loss and abdominal pain and swelling due to a buildup of fluid in the abdomen. Other symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma 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.
These symptoms may be caused by mesothelioma or by other, less serious conditions. It is important to see a doctor about any of these symptoms. Only a doctor can make a diagnosis.
How is mesothelioma diagnosed?
Diagnosing mesothelioma is often difficult, because the symptoms are similar to those of a number of other conditions. Diagnosis begins with a review of the patient’s medical history, including any history of asbestos exposure. A complete physical examination may be performed, including x-rays of the chest or abdomen and lung function tests. A CT (or CAT) scan or an MRI may also be useful. 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.
A biopsy is needed to confirm a diagnosis of mesothelioma. 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 done in different ways, depending on where the abnormal area is located. 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. 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. If these procedures do not yield enough tissue, more extensive diagnostic surgery may be necessary.
If the diagnosis is mesothelioma, the doctor will want to learn the stage (or extent) of the disease. Staging involves more tests in a careful attempt to find out whether the cancer has spread and, if so, to which parts of the body. Knowing the stage of the disease helps the doctor plan 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.
How is mesothelioma treated?
Treatment for mesothelioma depends on the location of the cancer, the stage of the disease, and the patient’s age and general health. Standard treatment options include surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. Sometimes, these treatments are combined.
Surgery is a common treatment for mesothelioma. The doctor may remove part of the lining of the chest or abdomen and some of the tissue around it. For cancer of the pleura (pleural mesothelioma), a lung may be removed in an operation called a pneumonectomy. Sometimes part of the diaphragm, the muscle below the lungs that helps with breathing, is also removed.
Radiation therapy, also called radiotherapy, involves the use of high-energy rays to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. Radiation therapy affects the cancer cells only in the treated area. The radiation may come from a machine (external radiation) or from putting materials that produce radiation through thin plastic tubes into the area where the cancer cells are found (internal radiation therapy).
Chemotherapy is the use of anticancer drugs to kill cancer cells throughout the body. Most drugs used to treat mesothelioma are given by injection into a vein (intravenous, or IV). Doctors are also studying the effectiveness of putting chemotherapy directly into the chest or abdomen (intracavitary chemotherapy).
To relieve symptoms and control pain, the doctor may use a needle or a thin tube to drain fluid that has built up in the chest or abdomen. The procedure for removing fluid from the chest is called thoracentesis. Removal of fluid from the abdomen is called paracentesis. Drugs may be given through a tube in the chest to prevent more fluid from accumulating. Radiation therapy and surgery may also be helpful in relieving symptoms.
Are new treatments for mesothelioma being studied?
Yes. Because mesothelioma is very hard to control, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) is sponsoring clinical trials (research studies with people) that are designed to find new treatments and better ways to use current treatments. Before any new treatment can be recommended for general use, doctors conduct clinical trials to find out whether the treatment is safe for patients and effective against the disease. Participation in clinical trials is an important treatment option for many patients with mesothelioma.
source : www.mesotheliomakiller.com
Related vidoes
Mesothelioma And Asbestos Cancer Prevention
Mesothelioma Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Introduction to Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma is one of the deadliest diseases known to man; the average life span of an inflicted person from the time of diagnosis until death is less than 24 months. It’s a disease that strikes approximately 3,000 United States citizens each and every year; hard working people who have labored for a lifetime to provide for their families, doing the work that keeps this country running and a great place to live. They worked in factories, at shipyards, in mines, for the US military, as engineers, as pipefitters, as steel workers, as auto mechanics, and in so many other professions.
Mesothelioma is a rare and virulent form of cancer that affects the lining of the lung, lining of the abdominal cavity or lining around the heart. Mesothelioma is caused by exposure to asbestos, and occurs in those who have breathed in asbestos fiber, in many cases 20 to 50 or more years ago. Some were exposed on their jobs; others were exposed secondarily through family members who without their knowledge, brought fiber home on their work clothes or on their hair or skin.
