Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Pleural Mesothelioma
Pleural Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that is most often found in people who have, at some point during their lives been exposed to high levels of asbestos. Asbestos is a type of naturally occurring mineral that was, for many years mixed with cement, plaster and paint and used in the interiors of houses. It was used as it is highly resistant to heat and is surprisingly strong. Unfortunately asbestos is made up of thin fibres which have since been found to be highly toxic to humans when they get into the body and it is these fibres that can be breathed in and cause a large number of health problems.
Due to the way that asbestos acts once inside the body it is usually many years later that asbestos related Pleural Mesothelioma is noticed. Pleural Mesothelioma is normally diagnosed when there is a change in the thin layer of membranes that are in the chest. When this pleural lining thickens or starts to calcify it is known as pleural plaques. These plaques in themselves are not always a definite precursor to cancer but they can greatly affect the function of the lungs and they can signal the start of Pleural Mesothelioma.
Pleural Mesothelioma may begin in the pleura but it can soon radiate outwards to the abdomen, the heart and the outer wall of the chest. When this happens and a diagnosis of Pleural Mesothelioma is made the prognosis is not good and many patients with Pleural Mesothelioma are not expected to live much longer than 12 months or so. With this in mind it is critical that anyone who has had previous exposure to asbestos is regularly tested for any changes in the pleura as this is an early sign that Pleural Mesothelioma could be imminent. When Pleural Mesothelioma is suspected early enough the patient can be treated and this can help them to live much longer than someone who has been diagnosed with full blown Pleural Mesothelioma.
Some of the symptoms of Pleural Mesothelioma are pain in the lower back, shortness of breath and pain towards the side of the chest. Some people may have problems when swallowing, have a cough that will not go away and in some cases a patient might even be coughing up blood. Some people also find that they start to lose weight quite rapidly once the disease sets in.
As the outlook for a person with Pleural Mesothelioma is not good as treatment can be quite limited due to the aggressive nature of the disease. If the disease is caught quickly enough surgery can help to remove the pleura that are affected and the patient will live for longer than someone with advanced Pleural Mesothelioma. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy are also options that some doctors will use to further extend the life of their patient but this does need to be carefully considered. Painkillers are used to keep the patient as comfortable as possible and other complimentary therapies can be used.
Peritoneal Mesothelioma
One of the fatal types of mesothelioma is Peritoneal Mesothelioma in which the cancerous cells attack the lining of the abdomen called Peritoneum. Peritoneum is the thin membrane, which shields various organs of the abdomen and also provides a lubricating fluid to enable the organs to move and work properly. Peritoneal Mesothelioma, which affects this lining, is yet now a relatively rare disease that accounts for about 1/5 of all mesotheliomas. Its only known cause in the U.S. till date is previous exposure to asbestos.
Major symptoms
Though Mesothelioma is neither age nor sex specific, peritoneal Mesothelioma is mostly seen in men who are in the age group of 50-70 years. There are a number of symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma most of which start appearing after 20, 30 or 50 years after the exposure to asbestos. These symptoms may include weight loss (however, waist line may increase), pain or swelling in the abdomen, weakness, loss of appetite, bowel obstruction, anemia, nausea and fever. Also, fluid often accumulates in the peritoneal space leading to a condition called Ascites.
Diagnosis of peritoneal mesothelioma
The initial step towards detection of peritoneal mesothelioma includes X-rays and CT scans. For confirmed diagnosis, however the doctor needs to do biopsy whereby a piece of tissue is cut from the affected part of the victim's body and is placed under microscope for examination. If the disease is detected at an early stage it stands better chance of getting cured than the state of diffuse peritoneal mesothelioma, where the cancer has already spread to various parts.
The cure
It's true that peritoneal mesothelioma is fatal and leads to several deaths every year. However, with continued researches, several modes of treatments have been embarked upon and in the future there is a fair chance of the disease becoming absolutely curable. The types of treatment of peritoneal mesothelioma include surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy.
