Mesothelima Specialists

Mesothelioma is an aggressive form of lung cancer resulting from exposure to asbestos. Choosing a doctor with an established reputation in treating Mesothelioma can make all the difference in your treatment experience.

A mesothelioma diagnosis is a very serious matter and understanding your treatment options is very important. That is why consulting with your primary care physician is an essential first step in finding what mesothelioma treatments are available and which one is right for you. Your doctor will provide you with the latest mesothelioma treatments available in your area if possible. However, if there are no treatments for mesothelioma in your area then your doctor or oncologist may refer you to mesothelioma specialists in the surrounding states.

Treatment for mesothelioma depends on the location of the cancer, the stage of the disease, and the patient's age and general health.

Treatments available for Mesothelioma include:

Surgery:
A procedure to remove or repair a part of the body or to find out whether disease is present. The objective is to remove the body tissue with the most cancerous cells possible. In some cases, it is impossible to remove all of the tissue infected with cancer if the cancer has spread to several organs. In such cases, surgery can only be used to relieve pain and suffering.

Pneumonectomy:
This is an aggressive type of surgery in which a lung is removed. There are two types of this procedure, which are Traditional Pneumonectomy and Extrapleural Pneumonectomy. Traditional pneumonectomy involves removing only the disease lung. Extrapleural Pneumonectomy, involves removal of the diseased lung, along with part of the pericardium, part of the diaphragm and the parietal pleura on the same side of the chest.

A Pneumonectomy removes half the breathing capacity of a cancer patient and because of this, surgeons usually opt for a less-invasive procedure if possible. However, a pneumonectomy is probably the best option when a tumor is located in the middle of the lung and involves a significant portion of the pulmonary artery or veins.

Gene Therapy:
Genes are the biological units of heredity. Genes determine obvious traits, such as hair and eye color, as well as more subtle characteristics, such as the ability of the blood to carry oxygen. Complex traits, such as physical strength, may be shaped by the interaction of a number of different genes along with environmental influences.

Immunotherapy:
Immunotherapy is treatment that uses certain parts of the immune system to fight disease, including cancer. This can include stimulating your own immune system to work harder, or using an outside source, such as man made immune system proteins.

Photodynamic Therapy:
Photodynamic therapy (also called PDT, photoradiation therapy, phototherapy, or photochemotherapy) is a treatment for some types of cancer. It is based on the discovery that certain chemicals known as photosensitizing agents can kill one-celled organisms when the organisms are exposed to a particular type of light. PDT destroys cancer cells through the use of a fixed-frequency laser light in combination with a photosensitizing agent.

These treatments are sometimes combined. Currently, there are many clinical trials being conducted through the United States. A clinical trial is a research study that involves people and is designed to find new treatments and better ways to use current treatments. These clinical trials are conducted by doctors in order to find out if a particular treatment is effective against the disease and safe for patients before it is recommended for general use. Participation in clinical trials is a very important option to consider for those who have been diagnosed with mesothelioma.

Reference:Luis Montalvo

Researching Mesothelioma Lawyers

Mesothelioma is a relatively rare form of cancer that is unfortunately getting more and more common today. It has recently been positively linked with the mineral asbestos and people who worked with this noxious mineral in the 50s, 60s and 70s are now finding that they are high risk for developing Mesothelioma. Since mesothelioma lung cancer in most cases was preventable and work environment related, many folks find themselves searching for mesothelioma lawyers to handle their specific cases. Finding the best mesothelioma attorney is very important.

Asbestos is a fibrous material that releases a large amount of dust and fibre particles when it is disturbed i.e. every time it is moved. These tiny fibrous particles are able to float in the atmosphere and are thus easily breathed in by anyone in the vicinity. When they are inhaled they become imbedded in the mesothelium, which is the soft lining tissue that covers and protects the major organs of the body, most importantly the heart, lungs and stomach.

· Pleural mesothelioma affects the lungs · Pericardial mesothelioma affects the heart · Peritoneal mesothelioma affects the stomach

In most cases the lungs are affected first because contaminated air reaches them with every breathe however over time some fibres will leave the lungs and travel in the blood stream to the heart while other fibres will bypass the trachea that leads to the lungs and will instead travel down the oesophagus to the stomach. The extent to which the asbestos fibres travel to other organs in the body depends on the length of time that a person spends in contact with asbestos and how contaminated the air is that is being inhaled.

Each of the three forms of mesothelioma has its own set of symptoms however these are generally non-specific and can be caused by a number of other medical conditions that are not nearly as serious as cancer. Thus many family doctors initially misdiagnose mesothelioma, especially when the sufferer fails to mention the fact that they worked with asbestos earlier in their life. The symptoms of the disease can take up to 50 years to become apparent however in many cases a mesothelioma victim will begin to experience some form of discomfort within 30 years. The exact number of years will again depend on how long the victim was exposed to the asbestos fibres for and their general state of health throughout life. Unfortunately in many cases the sufferer doesn't know they have mesothelioma until it has already reached a late stage and it is past curable treatment.

It is thought that between 75% and 85% of all mesothelioma cases have a history of exposure to asbestos, but what about the remaining cases? Sadly it is not only the people who physically worked with the asbestos that can later develop the disease - people who lived with or indeed still live with the worker i.e. close family and even friends, and people who didn't actually work with the material but worked on the same site can also develop the deadly disease. Many of these workers may not have known there was asbestos in the places where they worked and so today most would not consider themselves high risk for developing mesothelioma.

There were hundreds of occupations that used to regularly involve exposure to asbestos including construction working, automotive mechanic, cement finishers, furnace workers, electricians, insulators, painters and plasterers, roofers and even Navy veterans however today the regulations have been greatly improved so that anybody working with asbestos has to wear protective equipment, including breathing apparatus. For people who are already afflicted with mesothelioma there is hope in the form of monetary compensation and many thousands of asbestos workers are now successfully suing their former employers for millions of dollars each year. Although this won't help them to cure their illness it will help them to live comfortable lives while also leaving something behind for their loved ones.

Finding the best mesothelioma attorney is very important if you expect to be successful in your claim. Today there are many mesothelioma lawyers who are very qualified in this area of law and you should research them carefully. Since these lung cancer cases require special expertise, you need to make sure the mesothelioma attorney you choose knows the laws in your state and has handled many mesothelioma court case in the past.

Reference:Andrew Daigle

Advances in Mesothelioma Cancer Research

Mesothelioma is a kind of cancer that is the result of exposure to asbestos. It is different from lung cancer. This affects the lining of the lungs, the abdomen and the heart. Every year, 2500 to 3000 American men and women are diagnosed of mesothelioma cancer. Mesothelioma cancer results primarily from being around an asbestos-filled environment. The ironic thing about the illness is that the person has no idea he already has it. It only appears twenty to fifty years after affliction. Symptoms include difficulty in breathing, wheezing, coughing and jabbing pains in the chest.

Since the lung is the target of gene therapy, especially for genetic disorders like malignant mesothelioma, more and more studies are being conducted to see the effects of this treatment. The progress may be slower than what is expected by most, but as soon as it has been confirmed that gene therapy can safely result to the recovery of patients diagnosed with mesothelioma cancer, then that is a major improvement of the 21st century.

Thing is researchers, doctors and medical students are all aware that mesothelioma cancer places a challenge for everyone involved in the medicine. There is hardly any treatment for the fatal cancer. Therefore, the studies that concentrate on the discovery of the treatment is often deemed as "experimental."

There have been incidences wherein traditional treatments are resorted to. Mixing the Western technology with Eastern herbal medicine could pretty much do the work, but the effectiveness of such remedies and its side effects are still to be discovered.

Patients with mesothelioma cancer can apply for clinical trial on these experimental treatments. However, tests involving new medicine or new devices on human subjects are meticulously controlled. These experimental treatments for mesothelioma cancer are done under the observation of the FDA or the Food and Drug Administration. Now, once approved and there are no side-effects, then this will be made available to clinics and drugstores all over the United States.

These are the experimental treatments for mesothelioma cancer: gene therapy, photodynamic therapy, immunotherapy, complementary medicine and alternative medicine.

Gene therapy is when there are modifications or replacements of the damaged or missing genes in the cancer cells of the patient diagnosed with mesothelioma cancer. The methods of the treatment vary depending on the kinds of genes that are used. The whole process involves injection into the tissues.

Immunotherapy involves natural substances. In this procedure, the body uses up these substances to fight off the infections and the impending disease. This is used alongside other remedies in order to make the patients having mesothelioma cancer stronger and immune to other possible illnesses they can obtain.

It is also in this procedure where artificial immune systems are injected in order to stimulate the normal abilities of the patient.

The photodynamic therapy uses a drug that serves as stimulant.

In order to obtain more results, researchers try to mix and match alternative and complementary medicine methods that could

at least alleviate the symptoms of mesothelioma cancer. These may not be considered valid by the medicinal majority but more and more patients are turning to alternative healers and practices which they believe can be more effective. These are herbs, therapeutic massage, acupuncture and Eastern medicines.

Finally, a biopharmaceutical company in New Jersey concentrated on the discovery, development and commercialization of Onconase (scientific name: ranpirnase) to serve as the remedy for patients diagnosed with mesothelioma cancer. At the moment, onconase is being evaluated through clinical trials.

Once granted and approved by the Food and Drug Authority, Onconase will be sold exclusively in drug stores. Even if it is an orphan drug, it is still an important tool that could open doors how to treat the fatal cancer.

