Mesothelioma Cancer

Until recently no one had really heard of Mesothelioma until the commercials started appearing on our television screens advertising this terrible form of cancer. The ads are for people with the disease so that they can find lawyers to sue. This particular type of cancer almost always affects people who have had prior exposure to asbestos. Because exposure to asbestos is usually job related, people are urged to sue their former employers.

There are other ways that people can be exposed to asbestos that we never think about. Because asbestos particles are so minute, anyone coming into contact with an exposed person’s clothes is also in danger. Another path to exposure is during a home renovation where asbestos cement products are used. Still another very tragic way people are exposed is through working in old buildings that have not been inspected for asbestos. The unwitting people go about their jobs not having any idea that they are being exposed.

The mesothelioma is a protective lining that covers he body’s internal organs. This is where the malignant cells begin, most often in the pleura which is the outer lining of the lungs or chest cavity. It can also affect the pericardium or the sac covering the heart. Because mesothelioma affects critical areas of the body, this is a very dangerous type of cancer.

Symptoms of mesothelioma vary because it affects different parts of the body’s lining. It can develop anywhere from twenty to fifty years after the initial exposure. Many times because the symptoms mimic so many other diseases, diagnosis is often difficult and protracted.

If mesothelioma affects the pleural lining, the most common symptoms are shortness of breath, a cough that won’t go away, or a pain in the chest caused by fluid in the chest area. Obviously, these symptoms can be indicative of other problems as well as mesothelioma. Peritoneal mesothelioma has different symptoms. They are abdominal pain due to fluid build-up and weight loss when not dieting. Others are fever, anemia, bowel obstructions, and problems with blood clotting. Because this cancer also is prone to spread to other parts of the body, there are often other symptoms such as trouble swallowing, swelling in the face or neck, and pain.

The worst cases of mesothelioma generally include tumors or masses in different parts of the body. Tumors in the abdominal cavity are often not found until the cancer is in the very late stages making treatment difficult. Late stage symptoms include blood clots, bleeding, jaundice, and low blood sugar levels.

Diagnosis is made more difficult because the symptoms mimic other diseases. After a complete medical history is taken, it is time for tests. A physical exam, chest X ray, and then lung function tests. A CAT scan or an MRI may also be necessary before a diagnosis can be made. Next a biopsy may be necessary.

After a diagnosis is made, it is time for staging. Mesothelioma is considered advanced if the cancer has moved outside the lining where it started. If it has moved to the lymph nodes, lungs, chest wall, or the abdominal organs, the disease is in this late stage.

Unfortunately, mesothelioma is not easily treated. Conventional cancer treatments have not been successful and the survival rate is generally about six to twelve months after diagnosis. Radiation has not proven to be helpful except to grown in the tumors. Chemotherapy might help to a certain extent. The FDA has approved Alimta for treatment of mesothelioma. Because mesothelioma tumors grow so quickly, survival rate is not very high. Most therapies are used to make the patient more comfortable.

The only way to prevent mesothelioma is to stay away from asbestos and its particles. Exposure does not always lead to mesothelioma, but the possibility is always a possibility.

Copyright 2007 Janice D. Sterling - All Rights Reserved

Technorati Tags: Cancer Research, Mesothelioma

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