The most common type of treatment for mesothelioma is surgical procedure, followed by radiation therapy & chemotherapy. Depending on the situation a mix of these treatments are used.
Treatment of mesothelioma will be contingent on what type of mesothelioma it is, at what stage has the cancer been diagnosed, & the patients age & health.
Surgery for Mesothelioma
The most common treatment for mesothelioma is surgical procedure. Depending on the spread of the cancer, the surgeon could remove a part of the lining of the chest or the abdomen and also some surrounding tissue. When the cancer has spread to a lung, the surgeon may remove part of one side of the lung in an operation known as pneumonectomy. In rare cases it becomes necessary to remove a part of the muscle below the lungs (diaphragm) which helps in the method of breathing.
Pleural mesothelioma may cause a liquid buildup in the chest which makes breathing very hard. The surgeon in this case will insert a catheter in to the chest to drain out the liquid. Medication could even be injected in to the chest to cease / reduce further liquid buildup.
Radiation for Mesothelioma
Radiation therapy (radiotherapy) makes use of high-energy rays to kill cancer cells & shrink tumors. Radiation can be given through a radiation machine (known as outside radiation therapy), or by putting positive chemicals that produce radiation through narrow tubes in the area affected by the cancer (known as internal radiation therapy).
Combination Therapy for Mesothelioma
A combination of surgical procedure, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy is used in combination therapy. this might show to be more beneficial, but is very harsh on the body, is not suitable for everyone. Combination therapy is used only on patients who are young (in their 30s) & healthy, & can withstand the effects of this treatment.
Chemotherapy for Mesothelioma
Chemotherapy makes use of anticancer drugs to kill cancer cells throughout the body. The most common type is an injection given intravenously. Trials are on to find out the efficacy of injecting these drugs directly into the affected area.
Which Mesothelioma Treatment to Opt For
The treatment best suited will be decided by the surgeon. It will be contingent on the patients age, health, location and spread of the cancer.
In a minimum of cases the cancer is detected when it is late for a full cure. The patient will usually not survive more than 12 to 18 months after diagnosis. The surgeon will focus on ways to remove / destroy the cancer cells so as to slowdown further spread of the cancer.
Participating in these clinical trials could possibly help patients live longer, at the same time allowing surgeons to understand the disease better and possibly discover a total cure for mesothelioma in the near future.
There are definite other treatments that are obtainable and currently undergoing clinical trials. Your surgeon can guide you on these new techniques and considering all the factors you could choose on a definite treatment. although these new treatments use the latest technologies currently obtainable, a full treatment is not guaranteed. Using these new treatments, surgeons are trying to get the survival ratio after diagnosis up from the current 12 to 18 months, to approximately 5 to 10 years.
Monday, October 18, 2010
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Mesothelioma Cancer - What to Tell Children
The amount of information, you should give them depends on their age and how they are grown. Being honest is one thing but giving them all the information at once can be too. Try spreading a little to ease the shock of the inevitable result.
The questions can be answered "need to know"at first, but as more hospital vists are undertaken and the patient is well at times then more detail is offered. As the same question over and over again with young children can be difficult to times, but you must understand that this is a normal part of their development.
Adolescents may have a particularly difficult time because they now have to manage strong emotions and extra added responsibility only, and the usual emotions which are part of their development to adults. They may need to turn to others outside the family if they have trouble talking to family members egfamily friend, teacher or counselor.
Young people can be particularly difficult because they must now manage strong feelings and just adds more responsibility and generally emotions that are part of their development to adults. They can support their families turn to outside agencies, if they have difficulty speaking egfamily family friend, a teacher or a counselor.
In addition, they may need to repair what they have heard friends and other people, because it can be corrected. Children should be treated with sensitivity, but honestly. But to treat the information according to age, maturity and circumstances.
The questions can be answered "need to know"at first, but as more hospital vists are undertaken and the patient is well at times then more detail is offered. As the same question over and over again with young children can be difficult to times, but you must understand that this is a normal part of their development.
Adolescents may have a particularly difficult time because they now have to manage strong emotions and extra added responsibility only, and the usual emotions which are part of their development to adults. They may need to turn to others outside the family if they have trouble talking to family members egfamily friend, teacher or counselor.
Young people can be particularly difficult because they must now manage strong feelings and just adds more responsibility and generally emotions that are part of their development to adults. They can support their families turn to outside agencies, if they have difficulty speaking egfamily family friend, a teacher or a counselor.
In addition, they may need to repair what they have heard friends and other people, because it can be corrected. Children should be treated with sensitivity, but honestly. But to treat the information according to age, maturity and circumstances.
