About: Malaria

Author: Malaria
Email : Malaria@Malaria.com
Title: Malaria
Articles: Malaria is a mosquito-borne disease caused by a parasite. People with malaria often experience fever, chills, and flu-like illness. Left untreated, they may develop severe complications and die. Each year 350-500 million cases of malaria occur worldwide, and over one million people die, most of them young children in sub-Saharan Africa.

This sometimes fatal disease can be prevented and cured. Bednets, insecticides, and antimalarial drugs are effective tools to fight malaria in areas where it is transmitted. Travelers to a malaria-risk area should avoid mosquito bites and take a preventive antimalarial drug.

Malaria in the United States

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1,337 cases of malaria, including 8 deaths, were reported for 2002 in the United States, even though malaria has been eradicated in this country since the early 1950's
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Of the 1,337 malaria cases reported for 2002 in the United States, all but five were imported, i.e., acquired in malaria-endemic countries.

Malaria Worldwide

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Forty-one percent of the world's population live in areas where malaria is transmitted (e.g., parts of Africa, Asia, the Middle East, Central and South America, Hispaniola, and Oceania).
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Each year 350–500 million cases of malaria occur worldwide, and over one million people die, most of them young children in sub-Saharan Africa.
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In areas of Africa with high malaria transmission, an estimated 990,000 people died of malaria in 1995 – over 2700 deaths per day, or 2 deaths per minute.

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Website: http://www.hls-herbs.com/

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About: Cellular Health

Author: Cellular Health
Email : Cellular@Health.com
Title: Cellular Health
Articles: Lifestyle Changes May Affect Cell-Level Processes Related to Disease

Can healthy lifestyle choices affect the health of your cells and the cell function?

Disease risk, progression, and premature mortality—in many types of cancer and in cardiovascular and infectious diseases—have been linked to telomeres, which are protective DNA-protein complexes that keep cells genetically stable. The cellular enzyme telomerase is an important part of the body's maintenance system for these essential complexes. For example, a previous investigation found that increased stress among caregivers of Alzheimer's patients was associated with lower telomerase activity and telomere shortening.

In a recent pilot study funded by NCCAM and several other sponsors, researchers at the University of California-San Francisco investigated the effects of lifestyle changes on telomerase levels in 24 men with low-risk prostate cancer. The participants underwent a comprehensive lifestyle modification that included:

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Improved nutrition (a very low-fat diet supplemented with soy, fish oil, selenium, and vitamins C and E)
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Moderate aerobic exercise
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Stress management (yoga, breathing, meditation, imagery, and progressive relaxation techniques)
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Increased social support.

After 3 months, the study participants' telomerase activity had increased 29.8 percent. Decreases in psychological distress and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol were associated with the increase in telomerase activity.

This is the first longitudinal study to suggest that lifestyle modifications (or any intervention) might significantly increase telomerase activity. The researchers emphasize that additional research is needed and recommend larger randomized controlled trials to confirm the findings.

References & Source:
1. U.S. National Library of Medicine
Website: http://

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About: Hurry Healthy Chicken Soup

Author: Hurry Healthy Chicken Soup
Email : Pressure@live.com
Title: Hurry Healthy Chicken Soup
Articles: Place in large pot -

* Two skinless, boneless chicken breasts or 4 skinless thighs
* One small onion, peeled and chopped
* Two to six cloves garlic, peeled and chopped
* 1 quart water

Cover and bring to boil - simmer slowly until chicken is very tender - about 30 minutes.
Remove chicken to plate.to cool slightly and pull into chunks with two forks or chop into 1" cubes; return to pot.

Add to pot

* Two large carrots, peeled and chopped - or a couple of handfuls of packaged fresh pre-peeled and washed baby carrots
* Two ribs celery - scrubbed and chopped
* 2 cups canned or boxed chicken broth
* Seasoning to taste - 1/2 a bay leaf crumbled, a sprigs of parsley minced, 1/4 teaspoon thyme, fresh ground pepper - or use a mix like Old Bay Seasoning. Salt to taste but remember that many canned chicken broths already contain salt.

Cover and simmer until vegetables are tender - about 20 minutes. Serve topped with chopped fresh tomatoes or chopped snow peas for a bit of contrast. This soup is also wonderful ladled over fresh mixed greens or rice.

Serves 2 and can be doubled or tripled.
Website: http://

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About: IUDs Reduce Repeat Abortions

Author: IUDs Reduce Repeat Abortions
Email : IUDs@live.com
Title: IUDs Reduce Repeat Abortions
Articles: A new study claims that increased use of an intrauterine device (IUD) at a younger age would reduce the number of unwanted pregnancies.

Researchers at Sahlgrenska Academy (Gothenburg, Sweden) monitored a group of 286 women for 25 years of their fertile period, between 19 and 44 years of age. In 1981, a postal questionnaire about contraception, pregnancies, and reproductive health was sent to a random sample of 656 19-year-old women residing in Gothenburg (Sweden); those who responded were subsequently contacted again every fifth year. The researchers continuously compared the type of contraceptive used by the women with the number of pregnancies during the same period.

The results showed that at 19 years of age, 74% of the women had already used contraception, and this figure increased to 98% at 44 years. Combined oral contraception was the commonest method currently used up to 29 years of age, and thereafter an IUD. Condom use alone during the 25-year study period was 15%, and non-use of contraception was 26%. The mean number of pregnancies/children increased from 0.2/0.1 at 19 years of age to 3.1/2.1 at 44 years. The study was published in the June 2010 issue of Human Reproduction.