Reference:

Elysiana Canlas

A Brief Overview On Peritoneal Mesothelioma

The disease attacks you in silence. The symptoms are latent. The sufferings are unbearable. And the ultimate is the dead end. You all know it as Mesothelioma. Even with the fast track advancement in the Medical Science Mesothelioma still remains incurable. There are treatments to assist you with to bear with the sufferings but untimely death cannot be avoided.

We are mainly aware of three types of Mesothelioma - pleural, peritoneal and pericardial. Among them the majority of the Mesothelioma patients suffers from Pleural Mesothelioma. Followed by the Pleural Mesothelioma is the numbers of the Peritoneal Mesothelioma and then the rare type Pericardial Mesothelioma comes into the picture.

In this article let's concentrate more on the Peritoneal Mesothelioma and how does a person get infected by this disease.

The spread out

Like all other types of Mesothelioma, the Peritoneal Mesothelioma is also caused due to the inhalation of asbestos dust. In other words it is always stated that over exposure of the human body in an environment filled with asbestos fibers can become risky for life because the entry of the asbestos fibers in the body reacts with the Mesothelium cells and takes the cancerous shape.

The diagnosis

You will begin to face the problem with some abdominal pain. The peritoneal Mesothelioma is actually the cancerous attack on the abdominal cavity. Swelling of the region around the abdomen with gastric disorders and weight loss are the common symptoms. In many cases the loss of appetite has been found to be very dominating. But when all these start making troubles in your body there is a common tendency to put them off with general gastric and stomach disorders medicines.

The biggest problem with Peritoneal Mesothelioma is that the accurate diagnosis cannot be done at an early stage. Ultimately when the doctor is able to make it out that you are a victim of a lethal disease, all hopes of your survival have already come to an end.

The treatment

The final stage treatment cannot cure you but help you to reduce the pains and pangs in your body and resist any further damage. The doctors often prescribe chemotherapy. Surgical treatment is another common way to remove the tumors that grow around the abdominal cavity by damaging the Mesothelium layer. But this treatment is suggested by checking the patient's condition whether he/she will be able to resist the surgical pains. Yet no complete treatment for total cure is possible.

Reference:

John Porter

FFW report deaths from asbestos-related mesothelioma continue to rise

Evidence from Field Fisher Waterhouse supports the latest figures from the latest figures from the British Mesothelioma Register which shows that deaths caused by mesothelioma, a cancer of the lining of the lungs caused by exposure to asbestos, is continuing to rise.

The Asbestos Claims Department at law firm, Field Fisher Waterhouse LLP, has been recovering compensation for victims of mesothelioma for 25 years. The statistics confirm the rise that the team's lawyers have seen reflected in their caseload over the years.

The figures show that the number of deaths caused by mesothelioma have risen from 153 in 1968, to 1969 deaths in 2004, with the majority of deaths occurring in men. The figures suggest that the peak in mesothelioma mortality in this country may occur in the next few years.

The figures show that the geographical areas associated with the highest mesothelioma mortality are those associated with industries which in the past were responsible for high levels of exposure to asbestos.

Andrew Morgan, partner in the Asbestos Compensation Claims Department at Field Fisher Waterhouse, said:

"These national figures confirm our experience that mesothelioma deaths are continuing to rise. They show that we have not yet reached the peak in mesothelioma mortality. Since Field Fisher Waterhouse began working on these cases 25 years ago we have seen cases increase from around 200 a year to figures in the region of 2000 a year. Whilst these figures may not increase much over the next few years they will not fall to low levels again for perhaps 20 years or more."

Those most commonly affected by asbestos diseases include individuals who worked with asbestos-containing materials, such as laggers, pipe-fitters and carpenters, however over the years Andrew and the Asbestos Compensation Claims Department have seen a significant increase in the number of claims from people who were exposed secondarily to asbestos. This includes those whose relatives brought home asbestos on contaminated overalls or who were not in direct contact with asbestos themselves but worked alongside colleagues who did have direct contact with the substance. In addition, Field Fisher Waterhouse has acted on behalf of varied professionals such as doctors, nurses and teachers who in turn developed mesothelioma after having been exposed to asbestos at work.

Last year alone the Asbestos Claims Department recovered over £10 million in compensation for victims in 87 successful cases. Since the Department was set up, the firm has recovered over £106 million in more than 1800 successful asbestos claims.

Reference:Andrew Morgan

Care for Mesothelioma Patients

All of us are going to die one day. This is a universal truth. We all are ready for it. But why should we die a premature death? And moreover when we are not responsible for the cause of the death. For someone else's benefit, a particular section of the society becomes victim of some deadly diseases.

Mesothelioma cancer is one such disease that can happen to anyone both you and me. But records state the major victims come from the worker class of the asbestos companies, shipping companies and construction yards including mines where asbestos is one of the major minerals dealt with. This is primarily a lung disorder that ultimately takes the shape of fatal cancer.

Caring a Mesothelioma patient is very tough. Caring here doesn't simply mean physical care. A Mesothelioma patient has to be given equal mental and emotional support to fight with the situation. Most of the time it has been observed that the patient completely loses faith in life.

Proper knowledge and guidance

Especially the near and dear ones of the patients must have adequate knowledge about the disease and also know what type of support should be given to the patient. There are doctors to look into the case but they are not available always. It is you who will be by the side of patient in his/her needs.

Treat the patient humbly and give him medicines and food at the right hour. The pain along the chest side is sometimes acute and unbearable. You must have an S.O.S. for instant relief. For Mesothelioma patients, morphine is a very good remedy. But a misconception prevails with the use of morphine and most of us refer it to be a sedative drug with other adverse side effects. Such preconceived notions have to be taken out of mind. Both the patient and the patient's relatives should have a positive mind setup and follow the doctor's prescription in an accurate manner. Otherwise you will welcome further troubles.

Well it is known to all of us that the Mesothelioma patient won't be able to sustain life with this cancer inside the body. But they too have every right to enjoy life till they close their eyes forever. Give them hope and happiness so that they live their life to the fullest even in this short time period. Let depression and despair not make shelter in their minds to blemish the rest of the days they are alive.

Reference:

John Porter

TYPES OF MESOTHELIOMA

Mesothelioma is a deadly form of cancer that affects the serous membranes surrounding the major organs of the body i.e. the lungs, heart and the abdominal organs, causing these vital organs to inflate with excessive fluid. This fluid further causes the improper functioning of the organs. The only known cause of this cancerous tumor is asbestos exposure. In this disease, malignant cells are built up in the protective linings (serous membranes) of several internal organs known as mesothelium. Different organs in the abdomen cavity can get affected by mesothelioma because of the presence of the protective linings surrounding them. The most common types of mesothelioma include:

* Pleural Mesothelioma,
* Peritoneal Mesothelioma, and
* Pericardial Mesothelioma.

Pleural Mesothelioma:
Pleural Mesothelioma is a tumor in which the lining of the lungs, or lung pleura, gets affected by malignant cells. The pleura is a soft protective tissue that surrounds the lungs in the chest cavity. It helps the lungs in breathing (respiration) by producing a serous fluid that lubricates the pleural surfaces to avoid the teasing of the lungs against the chest wall. The malignant cells, once entered the pleura, begin to spread and affect the surrounding organs and tissues. This leads to further complications resulting pain and severe symptoms. Mesothelioma affecting pleura is of two categories:

Diffused or Malignant (Cancerous):
It is the serious form of pleural mesothelioma that affects the pleural lining of the lungs and its surrounding organs. Localized and Benign (Non-cancerous): It is the non-cancerous form of mesothelioma, which does not affect all parts of the body except the pleura. However, it constricts the lung causing shortness of breath, and in some severe cases, pneumothorax (lung failure).

Peritoneal Mesothelioma:
Peritoneal Mesothelioma is a tumor of the peritoneum membrane or the abdomen lining, affecting many organs in the abdominal cavity including stomach. This form of mesothelioma cancer is less common than the pleural form but is more aggressive, resulting severe symptoms and short life expectancy. Like many other cancers, peritoneal mesothelioma can also be either malignant or benign.

Pericardial Mesothelioma:
Pericardial or Pericardium Mesothelioma is the rarest form of cancer, counting less than 10% of mesothelioma cases. In this form of cancer, fluid gets accumulated in the sac that encloses the heart. The main cause of this disease is the inhalation of asbestos fibers.

Due to the rarity of this disease, doctors and researchers have not clearly understood how the asbestos fibers enter the heart lining or pericardium. The only logical explanation so far about this form of cancer is the possibility of the asbestos fibers, converted into tiny pieces, transported from the lung into the heart by means of blood circulation. Once the asbestos fibers enter the heart, they expand the tissues in the chest cavity and the pericardium with excessive liquid, disrupting the working of the heart and causing chest pains with breathing disorders.

Each year, approximately 2,000 new cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed. At some point of their lives, the patients of mesothelioma have been exposed to asbestos that later cause the hideous cancer of mesothelioma. If you, at some point of your life, have worked in an asbestos-rich environment or used any asbestos materials, you should contact a mesothelioma doctor for correct diagnosis and best treatment options available.

Reference:

Jennifer White

The Asbestos Mesothelioma Cover-up

THE ASBESTOS - Mesothelioma COVER-UP
Mesothelioma is caused by inhaling or ingesting asbestos fibers. The books Outrageous Misconduct: The Asbestos Industry on Trial, written by Paul Brodeur, Pantheon Books, New York, New York, 1985, and Asbestos: Medical and Legal Aspects, 4th Edition, written by Barry I. Castleman, Aspen Law and Business, Engelwood Cliffs, New Jersey, 1996 and other sources of information show that asbestos companies had extensive knowledge that the use of asbestos in their products and by their employees would cause serious health issues for individuals in the future. Yet companies continued to use asbestos and placed the lives and health of their employees in jeopardy. The following are just a small sample of events that occurred that provided companies with knowledge that asbestos was dangerous:

* 1918: Frederick Hoffman, a medical statistician for the Prudential Life Insurance Company, reported in a United States Department of Labor Bulletin that American life insurance companies generally deny coverage to asbestos workers because of the "assumed health-injurious conditions of the industry."

