Mesothelioma

2.CAUSES OF MESOTHELIOMA

The ingestion and inhalation of airborne asbestos fibers are the main causes of mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is a rare, but deadly, cancer that attacks the pleural lining of the chest cavity and the lungs or the peritoneal lining of the organs of the stomach. In more rare cases, the causes of mesothelioma can attack the pericardium of the heart or the lining of the reproductive organs.

The causes of mesothelioma are more likely to effect males than females, because males are more likely to be exposed to asbestos. Asbestos has been used commercially since the 1800s and has been known to cause mesothelioma and other types of serious health problems. Asbestos exposure can be the causes of mesothelioma for workers in the following industries: mining, maritime, automotive, railroad, factory, and construction industries. Secondary exposure can contribute to the causes of mesothelioma when workers inadvertently carry asbestos fibers home on their person and family members are exposed.

Because inhalation and ingestion of asbestos are the primary causes of mesothelioma, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration has set permissible exposure limits on the amount of asbestos that an employee can be exposed to in the workplace. Employee exposure to asbestos cannot exceed 0.1 fiber per cubic meter of space averaged over an eight hour work day or 1 fiber per cubic meter in any thirty minute period. Some work environments are required to conduct daily monitoring of asbestos levels to prevent the causes of mesothelioma. Protective gear, adequate ventilation, and respiratory equipment must also be supplied by employers to prevent the causes of mesothelioma from harming workers. Even with these precautions, as many as 1.3 million construction workers alone are exposed to the causes of mesothelioma every year.

Mesothelioma kills ten thousand people every year. At least two to three thousand people are diagnosed with mesothelioma annually. Mesothelioma can remain dormant in the body for up to forty years. Once diagnosed, the prognosis for mesothelioma victims is bleak. The average survival time following diagnosis is ten months to a little over a year.

When a victim does exhibit the symptoms of mesothelioma, these symtoms can develop rapidly. The symptoms of asbestos inhalation causes of mesothelioma attack the plural lining in the chest cavity and can include: chest pain, chronic cough, difficulty breathing because of fluid accumulation, fever, and weight loss. The symptoms of asbestos ingestion causes of mesothelioma bombard the organs of the stomach and can include: stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, and bowel problems, weight loss, swelling of the feet, anemia, fever, and fluid build up in the abdominal region.

If the causes of mesothelioma are the result of another party's negligence, a victim has the legal right to seek compensation for their injuries through a lawsuit.

For more information about the causes of mesothelioma,contact a mesothelioma attorney to learn your legal rights!

3.MESOTHELIOMA SYMPTOMS

Symptoms of mesothelioma may not appear until 20 to 50 years after exposure to asbestos. Shortness of breath, cough, and pain in the chest due to an accumulation of fluid in the pleural space are often symptoms of pleural mesothelioma. Symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma include weight loss and cachexia, abdominal swelling and pain due to ascites (a buildup of fluid in the abdominal cavity). 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, trouble swallowing, or swelling of the neck or face. These symptoms may be caused by mesothelioma or by other, less serious conditions. Mesothelioma that affects the pleura can cause these signs and symptoms: * chest wall pain * pleural effusion, or fluid surrounding the lung * shortness of breath * fatigue or anemia * wheezing, hoarseness, or cough * blood in the sputum (fluid) coughed up In severe cases, the person may have many tumor masses. The individual may develop a pneumothorax, or collapse of the lung. The disease may metastasize, or spread, to other parts of the body. Tumors that affect the abdominal cavity often do not cause symptoms until they are at a late stage. Symptoms include: * abdominal pain * ascites, or an abnormal buildup of fluid in the abdomen * a mass in the abdomen * problems with bowel function * weight loss In severe cases of the disease, the following signs and symptoms may be present: * blood clots in the veins, which may cause thrombophlebitis * disseminated intravascular coagulation, a disorder causing severe bleeding in many body organs * jaundice, or yellowing of the eyes and skin * low blood sugar level * pleural effusion * pulmonary emboli, or blood clots in the arteries of the lungs * severe ascites A mesothelioma does not usually spread to the bone, brain, or adrenal glands. Pleural tumors are usually found only on one side of the lungs.

4.DIAGNOSIS

Diagnosing mesothelioma is often difficult, because the symptoms are similar to those of a number of other conditions. Diagnosis begins with a review of the patient's medical history. A history of exposure to asbestos may increase clinical suspicion for mesothelioma. A physical examination is performed, followed by chest X-ray and often lung function tests. The X-ray may reveal pleural thickening commonly seen after asbestos exposure and increases suspicion of mesothelioma. A CT (or CAT) scan or an MRI is usually performed. If a large amount of fluid is present, abnormal cells may be detected by cytology if this fluid is aspirated with a syringe. For pleural fluid this is done by a pleural tap or chest drain, in ascites with an paracentesis or ascitic drain and in a pericardial effusion with pericardiocentesis. While absence of malignant cells on cytology does not completely exclude mesothelioma, it makes it much more unlikely, especially if an alternative diagnosis can be made (e.g. tuberculosis, heart failure). If cytology is positive or a plaque is regarded as suspicious, a biopsy is needed to confirm a diagnosis of mesothelioma. A doctor 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 located. 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, lighted 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 laparoscopy. To obtain tissue for examination, the doctor makes a small opening in the abdomen and inserts a special instrument into the abdominal cavity. If these procedures do not yield enough tissue, more extensive diagnostic surgery may be necessary.

