Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is a rare type of cancer that occurs in the lining of the body's internal organs, a thin layer of cells known as the mesothelium, which gives mesothelioma its name. While very thin, this layer of cells is vitally important to organ function and the health of the inner body structures. There are three recognized types of mesothelioma. Pleural mesothelioma occurs in the pleural lining of the lungs and is the most common form of the disease. Peritoneal mesothelioma occurs within the peritoneum, which lines the abdominal cavity and is the second most common form of the disease. Pericardial mesothelioma is the rarest variety of the disease and occurs in the pericardial lining of the heart. The primary cause of mesothelioma is exposure to asbestos, though other factors, such as smoking may increase the likeliness of mesothelioma in certain individuals.

How is Mesothelioma Treated?

Mesothelioma is an aggressive cancer but can be managed with chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and surgery. Currently, there is no known cure for asbestos cancer but several mesothelioma treatment regimens have proven to be successful in helping the mesothelioma patient avoid pain and discomfort caused by the disease. Several therapies have emerged in recent years that have extended survival rates of mesothelioma patients to levels previously thought to be impossible. Cancer centers have initiated hundreds of clinical trials in recent years to help mesothelioma patients find a therapy that works for them while still working towards a cure for future mesothelioma patients. Progressive therapies are now being developed through the International Mesothelioma Program under the direction of thoracic specialist Dr. David Sugarbaker.

How is Mesothelioma Diagnosed?

Malignant mesothelioma can be difficult to diagnose because symptoms of the disease often closely mimic those of less serious conditions. Mesothelioma diagnosis often require X-ray and other body scans (CT or MRI) in addition to a biopsy to conclusively diagnose mesothelioma. Nevertheless, those experiencing chronic cough, difficulty swallowing, chest pain, or breathing difficulties should alert their physician immediately. This is particularly true among those with a known asbestos-exposure history. Those with asbestos exposure history should communicate this to their physician even before mesothelioma symptoms appear so that they may be able to alert patients to warning signs of the disease. If detected early enough, patients may be eligible for aggressive mesothelioma treatment options, including surgical resection of the mesothelioma cancer and affected tissue. Oncologists and thoracic specialists will be able to assist the patient in determining the extent of the disease and the best mesothelioma treatment options for that particular patient.

Asbestos Exposure

Asbestos exposure was common among industrial workers. Among the more common jobsites were those in the shipbuilding industry, such as the Todd Shipyards or Newport News Naval Shipyard. Other jobsites include power plants, chemical manufacturing, or the metal works industry. Those with asbestos history should notify their doctor and learn of possible warning signs of mesothelioma caused by exposure. Those who have been made sick by asbestos exposure, including those with a mesothelioma, should fill out the form on this page to receive a free asbestos and mesothelioma information kit detailing top doctors, new mesothelioma treatments, and how to obtain financial compensation for mesothelioma disease.
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Pleural Mesothelioma

Pleural mesothelioma is a rare cancer often diagnosed in people who have been exposed to high levels of asbestos. The malignancy affects the pleura, a thin membrane of lubricating cells that lines the lungs and chest wall. It sometimes takes 10 years or more for changes to appear that are indicative of pleural disease, and even long for symptoms to manifest. These differences can include a thickening or calcification of the pleural lining, a condition commonly diagnosed as pleural plaques. Conditions like pleural calcification or the development of pleural plaques often serve as pre-cursor to mesothelioma.

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In most instances, pleural disease is not considered fatal but it can cause diminished lung function and may confirm that a person has sustained significant asbestos exposure. Those diagnosed with pleural conditions are generally considered to be at a higher risk for developing the more severe pleural mesothelioma.
Pleural mesothelioma originates in the pleura but can quickly spread to the outer chest wall, abdomen, and heart. Pleural mesothelioma is typically fatal within 1 year of diagnosis. However, understanding and recognizing key risk factors, like asbestos exposure, will typically lead to early detection of the cancer. Those who are fortunate to receive an early diagnosis are likely to be more eligible for life-sustaining treatments such as surgical resection of the cancer. This type of treatment can extend a patient’s life years beyond that of a typical mesothelioma patient.
While there is no cure for pleural mesothelioma, treatment options do exist for the cancer. There are ways for patients to manage the disease through tumor management including traditional radiation and chemotherapy methods, which can ease symptoms of the disease and make a patient more comfortable. In patients where a diagnosis is made of early stage disease, mesothelioma surgery can extend the survival rate far beyond previous levels in untreated disease.

Treatment and Tumor Management

Nearly all patients diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma are able to receive some form of treatment for their illness. While there is currently no cure for mesothelioma, patients have been able to extend initial prognosis through advanced mesothelioma treatment regimens currently being developed at clinics and cancer centers across the United States.

