Showing posts with label pleural mesothelioma. Show all posts
Showing posts with label pleural mesothelioma. Show all posts

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Finding the Truth Behind Mesothelioma

Everything is mesothelioma? Well, if you worked in the asbestos, it is really a question for you.

Malignant mesothelioma is a cancer that affects the mesothelium - the protective lining that covers most of the internal organs of the body.

Cancer cells produce a thickening of the membranes that protect the organs - and thus affect the functions of organs.

The heart, lungs and abdomen are the areas most affected by this type of cancer. Have also been reported cases of mesothelioma of the testes - but this is extremely rare.

What is Mesothelioma - Symptoms.

People with this cancer have been reported:

Abdominal pain

Backache

Change in bowel habits (constipation or diarrhea)

Coughing up blood

Breathlessness

Fever

The accumulation of fluid between the chest wall and lungs

Hoarseness

Bumps under the skin

Night sweats

And more

What is Mesothelioma - High Risk Groups

In most cases, this rare form of cancer affects people who have been exposed to asbestos in the workplace. asbestos miners, construction workers, industrial workers, World War II and veterans of the Vietnam War and the shipyard workers of the Navy are among the groups at high risk for mesothelioma.

Those who live with people in these groups are also at high risk. It is therefore recommended that people who work around to change clothes of asbestos and a shower before going home.

What is mesothelioma - Treatment

One rule of thumb, if you worked in the asbestos, make sure your doctor will check for mesothelioma.

As mentioned above, symptoms of mesothelioma can take many years to surface. Therefore, early detection is the key to surviving this disease.

If you discover that you have the disease, surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy are standard treatment options.

There is much here to discuss.

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

An Overview Of Asbestos Disease - Mesothelioma

What Is Asbestos?

Asbestos illness, mesothelioma cancers, lung cancers and asbestosis are the diseases caused because of asbestos exposure. Asbestos constitutes different naturally occurring fibrous minerals in some rocks and soil. It has found general use in industries and construction materials such as fireproofing, roofing shingles, electric insulation, boiler, hot pipe covering, and friction products.

latest research have, however, disclosed that contact to asbestos can have destructive health implication resulting in asbestos ailment and mesothelioma for both employee in industries making use of asbestos as well as those who stay in the environment surrounding such places. Workers may breathe in thin asbestos particles in the air; they also become exposed through skin contact with asbestos or by consume asbestos fibers while at work. These workers are susceptible to asbestos diseases as mesothelioma and asbestosis.

critical Effects Of Asbestos Disease- Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is the most life-threatening of several asbestos-related diseases exposed so far. This is because of the carcinogenic effect of asbestos particles. Asbestos can cause cancer of the lungs, esophagus, colon, rectum, stomach, vocal chords, and kidneys. nearly 70 percent to 80 percent of the entire cases of asbestos disease mesothelioma - a rare type of cancer of the mesothelium, the membrane that coats and guards most of the body inner organs – are the result of asbestos exposure at work.

Asbestos disease mesothelioma may not directly manifest. The asbestos particles can lie inactive in the body for several years and noticeable later, when the prognosis is very grim. It is likely that by the time the disease is diagnosed, the cancer may have already widened significantly. In view of health worries all new uses of asbestos in the manufacturing industries have been banned in the United States from July 1989 onward. In particular, the practice of asbestos in hand-held hair dryers was willingly stopped in 1979. Schools are needed to test for use of asbestos roofing and it is eradicated or wrap up.

Reward to Victims of Asbestos Disease Mesothelioma

The first case of asbestos disease mesothelioma was filed nearly 70 years ago. Employees in industries with significant risk of asbestos poisoning are, in principle, eligible for mesothelioma compensation. The compensation is available only for those employees who run the risk of asbestos exposure since the 1940s. Recently, many mesothelioma patients have filed lawsuits for compensation. They have been awarded compensation on the ground that the owners of industries continued to use asbestos despite the information of the health risk it entails. Currently, aid is accessible to victims of asbestos disease mesothelioma through many specialized legal firms in the United States.