Despite the serious nature of the disease, there is hope. Every year, doctors and scientists worldwide are developing new treatments and making new discoveries that help to improve the chance of survival and the patient’s quality of life. This website, Beat Mesothelioma, helps patients and their family members connect with the resources they need to be informed and make the best decisions on their potential treatment and care.
The first section of our website answers common questions about Mesothelioma and its cause and discusses those at risk. In the next section, the most common symptoms are discussed, as well as the various testing procedures which may be used to come to a diagnosis. The treatment section discusses types of aggressive treatment such as surgery, chemotherapy, radiation and clinical trials being conducted by cancer facilities throughout the world, as well as the palliative care option for those who either can not or choose not to be treated. Every year, progress is being made.
Beat Mesothelioma is a site created to provide you with up to date information on the deadly disease Mesothelioma. We endeavour to provide the most complete overview of the disease and all aspects of it. This includes general information on the disease, breaking news on the search for a cure and perspective legislation designed to limit you as well as all other news on the subject, links to other sites and online resources that can provide important and in-depth Mesothelioma and cancer related information, and a legal guide to help you with the complex legal issues involved with Mesothelioma.
Mesothelioma is a disease that is almost 100% preventable; the only known cause is via exposure to the deadly mineral Asbestos. It comes from inhaling the particles of dust as the asbestos degrades; eating away at the lining of your lungs and developing into a deadly cancer. Dust that was inhaled in clouds of white powder, dust that was carried home on the clothes of the men who built this country, dust that was cleaned from the clothes by the wives and children who supported their sole provider at home, dust that was packed around the heating systems in houses and offices and schools, dust that carried a deadly price; and dust made a fortune in blood money for the companies that produced it.
Unfortunately, the effects of asbestos on the human body were known to be deadly for years by the companies who employed the ‘greatest generation’ and made hundreds of millions, if not billions, of dollars off of their backs. But instead of taking the basic steps to solve the problem and save the lives of thousands of their workers, they chose to do nothing and continue to make a “healthy” profit with a “deadly”
product. Many even went so far as to hide the truth from their workers and their families. And because the normal latency period for Mesothelioma (The time from exposure until the patient falls ill) is 20 to 30 years, many got away with this for years. We are only now beginning to see the full effects of the disease, and feel the terrible outcry of the people against those who put profits before human lives to a degree that is simply unfathomable.
source : www.beatmesothelioma.com
related vidoes
Introduction to Mesothelioma
mesothelioma
Mesothelioma is a rare and virulent form of cancer that affects the lining of the lung, lining of the abdominal cavity or lining around the heart. Mesothelioma is caused by exposure to asbestos, and occurs in those who have breathed in asbestos fiber, in many cases 20 to 50 or more years ago. Some were exposed on their jobs; others were exposed secondarily through family members who without their knowledge, brought fiber home on their work clothes or on their hair or skin.
Despite the serious nature of the disease, there is hope. Every year, doctors and scientists worldwide are developing new treatments and making new discoveries that help to improve the chance of survival and the patient’s quality of life. This website, Beat Mesothelioma, helps patients and their family members connect with the resources they need to be informed and make the best decisions on their potential treatment and care.
The first section of our website answers common questions about Mesothelioma and its cause and discusses those at risk. In the next section, the most common symptoms are discussed, as well as the various testing procedures which may be used to come to a diagnosis. The treatment section discusses types of aggressive treatment such as surgery, chemotherapy, radiation and clinical trials being conducted by cancer facilities throughout the world, as well as the palliative care option for those who either can not or choose not to be treated. Every year, progress is being made.
Beat Mesothelioma is a site created to provide you with up to date information on the deadly disease Mesothelioma. We endeavour to provide the most complete overview of the disease and all aspects of it. This includes general information on the disease, breaking news on the search for a cure and perspective legislation designed to limit you as well as all other news on the subject, links to other sites and online resources that can provide important and in-depth Mesothelioma and cancer related information, and a legal guide to help you with the complex legal issues involved with Mesothelioma.