* 1930: One major asbestos company, Johns-Manville, produces a report, for internal company use only, detailing the fatalities and medical injuries of asbestos workers.

* 1932: A letter from the United States Bureau of Mines to asbestos manufacturer Eagle-Picher states, "It is now known that asbestos dust is one of the most dangerous dusts to which man is exposed."

* 1933: Metropolitan Life Insurance Company doctors find that 29% of the workers at one Johns-Manville plant are suffering from asbestosis. Johns-Manville settles lawsuits by 11 employees on the condition that the lawyer for the employees agrees that he will not bring any new actions against Johns-Manville.

* 1934: Officials at Johns-Manville and Raybestos Manhattan, rewrite an article about the diseases of asbestos workers written by a Metropolitan Life Insurance Company doctor to minimize the danger of asbestos dust.

* 1936: A group of asbestos companies agree to sponsor research on the health effects of asbestos dust, but require that the companies have complete control over the disclosure of the results.

* 1942-43: The president of Johns-Manville says that the managers of another company were "a bunch of fools for notifying employees who had asbestosis." When one of the people in attendance ask, "Do you mean to tell me you would let them work until they drop dead?" According to deposition testimony, the response was, "Yes. We save a lot of money that way."

* 1944: The Journal of the Medical Association reports that asbestos is one of the "agents known or suspected to cause occupational cancer."

* 1951: Asbestos companies remove all references to cancer before allowing publication of research they sponsor concerning exposure to asbestos.

* 1953: National Gypsum's safety director wrote to the Indiana Division of Industrial Hygiene, recommending that acoustic plaster mixers wear respirators "because of the asbestos used on the product." Another company official notes that the letter was "full of dynamite," and urges that the letter be retrieved before reaching its destination. A memo from those files notes that the company "succeeded in stopping" the letter which "will be modified."

* 1989 and 1991: In 1989, the United States Environmental Protection Agency bans asbestos and most of its uses, but, in 1991, asbestos companies win a federal lawsuit which overturns the EPA's asbestos ban.

* 1999: The Florida Supreme Court rules that Owens Corning willfully withheld information about the dangers of working with the company's asbestos products. The Florida Supreme Court describes it as a "blatant disregard for human safety involving large numbers of people put at life-threatening risks."
As stated, the above actions by these companies are just a small sample of the many actions by companies using asbestos which did so in disregard of the safety of their employees and other innocent victims. Companies, who so frivolously ignored the health of the public and their own employees, are the targets of our litigation
Unfortunately, millions of people have been exposed to asbestos over the years. Only now are we able to see the disastrous effects of asbestos exposure in the workplace.

As with other cancers, a speedy diagnosis is important to effective treatment of mesothelioma. If you believe that you may have mesothelioma and that you worked with asbestos in the past, you may wish to inform your doctor of this fact.

It has been well documented that asbestos is dangerous and many of these companies ignored the health risk to their employees. If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma in the last five years you should seek the advice of an experienced mesothelioma lawyer so that you will know your rights under the law. Lawyers who have experience in these cases and who have won significant awards for their clients will best be able to help you or your loved one.

Reference:Patricia Hughes

Charitable Bodies Fighting Against Mesothelioma

Isn't it the most pathetic situation when someone knows death can strike any moment? For the Mesothelioma cancer patients the gap between life and death is very little. The only hope is to resist through treatments for the time being.

Parallel to the Government initiative, many charitable and voluntary organizations have started working on researches related to Mesothelioma and its curing possibilities. It is indeed a good sign that all over the world more and more people are becoming conscious about this matter and trying to get involved in the rescue mechanism from this deadly and yet incurable disease.

Different Mesothelioma Foundations have taken the challenge to research and find out a definite cure for this cancer and doctors, biologists and pharmaceutical organizations have joined hands in support to this charitable mission. It's really a grand mission and should be applauded by all sectors of the society. In the civilized society why should such a disease sprout where a mineral becomes the cause of fatality. Is there no way of bringing an end to this situation?

Mesothelioma Research Foundation of America (MESORFA)

MESORFA is working to its level best in the American continent to uproot the problem of Mesothelioma as soon as possible. The prominent oath taken by this Foundation states that they are supporting and funding to all such research works that can find remedy and cure for Mesothelioma at the earliest not causing another case of fatality.

How is MESORFA really instigating its charitable mission to help out the real victims of Mesothelioma? Let's take a quick look.

Mesothelioma Laboratory at USC and Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center in Los Angeles are the two main centers conducting research work as well as giving treatment to the patients of Mesothelioma. The Mesothelioma Research Foundation of America (MESORFA) is funding these Research centers.

Veglin, the drug discovered

Already the Mesothelioma Laboratory at USC has made a successful endeavor. A particular drug has been formulated through the research that has proved effective on the Mesothelioma cancer patient. Veglin is the name of the drug and it is being used in a prescribed dose to remove the tumors through a shrinking process and this in turn is helping the fluid gathered in the lungs to reduce and come out. The healing rate is quite fast. The Lab is looking forward to discover an ultimate curing medicine for Mesothelioma. Had this charitable organization not stretched out its helping hands it would have never been so easy for such researches to take place.

Reference:

John Porter

Mesothelioma Lawyers or Attorney and Mesothelioma Research

Mesothelioma is a form of cancer contracted by the inhalation or ingestion of asbestos fibers. The fibers in asbestos cause tumors in the lung and/or abdominal lining which, like any other form of cancer, is ultimately fatal unless treated properly. The common causes of death are internal bleeding or hemorrhage from the tumors, or cardiac arrest from the buildup of bodily fluids secreted by the body's immune system in an attempt to combat the tumors.

A majority of those people who contract mesothelioma are in their middle to late years in life, since the symptoms manifest only after 20 to 50 years after exposure. For this reason, the number of cases of diagnosed mesothelioma patients has been steadily growing, due to the fact that asbestos was mainly in use for most industrial work during the 1970s and 1980s.

To help the afflicted victims of asbestos induced cancer, certain law firms and lawyers have begun to specialize in cases of mesothelioma. More often than not, companies in the past were aware of the adverse effects of asbestos fibers on the human body, yet failed to take proper precaution with their workers.

In cases like these, the injured patients are assisted by the lawyers or firms in finding out exactly (or approximately) when and from which source they contracted mesothelioma. A properly presented and defended case can bring in millions of dollars by way of compensation for the injured parties.

Aside from work related cases, there have also been cases where careless demolition of houses and buildings which had asbestos in the foundations and walls (in an attempt at fireproofing) were also revealed to introduce large quantities of airborne asbestos fibers which causes nearby residents mesothelioma. Again, these cases can be traced by these law firms and won in a court of law with proper presentation.

Then there are also law firms which specialize in malpractise suits against doctors which used "alternative" (meaning unproven) methods of treatment for mesothelioma. The common accepted method of treating mesothelioma is to use heat/laser surgery and chemotherapy in tandem to burn out the tumors without damaging the healthy body cells. The alternative methods include medicines to boost the body's immune and regenerative systems as well as alternative diets and exercise.

Classic tumor removal surgery for cancer is actually ineffective against mesothelioma, and has led to patents dying after an apparently successful operation. The maximum life span after an operation is set at around 5 years. Again, conducting regular surgery to treat mesothelioma can also lead to a malpractise suit.

Another type of law suit that mesothelioma law firms and lawyers can pursue is negligence. While not as severe as a malpractise suit, it can still be damaging to a doctor's career and can bring in a fairly decent amount in compensation if the case is won.

The reason for this type of case is that mesothelioma symptoms are actually quite similar in nature to any number of relatively harmless disorders, including common old age maladies, asthma, and indigestion. When these regular treatments fail, a good doctor should recommend an x ray, and these will reveal the presence of tumors in the lungs or stomach. Some doctors, however, will simply write off the current treatments as ineffective and prescribe another set of medicines instead of choosing an x ray, and this leads to the true problem being undiagnosed.

These are some of the major common cases handled by mesothelioma lawyers and law firms, and their credo is to help their clients find justice against the parties which have wronged them. While they cannot directly do anything to cure the mesothelioma, they can at least see to it that justice is served and compensation for the injury is recovered, and the money gained from the law suits can go a long way towards helping their clients get proper treatment.

Lastly, it is advised by mesothelioma lawyers that as soon as a person is diagnosed with it they contact a lawyer as soon as possible, since there is a short statute of limitations for filing a case of mesothelioma. The lawyers can then proceed to do their initial research to determine if the injured party has a solid case and enough evidence to make a successful claim in a court of law. If the answer is yes, then a case can be filed and everything proceeds from there.

Reference:

Nathalie Fiset

Coping With The Loss of a Loved One to Mesothelioma

Human beings were never created to feel loss. We feel devastated when a loved one passes out of this world, but sometimes we're confused as to what emotion we're going to feel. Are we going to be angry? Sad? Are we happy that the person is in a better place? Are we jealous?

Since human beings aren't meant to feel this loss, we often seek out blame, or accountability in an outer being; whether it's God, or a doctor. We want to know what it is that caused it, because to us, death shouldn't be natural.

This is extremely prevalent in cases of mesothelioma deaths. The families and patients feel as if something has been stolen away from them due to a lack in responsibility of the doctors, or the asbestos plants. And many of these families choose to fight for their loved one, long after he or she is gone.

