MesotheliomaTreatment Stages

The treatment protocol for mesothelioma differs based on the stage that a patient has progressed to at the time of diagnosis. Provided below is an example of the types of treatment that a pleural mesothelioma patient will undergo at various stages of the disease. We have identified the stages using the Butchart staging system.

Stage I Mesothelioma Treatment

Surgical intervention is most commonly recommended for pleural mesothelioma patients having a Stage I diagnosis. The procedures that are likely to be performed are pleurectomy/decortication or extrapleural pneumonectomy. Post surgery, doctors may further evaluate the patient to determine if chemotherapy or radiation treatment is necessary. It is often determined with stage I mesothelioma that those adjunct therapies are not required.

Stages II, III Mesothelioma Treatment

When mesothelioma has progressed to stages II and III the cancer cannot be cured. At these stages medical treatment focuses on alleviating the severity of the symptoms and keeping the patient as comfortable as possible in order to optimize quality of life. For example, if there is significant fluid build-up in the chest the doctor may order that it be drained. Additionally, there may be instances where removing some or all of the tumor and / or undergoing chemo or radiation treatments will provide symptom relief. clinical trials at some of the larger cancer centers in the country may also offer different treatment options for patients in these stages.

Stage IV Mesothelioma Treatment

When a patient has been diagnosed with stage IV mesothelioma the prognosis is very unfavorable. At this stage, the cancer has usually metastasized throughout the body to other organs and as with stages II and III, cannot be cured. In this stage, symptoms generally increase in severity and pain management becomes the primary focus of the medical team. Therapies such as chemotherapy and radiation are typically not offered at this stage unless they are needed to support pain management objectives. Oftentimes families find that it is most helpful to seek out additional support through a local Hospice program. Hospice programs focus on providing patient care, developing a pain management protocol and providing support for both the patient and family members at this difficult time. Patients with stage IV mesothelioma may also be interested in participating in specialized clinical trials offered at leading cancer hospitals and centers and are encouraged to seek out those programs if desired.

Mesothelioma and Smoking

Smoking tobacco products has long been held as the world's culprit for any disease. Fortunately for smoking, it is not the culprit behind mesothelioma. In fact, smoking does not ever cause mesothelioma. So far, the only scientifically linked cause of mesothelioma has been exposure to asbestos.

While it is true that smoking does not cause mesothelioma, it does not help anyone who has been diagnosed either. In addition, those who have been exposed to asbestos, either recently or a long time ago, should not smoke because smoking increases the chances of developing mesothelioma due to asbestos exposure.

Once a person has been exposed to asbestos, smoking is known to complicate the chances of developing an illness directly linked to asbestos. People who smoke and have been exposed to asbestos have 50 to 84 times the chance of developing asbestos as people who do not smoke and have been exposed to asbestos. There is therefore a related effect between smoking and asbestos, although smoking does not cause mesothelioma.

In the case of people who are scared that they will develop mesothelioma after being exposed to asbestos, the best thing to do is quit smoking. Smoking is known to weaken and damage the lungs. In addition, it is known to reduce the body's natural defenses and ability to remove asbestos fibers. When the fibers cannot be removed by the body, they are allowed to stay in the lungs and continue to irritate cells. This leads to more cell damage and scarring which increases the odds of developing mesothelioma down the line.

Another nasty side effect of smoking is that smoke from cigarettes irritates air passages and causes the body to produce more mucus in the lungs. The production of mucus prevents air from getting into the deeper parts of the lungs and in turn prevents the removal of asbestos fibers.

Once a person knows he or she has been exposed to asbestos, the top priority should be working on quitting smoking. A smoker that has ever in their entire life been exposed to asbestos should see a doctor to be checked for symptoms of mesothelioma and other diseases that are directly related to asbestos. Even if there aren't any signs or symptoms of the disease, the trip to the doctor is imperative for early detection.

Asbestos and Mesothelioma

How asbestos fibers enter the lungs

Asbestos is a term for a group of magnesium silicates that have fibrous structure. Asbestos minerals consist of fibers that are easily separable. Individual fibers are extremely small and fine, light enough to be carried in the air. Doctors who treat lung disease consider all forms of asbestos dangerous, and capable of causing cancer. The six most common are amosite, chrysotile, crocidolite, and the fibrous varieties of tremolite, actinolite, and anthophyllite. Amphibole forms of asbestos, whose fibers are straight, are more likely to cause disease than chrysotile, whose fibers are curved.