Mesothelioma is a disease that is almost 100% preventable; the only known cause is via exposure to the deadly mineral Asbestos. It comes from inhaling the particles of dust as the asbestos degrades; eating away at the lining of your lungs and developing into a deadly cancer. Dust that was inhaled in clouds of white powder, dust that was carried home on the clothes of the men who built this country, dust that was cleaned from the clothes by the wives and children who supported their sole provider at home, dust that was packed around the heating systems in houses and offices and schools, dust that carried a deadly price; and dust made a fortune in blood money for the companies that produced it.
Unfortunately, the effects of asbestos on the human body were known to be deadly for years by the companies who employed the ‘greatest generation’ and made hundreds of millions, if not billions, of dollars off of their backs. But instead of taking the basic steps to solve the problem and save the lives of thousands of their workers, they chose to do nothing and continue to make a “healthy” profit with a “deadly”
product. Many even went so far as to hide the truth from their workers and their families. And because the normal latency period for Mesothelioma (The time from exposure until the patient falls ill) is 20 to 30 years, many got away with this for years. We are only now beginning to see the full effects of the disease, and feel the terrible outcry of the people against those who put profits before human lives to a degree that is simply unfathomable.
source : www.beatmesothelioma.com
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Introduction to Mesothelioma
mesothelioma
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.
How much asbestos exposure does it take to get mesothelioma?
An exposure of as little as one or two months can result in mesothelioma 30 or 40 years later and in some cases, as much as 70 years later.
How long does it take after asbestos exposure for mesothelioma to show up?
People exposed in the 1940s, '50s, '60s, and '70s are now being diagnosed with mesothelioma because of the long latency period of asbestos disease.
How is mesothelioma diagnosed?
Mesothelioma is diagnosed by pathological examination from a biopsy. Tissue is removed, placed under the microscope, and a pathologist makes a definitive diagnosis and issues a pathology report. This is the end of a process that usually begins with symptoms that send most people to the doctor: a fluid buildup around the lungs (pleural effusions), shortness of breath, pain in the chest, or pain or swelling in the abdomen. The doctor may order an X-ray or CT scan of the chest or abdomen. If further examination is warranted, the following tests may be done:
Thoracoscopy
For pleural mesothelioma, the doctor may look inside the chest cavity with a special instrument called a thoracoscope. A cut will be made through the chest wall and the thoracoscope will be put into the chest between two ribs. This test is usually done in a hospital using a local anesthetic or painkiller.
If fluid has collected in your chest, your doctor may drain the fluid out of your body by putting a needle into your chest and using gentle suction to remove the fluid. This is called thoracentesis.
Peritoneoscopy
For peritoneal mesothelioma, the doctor may also look inside the abdomen with a special tool called a peritoneoscope. The peritoneoscope is put into an opening made in the abdomen. This test is usually done in the hospital under a local anesthetic.
If fluid has collected in your abdomen, your doctor may drain the fluid out of your body by putting a needle into your abdomen and using gentle suction to remove the fluid. This process is called paracentesis.
Biopsy
If abnormal tissue is found, the doctor will need to cut out a small piece and have it looked at under a microscope. This is usually done during the thoracoscopy or peritoneoscopy, but can be done during surgery.
Unfortunately, in some cases, tumor cells can grow along the tract where the biopsy is taken. This can be minimized with the use of radiation to the area.
What is the prognosis for mesothelioma?
Like most cancers, the prognosis for this disease often depends on how early it is diagnosed and how aggressively it is treated. Unfortunately, mesothelioma is often found at a stage in which a cure is unobtainable. Many will succumb to the disease within one year of diagnosis.
Mesothelioma treatment options (traditional and new treatments being studied)
Treatment options are determined by the stage of mesothelioma (the extent to which the tumor has spread in the body). There are three staging systems currently in use, and each one measures somewhat different variables.