This usually takes the form of a lawsuit, and a long trial. Even though most go into a lawsuit with revenge in mind, it's a sickening thought that it will not bring the loved one back; and rarely does it slake the pain that one feels when they realize that it doesn't even replace the love and caring face of the lost. There are some things to consider when wanting to take the loss to court.

Mesothelioma lawsuits are highly complex, and they need the services of expert mesothelioma lawyers or law firms for the settlement to be satisfactory. These lawsuits require Mesothelioma attorneys experienced in this special type of case; if you cannot find one near you, I suggest you look out of state.

So I write all of this just to say that although Mesothelioma lawsuits often result in millions of dollars for the victims, it's likely that this gain in finance will ever replace the unfair loss of the loved one diagnosed with mesothelioma.

Reference:

Bryan Miller

What Is Mesothelioma Cancer?

Mesothelioma is a type of cancer of which you may have never heard. In fact, it is one of the rarest types of cancer with only about 2,000 new cases diagnosed each year. Since this condition is rare, you may be interested in some basic information about it. For instance, what exactly is mesothelioma? What body parts does it affect? What causes it?

Mesothelioma is a condition where the mesothelium, which a lining that protects the internal organs of the body, becomes cancerous. Doctors use two terms to describe mesothelioma, localized and advanced. Localized mesothelioma indicates the cancer has not spread beyond the protective lining. Doctors used the term advanced to describe mesothelioma that has spread to the internal organs, lymph nodes or other parts of the body.

Exposure to asbestos is the main cause of mesothelioma. Asbestos is a substance that was once widely used in construction because of its insulating and fire retarding properties. In the late 1980's and early 1990's there was a movement to ban some uses of asbestos because of its cancer causing nature.

The amount of asbestos used in construction is now limited, however, some older homes may still have a great deal of asbestos in the form of insulation. Problems usually occur with asbestos when the asbestos fibers are inhaled into the lungs.

This can happen if you decide to remodel your home and tear out asbestos products without proper protective gear. However, most people diagnosed with mesothelioma were exposed to asbestos over long periods of time in a job such as construction.

This type of cancer can be hard to diagnose because its symptoms can mimic those of other diseases. The main symptoms of mesothelioma include pain in the chest wall, shortness of breath, fatigue, anemia, wheezing or cough. The patient may also suffer abdominal pain, unexplained weight loss, and may spit up blood.

A biopsy of affected tissue is required to confirm a diagnosis of mesothelioma. While your doctor is trying to narrow down what is causing your problems, however, he may perform a variety of tests. The tests used to narrow down your condition might include an X-ray of the chest cavity to check for thickening of the mesothelium, which indicates this lining has been damaged by asbestos exposure. He may also order a CAT scan or MRI. A check of the fluid around the lungs, called cytology, for cancerous cells may also be required.

Unfortunately, the prognosis for mesothelioma is not favorable. Because the disease often does not present itself with clear symptoms in the early stages patients are generally not diagnosed until the disease has become advanced.

At this point survival rates are generally less than about five years depending on what type treatment your cancer responds to. Treatments for mesothelioma include surgery to remove cancerous cells and tumors, radiation, immunotherapy and chemotherapy.

Mesothelioma is a disease that is fairly rare and generally limited to workers who have been exposed to asbestos dust or fibers while on their jobs. For this reason there have been limits on the amount of asbestos materials that can be put into any home or building. Those handling the material should take extreme care and wear proper gear at all times to avoid becoming sick from it.

Reference:

M. Xavier

Mesothelioma Treatment: Surgery

Surgery is an important step in confirming and knowing the nature of the cancer. It can be conducted on patients with the combination of adjuvant chemotherapies and radiations, before and after the surgery.

Pleurectomy:
The most common surgery for Mesothelioma treatment is pleurectomy, in which doctors open the patient's chest and remove the excessive fluid or tumor from the lining of the lungs (pleura). Although this procedure controls the accumulation of fluid and decreases pain, it still is not a cure. On the other hand, if the tumor is in its initial form and has not extensively grown, a pleurectomy can increase the survival rate of a patient when combined with chemotherapy and radiation. Additionally, a pleurectomy can be performed on patients with less-approving health conditions and has lower mortality rate than the extrapleural pneumonectomy.

Extrapleural Pneumonectomy (EPP):
Extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP) is an invasive and severe form of surgery conducted on patients with Mesothelioma. In this treatment, parts of the lungs, the pleura (the lining of the lung), the pericardium (lining of the heart) and the hemi-diaphragm, along with the tumor cells, are removed. It decreases the progression of Mesothelioma, while allowing a patient to breathe smoothly. It is usually conducted on patients with early stages of the cancer and when the tumor is in chest cavity. EPP is recommended for patients with good heart and lungs conditions, in order to endure the severities of the post-operative term. Though the surgery combined with chemotherapy and radiation gives promising results, it does not guarantee a cure. Researches have shown that patients treated with extrapleural pneumonectomy and therapies have a medium life span of 35 months after the surgery, compared to only 9 months of pleurectomy. Still, some doctors question the surgery for its high risks, which include internal bleeding, blood clotting, pneumonia, amassing of pus, respiratory failure and even death. Thus, many surgeons recommend the idea of pleurectomy instead of the technically complicated EPP.

Thoracentesis:
A minor surgery is often conducted on patients who cannot undergo EPP or pleurectomy, called thoracentesis. In thoracentesis, a thoracic surgeon inserts a needle into a patient's chest to remove the excessive fluid built up in the lining of the lungs (pleura). This method neither cures nor decreases the cancer, but rather alleviate the painful symptoms of Mesothelioma. In some cases, talc or other agents are infused into a patient's chests to scar the chest wall and help them breathe properly without letting the tumor to increase, to some extent.

Paracentesis:
Paracentesis is a similar method of using a needle to extract fluid, but from the abdominal section of the body. It follows the same procedure of extracting fluid from the lining of the stomach or other abdominal organs. Patients with peritoneal Mesothelioma can benefit from paracentesis surgery.

Reference:Laura Russell

Mesothelioma Treatment: Chemotherapy

Mesothelioma is a cancerous disease that affects the serous linings of various internal organs in the human body. Among them, the lungs, heart and the stomach are the mostly affected.

It is estimated that each year, 2,000 new cases of Mesothelioma are reported. The patients suffering from this cancerous disease have had prior exposure to asbestos, which is considered to be the only known cause of Mesothelioma. Mesotheliomic patients are often told of the short survival duration of 6 - 12 months. But doctors specialized in treating malignant Mesothelioma at leading cancer centers expect better survival rates. Though Mesothelioma causes immense pain and suffering to the victim along with short life expectancy, certain treatments have resulted in the successful reduction and removal of the cancerous tumors of Mesothelioma.

Treatment of Mesothelioma depends on many factors, including the stage of the cancer, the circulation of the malignant cells, pathology reports determining the nature of the cancer cells and patient's age and health. Following is a detail description of the options for Mesothelioma Treatment.

CHEMOTHERAPY: Chemotherapy is a "systematic treatment" of Mesothelioma that uses drugs, chemicals and medicines in an efficient manner to kill cancer cells. It is given to patients in either pills form or is injected directly into the body. In some cases, the medicines are directly inserted into the chest, known as intrapleural chemotherapy, or into the abdomen, known as intraperitoneal chemotherapy, to destroy the growth of cancerous cells. It is also given to patients before and after a surgery to limit the growth of Mesothelioma cancer.

The widely used pemetrexed, Alimta ®, is given in combination of Cisplatin (a standard platinum compound) to treat pleural Mesothelioma. The drug was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in February, 2004. The working of this drug is simple: it enters the blood stream of a patient and kills the cancer cells throughout the body, while stopping the malignant cell growth. The drug has some side-effects for which vitamin B 12 and folic acid is given to the patients undergoing this treatment.

Reference:Laura Simmon

Treating Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is a cancerous disease that affects the serous linings of various internal organs in the human body. Among them, the lungs, heart and the stomach are widely affected.

It is estimated that each year 2,000 new cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed. The patients suffering from this cancerous disease have prior exposure to asbestos, which is considered to be the only known cause of mesothelioma. Mesotheliomic patients are often told of their short survival duration of 6 - 12 months, but doctors specialized in treating malignant mesothelioma at leading cancer centers expect more. Though mesothelioma causes immense pain and suffering to the victim, along with short life expectancy, certain treatments have resulted in the successful reduction and removal of the cancerous tumors of mesothelioma.

In this article, we will elaborate on the significant treatments available to patients suffering from the asbestos- related cancer (mesothelioma). Please be advised that only a professional doctor specializing in cancer can diagnose mesothelioma. It is recommended for patients suffering from the symptoms of mesothelioma, to consult a cancer specialist for a possible treatment. After examining medical reports and asbestos-exposure history, the doctor can announce the preliminary diagnosis. The doctor can also conduct a needle biopsy to finalize the diagnosis of malignant mesothelioma. For more relevant and latest Mesothelioma Information and diagnosing mesothelioma, check out www.mesoblog.org. Additionally, it is noteworthy that the treatment of mesothelioma depends on many factors, including the stage of the cancer, the circulation of the malignant cells, pathology reports determining the nature of the cancer cells and patient's age and health.

Following are the mesothelioma treatment options available to the patients for treating the cancer:

*Surgery
*Chemotherapy
*Radiation or Radiotherapy
*Immunotherapy
*Clinical Trails
*Complementary Therapy
*Nutrition
*Fitness and Exercise
*Meditation and Stress Reduction

Treating mesothelioma is not an easy task. It requires immense pain endurance and patience. Nonetheless, with proper treatment and medications, along with the love and support from the family members and friends, mesothelioma can be controlled.

