Q. What is Mesothelioma?
A. The National Cancer Institute states that: "Malignant mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer, is a disease in which cancer (malignant) cells are found in the sac lining the chest (the pleura), the lining of the abdominal cavity (the peritoneum), or the lining around the heart (the pericardium).”
Q. How do you get Mesothelioma?
A. Mesothelioma is almost exclusive to asbestos exposure. Many people with malignant mesothelioma were exposed in the course of their jobs, or while serving their country in the military. Others were exposed to asbestos in a household environment, often without knowing it.
Q. How much exposure does it take to get the disease?
A. Workers with heavy, prolonged exposure are at the greatest risk, however, cases of mesothelioma have been documented with very minimal exposure.
Q. How long does it take after exposure for the disease to show up?
A. People exposed in the 1940s, 50s, 60s, and 70s are now being diagnosed with mesothelioma because of the long latency period of asbestos disease.
Q. How common is mesothelioma?
A. According to the American Cancer Society, 2,000 to 3,000 people per year in the United States are diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma. Click here for more statistics on mesothelioma. More general cancer statistics.The medical journal, Pulmonary Perspectives, has also published an excellent article on the prevalence of mesothelioma.
Q. Is mesothelioma (also sometimes referred to as “asbestos cancer”) the same as asbestosis?
A. No. Asbestosis is a non-cancerous form of asbestos disease, typified by scarring in the lower lobes of the lungs bilaterally (on both sides). Anyone who has asbestosis should monitor their health regularly, since this scarring can worsen over time. Mesothelioma is a malignancy (cancer) of the pleura, or lining of the lung, or the peritoneum, or lining of the abdominal cavity.
Q. What are the symptoms of mesothelioma?
A. Sometimes resembling viral pneumonia, pleural mesothelioma may cause shortness of breath, chest pain and/or persistent cough; some patients show no symptoms at all. A chest x-ray may show a build-up of fluid, or pleural effusion. The right lung is affected 60% of the time, with involvement in both lungs being seen in approximately 5% of patients at the time of diagnosis. Less common symptoms of pleural mesothelioma include fever, night sweats and weight loss. Symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma may include swelling in the abdomen due to a build-up of fluid (ascites), nausea, weight loss, bowel obstruction, anemia or swelling of the feet.
Q. How is mesothelioma diagnosed?
A. While mesothelioma may be suspected through an x-ray or CT scan, it can only be definitively diagnosed through pathological examination of a tissue sample.
Q. How is mesothelioma treated?
A. Conventional methods of treatment such as surgery, chemotherapy and radiation may be used (usually in combination with one another). In addition, newer approaches such as photodynamic therapy, immunotherapy, and gene therapy are under investigation. The Mesothelioma Web is an excellent source of mesothelioma treatment options, and also offers information on specialists and the newest clinical trials. Also, look at our asbestos cancer glossary.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Malignant Mesophelioma Coping
Cancer Caregiver's Guide
Tips for people charged with taking care of others. Caring for someone with terminal illness can be an enormous burden. Learn how to deal with this challenge.
Living With Cancer Guide
Cancer changes your life. Tips for living with this illness.
Cancer Fatigue
Ideas for fighting fatigue.
Inspirational Patient Stories
ACOR Patient Discussion Forum
Association of Cancer Online Resources Inc. (ACOR) is a non-profit organization which enables cancer patients to join listservs where they can share information with other patients who have the same type of cancer by posting messages.
Dealing With Pain
Pain, its causes and treatments. Good information as background when reviewing malignant mesophelioma treatment alternatives with your doctor.
Nutrition When You Have Cancer
Dietary considerations for the cancer patient.
Nutrition Tips
The National Cancer Center's eating hints for cancer patients, before, during, and after mesophelioma treatment.
Oncolink
Comprehensive information resource on cancer from the University of Pennsylvania. A superior resource for patients with in-depth information on most types of cancer and emphasis on psychosocial issues.
Frequently Asked Questions
Exposure to asbestos
Legal considerations
Who is responsible
Tips for people charged with taking care of others. Caring for someone with terminal illness can be an enormous burden. Learn how to deal with this challenge.