"When we compared women who had not been pregnant at the age of 19 with women who had been pregnant at that age, the study showed that these women had significantly more pregnancies up to the age of 24," said lead author and study presenter Ingela Lindh, a midwife and researcher at the department of obstetrics and gynecology at Sahlgrenska Academy. "This increase subsided rapidly as the women became older, which was probably due to the increased use of an intrauterine device in this group of women."

"We need more active management from healthcare providers for women who have undergone one or more abortions," added Ms. Lindh. "It would be advantageous to have a quicker return visit after an abortion where you can discuss the pros and cons of different contraceptives and highlight the use of long acting methods such as an intrauterine device as a good alternative to the pill."

An IUD contraceptive device is a form of birth control that involves an object placed in the uterus to prevent fertilization of the egg by sperm, inhibit tubular transport, and prevent implantation of the blastocyst into the endometrium.
Website: http://www.hospimedica.com/

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About: Artemisinin

Author: Artemisinin
Email : Artemisinin@live.com
Title: Artemisinin
Articles: Artemisinin or Qinghaosu (pronounced: Ching-hao-su) is an extract from the plant Artemisia annua (sweet wormwood) or Qinghao (pronounced: Ching-hao). Scientific research has shown artemisinin to be particularly beneficial in balancing the microbiology of the GI tract.

Artemisia annua is a plant with a strong aroma, containing camphor and essential oils. It is a robust plant that grows in many areas of the world. However, only plants grown in special agricultural and geographic conditions contain artemisinin. The best high-yielding samples have been collected from the steep hills at altitudes over 4,500 feet around Youyang County, City of Chongqing in Szechuan Province, China, where Holley Wulingshan Mountain Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. is located.
The quantity and quality of artemisinin are very sensitive to various conditions, such as farming, harvest timing, the pre-manufacturing processing, transportation, extracting and purification processes, manufacturing and storage environments, etc. Even in optimal conditions, Artemisia annua yields very low artemisinin.

Artemisia annua leaves have been consumed by local Chinese over several centuries for promoting general health. Its extract, Artemisinin, has been used over several decades. Its derivatives (chemically altered, not natural products) have been developed and used to treat various diseases.
Website: http://holleypharma.com/

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About: Fanconi Anemia

Author: Fanconi Anemia
Email : Fanconi@live.com
Title: Fanconi Anemia
Articles: What is Fanconi anemia?

Fanconi anemia (FA) is one of the inherited anemias that leads to bone marrow failure (aplastic anemia). It is a recessive disorder: if both parents carry a defect (mutation) in the same FA gene, each of their children has a 25% chance of inheriting the defective gene from both parents. When this happens, the child will have FA.

Symptoms of FA:

The lack of white blood cells can lead to infections. Not having enough of the cells in blood (platelets) that cause clotting may lead to excess bleeding. A lack of red blood cells may result in fatigue (anemia).

Most people with Fanconi's anemia have these types of symptoms:

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Skin pigment change (darkened areas of the skin, cafe-au-lait spots, vitiligo)
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Short height
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Upper limb problems (missing, extra or misshapen thumbs; small or missing radius bone in the forearm; problems of the hands and the forearm bone in the lower arm)
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Small testicles, genital changes
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Abnormal bones (abnormalities of the hip, spine or rib; curved spine (scoliosis); small head)
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Abnormal eye/eyelid
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Malformed kidney
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Abnormal ears/deafness
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Abnormal hip, leg, and toe
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Abnormal digestive tract/heart and lungs

Source: U.S. National Library of Medicine
Website: http://www.hls-herbs.com

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About: Mesothelioma Lawsuit

Author: Ombar
Email : ombar@live.com
Title: Mesothelioma Lawsuit
Articles: A mesothelioma lawsuit is filed by a victim of mesothelioma in order to recover damages associated with their development of this asbestos related cancer. A mesothelioma case can help a victim seek reparations for medical expenses, lost income and pain and suffering. Mesothelioma develops almost exclusively as a result of toxic exposure to asbestos. This disease can remain latent in a victim for up to forty years; therefore people who were exposed to asbestos in the environment in the 1950s may still be at risk for developing this disease.
Who Is At Risk?
Asbestos has been used to make more than 5000 products in the last few hundred years. Asbestos is a naturally occurring group of minerals that is used to make products such as vehicle brakes and building materials. Asbestos is added to these products because it aids in heat and corrosion resistance. The deadly effects of asbestos have been known for over sixty years, though it continues to be used in a variety of industries. People in the construction, automotive, factory, railroad, shipyard, and custodial industries may all be at risk for the serious health consequences resulting from toxic exposure to asbestos.
What Is Mesothelioma?
Mesothelioma is a rare but fatal cancer that is caused by this harmful exposure to asbestos. Mesothelioma affects the mesothelium that surrounds and protects the internal organs of the body and can affect any organ in the body including the brain, heart and reproductive organs. Pleural mesothelioma is the most common and affects the lining surrounding the lungs. This lining can become cancerous when asbestos is inhaled at toxic levels. Many times the disease is asymptomatic, though symptoms may include a persistent cough, pain in the chest area or shortness of breath.
Mesothelioma also affects the peritoneal lining of the organs in the abdominal cavity. This type of mesothelioma, known as peritoneal mesothelioma, can also remain latent and asymptomatic for several years. If mesothelioma symptoms do develop they might include pain and swelling of the belly, nausea, bowel problems, weight loss, swollen feet, and anemia.
More Common in Men
Mesothelioma affects men three to five times more often than it affects women. It is diagnosed in patients at an average age of 50 to 70 years. Once diagnosed, mesothelioma is fatal. The average survival time after diagnosis is only one year, because the cancer is usually in its advanced stages by the time it is discovered. For people who are diagnosed earlier, about one half survive for two years and twenty percent make it to five years.
Why File a Mesothelioma Lawsuit?
A mesothelioma lawsuit can be filed in the legal system in order to seek reparations for medical expenses, loss of income and pain and suffering associated with the development of this disease. Employers and manufactures of asbestos containing products can be held liable for the injuries that develop as a result, especially when they were aware of the risks associated with the level of exposure they caused or permitted. Contacting a qualified lawyer is often the first step in discovering what your legal rights and options might be in a mesothelioma lawsuit. For more information on a mesothelioma lawsuit, please Contact a Mesothelioma Attorney who is familiar with other mesothelioma cases.