The oldest staging system and the one most often used is the Butchart system, which is based mainly on the extent of primary tumor mass and divides mesotheliomas into four stages.
Butchart system extent of primary tumor mass
Stage I: Mesothelioma is present in the right or left pleura and may also involve the diaphragm on the same side.
Stage II: Mesothelioma invades the chest wall or involves the esophagus, heart, or pleura on both sides. Lymph nodes in the chest may also be involved.
Stage III: Mesothelioma has penetrated through the diaphragm into the lining of the abdominal cavity or peritoneum. Lymph nodes beyond those in the chest may also be involved.
Stage IV: There is evidence of metastasis or spread through the bloodstream to other organs.
The more recent TNM system considers variables of tumor in mass and spread, lymph node involvement, and metastasis.
TNM system: variables of T (tumor), N (lymph nodes), and M (metastasis)
Stage I: Mesothelioma involves right or left pleura and may also have spread to the lung, pericardium, or diaphragm on the same side. Lymph nodes are not involved.
Stage II: Mesothelioma has spread from the pleura on one side to nearby lymph nodes next to the lung on the same side. It may also have spread into the lung, pericardium, or diaphragm on the same side.
Stage III: Mesothelioma is now in the chest wall, muscle, ribs, heart, esophagus, or other organs in the chest on the same side with or without spread to lymph nodes on the same side as the primary tumor.
Stage IV: Mesothelioma has spread into the lymph nodes in the chest on the side opposite the primary tumor, extended to the pleura or lung on the opposite side, or directly extended into organs in the abdominal cavity or neck. Any distant metastases is included in this stage.
The Brigham system is the latest system and stages mesothelioma according to resectability (the ability to surgically remove the tumor) and lymph node involvement.
Brigham system: variables of tumor resectability and nodal status
Stage I: resectable mesothelioma and no lymph node involvement
Stage II: resectable mesothelioma but with lymph node involvement
Stage III: unresectable mesothelioma extending into chest wall, heart, or through diaphragm, peritoneum; with or without extrathoracic lymph-node involvement
Stage IV: distant metastatic disease
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.
Is there any promising research or are there promising drugs for mesothelioma?
New approaches being studied
New approaches to treat malignant mesothelioma are currently being tested. They often combine traditional treatments or include something entirely new. They include
Promising drugs
L-NDDP (Platar): Intrapleural administration of this platinum product is designed to overcome the toxicity and drug resistance currently limiting the usefulness of platinum drugs like Cisplatin. NOTE: A recent trial produced remission in two patients.
Endostatin has been shown to work with angiostatin in destroying a tumors' ability to grow blood vessels without harming normal cells.
Lovastatin is a cholesterol drug shown in a recent study to potentially inhibit mesothelioma cancer cell growth.
Intrapleural interferon gamma is the direct administration of the anti-cancer drug interferon gamma.
Photodynamic therapy kills cancer cells using the energy of light.
Immunotherapy treats cancer by helping the immune system fight the disease.
Gene therapy treats cancer by correcting the genetic deficits that allow tumors to develop. A September 1999 study found that interferon interleukin prevented the growth of mesothelioma cells in mice.
Research is being conducted at various cancer centers all over the United States.
A recent study involving L-NDDP produced two cases of remission in mesothelioma patients. Another study found that a drug known as Lovastatin may hold promise for mesothelioma patients.
To learn more about mesothelioma clinical studies and journal medical journal articles, visit the Mesothelioma Web (http://www.mesotheliomaweb.org).
What other kinds of information is available for people with mesothelioma?
There are numerous cancer web sites, some specific to mesothelioma. Because they are often difficult to locate, we have listed some relevant medical web sites that have information about mesothelioma.
American Institute for Cancer Research
(http://www.aicr.org)
American Thoracic Society
(http://www.thoracic.org/)
Canadian Cancer Society
(http://www.bc.cancer.ca)
MesotheliomaWeb
(http://www.mesotheliomaweb.org)
Mesothelioma At A Glance
Mesothelioma is a cancer that arises from the cells lining the chest or abdominal cavities.