Surgery

Surgical resection is difficult in pleural mesothelioma patients when the disease is diagnosed in later stages because at that time the tumor has typically metastasized to other areas of the body like the abdominal cavity and lymph nodes. However, in early stage diagnoses, surgery can absolutely be utilized to slow the advance of mesothelioma disease.
Common surgical procedures utilized in the management of malignant mesothelioma are pneumonectomy and extrapleural pneumonectomy. Pneumonectomy is a general procedure utilized not only in patients of malignant mesothelioma, but also for those battling lung cancers or related lung conditions. Pleurectomy involves the removal of a either a portion of or the entire affected lung in patients. Extrapleural pneumonectomy is a more comprehensive procedure that is more tailored to mesothelioma patients and involves the removal of the entire affected lung, the pleura, the diaphragm, and the pericardium, which is the mesothelial lining that surrounds the heart cavity.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is likely the most prevalent treatment utilized by patients of malignant pleural mesothelioma. While several different chemotherapy drugs have been utilized to varying degrees of effectiveness for the management of malignant pleural mesothelioma, only one has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration as a prescribed therapy for the treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma. A combination of Alimta(Pemetrexed) and Cisplatin is currently the only drug combination in approved status. However, several other clinical trials are currently active attempting to determine the effectiveness of other drugs including Gemcitabine, Navelbine, and Onconase.

Radiation Therapy

Radiation therapy has been utilized in the treatment of many types of cancer and pleural mesothelioma is no different. Often, radiation is not able to manage cancer by itself so it is combined with either surgery, chemotherapy, or both to augment the treatment plan as a whole. Radiation therapy for pleural mesothelioma utilizes external beam radiation to mutate tumor cells within the body and slow their growth and spread.

Alternative and Complementary Therapies

A growing school in cancer care involves integrative approaches to the treatment of cancer. Integrative oncology utilizes not only the conventional therapies discussed above, but also untraditional therapies such as acupuncture, massage, and reflexology to assist the patient in managing pain, anxiety, and restlessness. Patients battling pleural mesothelioma have effectively utilized alternative therapies like these to increase the effectiveness of their treatment program overall. Generally, patients who are able to withstand the difficult side-effects of more potent chemotherapy and radiation treatments will be best able to extend their prognosis. Patients of pleural mesothelioma who have utilized alternative therapies have been able to do just that. However, most of these therapies are preferential and will depend on the health of the patient as to whether or not they will be able to engage in them. As with any treatment, patients should seek the consultation of their oncologist or cancer specialist before engaging in any alternative therapy.

What Causes Pleural Mesothelioma?

Pleural mesothelioma is known only be caused by exposure to asbestos. Asbestos is a naturally occurring and microscopic mineral that was used for hundreds of years in a number of different industrial compounds. Asbestos fibers are extremely durable, but also extremely difficult to expel from the body once introduced to the internal tissue.
Upon inhalation, asbestos fibers will lodge on the outer layers of the lung tissue and within the pleura, a thin membrane of mesothelial cells which lines the chest cavity. This lining allows for the free movement of the body’s internal body structures because it provides a special lubrication to the surface of these structures. The pleura, like other mesothelial membranes, is a delicate structure and microscopic asbestos fibers can cause pleural plaques to form on its surface. Pleural plaques may eventually develop into pleural mesothelioma tumor cells. Generally, it takes many years between asbestos exposure and the development of adverse health complications, as the fibers will slowly irritate and inflame the internal tissue over time until symptoms appear.
Many of those exposed to asbestos have successfully received compensation from asbestos product manufacturers for injuries and illnesses such as pleural mesothelioma. If you believe you were wrongfully exposed to asbestos and have developed an asbestos-related health complication, we urge you to complete the brief form on this page. We’ll rush you a complimentary mesothelioma and asbestos exposure information packet detailing advancements in the treatment of pleural mesothelioma, top doctors and cancer centers, and mesothelioma attorney options you may have.

Don't Let Time Get in the Way!

Don't let time prevent you from taking legal action if you have been diagnosed with malignant pleural mesothelioma as a result of asbestos exposure. Every state establishes set timeframes for filing lawsuits for an asbestos related injury. These timeframes are also known as the state statutes of limitation. The deadlines established in the statutes are fixed so it is important to consult with a legal professional soon after the onset of an asbestos related illness to determine what, if any action may be appropriate.