more :http://www.asbestosnews.com/mesothelioma/lawsuit.html
Website: http://www.ilmucomputer2.blogspot.com/

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Asbestos-Related Cancers

In addition to causing pleural mesothelioma, exposure to asbestos is also known to cause a range of other cancers. Those who experienced occupational exposure to asbestos are the persons most at risk of developing an asbestos-related cancer like pleural mesothelioma, as it typically takes years of repeated exposure to cause any asbestos-related disease.

The link between asbestos and pleural mesothelioma has long been established, but exposure to this toxic mineral can also cause lung cancer, laryngeal cancer and ovarian cancer. The latter two cancers were only recently confirmed to be caused by asbestos exposure by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IRAC). Retired Assistant Surgeon General of the United States and Deputy Director of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Dr. Richard Lemen, announced this recent confirmation is the beginning of a “new chapter in the prevention of asbestos-related cancers.”

Lemen also stated, “The confirmation by IARC – the world’s leading cancer research agency – that all forms of asbestos, including its most commonly used form of asbestos chrysotile, cause lung cancer, laryngeal cancer, and mesothelioma, leave no doubt that the prevailing medical evidence is irrefutable as to asbestos’ carcinogenicity. The new findings that there is sufficient evidence that asbestos also causes ovarian cancer will have far reaching implications to all women exposed to asbestos.”

According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), a link may also exist between asbestos exposure and gastrointestinal (stomach) cancer and colon cancer. The National Cancer Institute (NCI) has also reported that asbestos exposure may increase a person’s risk of developing esophagus, throat, kidney and gallbladder cancer.

A number of studies have also investigated a slight potential connection between asbestos exposure and the development of breast and prostate cancer, in addition to leukemia and lymphomas.

Sources

1. http://ibasecretariat.org/lka_asb_polic_maj_int_agencies.php
2. http://www.cancer.org/docroot/PED/content/PED_1_3X_Asbestos.asp?sitearea=PED
3. http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Risk/asbestos

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Posted in: Cancers

Lung Cancer and Asbestos Exposure

Lung cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer in the United States. It develops when abnormal cells grow uncontrollably in either one or both lungs. These cells do not turn into healthy lung tissue, but rather form tumors and affect lung function. While there are many hazards that affect the lungs, lung cancer is most notably caused by smoking.

In addition to smoking, exposure to asbestos may also lead to the development of lung cancer later in life. Like those of pleural mesothelioma, symptoms of asbestos-induced lung cancer can take several decades to arise from the time of initial exposure, resulting in a late diagnosis for many patients. Asbestos exposure most often occurs after disturbing asbestos-containing materials and releasing microscopic asbestos fibers into the air. Once airborne, those nearby can inhale the toxic fibers.

Lung Cancer Symptoms, Treatment and Diagnosis

Symptoms of lung cancer may consist of a variety of conditions. Some of the more common symptoms of lung cancer include coughing, chest pain, shortness of breath, coughing up blood and wheezing. Additional symptoms that tend to be less common include fatigue, loss of appetite, bleeding, neck or facial swelling and blood clots. Other symptoms may also arise throughout a patient’s battle with lung cancer.

Treatment options for lung cancer will vary from patient to patient. The type and stage of lung cancer at the time of diagnosis will likely play a strong role in determining an effective treatment regimen. The three most common forms of treatment for lung cancer include surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy. All three of these options may be used individually or in conjunction with one another.

Diagnosing lung cancer may require the use of several initial tests, which often relay information to physicians in the form of X-rays. The first tests usually associated with diagnosing lung cancer include chest X-rays, computer tomography scans, positron emission tomography scans and magnetic resonance imaging scans. A bronchoscopy test or sputum cytology may also be used. Nevertheless, biopsies are considered the only definitive test for diagnosing lung cancer.

Sources

1. http://www.lungcancer.org/reading/about.php
2. http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/types/lung
3. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/lungcancer.html

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Posted in: Lung Cancer

Asbestos Regains Popularity and Results in Pleural Mesothelioma

The Industrial Revolution once again made asbestos a popular material, despite past warnings about its safety. Suddenly, as factories were springing up in every corner of the United States, companies were looking for ways to protect the facilities and their employees from the heat and high temperatures emitted by the new “machines” that helped make all the products that were suddenly being mass produced. Asbestos materials could be found wrapped around pipes and pumps, boilers, turbines, generators and wires, and was in a host of other items, including so-called protective clothing. While it was obviously intended to protect, it was causing harm instead.

Occupational safety and health wasn’t a huge priority in the decades that followed the Industrial Revolution. By the early 20th century, however, doctors and researchers began to recognize the dangers of the mineral and the connections it had to workers who were developing severe pulmonary problems. They began spreading the word but were promptly quieted. However, there is proof that asbestos products manufacturers were aware of the negative impact the mineral was having on the health of those who worked with it, but they refused to reveal the truth about the mineral. Their negligence caused many unnecessary deaths.