Sunday, August 9, 2009

Diagnosis - From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (mesothelioma)

Diagnosing mesothelioma is generally difficult, because the affection are agnate to those of a cardinal of added conditions. Analysis begins with a analysis of the patient's medical history. A history of acknowledgment to asbestos may access analytic suspicion for mesothelioma. A concrete assay is performed, followed by chest X-ray and often lung action tests. The X-ray may acknowledge pleural agglomeration frequently apparent afterwards asbestos acknowledgment and increases suspicion of mesothelioma. A CT (or CAT) browse or an MRI is usually performed. If a ample bulk of aqueous is present, aberrant beef may be detected by cytology if this aqueous is aspirated with a syringe. For pleural aqueous this is done by a pleural tap or chest drain, in ascites with an paracentesis or ascitic drain and in a pericardial address with pericardiocentesis. While absence of cancerous beef on analysis does not absolutely exclude mesothelioma, it makes it abundant added unlikely, abnormally if another analysis can be fabricated (e.g.tuberculosis, heart failure).

If analysis is absolute or a applique is admired as suspicious, a biopsy is bare to affirm a analysis of mesothelioma. A doctor removes a sample of tissue for assay beneath a microscope by a pathologist. A biopsy may be done in altered ways; depending on breadth the aberrant breadth is located. If the blight is in the chest, the doctor may accomplish a thoracoscopy. In this procedure, the doctor makes a baby cut through the chest bank and puts a thin, afire tube alleged a thoracoscope into the chest amid two ribs. Thoracoscopy allows the doctor to attending central the chest and access tissue samples.

If the blight is in the abdomen, the doctor may accomplish a laparoscopy. To access tissue for examination, the doctor makes a baby atrium in the belly and inserts a appropriate apparatus into the belly cavity. If these procedures do not crop abundant tissue, added all-encompassing analytic anaplasty may be necessary.

Typical immunohistochemistry results

Positive


Negative


EMA (epithelial
membrane antigen
) in a membranous distribution


CEA (carcinoembryonic
antigen
)




WT1
(Wilms'
tumour
1)




B72.3




Calretinin




MOC-3 1




Mesothelin-1




CD15




Cytokeratin
5/6




Ber-EP4


HBME-1 (human
mesothelial cell 1
)


TTF-1 (thyroid
transcription factor-1
)


Signs and symptoms (mesothelioma)

Symptoms of mesothelioma may not arise until 20 to 50 years afterwards acknowledgment to asbestos. Shortness of breath, cough, and affliction in the chest due to an accession of aqueous in the pleural amplitude are generally affection of pleural mesothelioma.

Symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma accommodate weight accident and cachexia, belly abscess and affliction due to ascites (a accretion of aqueous in the belly cavity). Added affection of peritoneal mesothelioma may accommodate bowel obstruction, claret array abnormalities, anemia, and fever. If the blight has advance above the mesothelium to added genitalia of the body, affection may accommodate pain, agitation swallowing, or abscess of the close or face.

This affection may be acquired by mesothelioma or by other, beneath austere conditions.

Mesothelioma that affects the pleura can account these signs and symptoms:

Chest bank pain

Pleural effusion or aqueous surrounding the lung

Shortness of breath

Fatigue or anemia

Wheezing, hoarseness, or cough

Blood in the sputum (fluid) coughed up (hemoptysis)

In astringent cases, the being may accept abounding bump masses. The alone may advance a pneumothorax, or collapse of the lung. The ache may metastasize, or spread, to added genitalia of the body.

Tumors that affect the belly atrium generally do not account affection until they are at a backward stage. Affection include:

Abdominal pain

Ascites, or an aberrant accretion of aqueous in the abdomen

An accumulation in the abdomen

Problems with bowel function

Weight loss

In astringent cases of the disease, the afterward signs and affection may be present:

Blood clots in the veins, which may account thrombophlebitis

Disseminated intravascular coagulation, a ataxia causing astringent bleeding in abounding anatomy organs

Jaundice, or yellowing of the eyes and skin

Low claret amoroso level

Pleural effusion

Pulmonary emboli, or claret clots in the arteries of the lungs

Severe ascites

A mesothelioma does not usually advance to the bone, brain, or adrenal glands. Pleural tumors are usually begun alone on one ancillary of the lungs.

