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Mesothelioma Cancer
What is Mesothelioma?
Mesothelioma is a serious malignant tumor that affects the torso of the human body. There is a strong link between mesothelioma and contact with asbestos particles via breathing or swallowing.
There are three common forms of mesothelioma:
1. Pleural Mesothelioma is the most common form of Mesothelioma. It starts in the chest cavity (after breathing the particles) before spreading to other areas.
2. Peritoneal Mesothelioma starts in the abdomen (after swallowing the particles) and accounts for about 10-20% of Mesothelioma patients.
3. Pericardial Mesothelioma is the rarest form of Mesothelioma. It starts in the cavity that surrounds the heart.
Mesothelioma is difficult to diagnose early on because the symptoms are often mistaken for those of other, less serious ailments. To make matters worse, it often takes many years for the symptoms to show up after the contact with asbestos takes place. Individuals with a history of extended asbestos exposure are at the highest risk for developing malignant mesothelioma. Even a small exposure to this cancer-causing material can result in malignant mesothelioma. However, mesothelioma has a latency of up to thirty-forty years, and many individuals previously exposed to asbestos are now displaying symptoms. This means the average age of mesothelioma patients is between 50 and 70 years. Men are typically affected more, because of the common presence of asbestos in industrial settings. There are three major types of malignant mesothelioma. Epithelial, sarcomatoid, and mixed. Epithelial mesothelioma is most common. Symptoms may include, but are not limited to respiratory distress, a lasting cough, and pneumonia. In addition, symptoms are often mistaken for less serious ailments, and many patients do not show any signs at all.
Individuals with pleural mesothelioma may amass some fluid between the lung lining and chest cavity. This can be detected through a chest x-ray, as well as CT scans.
Diagnosis of Mesothelioma is based on a biopsy. This exam will test a tissue sample for the presence of malignant and/or pleural mesothelioma.
Causes of Mesothelioma
Asbestos is the principal cause of Mesothelioma. Asbestos is a type of insulation material, which was commonly utilized in the past in the following industries:
Steel Workers
Brake Mechanics
Insulators
Boilermakers
Ship fitters
Maintenance Workers
Pipe Fitters
Construction industry
Shipbuilding industry
Automotive industry
Other manufacturing industries
Mesothelioma appears most often in people who worked in the above industries and were exposed to asbestos in their workplace. The utilization of asbestos was very prevalent after 1940's. However it would take 10-40 years after the first exposure for the first symptoms of mesothelioma to become noticeable, which made it very difficult to diagnose. The peak in mesothelioma cases is projected to be reached near year 2010 according to studies. There are three frequently used types of asbestos: white, brown, and blue. Brown and blue asbestos are more frequently associated with mesothelioma. These types of asbestos have been restricted by most countries in the 1990s. A record of asbestos exposure at work is reported in about 70 percent to 80 percent of all cases.
Asbestos is a very dangerous material and can cause serious damage to your health. It is made up of very minute fibers, which can find their way to pleura (outside lining of the lung) and damage the cells pleura are made of. These fibers can also be passed on to clothing, which makes them dangerous not only to the person exposed to asbestos, but to their family members as well.
Smoking
Smoking does not appear to increase the risk of mesothelioma. However, the combination of smoking and asbestos exposure drastically increases a person's risk of developing cancer of the air passageways in the lung.
Symptoms of Mesothelioma
Symptoms of mesothelioma may not materialize until 30 to 50 years after exposure to asbestos. Shortness of breath and pain in the chest due to an accumulation of fluid in the pleura are often symptoms of pleural mesothelioma. Symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma include weight loss and abdominal pain and swelling because of a buildup of fluid in the abdomen. Other symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma may include bowel obstruction, blood clotting abnormalities, anemia, and fever. If the cancer has spread beyond the mesothelium to other parts of the body, symptoms may include pain, difficulty swallowing, or swelling of the neck or face. These symptoms may be caused by mesothelioma or by other, less serious conditions. It is important to see a doctor about any of these symptoms. Only a doctor can make a diagnosis. Once Mesothelioma is diagnosed, the likelihood of recovery varies according to several factors, including the size and location of the tumor, how much it has spread, and the age of the patient.
In general, the earlier that Mesothelioma is diagnosed, the greater the likelihood of survival. If you feel that you have experienced any of the typical Mesothelioma symptoms, pay a visit to your doctor for professional advice.