Soon, however, it became readily apparent that asbestos was a killer. High rates of pleural mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases were being diagnosed in those who worked with the mineral on a regular basis and it became apparent that the only cause of these diseases was exposure to asbestos.

Definitive studies were conducted during the 1920s and 1930s, and though asbestos was identified as a hazard, American companies kept using it until the late 1970s, when the government was finally forced to admit that the mineral was toxic and that discontinuing its use was a wise step.

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Posted in: Asbestos

What is Asbestos?

Asbestos, which encompasses a set of six naturally occurring silicate minerals, has long been praised for its fireproofing and insulating properties. Throughout much of the 20th century, asbestos was used in more than 3,000 construction materials. Many of these products have created hazards for households all around the world as the toxic mineral has been linked to several asbestos-related diseases such as pleural mesothelioma. Exposure to asbestos typically occurs by inhaling airborne asbestos fibers after asbestos-laden materials have been disturbed.

Types of Asbestos

The six different types of asbestos are divided into two distinct groups – serpentine and amphibole.

• Serpentine – This type of asbestos has curly fibers and a layered structure. The only kind of asbestos in this category is chrysotile (white asbestos). This is now the only kind of asbestos that is still mined on a large scale and it was the kind most often used in buildings in the United States.
• Amphibole – This kind of asbestos has a long chain-like structure with straight, sharp fibers that are quite easy to inhale. Widely used in a number of products until the late 1970s, there are five types that fall into this category - amosite, crocidolite, anthophyllite, tremolite and actinolite. Crocidolite (blue asbestos) was the second most likely type – behind chrysotile – to be found in buildings.

The Miracle Mineral

The peoples of ancient Greece and Rome were mesmerized by the qualities of asbestos. The Greeks used it readily in wicks to light their temples and it is said that the Roman Emperor Charlemagne threw his woven asbestos tablecloth into the fire to clean it, amazing his guests as it emerged unscathed and sparkling white. It enjoyed all sorts of other uses as well and all marveled at its heat- and fire-resistant properties and its durability.

However, even the ancient civilizations recognized the dangers of dealing with asbestos. Author and naturalist, Pliny the Elder ((23-79 A.D.) told of the pulmonary diseases and early death of the slaves who worked the asbestos mines. Perhaps Pliny’s warnings were heard as, eventually, asbestos use decreased and was rarely used in the coming centuries.

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Posted in: Asbestos

How is mesothelioma treated?

Treatment for mesothelioma depends on the location of the cancer, the stage of the disease, and the patient's age and general health. Standard treatment options include surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. Sometimes, these treatments are combined.

• Surgery is a common treatment for mesothelioma. The doctor may remove part of the lining of the chest or abdomen and some of the tissue around it. For cancer of the pleura (pleural mesothelioma), a lung may be removed in an operation called a pneumonectomy. Sometimes part of the diaphragm, the muscle below the lungs that helps with breathing, is also removed.
  
  
• Radiation therapy, also called radiotherapy, involves the use of high-energy rays to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. Radiation therapy affects the cancer cells only in the treated area. The radiation may come from a machine (external radiation) or from putting materials that produce radiation through thin plastic tubes into the area where the cancer cells are found (internal radiation therapy).
  
  
• Chemotherapy is the use of anticancer drugs to kill cancer cells throughout the body. Most drugs used to treat mesothelioma are given by injection into a vein (intravenous, or IV). Doctors are also studying the effectiveness of putting chemotherapy directly into the chest or abdomen (intracavitary chemotherapy).
  

To relieve symptoms and control pain, the doctor may use a needle or a thin tube to drain fluid that has built up in the chest or abdomen. The procedure for removing fluid from the chest is called thoracentesis. Removal of fluid from the abdomen is called paracentesis. Drugs may be given through a tube in the chest to prevent more fluid from accumulating. Radiation therapy and surgery may also be helpful in relieving symptoms.

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Posted in: Mesothelioma

How is mesothelioma diagnosed?

Diagnosing mesothelioma is often difficult, because the symptoms are similar to those of a number of other conditions. Diagnosis begins with a review of the patient's medical history, including any history of asbestos exposure. A complete physical examination may be performed, including x-rays of the chest or abdomen and lung function tests. A CT (or CAT) scan or an MRI may also be useful. A CT scan is a series of detailed pictures of areas inside the body created by a computer linked to an x-ray machine. In an MRI, a powerful magnet linked to a computer is used to make detailed pictures of areas inside the body. These pictures are viewed on a monitor and can also be printed.

A biopsy is needed to confirm a diagnosis of mesothelioma. In a biopsy, a surgeon or a medical oncologist (a doctor who specializes in diagnosing and treating cancer) removes a sample of tissue for examination under a microscope by a pathologist. A biopsy may be done in different ways, depending on where the abnormal area is located. If the cancer is in the chest, the doctor may perform a thoracoscopy. In this procedure, the doctor makes a small cut through the chest wall and puts a thin, lighted tube called a thoracoscope into the chest between two ribs. Thoracoscopy allows the doctor to look inside the chest and obtain tissue samples. If the cancer is in the abdomen, the doctor may perform a peritoneoscopy. To obtain tissue for examination, the doctor makes a small opening in the abdomen and inserts a special instrument called a peritoneoscope into the abdominal cavity. If these procedures do not yield enough tissue, more extensive diagnostic surgery may be necessary.