Mesothelioma typically results from exposure to asbestos.
When mesothelioma affects the chest, the doctor may look inside the chest cavity with a special instrument called a thoracoscope.
When mesothelioma affects the abdomen, the doctor may look inside the abdomen with a special tool called a peritoneoscope.
Mesothelioma is diagnosed by a biopsy.
The outlook for patients with mesothelioma depends on how early the disease is detected and how aggressively it is treated.
sourec : http://www.medicinenet.com
Related vidoes
LawyerShop TV Exclusive - What is Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma Cancer What is Mesothelioma? Bakersfield
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.
How much asbestos exposure does it take to get mesothelioma?
An exposure of as little as one or two months can result in mesothelioma 30 or 40 years later and in some cases, as much as 70 years later.
How long does it take after asbestos exposure for mesothelioma to show up?
People exposed in the 1940s, '50s, '60s, and '70s are now being diagnosed with mesothelioma because of the long latency period of asbestos disease.
How is mesothelioma diagnosed?
Mesothelioma is diagnosed by pathological examination from a biopsy. Tissue is removed, placed under the microscope, and a pathologist makes a definitive diagnosis and issues a pathology report. This is the end of a process that usually begins with symptoms that send most people to the doctor: a fluid buildup around the lungs (pleural effusions), shortness of breath, pain in the chest, or pain or swelling in the abdomen. The doctor may order an X-ray or CT scan of the chest or abdomen. If further examination is warranted, the following tests may be done:
Thoracoscopy
For pleural mesothelioma, the doctor may look inside the chest cavity with a special instrument called a thoracoscope. A cut will be made through the chest wall and the thoracoscope will be put into the chest between two ribs. This test is usually done in a hospital using a local anesthetic or painkiller.
If fluid has collected in your chest, your doctor may drain the fluid out of your body by putting a needle into your chest and using gentle suction to remove the fluid. This is called thoracentesis.
Peritoneoscopy
For peritoneal mesothelioma, the doctor may also look inside the abdomen with a special tool called a peritoneoscope. The peritoneoscope is put into an opening made in the abdomen. This test is usually done in the hospital under a local anesthetic.
If fluid has collected in your abdomen, your doctor may drain the fluid out of your body by putting a needle into your abdomen and using gentle suction to remove the fluid. This process is called paracentesis.
Biopsy
If abnormal tissue is found, the doctor will need to cut out a small piece and have it looked at under a microscope. This is usually done during the thoracoscopy or peritoneoscopy, but can be done during surgery.
Unfortunately, in some cases, tumor cells can grow along the tract where the biopsy is taken. This can be minimized with the use of radiation to the area.
What is the prognosis for mesothelioma?
Like most cancers, the prognosis for this disease often depends on how early it is diagnosed and how aggressively it is treated. Unfortunately, mesothelioma is often found at a stage in which a cure is unobtainable. Many will succumb to the disease within one year of diagnosis.
Mesothelioma treatment options (traditional and new treatments being studied)
Treatment options are determined by the stage of mesothelioma (the extent to which the tumor has spread in the body). There are three staging systems currently in use, and each one measures somewhat different variables.
The oldest staging system and the one most often used is the Butchart system, which is based mainly on the extent of primary tumor mass and divides mesotheliomas into four stages.
Butchart system extent of primary tumor mass
Stage I: Mesothelioma is present in the right or left pleura and may also involve the diaphragm on the same side.
Stage II: Mesothelioma invades the chest wall or involves the esophagus, heart, or pleura on both sides. Lymph nodes in the chest may also be involved.
Stage III: Mesothelioma has penetrated through the diaphragm into the lining of the abdominal cavity or peritoneum. Lymph nodes beyond those in the chest may also be involved.
Stage IV: There is evidence of metastasis or spread through the bloodstream to other organs.
