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| Mesothelioma Symptoms And Treatments |
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| What is Mesothelioma? Mesothelioma is a very rare and tragic form of cancer. About 80% of the people that are diagnosed with mesothelioma recieved this disease from environmental hazards such as asbestos exposure. People with increased risks of mesothelioma are people who worked in a shipyard, an asbestos mine or mill, people who helped produce asbestos pruducts, trades people, and friends or family of the before listed people. Symptoms: Mesothelioma is a difficult cancer to diagnose because of its long incubation period. A person exposed to asbestos may have absolutely no symptoms until 30 to 50 years after the exposure. Many symptoms of mesothelioma are similar to symptoms of pneumonia as well as other diseases; many times, mesothelioma can be misdiagnosed. Symptoms of mesothelioma include: blood in sputum (fluids), a cough or change in cough pattern, hoarseness, difficulty swallowing, shortness of breath, weight loss, and pain in the chest or abdomen. Because these symptoms resemble other diseases, it may be necessary for asbestos exposure tests. Such tests can be done with: feces, urine, mucuus, and material that is rinsed out of the lungs. Mesothelioma Treatments: Once mesothelioma appears, it is very important for it to be treated quickly, or else the disease could prove fatal. Mesothelioma can be treated by surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. Surgery: There are two types of surgery, aggressive surgery (for long-term control), and palliative procedures (relief of symptoms). Aggressive Surgery: Aggressive surgery involves the removal of the pleura, the lung the diaphragm, and the pericardium through a procedure known as extra pleural pneumonectomy. The goal of this type of surgery is to remove as much of the tumor as possible. The surgery is very complicated and carries a high risk of death within a month. This type of surgery is usually only done with younger patients who are in good health and can tolerate the surgery. Palliative Procedures: These procedures are usually only performed when the cancer is in its advanced form. They are used to control the symptoms, not to cure them. Pleurectomy is the surgical removal of the pleura. This reduces the pain caused by the tumor mass, and may also prevent the recurrence of pleural effusion (fluid collection that causes breathlessness.) Chemotherapy: This process uses drugs to treat mesothelioma. Combinations of drugs are used at the same time. Some of these combinations have proved successful, and new drugs are being developed for the treatment of this cancer. Radiation: This process uses radiation to kill the tumor. This procedure is difficult because of the location of this malignant cancer. It is surrounded by the heart, lungs, and other organs, and they are at risk of being damaged by the radiation. Lower doses however, can be used. Dual Therapy: This is where chemotherapy and radiation are both used. They both help in killing any remaining tumor cells that were not removed by surgery, and may also help in relieving symptoms of the disease like chest pain. Legal: If you or someone you know has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, and you can prove that it is because of neglance from the asbestos companies, you may have a claim, and be entitled to a settlement. It is very important to contact an experienced lawyer. |
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| Disclaimer: This is a website, whos content should not be considered a substitute for medical or legal advice. This site simply provides information on mesothelioma. | ||||||||||
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