Mesothelioma diagnosis
Diagnosing mesothelioma is often complicated, because the symptoms are similar to those of several other conditions. Diagnosis begins with an assessment of the patient's medical history, as well as any history of asbestos exposure. A physical examination may be performed, including x-rays of the chest or abdomen and lung function tests. A CT (or CAT) scan or an MRI may also be useful. A CT scan is a series of detailed pictures of areas inside the body created by a computer linked to an x-ray machine. In an MRI, a powerful magnet linked to a computer is used to make detailed pictures of areas inside the body. These pictures are viewed on a monitor and can also be printed.
A biopsy is needed to confirm a diagnosis of mesothelioma. In a biopsy, a surgeon or a medical oncologist (a doctor who specializes in diagnosing and treating cancer) removes a sample of tissue for examination under a microscope by a pathologist. A biopsy may be done in different ways, depending on where the abnormal area is found. If the cancer is in the chest, the doctor may perform a thoracoscopy. In this procedure, the doctor makes a small cut through the chest wall and puts a thin, lit tube called a thoracoscope into the chest between two ribs. Thoracoscopy allows the doctor to look inside the chest and obtain tissue samples. If the cancer is in the abdomen, the doctor may perform a peritoneoscopy. To obtain tissue for examination, the doctor makes a small opening in the abdomen and inserts a special instrument called a peritoneoscope into the abdominal cavity. If these procedures do not yield enough tissue, more extensive diagnostic surgery may be necessary.
If the diagnosis is mesothelioma, the doctor will want to learn the stage and extent of the disease. Staging involves more tests in a precise effort to find out whether the cancer has proliferated and, if so, to which parts of the body. Knowing the stage of the disease helps the doctor plan treatment. Mesothelioma is described as localized if the cancer is found only on the membrane surface where it originated. It is classified as advanced if it has extended beyond the original membrane surface to other parts of the body, such as the lymph nodes, lungs, chest wall, or abdominal organs.
Mesothelioma treatment
Treatment for mesothelioma depends on the location of the cancer, the stage of the disease, and the patient's age and general well being. Typical treatment options consist of surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. Sometimes, these treatments are combined.
Surgery is a frequent treatment for mesothelioma. The doctor may remove part of the lining of the chest or abdomen and some of the tissue around it. For cancer of the pleura (pleural mesothelioma), a lung may be removed in an operation called a pneumonectomy. Sometimes part of the diaphragm, the muscle below the lungs that helps with breathing, is also removed.
Radiation therapy involves the use of high-energy rays to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. Radiation therapy affects the cancer cells only in the treated area. The radiation may come from a machine (external radiation) or from moving materials that produce radiation through thin plastic tubes into the area where the cancer cells are found (internal radiation therapy).
Chemotherapy is the use of anticancer drugs to kill cancer cells throughout the body. Most drugs used to treat mesothelioma are given by injection into a vein (intravenous, or IV). Doctors are also studying the effectiveness of applying chemotherapy directly into the chest or abdomen (intracavitary chemotherapy).
To ease symptoms and control discomfort, the doctor may use a needle or a thin tube to drain fluid that has accumulated in the chest or abdomen. The procedure for removing fluid from the chest is called thoracentesis. Removal of fluid from the abdomen is called paracentesis. Drugs may be administered through a tube in the chest to prevent more fluid from accumulating. Radiation therapy and surgery may also be beneficial in alleviating symptoms.
Note of Urgency
Mesothelioma is a life-threatening disease and cannot be left untreated. The sooner it is diagnosed the better a patient's chances are of fighting this deadly cancer. Please contact a qualified doctor immediately if you or someone you know has been diagnosed with mesothelioma.
Read more Facts about Mesothelioma. Alan Hood is a contributing writer at Houston Medical Center
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alan_Hood
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MESOSELIOMA MESOMARK BLOOD TEST
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the MESOMARK assay to help monitor response to treatment in malignant mesothelioma patients. The MESOMARK test signifies the beginning of a new era in monitoring mesothelioma malignancies," said Dr. W. Jeffrey Allard, vice president and chief scientific officer of Fujirebio Diagnostics. "As the first in-vitro test for patients with this aggressive disease, it will enable doctors to more accurately detect recurrence and monitor treatment of patients."
The MESOMARK Assay test kit was developed to measure levels of a biomarker, mesothelin, in serum. Biomarkers are substances found in higher-than-normal concentrations in the blood, urine or body tissues of patients with certain types of cancers. The test may be used to monitor patients confirmed as having mesothelioma, for recurrence in patients following surgery, or for measuring response to therapies.
"Current diagnostic tests are less than ideal for quantification of changes in tumor volume, which is key to managing the disease," continued Allard. "As the MESOMARK results correlate with tumor volume*, it provides a much needed tool for monitoring patient status. It is our plan to collect additional data in the future to support the use of the test to detect mesothelioma."