In the course of mining, manufacturing and installing products using asbestos, tiny fibers are dislodged and become airborne. Workers in an environment where asbestos is used cannot avoid inhaling the airborne fibers. Poor ventilation and insufficient or no protective apparatus increase exposure to this lethal fiber. Workers have described mining and factory environments where the air was white with asbestos dust, and their clothes and hair were covered within the fine white fibers.

How asbestos fibers damage the lungs

Most fibers are cleared from the lungs within hours of inhalation. Coughing carries them to the throat in a layer of mucus, where they are either spit out, or swallowed, and make their way out of the body.

Not all inhaled asbestos is cleared from the lungs. Some fibers progress into the alveoli, the tiny pockets within the lungs where oxygen is exchanged with the bloodstream. The fibers may remain for years, even the rest of a person's life. Amphibole asbestos fibers, which are longer and straighter than chrysotile fibers, tend to remain in the lung the longest.

Asbestos fibers move toward the lower portion of the lungs and the diaphragm, the large muscle that moves the lungs in breathing, which sits just under the lungs. In autopsies, most asbestos disease of the lungs is seen the bottom lobes of the lungs and on the surface of the diaphragm. Asbestos fibers which lodge in lung tissue and are not expelled continue to damage the tissue as long as they stay there, as the mesothelioma grows slowly and silently. Symptoms may not appear for 15 to 40 years after exposure.

Asbestos fibers and mesothelioma

Asbestos fibers work their way through the lungs into the pleural cavity, the space in the chest where the lungs sit. The asbestos fibers invade the mesothelium, the thin, moist, flexible tissue that lines the cavity. Mesothelioma specialists have two theories about how asbestos in the pleural cavity causes mesothelioma. One theory is that as the asbestos fibers migrate through the pleural cavity, they enter tissue walls and irritate tissues. The irritated cells respond by forming scar tissue. The mesothelial cells show an inflammatory immune response, scarring, and eventually the uncontrolled proliferation of cells that is the hallmark of cancer.

The second theory focuses on events at a molecular level, speculating that asbestos fibers interact with individual mesothelial cells, interfering with their cell division, or possibly damaging the cell's DNA during mitosis, or cell division. The part of the DNA that regulates the cells' growth and reproduction is damaged, so that reproduction is no longer controlled. Cells begin to reproduce wildly. This uncontrolled cell growth creates the thickened cancerous tissue and eventually begins to invade other organs.

Although the highest risk of developing mesothelioma comes from prolonged exposure to asbestos fiber, some people who develop mesothelioma have had only very brief exposure. The first symptoms of mesothelioma may not show up for 15, sometimes for as long as 30 or 40 years after the victim's exposure to asbestos. By the time symptoms are painful enough for a victim to seek medical attention, the disease may have progressed so far that life expectancy will be measured in months.

If you or a loved one has received a diagnosis of mesothelioma, and you believe that the mesothelioma developed as a result of workplace exposure to asbestos, you may have a legal claim against the corporation that permitted the exposure, or the manufacturer of the asbestos product. To learn more about your rights, you should consult a lawyer who specializes in asbestos claims.

Mesothelioma Attorney

A person who has encountered a mesothelioma lung cancer or other related disease is in a very critical position both in terms of health and finance. It should file lawsuit against the company responsible for his suffering and claim a compensation amount in order to deal with his precarious condition.

It is when an Attorney comes into picture. Being a legal expert he is in a position to deal the case and take every effort to ensure a reasonable compensation claim for his client.

For all that a lawyer does processing a lawsuit in favor of his client; he charges a hefty sum as fees towards his professional services.

The normal practice is that the victim is not required to pay the Mesothelioma legal expert any fees unless the legal firm gets a reasonable financial settlement for you.

The fee quoted by an attorney is normally charged on a contingency basis depending upon the success of the case and reasonable financial compensation received from the company.

