Mesothelioma Cancer

Mesothelioma is an aggressive cancer that affects the mucous membrane of the lungs and abdomen.

Malignant mesothelioma is the most serious of all asbestos-related diseases. The main case and the risk factor for mesothelioma is exposure to Mesothelioma Cancer asbestos.

Ask a mesothelioma diagnosis is correct particularly difficult for doctors because the disease usually manifests with symptoms that mimic other common diseases. There is no known cure for mesothelioma, but treatments such as surgery and chemotherapy have improved the prognosis of typical mesothelioma.

Pleural mesothelioma ( affecting the lining of lung protection in the chest cavity ) represents about three quarters of all mesothelioma incidence . Peritoneal mesothelioma , affecting the abdominal cavity and pericardial mesothelioma , which affects the heart chamber , comprising the remainder .

There are three recognized types of mesothelioma cells . Between 50 and 70 % of all mesotheliomas are of the epithelial variety . Although the prognosis is generally poor, is considered less aggressive than sarcomatoid mesothelioma and biphasic mesothelioma, which comprise the remaining cell type diagnosis .

The cavities in the body including the chest , abdomen, and the core is surrounded by a membrane of cells known as the mesothelium . Mesothelial cells assist in general organ functions . The mesothelium is particularly important to organs that are usually in motion, so that the expansion or contraction of the lungs , stomach or heart. The lubrication of the mesothelial cells allows free movement of the body width . The mesothelium of the chest, abdomen and heart chamber is called the pleura, peritoneum and pericardium , respectively. Each of these groupings of mesothelial cells is extremely critical to the functioning of the structures of the body covering .

Malignant (cancerous tumors ) occurring in the mesothelial membranes are known as malignant mesothelioma , or simply mesothelioma Mesothelioma Cancer. Benign tumors of the mesothelium are known to occur , but are much less common than malignant mesothelial tumors.

While tumors of the mesothelium were recognized in the 18th century , it was not until the mid 20th century this type of cancer was studied in particular and is discussed in more detail. This is when the cancer causative suspect asbestos exposure became more motivated. A joint venture to search through the Department of Thoracic Surgery at the University Hospital General of South Africa and Johannesburg Witswater provided the most convincing evidence of the relationship between exposure to asbestos and the development of pleural mesothelioma.

Incidence of mesothelioma is still quite rare, with only 2,500 to 3,000 diagnoses in the United States each year. There was an increase in diagnoses between 1970 and 1984 , which was attributed to the latency period between diagnosis and the height of the industrial exhibition , which took place about 40-60 years before that date . Exposure was common in almost all industries but was particularly common in the military-industrial cycle was World War II , including Navy Shipyards Mesothelioma Cancer.

Although this type of cancer is more common in men older than 60 years (largely attributable to occupational exposure among male-dominated industries ) , mesothelioma in women and children has also been described . The causes for the diagnosis of mesothelioma in women and children are mainly attributed to secondary exposure to asbestos Mesothelioma Cancer, as it was not uncommon for men to bring back home asbestos on their body or clothing if cleaning facilities not suitable are available on the site.

Mesothelioma is diagnosed through a comprehensive combination of biopsy and scanned image .

Mesothelioma can be a difficult malignancy to diagnose because the symptoms are similar to other respiratory diseases, and because the disease can be very difficult to differentiate from lung adenocarcinoma . For this reason, misdiagnosis is not uncommon in patients with mesothelioma. The symptoms of mesothelioma include chest pain , chronic cough, chest effusion and abdomen, and the presence of blood in the lung fluid .

Diagnostic surgeries , including biopsy , usually be necessary to determine the type of malignant cells present in the body. Typically , an analysis of body imaging is required , including a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI ) , computed topography ( CT ) and / or positron emission tomography (PET) , to determine the extent and location of disease .

While mesothelioma is typically advanced at diagnosis , treatment options available.

Mesothelioma , while certainly an aggressive disease , is a manageable malignancy. Although there is no cure for cancer, mesothelioma treatment options can potentially include surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. A combination of pemetrexed and cisplatin ® is currently the only FDA approved chemotherapy , although several clinical trials are currently underway using other drugs, including gemcitabine and onconase , which may lead to new treatment options provide patient benefit .

Radiation therapy is also used , but typically in conjunction with other treatment methods such as surgery and chemotherapy . Surgical resection is possible mesothelioma patients diagnosed at an early stage . Diagnostic procedures and palliative care , as thoracentesis and pleurodesis are also commonly performed in patients with malignant mesothelioma in order to minimize the symptoms associated with cancer.

Alternative therapies have also been used effectively by many mesothelioma patients to help control the symptoms of the disease and conventional treatments Mesothelioma Cancer.

Mesothelioma is caused by asbestos.

Mesothelioma is mainly caused by asbestos exposure , although there have been documented cases of children or people with no history of asbestos. Asbestos is a natural mineral microscopic and engages the pulmonary pleura and peritoneum of the abdominal cavity . In most cases several years will ( to 60 ) before mesothelioma develops in those who were exposed to asbestos Mesothelioma Cancer.