If the diagnosis is mesothelioma, the doctor will want to learn the stage (or extent) of the disease. Staging involves more tests in a careful attempt to find out whether the cancer has spread and, if so, to which parts of the body. Knowing the stage of the disease helps the doctor plan treatment.

Mesothelioma is described as localized if the cancer is found only on the membrane surface where it originated. It is classified as advanced if it has spread beyond the original membrane surface to other parts of the body, such as the lymph nodes, lungs, chest wall, or abdominal organs.

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Posted in: Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma Misconceptions

Misconception: Mesothelioma is a lung cancer.
Reality: Mesothelioma is not a lung cancer but a cancer of the mesothelial cells which make up the lining of the lungs and other organs. Mesothelioma symptoms can closely mimic those of lung cancer because they affect the respiratory system much in the same way.

Misconception: Mesothelioma cancer is untreatable.
Reality: There is no known mesothelioma cure. Mesothelioma treatment is available however with a number of different therapies including surgery, mesothelioma radiation, and chemotherapeutic drugs. These therapies and alternative mesothelioma treatments can extend the patient mesothelioma survival rates far longer than untreated disease.

Misconception: There is no help available for mesothelioma patients and their families.
Reality: Patients of mesothelioma were typically exposed to asbestos. Many are eligible for financial compensation if they were wrongly exposed by working with a mesothelioma attorney. This financial assistance can help patients gain access to the best treatments and give security to their families.

Common Misspellings

Mesothelioma is a commonly misspelled word. Below are some common permutations of the word's spelling.

• Mesotheloma
• Mesophelioma
• Mesothilioma
• Mesopheleoma
• Mesotheleoma
• Mesolthilioma
• Meselthelioma
• Mezothelioma
• Mesothileoma
• Mesotholoma
• Mesotheoloma
• Mesofelioma
• Mesothelione

• Mesothelanoma
• Mesotheolima
• Mesotheliomia
• Mesothelomia
• Misothilioma
• Mesothlioma
• Mesathelioma
• Mesthelioma
• Mesotheioma
• Mesophilioma
• Mesotelioma
• Mesotheliopma
• Mesofylioma

Source

National Cancer Institute
www.cancer.gov

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Posted in: Mesothelioma

Other Mesothelioma Information

Mesothelioma Disease

Mesothelioma cancer is a rare disease that attacks the cells of the tissue that lines the body cavity called the mesothelium. Its only known cause is exposure to asbestos fibers.

Mesothelioma Latency Period

Typically, there is a great deal of time between an individual's exposure to asbestos and the development of asbestos-related health complications. Mesothelioma is associated with a long-latency period (often 20-50 years) after exposure. Over a long period of time, lodged asbestos fibers slowly inflame the lung's external tissue, often serving as a pre-cursor to the development of malignant mesothelioma.

Mesothelioma Remission

Mesothelioma is one of the most aggressive types of cancer. Mesothelioma will often quickly metastasize from its origin into the lungs, abdominal cavity, and lymph nodes. As such, very few mesothelioma patients go into remission. However, if treated properly and early enough, many patients have been able to extend survival rates long beyond previous expectations. Treatment options include surgical resection, chemotherapy, and mesothelioma radiation.

Mesothelioma Cure

While advancements in the treatment of malignant mesothelioma have made tremendous forward strides in recent years, there is currently no cure for mesothelioma. Patients who are diagnosed with early-stage disease may survive many years if the cancer is treated early with surgery, chemotherapy, and managed radiation therapy. Many patients have also had success through the utilization of alternative therapies in conjunction with conventional cancer treatments.

Mesothelioma Survivors

While there is currently no cure for mesothelioma, many patients have had success in managing their cancer with not only traditional treatments like chemotherapy and surgical methods, but also through the use of nutritional supplements, palliative therapies, and body-stress reduction techniques. Some patients diagnosed with mesothelioma have survived many years after what was an initially unfavorable prognosis.

Mesothelioma Survival Rate

Mesothelioma currently has no known cure and, as such, the survival rate for mesothelioma is low. However, mesothelioma can be managed through the use of many different treatment options. Aggressive therapies like extra-pleural pneumonectomy have extended survival periods long beyond previous expectations of mesothelioma doctors and oncologists.

Mesothelioma Life Expectancy

Life expectancy for those diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma depends on a number of factors including, general patient health, cancer stage at diagnosis, and the eligibility of the patient for certain treatment options. Those diagnosed with early stage cancer who are in generally good health will have a more favorable prognosis than those diagnosed with later-stage disease.

Mesothelioma Prevention

Mesothelioma is known only to be caused by exposure to asbestos, a naturally occurring fibrous mineral that was used for many years as an industrial insulation component. As such, the best mesothelioma prevention is the avoidance of exposure to asbestos. However, in recent years, physicians and cancer specialists have been developing a mesothelioma vaccine that will arm the body's immune system with cancer fighting anti-bodies and antigens in those who are at risk for the development of mesothelioma.

Adult Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is most common in adults. Adults who have asbestos exposure history are typically those most at risk for the development of malignant mesothelioma. It can take many years for those exposed to asbestos exposure to exhibit the effects of exposure and, as such, mesothelioma is most often diagnosed in older individuals, often up to 40 years following exposure.

Child Mesothelioma

Childhood diagnosis of malignant mesothelioma is extremely rare, although it has been documented. Mesothelioma is known only to be caused by exposure to asbestos and takes many years following exposure to asbestos to manifest in adults. Generally speaking, childhood mesothelioma is considered to be unrelated to asbestos exposure.

Mesothelioma and Women

Many women that have been diagnosed with mesothelioma had no direct exposure to asbestos from working in industrial job settings. Instead they discover that they are victims of second-hand asbestos exposure that occurred while washing their husband's clothes that came home from work with asbestos fibers on them.