Amount handed over to the client will be the net amount. It is important to note that irrespective of the fee charged by the attorney, the net amount after the settling the fee amount should be sufficient for the victim and his family.

While preparing for the case a Mesothelioma attorney incurs a number of expenses ranging from travel, research, hiring experts and getting depositions. Hence attorney's fees include a percentage on the amount of compensation received together with reimbursement of expenses incurred on behalf of the client.

It is important to understand the cases involving huge compensations and corporate interest generally takes number of years of trial. Hence the professional charges will be accordingly high.

Asbestos Cancer

Exposure to a constant and high level of asbestos can often times lead to cancer. Mesothelioma and lunch cancer are to of the most common asbestos cancers reported today. Gastrointestinal cancer and colorectal cancer have also been highly reported due to asbestos exposure. Asbestos is a highly hazardous chemical that was commonly used in homes and buildings starting in the 1930's.

Asbestos was used as insulation in walls as well as the backing for flooring. What makes this chemical so harmful to people is that when dry, the small shards of asbestos break off and become airborne which then creates the chance of inhaling the chemical. If asbestos is inhaled on a consistent basis, the shards attach onto the lunch tissue and in the breathing airway. After a while of continuous exposure, shards become inflamed which can lead to the growth of cancerous tumors.

Mesothelioma is a cancer that unfortunately is extremely difficult, if not impossible to cure. It attacks the thin lining of the lungs, abdomen and heart and typically affects 2,000-3,000 people every year. The link between Mesothelioma and asbestos was not originally known as most types of this cancer have not progressed to a cancerous form for 20-50 years after exposure. However, scientists who have researched for decades on the link have found that the two are directly related to each other.

Lung cancer, another commonly diagnosed cancer caused by asbestos is equally as dangerous as Mesothelioma, but this cancer can be linked to other issues such as smoking or exposure to second-hand smoke and not just asbestos exposure. Some of the symptoms of lung cancer are chest pain, shortness of breath, chronic coughing, a change in color of sputum or blood in your sputum. Other symptoms include chronic fatigue, headaches and weight loss. Contact your physician immediately if you are concerned that this cancer may have been caused by a constant level of asbestos.

Since Asbestos cancer takes such a long time to come out of dormancy, and the signs and symptoms are so subtle, that a trip to your physician is not warranted until it is too late. In cases of cancer caused by asbestos, many times these cancers are incurable because they were not aware of the sickness to begin with.

Asbestos Laws

Asbestos laws are laid out to protect those who have unknowingly been exposed to this harmful and hazardous chemical (at the awareness of another party). These laws were put into place to help those exposed to asbestos, who have suffered because of this exposure seek compensation.

When you are exposed to a serious level of asbestos, you are greatly risking your chance of contracting lunch cancer, Mesothelioma or a whole other slew of long-term health issues such as breathing difficulties and problems in your peritoneum. You are also at risk of contracting a disease that is called asbestosis which is a long-time build-up of scar tissue in the lungs caused by inhaling asbestos on a regular basis. This build-up is what leads to lunch cancer or Mesothelioma. If left untreated, it can have an end result of death. This is why asbestos laws are in place.

Many buildings built as early as 1930 contain a large level of asbestos. Many have had the asbestos removed, eliminating the risk for exposure. However, there are many dishonest business owners out there who have been made aware of the underlying issues with asbestos in their building and choose to keep quiet, possibly because of the high cost of removing the asbestos, or their lack of education in how harmful and hazardous asbestos truly is. Not making your employees aware of the dangers of asbestos exposure can land a business owner in serious hot water. Asbestos laws have been created to bring about lawsuits to companies and individuals who have been negligent on their inability to remove the asbestos from their work environment. Many people who have lost asbestos lawsuits have been forced to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars in retribution pay.

The best thing that you can do is to follow and obey the asbestos laws. Clean up and dispose of any asbestos problems you may have in your business or home and make your employees aware that you have done so will create a healthier and a more respectable and forthright working environment. By making your employees aware that you have addressed the asbestos situation will protect you from any further risk of lawsuits brought on by different individuals.

Mesothelioma Causes

Wondering How You Could Have Gotten Mesothelioma Cancer?