Reference:Jennifer White

Experts for Life: physicians of mesothelioma

A physician who specializes in mesothelioma are called oncologists. Oncology is a field in medicine that involves cancer or it is the study of cancer. Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that involves the mesothelium. The mesothelium is the tissue that is made up of mesothelial cells. These mesothelial cells are the ones damaged in cancer of the mesothelium or mesothelioma. The mesothelium is can be found as the covering of the internal organs such as the pleura, which is the covering of the lungs and the peritoneum, which is the covering of the internal organs of the abdominal cavity.

Oncologists can be found in treatment centers or hospital that has an oncology department. In treating mesothelioma there is a team of doctors and specialists that one will encounter through the course of diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of mesothelioma.

KNOWING THE DISEASE

During the initial phase of the diagnosis, the first doctor that a client encounters or has contact with is the General Practitioner. This doctor may not be in the specific field of oncology or does not specialize in mesothelioma but this doctor takes the medical history of the patient. He is the one responsible to refer the patient to the specialists or consultants, give them the history and the details of his initial examination of the patient.

The pulmonologist is a physician who specializes in the field that involves the lung. The pleural mesothelioma is the more common form of mesothelioma and this type involves the covering of the lungs. The lung specialist physician has the extensive knowledge and skills and is specifically trained to diagnose and treat diseases that affect the lung such as mesothelioma. This physician may order tests to be performed to diagnose mesothelioma.

The pathologist is a physician who specializes in analyzing cells. This doctor has the extensive skill and knowledge and is highly trained to monitor and evaluate the significant cell changes that may point to mesothelioma. They analyze the cells through the specimiens that are brought to them such as the blood, fluid obtained from the abdomen or lung, or tissues from the mesothelium. They interpret the changes and they are the ones responsible to spot damged mesothelial cells by cancer or the mesothelioma.

The radiologist is a physician who specializes in using instruments that can help confirm the diagnosis of the mesothelioma through the imaging that are generated by these instruments. This doctor particularly analyzes the images taken from the x-ray, CT scan, MRI, PET scan and confirms if there is really presence of mesothelioma.

REALIZATION

After the diagnosis and determining the gravity of the mesothelioma, treatment is done and there are different doctors that facilitate the treatment of the mesothelioma. If the mesothelioma is treatable via surgery, the services of a thoracic surgeon may be needed. The thoracic surgeon is trained and is specialized to do surgeries of the lung, heart, chest and esophagus. If a patient has been diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma and it has been decided that the best treatment is surgery, then this physician is the one qualified to do the job.

The Medical Oncologist is a physician specialized to render chemotherapy if it has been determined that the best treatment for the mesothelioma is through chemotherapy. This physician has the extensive knowledge and skills of the treatment modalities of cancer specifically chemotherapy.

The Radiation Oncologist is a physician specialized to render radiation therapy if it has been determined that the best treatment for the mesothelioma is through radiation therapy. This physician has the extensive knowledge and skills and is highly trained to administer radiation therapy to treat the mesothelioma.

These types of physicians are all specialized and work together to help treat mesothelioma. They are all part of the cancer team that helps take care of the mesothelioma patients along with the nurses, therapists and social workers. Each doctor offers specific services that cater to the mesothelioma patient's needs.

Each of the services of these doctors has fees that can amount to a huge amount of money. This is where insurance comes in as part of the team in treating mesothelioma. It is truly a big help if the diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of mesothelioma is covered by insurance. Every worker especially those who are considered high risk should take this seriously before it is too late.

Reference:

Nathalie Fiset

A Closer Look at Peritoneal Mesothelioma Cancer

Peritoneal Mesothelioma is a kind of cancer that commonly occurs due to increased exposure to asbestos for a long period of time. There are findings that this cancer develops even without asbestos exposure. This type of cancer affects the peritoneum, which is the lining that protects the internal organs of the abdominal cavity. The peritoneum is made up of mesothilial cells which are the cells affected by cancer. It is a rare form of mesothelioma. Pleural mesothelioma, which is the cancer of the mesothelial cells of the covering of the lungs, is the more common form than the peritoneal mesothelioma.

Asbestos is a material used for insulation, which is resistant to heat and fire. It is used in the construction or engineering of buildings, ships, household appliances and motors. It has been reported that there is a higher incidence of mesothelioma in males because this type of caner is work related. Males are commonly hired for the construction or engineering of buildings, ships, motors and household appliances which causes the increased incidence of mesothelioma in males.

THE CULPRITS

There are three types of asbestos namely the blue, white and brown. These are all linked to cancer which caused asbestos to be banned in many countries such as the UK. Asbestos is made up of tiny fibers that can be breathed into the lung. It then works its way to the pleura irritating and damaging the mesothilial cell. Some asbestos might be coughed up as a defense of the body to get rid of the irritating foreign body that has entered the lung. When this happens the asbestos goes to the mouth and is then swallowed. It then works its way to the internal organs of the abdominal cavity irritating and damaging the peritoneum or the mesothilium, which the tissue made up of mesothelial cells that covers the internal organs. Upon exposure to asbestos, the fibers are deposited in the clothing of the worker. The worker exposed to asbestos spreads it to his family when he gets home through his clothing. This puts the family at high risk to developing mesothelioma since they are also exposed through asbestos.

There are also less common causes of mesothelioma. It has been found out that exposure to radiation can also cause pleural and peritonieal mesothelioma. Thoratast or thorioum dioxide was used in x-ray tests in the 1950s. Exposure to a mineral in turkey, which is called the Zeolite can also cause the cancer mesothelioma. The virus SV40 also known as the simian virus increases the risk of developing mesothelioma. It acts as a co-factor when the person is exposed to another risk factor, amplifying the possibility of developing mesothelioma.

GETTING CHECKED It is not easy to diagnose mesothelioma. There is no specific screening for mesothelioma. People who are high risk to develop mesothelioma should be checked periodically in order to spot mesothelioma at the earliest stage possible so prompt treatment may be done. There are some signs and symptoms the doctors watch out to get further tests to confirm mesothelioma. Pain, swelling tenderness to any area and a possible lump are the common complaints that are considered.

Blood test is then done to evaluate the person's general health. If doctor suspects that the person may have peritoneal mesothelioma, the person may have abdominal x-ray, abdominal CT scan or abdominal MRI scan to check and confirm for swelling and fluid accumulation in the abdomen. Abdoparacentsis or fluid drainage from the abdomen may be done to relieve the swelling and pain around the abdomen and to see if there are malignant or cancerous cells in the fluid. Laparoscopy or biopsy of the abdominal lining or peritoneum may be done, wherein they get a tissue sample of the abdominal lining and check if the mesothelial cells are damaged by cancer.

If these tests confirm that one has peritoneal mesothelioma, it is then evaluated if it has spread to other parts of the body. This is called staging or determining the gravity of the cancer itself. This process is very important to determine what action or treatment will be done. A PET scan may be done to see how the cells are working. PET stands for positron emission tomography. This is done if the peritoneal mesothelioma cancer is treatable through surgery. This shows the extent of spread of the cancer cells to the other parts of the body like the lymph nodes and other organs.

Reference:

Nathalie Fiset

Help is on the way: treating mesothelioma, the traditional way

Cancer has become a major issue in the world of medicine given its growing number of types and causes. One can never escape the hazards of the world. Cancer normally occurs when a person is exposed to harmful substances for an extended period of time. And one type of cancer that is fast gaining attention nowadays is mesothelioma. Traditional mesothelioma treatments are widely gaining popularity, too.

This is true when you have cancer known as mesothelioma. Having this disease means that you have a malignant tumor originating from mesenchyma. A large portion of the tumor grows into adipose tissue. Parts of the body commonly attacked by pleomorphic type mesothelioma include the leg, shoulders, gluteal region and the retroperitoneum.

Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that involves the mesothelium. The mesothelium is the tissue that is made up of mesothelial cells. These mesothelial cells are the ones damaged in cancer of the mesothelium or mesothelioma. The mesothelium is can be found as the covering of the internal organs such as the pleura, which is the covering of the lungs and the peritoneum, which is the covering of the internal organs of the abdominal cavity.

THERE IS HOPE

What do we do when we are diagnosed mesothelioma? Are there any traditional treatments that we can use to cure the disease.

It is not easy to diagnose or treat mesothelioma. There is no specific screening for mesothelioma. People who are high risk to develop mesothelioma should be checked periodically in order to spot mesothelioma at the earliest stage possible so prompt treatment could be done. There are some signs and symptoms the doctors watch out to get further tests to confirm mesothelioma. Pain, swelling tenderness to any area and a possible lump are the common complaints that are considered.

Blood test is then done to evaluate the person's general health. If doctor suspects that the person may have peritoneal mesothelioma, the person may have abdominal x-ray, abdominal CT scan or abdominal MRI scan to check and confirm for swelling and fluid accumulation in the abdomen.

Abdoparacentsis or fluid drainage from the abdomen may be done to relieve the swelling and pain around the abdomen and to see if there are malignant or cancerous cells in the fluid. Laparoscopy or biopsy of the abdominal lining or peritoneum may be done, wherein they get a tissue sample of the abdominal lining and check if the mesothelial cells are damaged by cancer.

SICK BUT HAPPY WORLD

No matter what sickness you have there is a specialist out there who can help you find the proper cure even if it is for mesonthelioma. After the diagnosis and determining the gravity of the mesothelioma, treatment is done and there are different doctors that facilitate the treatment of the mesothelioma.