The more recent TNM system considers variables of tumor in mass and spread, lymph node involvement, and metastasis.
TNM system: variables of T (tumor), N (lymph nodes), and M (metastasis)
Stage I: Mesothelioma involves right or left pleura and may also have spread to the lung, pericardium, or diaphragm on the same side. Lymph nodes are not involved.
Stage II: Mesothelioma has spread from the pleura on one side to nearby lymph nodes next to the lung on the same side. It may also have spread into the lung, pericardium, or diaphragm on the same side.
Stage III: Mesothelioma is now in the chest wall, muscle, ribs, heart, esophagus, or other organs in the chest on the same side with or without spread to lymph nodes on the same side as the primary tumor.
Stage IV: Mesothelioma has spread into the lymph nodes in the chest on the side opposite the primary tumor, extended to the pleura or lung on the opposite side, or directly extended into organs in the abdominal cavity or neck. Any distant metastases is included in this stage.
The Brigham system is the latest system and stages mesothelioma according to resectability (the ability to surgically remove the tumor) and lymph node involvement.
Brigham system: variables of tumor resectability and nodal status
Stage I: resectable mesothelioma and no lymph node involvement
Stage II: resectable mesothelioma but with lymph node involvement
Stage III: unresectable mesothelioma extending into chest wall, heart, or through diaphragm, peritoneum; with or without extrathoracic lymph-node involvement
Stage IV: distant metastatic disease
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.
Is there any promising research or are there promising drugs for mesothelioma?
New approaches being studied
New approaches to treat malignant mesothelioma are currently being tested. They often combine traditional treatments or include something entirely new. They include
Promising drugs
L-NDDP (Platar): Intrapleural administration of this platinum product is designed to overcome the toxicity and drug resistance currently limiting the usefulness of platinum drugs like Cisplatin. NOTE: A recent trial produced remission in two patients.
Endostatin has been shown to work with angiostatin in destroying a tumors' ability to grow blood vessels without harming normal cells.
Lovastatin is a cholesterol drug shown in a recent study to potentially inhibit mesothelioma cancer cell growth.
Intrapleural interferon gamma is the direct administration of the anti-cancer drug interferon gamma.
Photodynamic therapy kills cancer cells using the energy of light.
Immunotherapy treats cancer by helping the immune system fight the disease.
Gene therapy treats cancer by correcting the genetic deficits that allow tumors to develop. A September 1999 study found that interferon interleukin prevented the growth of mesothelioma cells in mice.
Research is being conducted at various cancer centers all over the United States.
A recent study involving L-NDDP produced two cases of remission in mesothelioma patients. Another study found that a drug known as Lovastatin may hold promise for mesothelioma patients.
To learn more about mesothelioma clinical studies and journal medical journal articles, visit the Mesothelioma Web (http://www.mesotheliomaweb.org).
What other kinds of information is available for people with mesothelioma?
There are numerous cancer web sites, some specific to mesothelioma. Because they are often difficult to locate, we have listed some relevant medical web sites that have information about mesothelioma.
American Institute for Cancer Research
(http://www.aicr.org)
American Thoracic Society
(http://www.thoracic.org/)
Canadian Cancer Society
(http://www.bc.cancer.ca)
MesotheliomaWeb
(http://www.mesotheliomaweb.org)
Mesothelioma At A Glance
Mesothelioma is a cancer that arises from the cells lining the chest or abdominal cavities.
Mesothelioma typically results from exposure to asbestos.
When mesothelioma affects the chest, the doctor may look inside the chest cavity with a special instrument called a thoracoscope.
When mesothelioma affects the abdomen, the doctor may look inside the abdomen with a special tool called a peritoneoscope.
Mesothelioma is diagnosed by a biopsy.
The outlook for patients with mesothelioma depends on how early the disease is detected and how aggressively it is treated.
sourec : http://www.medicinenet.com
Related vidoes
LawyerShop TV Exclusive - What is Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma Cancer What is Mesothelioma? Bakersfield
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