Mesothelioma Vaccine

Recent studies by researchers in the Netherlands have found promising results in preventative therapies for mesothelioma. Using cancer-fighting antigens within the body's immune system, mesothelioma patients have responded positively in most cases when treated with the mesothelioma vaccine. The hope is now that this therapy can be applied to those who may be at risk of developing mesothelioma in the future, particularly those who have been exposed to asbestos but have yet to develop asbestos disease.

Source

National Cancer Institute - Mesothelioma: Questions and Answers
http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Sites-Types/mesothelioma

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Posted in: Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma Information

As with any disease or health condition, mesothelioma researchers have, over time, collected statistical information about mesothelioma. These statistics can help us learn about the proclivities of the disease and its incidence and potentially help future patients as we learn more about mesothelioma.

Incidence of Diagnosis

New cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed in between 2,500 and 3,000 Americans each year. These numbers, while significant, would indicate that mesothelioma is still a relatively rare disease, though incidence is expected to rise in the next decade according to projections.

Age at Diagnosis

The first diagnosis of mesothelioma typically occurs in men and women between the ages of 50 and 70 years. Mesothelioma patients, certainly, have been diagnosed at ages younger than 50 and older than 70, but diagnoses for those age groups are considered statistical anomalies.

Does Mesothelioma Occur in a Particular Sex or Racial Demographic More than Another?

Mesothelioma is much more common in men than women, due mostly to occupational asbestos exposure being more common among men of industrial labor sites. That is not to say, however, that women cannot be diagnosed with mesothelioma. In fact, recent evidence suggests that mesothelioma incidence in women may rise in the coming years as secondary exposures to asbestos can manifest in the form of a positive mesothelioma diagnosis. Also of note is that mesothelioma is much less common among African Americans than white Americans, the reasons for which researchers are still investigating.

What are Typical Patient Survival Rates Following a Mesothelioma Diagnosis?

As mesothelioma is often diagnosed in its advanced stages, the mesothelioma prognosis is sometimes poor with life expectancy being little more than a year following diagnosis. If diagnosed early enough however, patient prognoses increase dramatically. Patient survival rates are often contingent on the treatments available to the particular patient. In early mesothelioma stages, tumors eligible for mesothelioma surgery and will result in improved prognoses over those who are diagnosed with stage 3 mesothelioma or stage 4 mesothelioma. As new and alternative mesothelioma treatments are researched and employed in the future, it is realistic to anticipate an improvement in patient survival rates.

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Mesothelioma Stages

How is mesothelioma staged?

Staging is the process of finding out how far the cancer has spread. Staging of mesothelioma is based on imaging studies such as x-rays, CT scans, and MRI scans. The mesothelioma treatment and life expectancy for patients with the disease largely depends on the stage (extent of spread) of their cancer. Since pleural mesothelioma occurs most frequently and has been studied the most, it is the only mesothelioma for which a staging classification exists.

The staging system most often used for mesothelioma cancer is the Butchart system. This system is based mainly on the extent of the primary tumor mass, and divides mesotheliomas into stages 1 through 4.

Butchart Staging System

• Stage 1: Mesothelioma is present within the right or left pleura, and may also involve the lung, pericardium, or diaphragm (the muscle separating the chest from the abdomen) on the same side.
• Stage 2: Mesothelioma invades the chest wall or involves the esophagus (food passage connecting the throat to the stomach), heart, or pleura on both sides. The lymph nodes in the chest may also be involved.
• Stage 3: Mesothelioma has penetrated through the diaphragm into the peritoneum (lining of the abdominal cavity). Lymph nodes beyond those in the chest may also be involved.
• Stage 4: There is evidence of distant metastases (spread through the bloodstream to other organs).

Another staging system has recently been developed by the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC). This is a TNM system, similar to staging systems used for most other cancers. T stands for tumor (its size and how far it has spread to nearby organs), N stands for spread to lymph nodes and M is for metastasis (spread to distant organs). In TNM staging, information about the tumor, lymph nodes, and metastasis is combined in a process called stage grouping to assign a stage described by numbers from 1 to 4. Minor differences exist between the AJCC TNM staging system and the Butchart staging system.

TNM Staging System

• Stage 1: Mesothelioma involves the right or left pleura. It may also have spread into the lung, pericardium, or diaphragm on the same side. It has not yet spread to the lymph nodes.
• Stage 2: Mesothelioma has spread from the pleura on one side to the nearby peribronchial and/or hilar lymph nodes next to the lung on the same side. It may also have spread into the lung, pericardium, or diaphragm on the same side.
• Stage 3: Mesothelioma has spread into the chest wall muscle, ribs, heart, esophagus, or other organs in the chest on the same side as the primary tumor, with or without spread to subcarinal and/or mediastinal lymph nodes on the same side as the main tumor. Subcarinal nodes are located at the point where the windpipe branches to the left and right lungs. Mediastinal lymph nodes are located in the space behind the chest bone in front of the heart. Mesotheliomas with the same extent of local spread as in stage 2 that have also spread to subcarinal and/or mediastinal lymph nodes on the same side are also included in stage 3.
• Stage 4: Mesothelioma has spread into the lymph nodes in the chest on the side opposite that of the primary tumor, or directly extends to the pleura or lung on the opposite side, or directly extends into the peritoneum, or directly extends into organs in the abdominal cavity or neck. Any mesothelioma with evidence of distant metastases (spread to other organs through the bloodstream) or spread to organs beyond the chest or abdomen is included in this stage.