If treating mesothelioma is done through via surgery, the services of a thoracic surgeon may be needed. The thoracic surgeon is trained and is specialized to do surgeries of the lung, heart, chest and esophagus. If a patient has been diagnosed with plemorphic type mesonthelioma and it has been decided that the best treatment is surgery, then this physician is the one qualified to do the job.

Here are the specialists you should approach for your problems. They can recommend traditional treatment for mesothelioma or push for new methods given the advances in science.

A physician who specializes in mesothelioma is called an oncologist. The Radiation Oncologist is a physician specialized to render radiation therapy if it has been determined that the best treatment for the mesothelioma is through radiation therapy. This physician has the extensive knowledge and skills and is highly trained to administer radiation therapy to treat the plemorphic type mesonthelioma.

The pathologist is a physician who specializes in analyzing cells. This doctor has the extensive skill and knowledge and is highly trained to monitor and evaluate the significant cell changes that may point to mesothelioma. They analyze the cells through the specimens that are brought to them such as the blood, fluid obtained from the abdomen or lung, or tissues from the mesothelium. They interpret the changes and they are the ones responsible to spot damaged mesothelial cells by cancer or the mesothelioma.

The Medical Oncologist is a physician specialized to render chemotherapy if it has been determined that the best treatment for the mesothelioma is through chemotherapy. This physician has the extensive knowledge and skills of the treatment modalities of cancer specifically chemotherapy.

Looking ahead, never lose hope on how science can help a person recover from a serious illness. All that is needed is a little faith in the human spirit to triumph from such adversity. There is a cure for mesothelioma, whether traditional mesothelioma treatments or modern ones, and it is just there waiting to be discovered.

Reference:

Nathalie Fiset

Overcoming the odds: Curing pleomorphic type mesothelioma

Given the increasing number of types of cancer, one can never escape the hazards of the world. Cancer normally occurs when a person is exposed to harmful substances for an extended period of time. This is true when you have cancer known as pleomorphic type mesonthelioma. Having this disease means that you have a malignant tumor originating from mesenchyman. A large portion of the tumor grows into adipose tissue. Parts of the body commonly attacked by pleomorphic type mesothelioma include the leg, shoulders, gluteal region and the retroperitoneum.

Tumors are normally seen as lump masses inside the body. CHECK YOURSELF

It is not easy to diagnose plemorphic type mesonthelioma. There is no specific screening for plemorphic type mesonthelioma. People who have a high risk of developing mesothelioma should be checked for regular period of time in order to spot mesothelioma at the earliest stage possible so get checked as frequently as possible. There are some signs and symptoms the doctors watch out to get further tests to confirm plemorphic type mesonthelioma. Pain, swelling tenderness to any area and a possible lump are the common complaints that are considered.

A simple blood test can be performed to evaluate a person's general health. If doctor suspects that the person may have plemorphic type mesonthelioma, the person may have abdominal x-ray, abdominal CT scan or abdominal MRI scans to check and confirm for swelling and fluid accumulation in the abdomen. Abdoparacentsis or fluid drainage from the abdomen can be performed to alleviate the swelling and pain around the abdomen and to see if there are malignant or cancerous cells in the fluid. Laparoscopy or biopsy of the abdominal lining or peritoneum may be done, wherein they get a tissue sample of the abdominal lining and check if the mesothelial cells are damaged by cancer.

If these tests confirm that one has plemorphic type mesonthelioma, it will now be determine if it has spread to other parts of the body. This is called staging or determining the gravity of the cancer itself. This process is very important to determine what action or treatment will be done. A PET scan may be done to see how the cells are working. PET stands for positron emission tomography. This is done if the mesothelioma is treatable through surgery. This shows the extent of spread of the cancer cells to the other parts of the body like the lymph nodes and other organs.

HELP IS ON THE WAY

No matter what sickness you have there is a specialist out there who can help you find the proper cure even if it is for plemorphic type mesonthelioma. After the diagnosis and determining the gravity of the mesothelioma, treatment is done and there are different doctors that facilitate the treatment of the mesothelioma.

If the mesothelioma is treatable via surgery, the services of a thoracic surgeon may be needed. The thoracic surgeon is trained and is specialized to do surgeries of the lung, heart, chest and esophagus. If a patient has been diagnosed with plemorphic type mesonthelioma and it has been decided that the best treatment is surgery, then this physician is the one qualified to do the job.

Here are some doctors you should approach for your problems.

The Medical Oncologist is a physician specialized to render chemotherapy if it has been determined that the best treatment for the mesothelioma is through chemotherapy. This physician has the extensive knowledge and skills of the treatment modalities of cancer specifically chemotherapy.

The Radiation Oncologist is a physician specialized to render radiation therapy if it has been determined that the best treatment for the mesothelioma is through radiation therapy. This physician has the extensive knowledge and skills and is highly trained to administer radiation therapy to treat the plemorphic type mesonthelioma.

The pathologist is a physician who specializes in analyzing cells. This doctor has the extensive skill and knowledge and is highly trained to monitor and evaluate the significant cell changes that may point to mesothelioma. They analyze the cells through the specimens that are brought to them such as the blood, fluid obtained from the abdomen or lung, or tissues from the mesothelium. They interpret the changes and they are the ones responsible to spot damaged mesothelial cells by cancer or the mesothelioma.

No matter what happens always have faith that these doctors are doing their best to help you recover from pleomorphic type mesothelioma or any type of mesothelioma for that matter.

Reference:

Nathalie Fiset

How Do I Find a Good Mesothelioma Doctor?

Just like looking for the best lawyers to handle a serious case, looking for the best doctors for mesothelioma is very important. If you or your loved one has this form of cancer, only the best trained and experienced doctor can give you the accurate diagnosis and can recommend other recuperative approaches. You will need to find a doctor who is knowledgeable about the disease and medication or other treatment options. You need a doctor who can come up with the correct options in care such as chemotherapy, radiation, surgical appraisal, and/or other more focused forms of treatment. It is of paramount significance to broaden your search for doctors who handle mesothelioma successfully. You want the doctor who also keeps himself informed of the latest procedures and studies.

You also need to know who is the backup physician. With a qualified substitute you can feel rest assured that you will be taken care of when you need medical attention. You have to consider the hospital where the doctor has work privileges. Since you will be visiting the clinic or hospital every now and then, it is important that you are comfortable with the location and quality of care that you would receive at that location.

You and your doctor will be partners for the rest of your life. So choosing a doctor should be done painstakingly and with care. Consider recommendations or referrals. Reflect on the credentials of the doctors and verify them. Choose 3 or 4 specialists and study their credentials before finally making appointments with those doctors. Then meet them and evaluate how well you two interact. Second opinions can also be helpful. There are conservative doctors and there are assertive ones. Only you can be the judge as to what kind of doctor is right for you.

You will be telling your doctor important information about your disease ranging from symptoms to how long ago the exposure was and how much time were you exposed to asbestos or asbestos-related substance. After the initial consultation the doctor may feel it necessary for you to undergo some scans like the Chest CT scan or biopsy, contingent on the type of mesothelioma cancer you have. Basically, there are three types of mesothelioma cancer. Pleural lungs, peritoneal (abdominal) and pericardial (heart), any of these can develop within you. As soon as your doctor has arrived at a definite analysis, you will know what type of mesothelioma cancer you have, at what stage and if the cancer has metastasized. Treatments are then scheduled. Whatever the treatments are, your doctor will recommend what is appropriate for you in considering how far along the cancer has progressed.

Having a good effective relationship with your doctor is key to your treatment. Being able to communicate properly with each other makes a big difference in your ability to deal with your cancer. Remember not to leave everything to your doctor. You also have responsibilities. Telling the doctor honestly how you feel, your opinions, and your questions will educate you about your illness. With recent research and discoveries, patients who undergo treatment are experiencing longer remissions than ever before. Mesothelioma patients with proper doctor care are living for longer periods of time.

Reference:Faithe Thomas

How to diagnose mesothelioma?

How to diagnose mesothelioma?

Qualified medical professionals perform mesothelioma diagnosis. A wide range of tests and procedures are done to find out whether the disease is present. Mesothelioma diagnosis is a difficult procedure as the symptoms of mesothelioma are very similar to other benign diseases. This coupled with the fact that mesothelioma has a huge latency period makes patients and their doctors dismiss the symptoms of mesothelioma as signs of ageing. Only after detailed testing because of recurring symptom mesothelioma is confirmed.

Review of medical history of patient

The medical history of the patient will be reviewed in the first place. This is because the doctor will need to determine the extent and the severity of the risk factors and the symptoms of mesothelioma. Also, the doctor can find out the nature of asbestos exposure of the patient, how long and how much they were exposed. One another point the doctor will want to know is whether you were a smoker or not. This is because smokers have a higher risk of contracting mesothelioma as compared to non-smokers.

The doctor will also conduct some preliminary examinations to determine the type of mesothelioma. This can be found out by checking for fluid. When fluid is found in the chest. It is a case of pleural mesothelioma. When fluid is in the abdomen, it is a case of peritoneal mesothelioma and when fluid is in the heart, it is a case of pericardial mesothelioma.

Diagnostic tests:

CT scans, x-rays and MRIs are very useful in determining the spread of the cancer. These diagnostic image tests help to determine the stage of mesothelioma. All the methods are very useful and they help in making a more detailed diagnosis. The CT scans help in getting a 3D view of the inside body parts. Thus, the same part can be viewed from various angles. Unlike x-ray, MRI uses magnetic fields to view the body parts.