Mesothelioma and Asbestos
Asbestos is a group name and minerals that occur naturally in the masses of strong, flexible fibers that can be separated into thin threads and woven. Asbestos has been mined and used commercially since 1800, its use has increased greatly during the Second World War. Asbestos was widely used in many industrial products, including cement, brake linings, tiles, flooring, textiles, and insulation. Since 1940, the first half, millions of American workers have been exposed to asbestos dust.
If tiny asbestos particles float in the air, especially during the manufacturing process, they can be inhaled or swallowed and can cause serious health problems. In addition to mesothelioma, exposure to asbestos increases the risk of lung cancer, asbestosis (a noncancerous, chronic lung disease) and other cancers, such as those of the larynx and kidney.
Initially, the risks of asbestos exposure were not known. However, an increased risk of mesothelioma was later found in:
Shipyard workers
People who work in asbestos mines and mills
Producers of asbestos products
Workers in the heating and construction industries
Other tradespeople.
Today, the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) sets limits for acceptable levels of asbestos exposure in the workplace. The people who work with asbestos-Use personal protective equipment to reduce the risk of exposure.
The risk of asbestos disease with heavier exposure to asbestos and longer exposure time. However, some individuals with only brief exposures developed mesothelioma. On the other hand, to develop, not all workers who are heavily exposed to asbestos-related diseases.
If tiny asbestos particles float in the air, especially during the manufacturing process, they can be inhaled or swallowed and can cause serious health problems. In addition to mesothelioma, exposure to asbestos increases the risk of lung cancer, asbestosis (a noncancerous, chronic lung disease) and other cancers, such as those of the larynx and kidney.
Initially, the risks of asbestos exposure were not known. However, an increased risk of mesothelioma was later found in:
Shipyard workers
People who work in asbestos mines and mills
Producers of asbestos products
Workers in the heating and construction industries
Other tradespeople.
Today, the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) sets limits for acceptable levels of asbestos exposure in the workplace. The people who work with asbestos-Use personal protective equipment to reduce the risk of exposure.
The risk of asbestos disease with heavier exposure to asbestos and longer exposure time. However, some individuals with only brief exposures developed mesothelioma. On the other hand, to develop, not all workers who are heavily exposed to asbestos-related diseases.
Understanding the Mesothelium
The mesothelium is a membrane that covers and protects most of the internal organs of living. It consists of two layers of cells: One layer immediately surrounds the organ, the other bag around it. The mesothelium produces a lubricating fluid released from these layers, so that moving parts (such as the beating heart and the expanding and contracting lungs) to glide easily against adjacent structures.
Mesothelium has different names depending on its location in the body. Peritoneum is the mesothelial tissue that covers most organs in the abdominal cavity. Pleura is the membrane that surrounds the lungs and lines the wall of the thoracic cavity, while the pericardium covers and protects the heart. mesothelial tissue surrounding the male internal reproductive organs is called the tunica vaginalis testis and the tunica serosa uteri covers the internal reproductive organs in women.
Working with asbestos is the major risk factor for mesothelioma. A history of asbestos at work is reported in about 70 to 80 percent of cases. However, mesothelioma has been reported in some individuals without known exposure to asbestos.
There is some evidence that family members and others living in asbestos workers have an increased risk of developing mesothelioma, asbestos and possibly other related diseases. This risk can be caused by exposure to asbestos dust brought home the clothes and hair of asbestos workers. In order not to expose family members to asbestos fibers, asbestos workers are usually required to shower and change clothes before leaving the workplace.
Smoking does not appear to increase the risk of mesothelioma. But the combination of smoking and asbestos exposure increases a person's risk of developing lung cancer
Mesothelium has different names depending on its location in the body. Peritoneum is the mesothelial tissue that covers most organs in the abdominal cavity. Pleura is the membrane that surrounds the lungs and lines the wall of the thoracic cavity, while the pericardium covers and protects the heart. mesothelial tissue surrounding the male internal reproductive organs is called the tunica vaginalis testis and the tunica serosa uteri covers the internal reproductive organs in women.
Working with asbestos is the major risk factor for mesothelioma. A history of asbestos at work is reported in about 70 to 80 percent of cases. However, mesothelioma has been reported in some individuals without known exposure to asbestos.
There is some evidence that family members and others living in asbestos workers have an increased risk of developing mesothelioma, asbestos and possibly other related diseases. This risk can be caused by exposure to asbestos dust brought home the clothes and hair of asbestos workers. In order not to expose family members to asbestos fibers, asbestos workers are usually required to shower and change clothes before leaving the workplace.
Smoking does not appear to increase the risk of mesothelioma. But the combination of smoking and asbestos exposure increases a person's risk of developing lung cancer
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