Several diseases are associated with exposure to asbestos. They include: malignant mesothelioma, asbestosis, pleural effusion, pleural plaques and thickening, and lung cancer.

Prior to 1975 asbestos fibers were commonly used. You could have been exposed to asbestos while working at any number of different industries. Chief among the possibilities would be jobs at asbestos mining and milling plants, shipyards, fireproofing and heating, construction, automotive repair, insulation, pipefitting and boilermaking.

If you did not work in one of these industries or another that used asbestos, it is also possible that you could have been exposed if someone in your household worked with asbestos and carried asbestos fibers home on his or her clothing, hair or body. You may also have been exposed indirectly by living near asbestos mines.

Although it is true that most patients with malignant mesothelioma, lung cancer or other asbestos-related diseases likely had prolonged exposure to asbestos over a long period of time, it is also possible for one to develop one of these diseases from a brief exposure to asbestos.

The odds of developing lung cancer from smoking also increases significantly from exposure to asbestos. Although most people with lung cancer are told that their lung cancer was caused from smoking, if you or someone you know has lung cancer and also worked in an environment that gave you exposure to asbestos, it is highly recommended that you contact an attorney that specializes in handling mesothelioma and lung cancer cases caused by exposure to asbestos. The justice system has been very generous in its rewards to people who suffer diseases caused by asbestos exposure.

To learn more about mesothelioma cancer I recommend you visit Mesothelioma Cancer Online when searching for web resources covering mesothelioma cancer. Mesothelioma-Cancer-Online.com is an excellent resource center that offers recommendations and directory listings for numerous websites related to mesothelioma cancer, along with articles and books about mesothelioma cancer.

Mesothelioma Symptoms

Mesothelioma is an extremely nasty and permanent cancer that infects the membrane surrounding most internal organs. It is also a very subtle form of cancer providing only a few noticeable symptoms until it becomes extremely advanced. The most common type of mesothelioma is called pleural mesothelioma. It causes shortness of breath and/or chronic coughing that can easily be mixed up with allergies or a common cold. In many cases mesothelioma is discovered by accident when patients are looking into these symptoms. Other symptoms of pleural mesothelioma include:

-Chest Pain

-Chronic coughing that worsens over time

-Shortness of breath

-Coughing up blood

-Fatigue

-Wheezing

-Lung infection

-Swollen lymph nodes

-Loss of appetite and weight loss

75% of all mesothelioma cases are Pleural mesothelioma. Another type is called Peritoneal mesothelioma. Peritoneal mesothelioma affects the lining around the stomach and intestines and can be just as dangerous and deadly. Symptoms of Peritoneal mesothelioma include:

-Pain or swelling in the abdomen

-Weight loss

-Bowel obstruction – blockage in the small / large intestine

-Anemia – reduction in number of red blood cells

-Fever

High risk groups such as asbestos and construction workers must undergo frequent check-ups to monitor any conditions leading to mesothelioma. Because this cancer is so deadly, early diagnosis and treatment can help prolong life, but the mortality rate is usually 100% within five years.

Current problems in the diagnosis of malignant pleural mesothelioma.

The diagnosis of malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is challenging although MPM is highly aggressive tumor. The current diagnostic gold standard is principally based on light microscopic examination of hematoxylin-eosin and immunohistochemical stains of large tissue sections. However, pathological diagnosis of MPM and classification of histological findings into 1 of the 3 subtypes (epithelial, sarcomatoid, biphasic) are difficult. We studied correlation between initial and final histological diagnosis retrospectively from the records of 21 cases with MPM from 1989 to 2005.

The diagnosis of MPM was confirmed by histopathological examination of pleural tissue samples obtained by closed biopsy under computed tomography (CT) or ultrasonography-guided (5 cases), by biopsy under thoracoscopy with local anesthesia (9), by open biopsy via thoracotomy (2), and by video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) [5] . Pleural biopsy under those diagnostic methods led to initial diagnosis of MPM in 15 of 21 cases (71.4%) . In 6 cases (28.6%) , initial diagnosis of MPM were not confirmed because of missing malignant tissue (1 case) and relatively small and sarcomatous element (5). In 2 cases examined by closed biopsy and in 3 examined by thoracoscopy under local anesthesia, initial diagnosis of MPM were not confirmed. To get the accurate diagnosis of MPM, obtaining large tissue samples in the initial examination by less invasive thoracoscopy is recommended