Living With Cancer Guide
Cancer changes your life. Tips for living with this illness.
Cancer Fatigue
Ideas for fighting fatigue.
Inspirational Patient Stories
ACOR Patient Discussion Forum
Association of Cancer Online Resources Inc. (ACOR) is a non-profit organization which enables cancer patients to join listservs where they can share information with other patients who have the same type of cancer by posting messages.
Dealing With Pain
Pain, its causes and treatments. Good information as background when reviewing malignant mesophelioma treatment alternatives with your doctor.
Nutrition When You Have Cancer
Dietary considerations for the cancer patient.
Nutrition Tips
The National Cancer Center's eating hints for cancer patients, before, during, and after mesophelioma treatment.
Oncolink
Comprehensive information resource on cancer from the University of Pennsylvania. A superior resource for patients with in-depth information on most types of cancer and emphasis on psychosocial issues.
Frequently Asked Questions
Exposure to asbestos
Legal considerations
Who is responsible
Treatment Options
1. How malignant mesotheliomia is treated?
As scientists continue to look for a mesotheliomia cure, the following treatments have shown promise in controlling this disease. There are treatments for all patients with malignant mesotheleoma. Three traditional kinds of treatment are used:
Surgery (taking out the cancer)
Radiation therapy (using high-dose x-rays or other high-energy rays to kill cancer cells)
Chemotherapy (using drugs to fight the cancer).
Adjunctive Drug Treatment (Non-traditional drugs as part of the cancer treatment).
2. Treatment by stage
Localized Malignant Mesothelioma (STAGE I)
Advanced Malignant Mesothelioma (STAGES II, III, AND IV)>
Recurrent Malignant Mesothelioma
3. Additional Sources of Information on Mesotheliomia Treatment
-->
As scientists continue to look for a mesotheliomia cure, the following treatments have shown promise in controlling this disease. There are treatments for all patients with malignant mesotheleoma. Three traditional kinds of treatment are used:
Surgery (taking out the cancer)
Radiation therapy (using high-dose x-rays or other high-energy rays to kill cancer cells)
Chemotherapy (using drugs to fight the cancer).
Adjunctive Drug Treatment (Non-traditional drugs as part of the cancer treatment).
2. Treatment by stage
Localized Malignant Mesothelioma (STAGE I)
Advanced Malignant Mesothelioma (STAGES II, III, AND IV)>
Recurrent Malignant Mesothelioma
3. Additional Sources of Information on Mesotheliomia Treatment
-->
Mesothelomia Diagnosis
A proper diagnosis is essential to a treatment plan.
The National Cancer Institute states that: "Malignant Mesothelomia, a rare form of cancer, is a disease in which cancer (malignant) cells are found in the sac lining the chest (the pleura) or abdomen (the peritoneum). Most people with malignant mesothelioma have worked on jobs where they breathed asbestos."
A doctor should be seen if a person has shortness of breath, pain in the chest, or pain or swelling in the abdomen. If there are symptoms, the doctor may order an x-ray of the chest or abdomen. 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, called thoracoscopy, is usually done in the hospital. Before the test, the patient will be given a local anesthetic (a drug that causes a loss of feeling for a short period of time). Some pressure may be felt, but usually there is no pain.
The doctor may also look inside the abdomen (peritoneoscopy) with a special tool called a peritoneoscope. The peritoneoscope is put into an opening made in the abdomen. This test is also usually done in the hospital. Before the test is done, a local anesthetic will be given.
If tissue that is not normal is found, the doctor will need to cut out a small piece and have it looked at under a microscope to see if there are any cancer cells. This is called a biopsy. Biopsies are usually done during the thoracoscopy or peritoneoscopy.
The treatment program depends on the size of the cancer, where the cancer is, how far the cancer has spread, how the cancer cells look under the microscope, how the cancer responds to treatment, and the patient's age and desires.
Click Here for a description of the stages of mesotheleoma.
A proper diagnosis is essential to a treatment plan.