Although the recently developed TNM classification is the most detailed and precise, the original Butchart staging system is still used most often to describe the spread of pleural mesotheliomas. Understanding these staging systems for mesothelioma is important both for estimating and better understanding prognosis, and also for assessing therapeutic options.

Prognostic Factors

Because pleural mesothelioma has been better studied than peritoneal mesothelioma we know more about mesothelioma risk factors associated with prognosis for pleural mesothelioma. Younger age at diagnosis, performance status (functional status) and absence of weight loss are associated with a more favorable mesothelioma prognosis.

Mesotheliomas are usually of three different cell types (histological analysis): 1) epithelial mesothelioma cell type - has the most favorable prognosis; 2) fibrosarcomatous cell type - carries the worst prognosis and 3) Biphasic mesothelioma or mixed cell type - has an intermediate prognosis.

Learn More

• Stage 1 Mesothelioma
• Stage 2 Mesothelioma
• Stage 3 Mesothelioma
• Stage 4 Mesothelioma

Source

National Cancer Institute - Stages of Malignant Mesothelioma
http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/malignantmesothelioma/Patient/page2

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Mesothelioma Risk Factors

What are the risk factors for malignant mesothelioma?

There are several risk factors that increase the likelihood that a person will develop mesothelioma. The primary risk factor is asbestos exposure. Exposure to this very harmful substance can significantly enhance the chances of contracting the disease. Other secondary factors include exposure to radiation, zeolite, simian virus 40 (SV40) and tobacco. We discuss each of these risk factors in more detail below.

Asbestos

Exposure to asbestos is the leading risk factor associated with mesothelioma. Asbestos is an insulating material comprised of magnesium-silicate mineral fibers. It was favored by builders and contractors for many years for its low heat conductivity and resistance to melting and burning. Since researchers have identified more and more links between mesothelioma and exposure to asbestos, the material is now less widely used. Prior to this discovery, however, millions of Americans have experienced serious exposure to this harmful substance.

Over 700,000 schools and buildings in the United States today contain asbestos insulation as reported by the US Environmental Protection Agency. Asbestos exposure doesn't stop there, however. Asbestos is often found in ship yards, manufacturing facilities, railway facilities and construction sites. Blue collar workers are at the highest risk for developing mesothelioma due to occupational exposure and include those who work in aluminum plants, oil refineries, chemical plants, mines, factories, shipyards, construction sites, railroads and for insulation manufacturers and gas mask manufacturers. The occupations most widely affected are miners, factory workers, railroad workers, ship builders and construction workers - especially those who install asbestos containing insulation. Sometimes family members related to the workers receive second hand exposure to asbestos from the dust and fibers that were brought home on the workers clothes and also become at risk for contracting mesothelioma.

Serpentine fibers and amphiboles are the 2 primary types of asbestos used. Chrysotile is a form of serpentine fiber and the most frequently used. These fibers tend to be curly and flexible. Amphibole fibers, however, are generally straight and thin and usually comprise one of five types: crocidolite, amosite, anthrophylite, tremolite, and actinolyte. The crocidolite type of Amphiboles is thought to be the leading contributor to cancer caused by asbestos. Serpentine fibers are dangerous as well, however, and have also been linked to mesothelioma.

Some research points to the fact that inhaled asbestos fibers cause a physical irritation resulting in mesothelioma cancer rather than the cancer being caused by a reaction that is more chemical in nature. As fibers are inhaled through the mouth and nose they are cleared from the body by adhering to mucus in the nose, throat and airways and then get expelled by coughing or swallowing. The Amphibole fibers (long and thin) do not clear as easily and it is therefore thought that they can embed into the lining of the lungs and chest and result in mesothelioma.

Asbestosis (scar tissue in the lungs) or mesothelioma lung cancer can also be caused by the inhalation of asbestos fibers. In fact, people exposed to asbestos are seven times more likely to develop lung cancer over the general public. Workers who sustain high levels of asbestos exposure are more likely to die from asbestosis, lung cancer or mesothelioma than any other disease. It is also believed that the action of coughing up and swallowing asbestos could contribute to a form of mesothelioma originating in the abdomen called peritoneal mesothelioma. Mesothelioma has been found to exist in other organs of the body as well such as the larynx, pancreas and colon, but those instances are extremely limited compared to lung cancer incidents.

The chance of developing mesothelioma is in direct proportion to the duration and amount of asbestos exposure that an individual sustains. Those who are exposed to high levels of asbestos at a young age, for long periods of time have a greater risk of being diagnosed with mesothelioma than those who have short, low level exposure. Another important consideration is that the mesothelioma latency period is very long. Often, twenty to forty years can elapse from the time of exposure to diagnosis. Genetic factors can also play a role which explains why not everyone exposed to asbestos develops and asbestos related disease.

Radiation

Thorium dioxide (Thorotrast), a substance used in x-ray tests in the past has reported links to pleural mesothelioma and peritoneal mesothelioma. The use of Thorotrast has been discontinued for many years due to this discovery.

Zeolite

Some mesothelioma cases in the Anatoli region within Turkey have been linked to Zeolite, a silica based mineral with chemical properties similar to asbestos found in the soil there.

Simian Virus 40 (SV40)

Some scientists have found the simian virus 40 (SV30) in mesothelioma cells from humans and have been able to create mesothelioma in animals with the virus. The relationship between this virus and mesothelioma is still unclear, however, and further research is being conducted to gain clarity on this potential link.

Smoking and Mesothelioma

Smoking alone is not linked to mesothelioma, but smokers who are exposed to asbestos have a much higher chance of developing asbestos lung cancer (as much as fifty to ninety percent higher). Research indicates that lung cancer is the leading cause of death among asbestos workers.