In surgery a part of the abdominal tissue is cut out to remove the tumor. At times the doctor may also need to remove a lung or a portion of the diaphragm as per the requirement of the surgery. Radiation therapy, the second method, requires the application of high energy X-rays to shrink the tumor and kill the malignant cells. The rays may be applied from an external machine or by placing the radiation source directly to the affected part of the body, by means of plastic tubes. Last treatment type is the chemotherapy whereby a combination of drugs is applied to kill the cancer cells. The drugs may be administered by mouth in the capsule form or may be applied intravenously via needle.
However, it is essential to mention that cost of treating any form of cancer is extravagant and you may consult a mesothelioma lawyer to earn you a handsome compensation from the authority who was responsible for your prior exposure to asbestos.
So learn more about peritoneal mesothelioma so that you can initiate the treatment at the very early stage and get cured.
Major symptoms
Though Mesothelioma is neither age nor sex specific, peritoneal Mesothelioma is mostly seen in men who are in the age group of 50-70 years. There are a number of symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma most of which start appearing after 20, 30 or 50 years after the exposure to asbestos. These symptoms may include weight loss (however, waist line may increase), pain or swelling in the abdomen, weakness, loss of appetite, bowel obstruction, anemia, nausea and fever. Also, fluid often accumulates in the peritoneal space leading to a condition called Ascites.
Diagnosis of peritoneal mesothelioma
The initial step towards detection of peritoneal mesothelioma includes X-rays and CT scans. For confirmed diagnosis, however the doctor needs to do biopsy whereby a piece of tissue is cut from the affected part of the victim's body and is placed under microscope for examination. If the disease is detected at an early stage it stands better chance of getting cured than the state of diffuse peritoneal mesothelioma, where the cancer has already spread to various parts.
The cure
It's true that peritoneal mesothelioma is fatal and leads to several deaths every year. However, with continued researches, several modes of treatments have been embarked upon and in the future there is a fair chance of the disease becoming absolutely curable. The types of treatment of peritoneal mesothelioma include surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy.
In surgery a part of the abdominal tissue is cut out to remove the tumor. At times the doctor may also need to remove a lung or a portion of the diaphragm as per the requirement of the surgery. Radiation therapy, the second method, requires the application of high energy X-rays to shrink the tumor and kill the malignant cells. The rays may be applied from an external machine or by placing the radiation source directly to the affected part of the body, by means of plastic tubes. Last treatment type is the chemotherapy whereby a combination of drugs is applied to kill the cancer cells. The drugs may be administered by mouth in the capsule form or may be applied intravenously via needle.
However, it is essential to mention that cost of treating any form of cancer is extravagant and you may consult a mesothelioma lawyer to earn you a handsome compensation from the authority who was responsible for your prior exposure to asbestos.
So learn more about peritoneal mesothelioma so that you can initiate the treatment at the very early stage and get cured.
Pericardial Mesothelioma
The protective tissue that covers the whole body beneath the skin is known as epithelium. You all must know it. This epithelium is named in different parts of the body depending upon the location. Somewhere it is known as Mesothelium and the same epithelium circling the heart is known as Pericardium. As the term "cardiac" is related to heart, thus you can relate pericardium with heart or the cardiac region.
Pericardial Mesothelioma is not that common even in Mesothelioma cancer help patients. It is the most rare form of cancer in the human history. A meager section of only 5% suffering from Mesothelioma cancer belongs to Pericardial Mesothelioma and an unwanted and premature death is the final say.
Role of pericardium
Pericardium tissues form the borderline around your heart inside the body. Even as a layman you must have understood that in a way the pericardium is the protective shell guarding your heart from facing any difficulty to function. Thus the pericardium plays a vital role in the pumping and circulation of blood in your body. You must have got it.
Make it simpler. If an intruder fixes up the target to enter inside your house, he will first try to hit the home guard. Only after defeating that person posted for the safeguard of your home, the person can make his way in and otherwise not. Once the intruder gets in, he can create all types of terror. Just frame this situation happening inside your body surrounding your heart.
The moment the pericardium becomes weak, the asbestos fibers can affect your heart directly. Pericardial Mesothelioma cancer occurs in your body exactly in this manner.
Symptoms and precautions
Most asbestos industries don't abide by the minimum rules to prevent their workers from health hazards. The work environment is so sick that even good quality masks to cover the face and nose are not provided. At least with this preliminary step of precaution, the risks can be avoided to a certain level.