The National Cancer Institute states that: "Malignant Mesothelomia, a rare form of cancer, is a disease in which cancer (malignant) cells are found in the sac lining the chest (the pleura) or abdomen (the peritoneum). Most people with malignant mesothelioma have worked on jobs where they breathed asbestos."
A doctor should be seen if a person has shortness of breath, pain in the chest, or pain or swelling in the abdomen. If there are symptoms, the doctor may order an x-ray of the chest or abdomen. 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, called thoracoscopy, is usually done in the hospital. Before the test, the patient will be given a local anesthetic (a drug that causes a loss of feeling for a short period of time). Some pressure may be felt, but usually there is no pain.
The doctor may also look inside the abdomen (peritoneoscopy) with a special tool called a peritoneoscope. The peritoneoscope is put into an opening made in the abdomen. This test is also usually done in the hospital. Before the test is done, a local anesthetic will be given.
If tissue that is not normal is found, the doctor will need to cut out a small piece and have it looked at under a microscope to see if there are any cancer cells. This is called a biopsy. Biopsies are usually done during the thoracoscopy or peritoneoscopy.
The treatment program depends on the size of the cancer, where the cancer is, how far the cancer has spread, how the cancer cells look under the microscope, how the cancer responds to treatment, and the patient's age and desires.
Click Here for a description of the stages of mesotheleoma.
The National Cancer Institute states that: "Malignant Mesothelomia, a rare form of cancer, is a disease in which cancer (malignant) cells are found in the sac lining the chest (the pleura) or abdomen (the peritoneum). Most people with malignant mesothelioma have worked on jobs where they breathed asbestos."
A doctor should be seen if a person has shortness of breath, pain in the chest, or pain or swelling in the abdomen. If there are symptoms, the doctor may order an x-ray of the chest or abdomen. 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, called thoracoscopy, is usually done in the hospital. Before the test, the patient will be given a local anesthetic (a drug that causes a loss of feeling for a short period of time). Some pressure may be felt, but usually there is no pain.
The doctor may also look inside the abdomen (peritoneoscopy) with a special tool called a peritoneoscope. The peritoneoscope is put into an opening made in the abdomen. This test is also usually done in the hospital. Before the test is done, a local anesthetic will be given.
If tissue that is not normal is found, the doctor will need to cut out a small piece and have it looked at under a microscope to see if there are any cancer cells. This is called a biopsy. Biopsies are usually done during the thoracoscopy or peritoneoscopy.
The treatment program depends on the size of the cancer, where the cancer is, how far the cancer has spread, how the cancer cells look under the microscope, how the cancer responds to treatment, and the patient's age and desires.
Click Here for a description of the stages of mesotheleoma.
A proper diagnosis is essential to a treatment plan.
The National Cancer Institute states that: "Malignant Mesothelomia, a rare form of cancer, is a disease in which cancer (malignant) cells are found in the sac lining the chest (the pleura) or abdomen (the peritoneum). Most people with malignant mesothelioma have worked on jobs where they breathed asbestos."
A doctor should be seen if a person has shortness of breath, pain in the chest, or pain or swelling in the abdomen. If there are symptoms, the doctor may order an x-ray of the chest or abdomen. 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, called thoracoscopy, is usually done in the hospital. Before the test, the patient will be given a local anesthetic (a drug that causes a loss of feeling for a short period of time). Some pressure may be felt, but usually there is no pain.
The doctor may also look inside the abdomen (peritoneoscopy) with a special tool called a peritoneoscope. The peritoneoscope is put into an opening made in the abdomen. This test is also usually done in the hospital. Before the test is done, a local anesthetic will be given.
If tissue that is not normal is found, the doctor will need to cut out a small piece and have it looked at under a microscope to see if there are any cancer cells. This is called a biopsy. Biopsies are usually done during the thoracoscopy or peritoneoscopy.
The treatment program depends on the size of the cancer, where the cancer is, how far the cancer has spread, how the cancer cells look under the microscope, how the cancer responds to treatment, and the patient's age and desires.
Click Here for a description of the stages of mesotheleoma.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)