MESOMARK test are now making it possible - with a simple blood test -to monitor response to treatment and to detect recurrence following treatment. This provides an important head start to patients racing against this aggressive cancer. "The Meso Foundation is the national research funding, patient support and advocacy organization dedicated to eradicating mesothelioma as a life-threatening disease.
Those wishing to take part in MESOMARK testing will be asked to provide one or more samples of blood. The blood samples will then be sent to a national reference laboratory for testing. In conjunction with other clinical and laboratory data obtained by your doctor, decisions regarding your treatment and care may be simplified. You may discontinue testing at any time.
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Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/ - Mesothelioma Mesomark Blood Test
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According to calculations by the Center for Disease Control, mesothelioma deaths are expected to peak around 2010 in the United States whereas in the United Kingdom, the Health and Safety Executive predicted mesothelioma cases would continue to rise until 2016. The Canadian government reported mesothelioma cases shot up 67 percent in the last 15 years. The number of mesothelioma cases amoung women is reported to rise as well, despite that men are more likely to develop the cancer.
The increase in mesothelioma cases is due to asbestos exposure that occurred 20 to 40 years ago. Once diagnosed, cancer patients have a grim prognosis, many only living for a few months. Additionally, asbestos is the only known cause of mesothelioma, which points to an occupational or environmental hazard present in the patients' lives prior to diagnosis.
Although optimism remains that the number of the cases is expected to decline as the residual impact of asbestos use subsides, asbestos-related diseases are debilitating and often the result of inadvertent exposure via an occupational hazard. Plumbers, electricians and electrical fitters, carpenters, and heating and ventilating engineers are the professions who run the risk of developing a disease related to asbestos according to reports in UK. However many death certificates do not record occupations of the patients dying from mesothelioma.
The slightest asbestos exposure can result in several potentially fatal medical conditions, including lung cancer, asbestosis or mesothelioma, despite the decrease in the commercial use of asbestos. Many who have been exposed to mesothelioma can seek compensation for costly medical bills with a mesothelioma lawsuit.
Mesothelioma litigation has risen in recent years as the population that was exposed to asbestos earlier in the twentieth century continues to age and the negative effects of asbestos become more prevalent. Mesothelioma treatment can be intense and expensive, which is why many mesothelioma patients seek mesothelioma legal counsel from experienced mesothelioma law firms. Although asbestos exposure has dropped in recent years, those exposed prior to the twenty-first century continue to suffer from the side effects.
About the Author
To learn more about whether you might be able to develop mesothelioma lawsuit visit http://mesothelioma.legalview.com/, or to learn the latest on other legal topics including Vytorin litigation visit http://www.LegalView.info/ .
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/ - In Nations Worldwide, Mesothelioma Cases Increase
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Malignant pleural mesothelioma frequently asked questions
Malignant pleural mesothelioma is a particularly lethal form of cancer, the incidence is rising all over the world. Although malignant pleural mesothelioma with common tumors such as prostate or breast cancer compared to very little attention, but so that patients and their families have paid a heavy price. Although the disease has traditionally been the general opinion that there is no save, but the current trend is changing.
What is malignant pleural mesothelioma?
What led to the malignant pleural mesothelioma?
Malignant pleural mesothelioma main pathogenic factors for exposure to asbestos many years ago when the did not realize the dangers of asbestos, many engaged in transport, mining and insulation industry through the work of exposure to asbestos fibers, but not only in direct contact with asbestos The Man with the woman, reports indicate that by touching overalls relatives indirectly exposed to asbestos have also taken place in the family of malignant pleural mesothelioma.
How common the disease?
The United States each year there are about 3000 new cases, on the whole, the global annual incidence of approximately 10,000 to 15,000 patients. Disease incidence in the United States may have reached its peak, mainly because the United States in the early 70s issued a ban on asbestos, but in Europe, to reduce asbestos exposure to lag behind the efforts of 10 years, began the destruction of all the cleaning and asbestos materials while working late a lot, so incidence rates in 2010 reached a peak in Europe.
Next page: Disease manifested How long will it take?
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Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/ - Malignant pleural mesothelioma frequently FQA
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When you read a medical science article, you might see technical terminology that can baffle the brightest minds. But when you understand what those terms mean, you can see that your inner space is just as exciting and strange as science fiction's outer space. The story of how the body's immune system works is like reading a science fiction novel full of strange creatures, weapons and a plot to overthrow civilizations. This is one such story that tells of a breakthrough in treating mesothelioma cancer and provides hope for those afflicted with the disease.