Mesothelioma Treatment

Once an individual has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, the next step is to discuss mesothelioma Treatment options with his/her physician. Recent scientific research has produced significant breakthroughs with regard to treatment protocols for mesothelioma patients and more options are now available for managing the disease and supporting improved quality of life. Newly diagnosed patients always have many questions about the treatment options that would be most effective for them, including questions about new treatment therapies like Alimta and Cisplatin and other chemotherapy drugs. In addition to these newer drugs that are being used to treat asbestos cancer, mesothelioma patients also have a number of "conventional" treatment options to consider, including chemotherapy, radiation therapy and surgery. Clinical trials and experimental treatments are still other options that some mesothelioma patients may be eligible to participate in.

Our site will feature a comprehensive mesothelioma Cancer treatment section that includes important information for patients and families. We’ve included resources on top mesothelioma doctors as well as a comprehensive list of questions that you may wish to discuss with your personal physician when preparing a treatment plan. We are always providing new and informative resources regarding mesothelioma treatment including: Clinical Trials, conventional treatments, experimental therapies, and more. Check back often for the most recent advances in mesothelioma treatments.

For your convenience, we have consolidated mesothelioma treatment information for your review. This section is updated on a weekly basis.

Conventional Therapies

Conventional mesothelioma therapies include surgery, radiation and chemotherapy. You should keep in mind that if you choose one course of action for mesothelioma treatment, you may preclude other courses. All of your options should be considered as soon as possible.

Leading Doctors

We have become familiar with medical doctors who specialize in aggressively treating malignant mesothelioma. Some of these doctors will review your medical records for free to see if you are a candidate for their mesothelioma treatment protocol.

Cancer Centers

Top Cancer Centers for mesothelioma treatment have been listed alphabetically by state for your convenience. Listings include contact information and Web site links where available.

Clinical Trials

Information about current studies of promising new or experimental mesothelioma treatments.

Experimental Therapies

Several forms of mesothelioma treatment such as the drug Alimta, gene therapy, immunotherapy, photodynamic therapy and multimodality therapy are still in their experimental stages.

Asbestos Cancer

Mesothelioma:
Tumor of body cavity lining: a benign or malignant tumor of the lining of the lungs, heart, or abdomen.
The malignant form is often the result of exposure to asbestos and may take more than 30 years to develop.

Asbestos (Greek a-,“not”; sbestos, “extinguishable”), the fibrous form of several minerals and hydrous silicates of magnesium. The name may also be applied to the fibrous forms of calcium and iron. Asbestos fibers can be molded or woven into various fabrics. Because it is nonflammable and a poor heat conductor, asbestos has been widely used to make fireproof products such as safety clothing for fire fighters and insulation products such as hot-water piping. The first recorded use of the word asbestos is by Pliny the Elder in the 1st century ad, although the substance itself was known as early as the 2nd century bc. The Romans made cremation cloths and wicks from it, and centuries later Marco Polo noted its usefulness as cloth.

Asbestos is of two principal classes, the amphiboles and the serpentines, the former of relatively minor importance. Chrysotile, in the serpentine class, constitutes about 95 percent of the world supply of asbestos, of which three-fourths is mined in Québec. Other large deposits exist in South Africa. In the United States, California, Vermont, and Arizona are the leading asbestos-producing states;

however, the majority of United States deposits are of no commercial value. Asbestos is obtainable by various underground mining methods, but the most common method is open-pit mining. Only about 6 percent of the mined ore contains usable fibers. The fibers are separated from the ore by crushing, air suction, and vibrating screens, and in the process are sorted into different lengths, or grades.

The most widely used method of grading, the Québec Standard Test Method, divides the fibers into seven groups, the longest in group one and the shortest, called milled asbestos, in group seven.

The length of the fibers, as well as the chemical composition of the ore, determines the kind of product that can be made from the asbestos. The longer fibers have been used in fabrics, commonly with cotton or rayon, and the shorter ones for molded goods, such as pipes and gaskets.