Testing fluid and samples of tissues:

In case of mesothelioma, fluid may build up in chest, abdomen or heart. In such cases, the medical professional will take a sample of this fluid and test it. The sample will be drawn via a long needle and then, it will be tested in a laboratory. The doctor in certain cases of mesothelioma may also prescribe a bronchoscopy procedure. Sometimes, certain tissue samples may be taken to perform further testing. Persons having lung cancer or pleural mesothelioma may also have lymph nodes affected by the disease. These patients may be advised to undergo a mediastinoscopy. This procedure helps the doctors to find out how far the disease has affected the lymph nodes. This will help in a better diagnosis of mesothelioma. It will also help in determining the stage of mesothelioma.

Diagnosing mesothelioma is a very complex procedure involving a lot of steps. While the first symptoms are completely misleading, the later symptoms are also not conclusive. Fluid build up in the body organs alone is not a sign of mesothelioma. Only specialized medical personnel in highly specialized laboratories can correctly determine mesothelioma. This is the reason why many mesothelioma cases go undocumented. It is necessary that all countries fund and encourage their researchers and medical professionals to find an easy and simple diagnostic procedure for mesothelioma.

Reference:

Archana Sarat

The Stages of Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is a form of cancer that is difficult to diagnose. Symptoms are chronologically far apart. This creates a lot of confusion among some doctors because some symptoms could be attributed to other common diseases. Well-timed diagnosis can be extremely difficult due to the dormant period between getting infected and manifestation of indications. This could take up to 40 years to fully show itself and the damage it has caused. When symptoms are apparent, this cancer is already in the advanced state. By that time, treatment can do little for the patient. Treatment choices differ according to the stages of the cancer. Pleural mesothelomia has around four stages while peritoneal mesothelomia is not staged.

Stage I shows the presence of mesothelomia either on the right or on the left pleura or the stomach. Stage II assaults the chest wall or the esophagus, heart or pleura on both sides. At stage III, lymph nodes can be found further and may involve the chest. This is also the stage when mesothelioma has penetrated the abdomen down to the lining of the abdominal cavity. Stages II to IV is categorized as the advanced state of cancer. Stage IV is considered advanced mesothelioma and most of the time it is an open/close surgery, as it is no longer helpful. The cancer of mesothelioma is difficult to the point of being impossible to treat. Initially tumors can be seen in the membranes that enclose the chest cavity and abdominal cavity. It then metastasizes to the organs nearby.

The gauge of the stages is done through CAT scans, MRI testing, and other use of mechanisms like x-rays. By way of these tools the physician can see how far the cancer has has spread. Through theses measures the physician will be able to translate what level and type treatment is appropriate for which stage. Once stage and treatment has been defined, the doctor then talks it over with the patient and his family. By the time mesothelioma is diagnosed, most of the treatment is pain management and control, drug therapy, and psychological methods to help the patient deal better with the effect of pain.

Treatments like chemotherapy, radiation, or surgery are not sufficient without supplementary medications. But when conventional methods are no longer an option, experimental methods might be considered. Clinical trials are being done on humans to see how effective new drugs are with human beings. If a patient will agree to participate in a clinical trial the patient benefits in return for helping scientists analyze its efficacy of the research.

By and large, treatment would always depend on the location of tumor, what stage the cancer is in, its spread and how mesothelomia cancer metastasized. Factors like age and the overall health condition of the patient may well be considered during treatment.

Management and handling of mesothelomia cancer is a very difficult procedure. The patient needs to be physically and emotionally ready for the consequences of having mesothelioma cancer. Whatever the doctors' prognosis will be, the patient needs to be able to prepare for what will happen next.

Reference:Faithe Thomas

Mesothelioma Treatments

Malignant mesothelioma is difficult to treat for several reasons. Like all cancers, it becomes more difficult to treat after the disease progresses. And because mesothelioma doesn't show its symptoms until decades after the patient is exposed, it is often not found until it has reached advanced stages. Unfortunately, mesothelioma is also easily misdiagnosed, further delaying treatment. When the disease is found, it frequently doesn't respond well to conventional cancer treatments. The nature of mesothelioma -- which affects tissues that line some of the major organs of the body -- means that it cannot easily be removed with surgery. And treatment can also be complicated by the demographics of its victims -- generally, men over the age of 50 -- whose health may not allow very radical treatments.

All of this means that even newly diagnosed mesothelioma patients sometimes are given a very bad chance of recovery by their doctors. Statistics are hard to come by, but British scientists suggest that 10% of newly diagnosed mesothelioma patients will live for at least three more years; 5% will live five years or more. For patients in the first stage, 50% live for at least two more years. However doctors can be mistaken, and a diagnosis of mesothelioma is in no way always tantamount to a death sentence. In one famous case, scientist Stephen Jay Gould survived with peritoneal mesothelioma for almost twenty years. He eventually died from a different type of cancer.

There are four stages of malignant mesothelioma, which measure how far the disease has progressed. How a patient's mesothelioma is treated depends largely on which stage he or she is in when the disease is found.

* Stage I: Localized mesothelioma that exists only in the lungs, the diaphragm or the pericardial lining.

* Stage II: Advanced mesothelioma that has spread into the lymph nodes of the chest.

* Stage III: Advanced mesotheioma that has spread into the wall of the chest, the center of the chest, the lining of the heart and the diaphragm. Stage III malignant mesothelioma may or may not have spread to the lymph nodes.

* Stage IV: Advanced mesothelioma that has spread far from the chest and abdomen into other organs.

Surgery

Patients with Stage I or milder Stage II mesothelioma are generally offered one or more of the conventional cancer treatments: surgery, radiation and chemotherapy. For early-stage patients, surgery for mesothelioma aims to cure the disease by literally cutting the cancer out of the patient's body. The most common type of surgery for pleural mesothelioma is a pleurectomy/decortication, which is where doctors remove all or part of the tissues lining the lungs and chest cavity. If doctors find that they can't remove the cancer without removing the lung underneath those tissues, they may remove one lung as well; this is called a pneumonectomy. A more radical type of surgery for pleural mesothelioma is called an extrapleural pneunonectomy (EPP). In the case of an EPP, surgeons will remove parts of one lung, the pleura, the diaphragm, and the lining of the heart. These are difficult and dangerous surgeries that doctors won't recommend lightly.

Patients with peritoneal mesothelioma -- the kind that affects the abdomen -- may be offered cytoredutive surgery. In this surgery, doctors are trying to remove all of the cancerous tissue they can find in the abdomen and gut. They may also choose to do a peritonectomy -- removal of the entire lining of the abdomen. Again, this is not an easy surgery and may not be possible for everyone, but it has been successful in some patients. Patients with pericardial mesothelioma are not generally offered surgery.

Radiation and Chemotherapy

In addition to or instead of surgery, doctors may offer an early-stage mesothelioma patient chemotherapy, radiation or both. Radiation and chemotherapy are designed to kill the cancer cells without killing the patient. Unfortuantely, in order to kill the cancerous cells, these treatments often kill healthy cells as well. This is why cancer patients often lose their hair, have trouble eating and feel generally weak and sick during treatment. Doctors who prescribe chemotherapy or radiation may also suggest dietary supplements or other measures to control these symptoms.

Chemotherapy gives patients a drug designed to attack the cancer cells as they divide. The drug is swallowed or injected into the bloodstream regularly over a period of weeks or months, in cycles that give a patient some recovery time in between treatments. Patients can live at home and just go into a doctor's office for the treatment; sometimes, they can even have the treatments at home. In some cases, doctors may choose to apply chemotherapy drugs directly to the cancerous tissue; this requires surgery, so patients must check into a hospital. There are many different kinds of chemotherapy drugs, and scientists are trying to develop better ones every day.

Radiation therapy seeks to kill the cancer cells with high-energy rays of radiation, such as x-rays, that stop them from growing. In external-beam radiation, patients endure directed beams of radiation aimed at the parts of their bodies where the cancer lies. This treatment lasts about 30 minutes a day and is given in the exact same way each day over a period of weeks. In internal radiation therapy (brachytherapy), doctors put a container of radioactive material next to the cancerous tissue, using surgery or an existing body cavity. Some will be left in the body; others will be removed and replaced. Lastly, radiopharmaceuticals are sometimes used to administer radiation treatments, with the drugs being either injected, inserted into a body cavity or swallowed.

Reference:

Alan Haburchak

Mesothelioma and Other Asbestos Diseases

What is Asbestos?
Asbestos is a term for several commonly found fibrous magnesium-silicate minerals. Due to their durable and versatile nature, asbestos materials were used widely in construction and manufacturing for most of the 20th century. Today, it is widely understood that asbestos is an extremely harmful substance. However, this was not always known. Even minimal inhalation of these asbestos fibers can develop into serious, and even fatal, conditions. In 1918, The United States Department of Labor issued a bulletin stating that there was an "urgent need for more qualified extensive investigation" into the severe harm caused by asbestos. Nevertheless, many industries kept using asbestos.

For decades, construction workers, vehicle mechanics, shipyard workers, electricians, and others employed in the building trades did not realize the danger, as they were exposed to asbestos on a daily basis. Even now, workers renovating or demolishing old buildings may encounter asbestos. The danger was not limited those who directly handled the asbestos. If a worker had substantial exposure to asbestos, his or her co-worker or spouse also was vulnerable to asbestos-related illness.

Eventually scientific research confirmed the life-threatening risks caused by exposure to airborne asbestos fibers. However, companies still ignored the danger, and continued to make and use products containing asbestos, until it was banned during the latter part of the 20th century. Asbestos was used widely in heavy industry, as well as insulation in hair dryers, electrical wiring, cement, paper, roofing materials, floorboards, and hundreds of other common items. Despite the legal ban on new uses, over one million Americans are endangered by exposure to existing asbestos sources every year.