Source

American Cancer Society - Detailed Guide: Malignant Mesothelioma - What Is Malignant Mesothelioma?
(http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_4_1X_What_is_malignant_mesothelioma_29.asp)
D. G. West and W. S. Walker. Staging malignant pleural mesothelioma: additional investigation may not improve accuracy
European Journal of Cardiothoracic. Surgery., May 1, 2011; 39(5): 800 - 800.
De Perrot M, Uy K, Anraku M, Tsao MS, Darling G, Waddell TK, Pierre AF, Bezjak A, Keshavjee S, Johnston MR. Impact of lymph node metastases on outcome after extrapleural pneumonectomy for malignant pleural meso-thelioma. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2007;133(1):111—6.
Ismail-Khan, Roohi. Robinson, Lary D. Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma: A Comprehensive Overview. Cancer Control: Journal of the Moffit Cancer Center. 2006; 13(4):255-263.

LES CELLULES DU CANCER S’ALIMENTENT DE :

Un des hôpitaux les plus reconnus au monde change sa vision au sujet du cancer.’hôpital John’s Hopkins Hospital est un hôpital universitaire situé à Baltimore dans l’État du Maryland aux États-Unis.Fondé grâce à un don de John’s Hopkins, il est aujourd’hui un des hôpitaux les plus reconnus au monde et est classé pour la 17e année consécutive en première place du classement des meilleurs hôpitaux des États-Unis.

Après de nombreuses années à dire aux gens que la chimiothérapie est l’unique manière de traiter et éliminer le cancer, l’hôpital John Hopkins commence à dire aux gens qu’il y a d’autres alternativeque la chimio:

 Une manière efficace de combattre le cancer est de ne pas donner à manger aux cellules cancéreuses avec ces aliments dont elles ont besoin pour se multiplier.

LES CELLULES DU CANCER S’ALIMENTENT DE :

a. Le SUCRE est un aliment du cancer. Ne pas consommer de sucre coupe un des éléments les plus importants des cellules cancéreuses. Il
existe des substituts du sucre comme la saccharine, mais ils sont faits avec de l’ Aspartame et sont très nocifs… Un meilleur substitut du sucre est le miel de manuka ou la mélasse mais en petites quantités.

b.Le SEL contient un additif chimique afin de paraître blanc. Une meilleure alternative pour le sel est le sel de mer ou les sels végétaux.

c.Le LAIT cause dans le corps la production de mucus, spécialement dans le conduit intestinal.Les cellules cancéreuses s’alimentent de
mucus. En éliminant le lait et en lui substituant du lait de soja, les cellules du cancer n’ont rien à manger, par conséquent elles meurent.

d. Les cellules cancéreuses murissent dans un milieu ambiant acide. Un régime à base de VIANDE ROUGE est acide, il vaut mieux manger du poisson et un peu de poulet à la place de la viande de bœuf ou de porc. De plus, la viande contient des antibiotiques, hormones et parasites qui sont très nocifs, spécialement pour les personnes cancéreuses. La protéine de la viande est très difficile à digérer et requiert beaucoup d’enzymes. La viande qui ne se digère pas reste dans le corps et se putréfie ce qui entraîne la création de plus de toxines.

cancer mesothelioma

Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma cancer most commonly develops in the lungs of people exposed to asbestos.

Effective treatments are available to ease symptoms and improve your prognosis.

Mesothelioma is a rare cancer that is caused almost exclusively by exposure to asbestos. It can affect the thin, protective membrane surrounding the lungs, heart or abdominal cavity. An estimated 3,000 cases annually are diagnosed in the United States, and the majority of those are traced to an occupational exposure.

Although the use of asbestos has been reduced dramatically in recent decades, the incidence of mesothelioma has remained steady. It can take anywhere from 20 to 50 years after exposure to asbestos before obvious symptoms appear and a definitive diagnosis is made. While there still is no cure - and the prognosis is typically poor - significant progress has been made in recent years regarding treatment options and various alternative therapies.

How Asbestos Causes Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma cancer develops after exposure to asbestos, which most often occurs in the workplace – in industrial settings, shipyards, auto repair shops, old houses, schools and public buildings. It takes long-term exposure to make someone at risk, but heavy, short-term asbestos exposure is known to cause mesothelioma cancer.

Microscopic asbestos fibers are breathed in or swallowed. The human body has difficulty destroying or getting rid of these fibers. Over decades, the fibers cause biological changes that result in inflammation, scarring and genetic damage. The most susceptible area to these fibers is the lining of the lungs, called the pleura, although fibers also can become trapped in the lining of the abdominal cavity (peritoneum). Once fibers cause biological damage, the stage is set for a 20- to 50-year latency period for malignant mesothelioma to develop.

Types and Symptoms

Pleural mesothelioma is the most common type of mesothelioma, representing about 75 percent of cases. Peritoneal mesothelioma is the second most common type, consisting of about 10 to 20 percent of cases. Approximately 1 percent of cases are of the pericardial variety. Another rare type known as testicular mesothelioma represents less than 1 percent of cases.