Pericardial Mesothelioma too shows its symptoms in the final stage when really nothing can be done. Pericardial Mesothelioma has two broad categories of symptoms. In the primary category the patient will directly face problems with breathing, chest pains with a rise in the frequency of heartbeats. Otherwise there are some indirect symptoms that the patient faces over the years unable to relate where the problem actually is. These include loss of weight and appetite followed by frequent nausea tendencies.
Article Resource
Pericardial Mesothelioma is not that common even in Mesothelioma cancer help patients. It is the most rare form of cancer in the human history. A meager section of only 5% suffering from Mesothelioma cancer belongs to Pericardial Mesothelioma and an unwanted and premature death is the final say.
Role of pericardium
Pericardium tissues form the borderline around your heart inside the body. Even as a layman you must have understood that in a way the pericardium is the protective shell guarding your heart from facing any difficulty to function. Thus the pericardium plays a vital role in the pumping and circulation of blood in your body. You must have got it.
Make it simpler. If an intruder fixes up the target to enter inside your house, he will first try to hit the home guard. Only after defeating that person posted for the safeguard of your home, the person can make his way in and otherwise not. Once the intruder gets in, he can create all types of terror. Just frame this situation happening inside your body surrounding your heart.
The moment the pericardium becomes weak, the asbestos fibers can affect your heart directly. Pericardial Mesothelioma cancer occurs in your body exactly in this manner.
Symptoms and precautions
Most asbestos industries don't abide by the minimum rules to prevent their workers from health hazards. The work environment is so sick that even good quality masks to cover the face and nose are not provided. At least with this preliminary step of precaution, the risks can be avoided to a certain level.
Pericardial Mesothelioma too shows its symptoms in the final stage when really nothing can be done. Pericardial Mesothelioma has two broad categories of symptoms. In the primary category the patient will directly face problems with breathing, chest pains with a rise in the frequency of heartbeats. Otherwise there are some indirect symptoms that the patient faces over the years unable to relate where the problem actually is. These include loss of weight and appetite followed by frequent nausea tendencies.
Article Resource
Types of Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma is one of the dangerous cancers in the world. Its cure is impossible and even its detection is quite difficult. The symptoms of Mesothelioma, resemblance some of the commonly occurring diseases.Even for the doctor it would be difficult to diagnose.
There are mainly 3 types of mesothelioma that have the highest rate of incidence. These three types are
1. The pleural mesothelioma
2. The pericardial mesothelioma
3. The peritoneal mesothelioma
All the above three forms of mesothelioma are devastating for the patient .Once a person has been diagnosed with this cancer, the only option left to him is make his remaining life pain free and comfortable as there is no permanent cure for this cancer.
What are the most common symptoms?
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Difficulty swallowing
- Coughing
- Husky voice
- Fluid in the chest, lungs, or abdomen
- Pain in chest or abdomen
- Loss of appetite
- Weight loss
- Inability to sleep
Pleural Mesothelioma
What is Pleural Mesothelioma?
Pleural mesothelioma is a disease that affects the lining of the lungs, or lung pleura. Sometimes doctors refer to this disease as mesothelioma of the pleura. It is a common misconception that mesothelioma is a type of primary lung cancer.
Causes of Pleural Mesothelioma:
Exposure of the individual to the mineral asbestos, causes pleural mesothelioma. This cancer, pleural mesothelioma has the highest rate of occurrence. In this pleural mesothelioma-
1. The asbestos fiber gets lodged in between the mesothelium membrane surrounding the lungs.
2. The asbestos fiber once inside the pleural membrane remains dormant for a long period of time.
3. After this latency period, these fibers start interfering with the working of the mesothelial cells. This interference leads to the development of the cancerous tissues.
Site of occurrences:
Pleural mesothelioma spreads within the chest cavity, sometimes it involves lungs.
Symptoms of Pleural Mesothelioma:
- A persistent cough that is harsh and dry
- Shortness of breath
- Painful inhalation
- Chest pain
- Weight loss
- Fever or night sweats
- Persistent fatigue
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