Saturday, August 8, 2009

Mesothelioma - From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Mesothelioma is a anatomy of blight that is about consistently acquired by acknowledgment to asbestos. In this disease, cancerous beef advance in the mesothelium, a careful lining that covers best of the body's centralized organs. Its best accepted armpit is the pleura (outer lining of the lungs and centralized chest wall), but it may additionally action in the abdominals (the lining of the belly cavity), the heart, the pericardium (a sac that surrounds the heart) or tunica vaginalis.

Most bodies who advance mesothelioma accept formed on jobs area they inhaled asbestos particles, or they accept been apparent to asbestos dust and cilia in added ways. It has additionally been appropriate that abrasion the clothes of a ancestors affiliate who formed with asbestos can put a being at accident for developing mesothelioma. Unlike lung cancer, there is no affiliation amid mesothelioma and smoking, but smoker abundantly increases accident of added asbestos-induced cancer. Compensation via asbestos funds or lawsuits is an important affair in mesothelioma (see asbestos and the law).

The affection of mesothelioma accommodate conciseness of animation due to pleural address (fluid amid the lung and the chest wall) or chest bank pain, and accepted affection such as weight loss. The analysis may be doubtable with chest X-ray and CT scan, and is accepted with a biopsy (tissue sample) and diminutive examination. A thoracoscopy (inserting a tube with a camera into the chest) can be acclimated to booty biopsies. It allows the addition of substances such as crumb to obliterate the pleural amplitude (called pleurodesis), which prevents added aqueous from accumulating and acute on the lung. Despite analysis with chemotherapy, radiation analysis or sometimes surgery, the ache carries a poor prognosis. Research about screening tests for the aboriginal apprehension of mesothelioma is ongoing.

Friday, August 7, 2009

An Outline of Mesothelioma Cancers (mesothelioma)

What are Mesothelioma Cancers?

Mesothelioma cancers are the cancers that stretch in the mesothelium tissues. Mesothelium in common is the name of tissue that comes into lining of different body organs such as heart, lungs, abdomen and reproductive organs. The lining around abdominal organs is well-known as peritoneal membrane. Lining throughout lungs is called pleural membrane while the lining around heart is called pericardium.


These linings perform two roles. They guard the inner organs by producing a lubricating liquid and to permit the smooth movement of the inner organs. Mesothelioma cancers are the cancers involving these membranes. The term of the cancers depend on the tissue or linings they affect. Peritoneal mesothelioma, pleural mesothelioma and pericardial mesothelioma are the names of cancers of linings of abdomen, lungs and heart, respectively. Pleural mesothelioma is the largely frequent of all mesothelioma cancers and is found in 70 % of the mesothelioma patients. Peritoneal mesothelioma makes up 10% to 20% of the mesothelioma patients while third type pericardial mesothelioma, is unusual.


Symptoms of Mesothelioma Cancers

Symptoms of mesothelioma cancers are identical as of other general diseases. It makes diagnosis mesothelioma cancers a tricky task. Ache and inflammation in abdomen, powerlessness, loss of weight, loss of desire for food and nausea are some symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma. Symptoms of pleural mesothelioma are lasting cough, struggle in breathing, weight loss, loss of appetite, weakness, chest pains, lower back pains and difficulty in swallowing.


History

History of mesothelioma cancers goes back to as far back as 1900s. It took about 60 years to bring together adequate information regarding these mesothelioma cancers. By the end of sixth decade of last century, experts could accomplished that exposure to asbestos particles is the reason behind the disease. J. C. Wagner was first researcher to report 32 cases of mesothelioma cancers and verified its association with asbestos exposure.


One shocking fact about the mesothelioma cancers is it’s lengthen latency period. These cancers may stay put asymptomatic in the body for yet up to 50 years. Chances of survival for mesothelioma patients are odd and the typical survival period after diagnosis is not more than 12-24 months. Surgical treatment if diagnosed early, chemotherapy and radiation therapy are a few common treatments for altogether kinds of mesothelioma cancers. Those suffering from mesothelioma cancers can file lawsuits to recuperate injury for medical expenses and other damages. They can record the lawsuits opposed to the persons and companies responsible for triggering asbestos exposure.

Mesothelioma is life-threatening cancer (mesothelioma)

Mesothelioma is severe cancer and asbestos is chief cause. During in 1940 and 1950s buildings society used asbestos as the best thing to happen after cement for construction industry. Asbestos was applied to a great extent in insulator and ceiling terrazzo in homes, schools and factories because to high degree of stability and resistance to very extreme temperatures.