Asbestos Removal
Asbestos still exists in many older buildings, including schools, hospitals, airports, and factories across Michigan. From skyscrapers to residential buildings, asbestos continues to threaten the health of unsuspecting citizens.

Removal of asbestos is a complex process. Special precautions are necessary, to avoid release of asbestos fibers into the surrounding environment. Otherwise, the asbestos will endanger anyone in the area, who inhales or ingests its odorless and tasteless microscopic fibers. The danger is great, because any amount of asbestos can be harmful. For these reasons, there is a conflict between those who push for removal of asbestos from existing structures, and those who oppose it, if it is unlikely to enter building ventilation systems.

Some companies and government agencies arrange for asbestos removal to prevent public exposure, while others do so to avoid potential litigation. Still other projects are driven by legislation or public outcry for asbestos removal from public buildings, including many older schools across the country.

Mesothelioma and Other Asbestos Diseases
Three serious health conditions may result from exposure to even a small amount of airborne asbestos fibers. All three conditions result from inhaling the fibers, which become embedded in the lungs or other parts of the body. It can take years for symptoms of any of these asbestos illness to appear. Some experts believe that no symptoms appear for more than a decade after exposure. In some cases, it takes even longer for the illness to become evident. The following is information about the three major conditions resulting from asbestos exposure.

Mesothelioma
The medical profession used to consider this type of cancer as quite rare. While still uncommon, the number of workers diagnosed with mesothelioma has risen. Now, about 3,000 new mesothelioma cases are reported in the United States every year. The incidence of this disease is increasing at an even higher rate in Europe. Mesothelioma is a form of cancer, usually caused by asbestos fibers that actually penetrate lung tissue. It is also possible for mesothelioma to develop after these fibers penetrate the heart or the abdomen. While doctors have found many different causes for other forms of cancer, the only definitely identified cause of mesothelioma is exposure to asbestos.

Asbestosis
Sometimes, this term is used incorrectly to refer to all ailments resulting from asbestos exposure. However, it is actually a very specific condition. Asbestosis (also known as interstitial fibrosis) develops when inhaled asbestos fibers cause scarring of the lung tissue. Over time, this scarring reduces the capacity of the lung. Individuals with asbestosis may suffer disabling lung impairments, and must be monitored closely because they are at increased risk of even more serious asbestos-related conditions.

Lung Cancer
Lung cancer is all too common in our society and has many possible causes. However, there is evidence of a link between asbestos exposure and lung cancer. The risk of lung cancer is even higher for an individual who has been exposed to asbestos, and also smokes cigarettes. Mesothelioma Treatment Options "Staging" is a term that medical professionals use to define the spread and extent of cancers like mesothelioma. In general, the least serious "first stage" only involves the lining of the lung. By the most serious "stage four," cancer has spread to other organs of the body.

Medical researchers continue to improve treatment for mesothelioma. The most common form of treatment is still chemotherapy. With new combinations of drugs, such as pemetrexed and carboplatin, chemotherapy may slow the progression of cancer in some victims. Radiation or surgery is the an appropriate treatment for other mesothelioma patients. In addition, some experimental treatments are yielding promising test results and offer hope for future victims.

Mesothelioma is still regarded as a deadly form of cancer. The average life span after diagnosis is only one to two years. However, the stage of the disease when it is discovered, and an individual's response to treatment are significant factors in determining life expectancy. Due to medical progress, 20% of those diagnosed at an early stage of mesothelioma have at least 5 more years to live.

Mesothelioma Symptoms and Mesothelioma Diagnosis

Men are many times more likely to develop mesothelioma than women. This may be due to the higher percentage of men who work in factories and construction, where there is an increased risk of exposure to airborne asbestos fibers. Older men are more likely to be diagnosed with mesothelioma. This is not surprising, because of the relatively long period of time between asbestos exposure and the onset of this cancer.

Physicians may have difficulty diagnosing mesothelioma, because initial symptoms, such as shortness of breath and chest or abdominal pain, can be confused with other conditions. There are tests to rule out mesothelioma, including a thoracoscopy or a peritoneoscopy. If you have symptoms and believe that you may have past asbestos exposure, see your doctor immediately. If you or a loved one suffer from asbestos related cancer or mesothelioma cancer, talk with an experienced asbestos lawyer today.

Reference:

Marya Sieminski

Mesothelioma Prognosis - What Are Your Chances?

About 2000 to 3000 new cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed each year in the United States. Once a patient receives a diagnosis of this cancer, his or her physician will most likely discuss the prognosis or probable course and outcome of the disease with the patient.

Factors That Determine Prognosis

Most times a diagnosis of mesothelioma is made when the cancer has reached an advanced stage as it usually takes a very long amount of time after the contact with asbestos before most victims start displaying the symptoms associated with the disease.

In addition to this fact, even when the symptoms of this cancer do eventually surface, they often resemble the symptoms of more general diseases like pneumonia, influenza and some other lung diseases. This fact coupled with the long delay in appearance of symptoms makes the accurate diagnosis of mesothelioma a very difficult one.

Thus as result of these factors, prognosis for majority of the patients is poor, but many doctors recommend treatment options like surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy to help combat the disease.

Factors that affect prognosis include:

A} The stage of the cancer:

Medically the progression of the cancer is classified in form of stages. The stages range from stage one to stage four. The higher the stage the, the more advanced the cancer. Unfortunately, once the cancer has reached stages three to stage four, treatment options become limited and less effective. In stage four of the cancer, the cancer has spread to other parts of the body and the tumor has often deeply eaten into various key organs and tissues in the body. Stage 4 is not suitable for surgery. Generally the higher the stage of the cancer the worse the prognosis.

B} Histological type of cancer:

Histology refers to the basic cell structure and type of the cancer. Histologically, there are four types of mesothelioma:a}Epithelial,b}Sarcomatoid c}Biphasic{mixed} d}Desmoplastic{variant of sarcomatoid}
Epithelial mesothelioma has a better prognosis than the other types and the sarcomatoid form has the worst prognosis.

C} Age and general condition of victim

Malignant mesothelioma is often diagnosed in people above the age of 55 years old, although there may be exceptions. So some of the victims would have developed chronic diseases associated with old age like diabetes and hypertension and this worsens their prognosis.

D} The size of the tumor

E} The location of the tumor and whether the tumor is operable{whether it can be removed surgically}

F} The extent of other symptoms, including fluid in the lungs or abdomen.

G} Whether or not the patient is a smoker.

When discussing the survival rate of any cancer, references are often made to the "five year survival rate". The five year survival rate refers to the percentage of patients who live at least five years after receiving their diagnosis. According to the American Cancer Society, the five year survival relative survival rate for mesothelioma is approximately 10%.The number has improved over the last five years up from the 9% reported at the end of 2002.
In general, the average length of survival reported throughout the last five years has been 10-11 months after diagnosis.

Bello Kamorudeen http://www.mesotheliomacorner.blogspot.com

Mesothelioma Prognosis - What Are Your Chances?

About 2000 to 3000 new cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed each year in the United States. Once a patient receives a diagnosis of this cancer, his or her physician will most likely discuss the prognosis or probable course and outcome of the disease with the patient.

Factors That Determine Prognosis

Most times a diagnosis of mesothelioma is made when the cancer has reached an advanced stage as it usually takes a very long amount of time after the contact with asbestos before most victims start displaying the symptoms associated with the disease.

In addition to this fact, even when the symptoms of this cancer do eventually surface, they often resemble the symptoms of more general diseases like pneumonia, influenza and some other lung diseases. This fact coupled with the long delay in appearance of symptoms makes the accurate diagnosis of mesothelioma a very difficult one.

Thus as result of these factors, prognosis for majority of the patients is poor, but many doctors recommend treatment options like surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy to help combat the disease.

Factors that affect prognosis include:

A} The stage of the cancer:

Medically the progression of the cancer is classified in form of stages. The stages range from stage one to stage four. The higher the stage the, the more advanced the cancer. Unfortunately, once the cancer has reached stages three to stage four, treatment options become limited and less effective. In stage four of the cancer, the cancer has spread to other parts of the body and the tumor has often deeply eaten into various key organs and tissues in the body. Stage 4 is not suitable for surgery. Generally the higher the stage of the cancer the worse the prognosis.

B} Histological type of cancer:

Histology refers to the basic cell structure and type of the cancer. Histologically, there are four types of mesothelioma:a}Epithelial,b}Sarcomatoid c}Biphasic{mixed} d}Desmoplastic{variant of sarcomatoid}
Epithelial mesothelioma has a better prognosis than the other types and the sarcomatoid form has the worst prognosis.

C} Age and general condition of victim

Malignant mesothelioma is often diagnosed in people above the age of 55 years old, although there may be exceptions. So some of the victims would have developed chronic diseases associated with old age like diabetes and hypertension and this worsens their prognosis.

D} The size of the tumor

E} The location of the tumor and whether the tumor is operable{whether it can be removed surgically}

F} The extent of other symptoms, including fluid in the lungs or abdomen.

G} Whether or not the patient is a smoker.

When discussing the survival rate of any cancer, references are often made to the "five year survival rate". The five year survival rate refers to the percentage of patients who live at least five years after receiving their diagnosis. According to the American Cancer Society, the five year survival relative survival rate for mesothelioma is approximately 10%.The number has improved over the last five years up from the 9% reported at the end of 2002.
In general, the average length of survival reported throughout the last five years has been 10-11 months after diagnosis.

Bello Kamorudeen http://www.mesotheliomacorner.blogspot.com