On February 18, 2010, an academic paper was published in the relatively obscure American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care by a group of 9 scientists from the Netherlands. They reported a unique immunotherapy approach, called dendritic cell vaccination, for treating mesothelioma cancer. Mesothelioma cancer is a form of cancer that has been linked to asbestos exposure and can affect the lungs, abdomen and the heart. Immunotherapy is a therapy that beneficially manipulates the body's immune system to fight disease. To understand the importance of this discovery and what a dendritic cell approach is, we must first understand how both a cancer occurs and how the immune system works.
Think of your body as a futuristic city, and your skin as a force field that protects the city. Then imagine that one day, an alien life force slips past the outer defenses and into the city and begins to inhabit the bodies of the citizens living in this city. This is how cancer works. The DNA inside a healthy cell is mutated as if an alien life force has inhabited the cells. Scientists only have a theory as to why mutations occur (somatic mutation theory) but it is not proven.
Once these normal cells have mutated, they become zombie like cancer cells and begin to replicate their DNA to create new cancerous cells. These zombies walk amongst the living throughout the city. But there is one very peculiar aspect to them. These cancer cells are not recognized by the body's immune system as foreign invaders. The reason is that they have developed multiple anti-detection weapons that prevent the immune system from recognizing them.
To comprehend the nature of the cancerous anti-detection weapons, we have to first examine the weapons that the immune system possesses. Imagine that the immune system is an internal security force that patrols the body. The security force consists of different battle units.
At the front line are the scouts, called dendritic cells. When confronted by invading organisms, the dendritic cells collect molecular information called an antigen. Think of an antigen molecule as an organism's scent and the dendritic cells as sniffer dogs. When the dendritic cell detects an invader it immediately retrieves the antigen and moves to the battle garrisons called the lymph nodes. This is where all the battle units reside.
Once at the lymph node the dendritic cell communicates its scouting report to the commander called a T helper cell. The T helper cell puts the base on battle alert and passes the antigen information on to the destroyer cells. Each destroyer cell now has a copy of the invader's antigen to allow it to recognize and destroy the cancerous cells.
There are three main destroyer cells (white blood cells). There are the killer T cells (or cytotoxic T cell) which act as the infantry in the battalion. Once the killer T cells identify an invader (using the antigen they were given) they launch a chemical weapon (cytotoxin) that penetrates the invader and literally forces them to self destruct (apoptosis). Macrophages are the tanks in the army. They engulf and digest every invader in their path (phagocytosis). Then there are the combat engineers called B cells. When B cells are given their target antigen, they produce and launch millions of antigen seeking missiles called antibodies. The antibody is programmed to seek out any organism with the specific target antigen and attach itself to it. Once it is attached it destroys the organism by infection.
This seems like an impressive array of weapons that our bodies possess to destroy invaders but cancer cells have counter measure weapons to evade detection. One of these weapons is like a cloak of invisibility. Some cancer cells have the ability to alter their own DNA and in turn give themselves the ability to morph their outer appearance to resemble a healthy cell. It accomplishes this by submerging its own antigens from the surface of its cellular membrane when a dendritic cell is nearby and then resurfacing the antigen when the dendritic cell is gone (antigenic modulation).
And here is where the exciting development in cancer fighting begins. The Dutch scientists reached into this miniature battle ground and removed some of the cancer cells from the mesothelioma patients. They then extracted the antigens. It was a sort of kidnap and interrogate mission to find the cancer cell's secret antigen. A massive scouting group of 50 million dendritic cells were then given that specific antigen and were injected back into the patient's body. The scientists now hoped that the dendritic cells, armed with the correct scouting information on the invaders, would quickly travel to the lymph nodes to alert the battalion troops. If the destroyer cells could receive that specific antigen they could launch their forces and identify and destroy their targets.
The test results were very encouraging. They found an increase in antibodies and T cells, which meant that the dendritic cells had done their job in sounding the battle alert. The troops were on the move. Most importantly, they also found an increased level of cytotoxins (those chemical weapons used by the killer T cells) in the vicinity of the tumor. This was evidence that the fight had begun. Three out of ten patients in the study group showed signs of tumor regression.
When I think about the logic in this approach, it sounds so much more promising and ingenious than bombarding the entire body with chemotherapy and radiation which also kills healthy cells and produces long term side effects. It's like dropping a bomb in your own city to try to kill the invaders. I think that cancer researchers are providing much hope for a cancer cure with this unique form of immunotherapy.
About the Author
Paul J. Folkmann is a mesothelioma freelance writer. To receive a free book entitled,"Surviving Mesothelioma and Other Cancers: A Patient's Guide"(written by survivor Paul Kraus), visit http://mesotheliomaoracle.blogspot.com/. There you will also find information on mesothelioma treatments, stories of hope, and the latest news.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/ - New Mesothelioma Treatment - A 2010 Space Odyssey
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