Nonetheless, asbestos is competent of causing harm, contaminant. It has trend to cut into small parts and stay put in the air for longer durations. For individual who is that comes in contact it, grow to be attackable to serious disease to lung cancer or mesothelioma lung cancers.


What forms of Mesothelioma?

Name of Mesothelioma, asbestos linked cancer, obtains its name from the mesothelium cells that are responsible for defending and facilitating simple movement of our vital organs such as lungs, heart and the abdomen in the body. Mesothelioma is usually of three types, pleural mesothelioma, peritoneal mesothelioma and pericardial mesothelioma.


If a individual is suffering from hoarseness, problem in breathing, loss in weight, coughing, blood in sputum, chest pain, weak muscles, reduced tactile sensitivity, he may be suffering from Pleural mesothelioma or the cancer of lining of the lungs. This is the largely frequent type of mesothelioma and almost two-thirds of the mesothelioma patients suffer from pleural mesothelioma. The Peritoneal mesothelioma or cancer of the lining of the abdomen causes spoiled bowel motion, expanding, bloating in feet, and nausea. This is fewer common among mesothelioma patients and it affects one-third of the mesothelioma patients. Pericardial mesothelioma is of the cancer of lining of the heart. It is also caused because of asbestos exposure. However, its occurrence is rare. Pericardial mesothelioma manifests in the manner of chest pain, palpitations and cough.


Lawsuits related to Mesothelioma:

The hazardous penalty of long term contact with asbestos and its linkage to mesothelioma cancers has led to quite a lot of lawsuits against its manufacturers. The manufactures were claimed by the attorneys that they were conscious of the capable of causing damage affects of asbestos exposure and yet persisted with its use for revenue motives. This is the basis why juries have ordered stern awards in numerous mesothelioma and asbestos related lawsuits.

Mesothelioma Treatments - Some Basic Facts (mesothelioma)

Earlier than we talk about handling mesothelioma it is important to have an insight of what is mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is an unusual cancer of the linings of lungs and abdominal area caused by contact to asbestos fibers. It takes 30–40 years for this cancer to develop after the asbestos exposure. It is essential to cure this cancer in the early stages otherwise it proves fatal. A number of mesothelioma treatments are surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy.


There are two types of surgeries for mesothelioma treatments, Aggressive Surgery and Palliative Procedures. Ahead of performing any surgery, it is compulsory to check whether the heart and lungs are functioning as it should be. Of the two types, aggressive surgery, also known as Pneumonectomy, is complex surgery performed on younger patients, who are excellent in health and can take on the surgery. Pneumonectomy involves the elimination of extra pleural membrane. The main purpose of this mesothelioma treatment is to physically eradicate as much tumor as possible.


Soothing method of mesothelioma treatment is known as Pleurectomy. It is done in the early stages of cancer. This process of mesothelioma treatment involves surgical removal of pleura. However, the procedures are taken in to lessen and deal with the symptoms rather than to alleviate the disease. This surgery lessens the pain caused by the tumor mass and helps in inhibiting the recurrence of pleural effusion. Full removal of tumor is not possible with this procedure.


Chemotherapy is a mesothelioma therapy technique that makes combined use of specific drugs for lessening the tumor. Though several patients show only partial success to this method, some combinations of chemotherapy drugs have proved successful. Scientists have utilized some new chemotherapy drugs for mesothelioma remedy.


Radiation healing is the mesothelioma treatment method that makes use of nuclear radiations to destroy the malignant cells and minimize the tumor. However, radiation therapy is a very complicated procedure. It can damage the healthy cells of heart, lungs, and other fundamental organs surrounded by radiation dosage. Dual therapy includes chemotherapy and radiation therapy along with the mixture of surgery. This combination helps in killing any residual tumor cells left following surgery and in relieving sign such as pain.


Mesothelioma treatments can be very pricey. However the patients suffering from mesothelioma and other asbestos based diseases can file lawsuits for recovering impairment medical fee, loss of income, lost earning capacity, soreness and agony. The mesothelioma sufferer can take help of specialist asbestos lawyer to establish the defendants- persons/companies liable for causing asbestos exposure.