5.MESOTHELIOMA TREATMENT

Treatment for mesothelioma depends on the location of the cancer, the stage of the disease, and the patient’s age and general health. Standard treatment options include surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. Sometimes, these treatments are combined. * Surgery is a common 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, also called radiotherapy, 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 putting 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 putting chemotherapy directly into the chest or abdomen (intracavitary chemotherapy). To relieve symptoms and control pain, the doctor may use a needle or a thin tube to drain fluid that has built up 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 given through a tube in the chest to prevent more fluid from accumulating. Radiation therapy and surgery may also be helpful in relieving symptoms.

6.ARE NEW TREATMENTS FOR MESOTHELIOMA BEING STUDIED?

Yes. Because mesothelioma is very hard to control, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) is sponsoring clinical trials (research studies with people) that are designed to find new treatments and better ways to use current treatments. Before any new treatment can be recommended for general use, doctors conduct clinical trials to find out whether the treatment is safe for patients and effective against the disease. Participation in clinical trials is an important treatment option for many patients with mesothelioma. People interested in taking part in a clinical trial should talk with their doctor. Information about clinical trials is available from the Cancer Information Service (CIS) (see below) at 1–800–4–CANCER. Information specialists at the CIS use PDQ®, NCI’s cancer information database, to identify and provide detailed information about specific ongoing clinical trials. Patients also have the option of searching for clinical trials on their own. The clinical trials page on the NCI’s Cancer.gov Web site, located at http://www.cancer.gov/clinical_trials on the Internet, provides general information about clinical trials and links to PDQ. People considering clinical trials may be interested in the NCI booklet Taking Part in Clinical Trials: What Cancer Patients Need To Know. This booklet describes how research studies are carried out and explains their possible benefits and risks. The booklet is available by calling the CIS, or from the NCI Publications Locator Web site at http://www.cancer.gov/publications on the Internet.

7.mesothelioma support

Family and friends are always important when you have mesothelioma, but you may also find it beneficial to be in contact with others who share similar challenges. It has been shown that emotional support and open patient discussion of issues helps cancer patients' quality of life. There are different categories of support. First and foremost do not underestimate the importance of support from family and friends. Human connections in difficult times become even more important and precious, especially with people with whom you are close. You may want to consider counseling, whether individual, couples or family, as a way to help deal with emotions like anger or sadness and concern about the future. This counseling can also help communications among family members. In addition to family and friends, mesothelioma patients should consider a number of possible support services:

Religious Leaders: Members of the clergies of many faiths are trained to deal with the concerns of mesothelioma patients: pain, fear of death, feeling alone, and searching for meaning.

Home Care Services: State and local governments offer many services useful after cancer treatment. A nurse or physical therapist may be able to come to your home. Check the phone book for non-profit and for-profit Social Services, Health Services or Aging Services.

When it comes to cancer or mesothelioma support groups, it is important to remember that different support groups may have different focuses and procedures. Some groups are facilitated by a psychologist or social worker, but the core of the meeting is the personal sharing of the members. Others are led by group members, and are referred to as peer or self-help groups. Some groups are designed to be educational and structured, others emphasize emotional support and shared experience. The key is in finding a group that matches your needs.

Support group dynamics

It is normal to be hesitant about sharing personal issues with a group of strangers, but it is important to remember that support groups are designed to provide a confidential atmosphere where patients can openly exchange information about their illness and the emotional ramifications of cancer, as well as practical issues such as how to manage the side effects of treatments. For the caregivers of cancer patients, support groups are also important in dealing with the stresses of financial worries and changing roles within the family. Some support groups are specific to the family and friends of those with cancer; other groups encourage family and friends to participate along with the patient. Many support groups are free, but some require a fee. You may wish to see if your insurance will cover the cost.

Finding a support group

Mesothelioma is a relatively rare disease which affects 2,500 to 3,000 people a year. Since many support groups are for cancer patients in general, finding a group with other mesothelioma patients may be difficult. This should not prevent you from joining a group.

Support Resources

Support services at Major Cancer Centers

Travel to and Lodging at Major Cancer Centers

Thoughts of a Cancer Patient

The Association of Cancer On-Line Resources (ACOR) runs a mailing list for people with mesothelioma - this can be a great way to interact with others who have mesothelioma.

Mesothelioma Web (http://www.mesotheliomaweb.org) - The most comprehensive overall site on the Internet for mesothelioma