Source

National Cancer Institute - Fact Sheets: Risk Factors and Possible Causes
http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Risk

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Mesothelioma Cell Types

Malignant mesothelioma can also be classified by different cancer cell types, each of which tends to behave differently. There are three classifications assigned to malignant mesothelioma cell types.

Epithelial Mesothelioma is the most common cell type and accounts for approximately 50-75% percent of all diagnosed cases each year. These cells are uniform in shape, with an elongated pattern that makes them easily distinguishable when viewed under high magnification. These types of mesothelioma cancer are adenocarcinomas, malignancies which are more commonly associated with pure lung cancers as opposed to cancers of the mesothelium.

Sarcomatoid mesothelioma is a less common cell type, accounting for between 7 and 20% of mesothelioma diagnosis cases each year. These cells grow forth out of supportive structures, such as muscles and bones.

Biphasic mesotheliomas are those with a mix of epithelial and sarcomatoid cell types. Mesothelioma treatment options do not vary greatly between cell types, but often sarcomatoid mesotheliomas are more difficult to treat as a result of the surrounding affected tissues from which they spread.

Thoracoscopy and the use of special stains can be helpful in identifying cellular classifications, though obtaining adequate tissue samples often require more invasive mesothelioma surgery.

Learn more about:

• Epithelial Mesothelioma
• Sarcomatoid Mesothelioma
• Biphasic Mesothelioma
• Papillary Mesothelioma

Reference

National Cancer Institute. Mesothelioma Treatment-Health Professional Information. Cellular Classification http://www.peacehealth.org/kbase/nci/ncicdr0000062895.htm

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Mesothelioma Prognosis

The term prognosis is used to describe:

• the likely outcome of a disease
• how long a diagnosed patient is expected to live
• the quality of life expected during that time

Malignant mesothelioma is extremely aggressive and cases are usually not detected until the disease is in the advanced stages. As a result the prognosis for such patients is often not favorable; the mesothelioma survival rate following diagnosis can be 6 to 18 months, longer in some cases.

Mesothelioma is usually one of three types, depending on the tissues involved: epithelial (50%), sarcomatoid mesothelioma (15%), mixed type (35%) (1). Epithelial mesothelioma has a better survival rate than the other types. Mesothelioma is also classified on the basis of location; pleural mesothelioma (lung) is the most common, accounting for approximately 80% of all cases. Peritoneal mesothelioma (abdominal) is much more rare.

The prognosis for mesothelioma cancer depends on how early the disease is diagnosed and how soon treatment is begun. One of the challenges that pathologists experience when attempting to diagnose mesothelioma is that the early mesothelioma symptoms are common to a wide range of respiratory disease that range from minor chest colds to full-blown lung cancer. By the time other diseases and conditions have been ruled out, the mesothelioma may have advanced quite far.

As the disease advances, chest pain and shortness of breath become worse, and is often followed by weight loss, night sweats, and anorexia. Eventually, the tumor obliterates the pleural space and replaces any pleural fluid, constricting the lung. Low oxygen levels result, leading to increased fatigue. Cancer may spread to other organs in the chest as well, including the heart, esophagus and trachea. It may also metastasize to any other part of the body.

Ironically, it is not the cancer itself that ultimately kills the patient, but rather the effect of the tumor on the internal organs. Extension into the abdomen may cause bowel obstruction; invasion of heart or pericardium may cause arrhythmia, heart failure or stroke.

Diffuse malignant peritoneal mesothelioma patients live about a year following a mesothelioma diagnosis on the average. There have been reports of a form of DMPM which progresses slowly; such patients usually have a better prognosis. Mesothelioma surgery to resection the affected bowel in such cases may improve survival rates.

Patients who are under the age of 65 and have been diagnosed with the epithelial type of mesothelioma, age under 65 years at diagnosis, are female and in better health otherwise usually have a better prognosis. Men over age 65 suffering from the sarcomatoid variety generally have a poor survival outlook.

These prognoses are based on averages among hundreds of patients; long-term survivors of mesothelioma do exist, however, some of whom have lived with the disease for a dozen years or more.

Sources

Sterman, D.H. and Albelda, S.M. "Advances in the diagnosis, evaluation and management of Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma." Respirology. 2005 June. Vol. 10 (3), pp 266-283.

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Mesothelioma Diagnosis

How do medical professionals diagnose mesothelioma?

If you believe that you may have mesothelioma, a qualified medical professional will use a variety of diagnostic tests and methods to confirm the presence of the disease.

Medical history review and exam

The first step that mesothelioma doctors will take in evaluating an asbestos related disease is to obtain a full medical history to determine the level and severity of mesothelioma risk factors and presenting mesothelioma symptoms. This interview will look consider among other things, where asbestos exposure occurred, the length of exposure and the amount of asbestos that you were exposed to.

In addition, he/she will perform a medical exam to look for signs and symptoms of various types of mesothelioma. For example, if pleural mesothelioma is suspected the doctor will look for fluid in the chest, peritoneal mesothelioma often shows fluid in the abdomen and pericardial mesothelioma presents with fluid in the area of the heart.

Diagnostic imaging tests

Chest x-rays are used to identify abnormalities in the lungs including unusual thickening, mineral deposits and fluid in the chest area. If these conditions are present then it may be evidence that mesothelioma has developed.

Diagnostic image tests like x-rays, CT scans and MRI's are useful in determining more information about the cancer including how far it is progressed. Each method provides another piece of information to your doctor to assist in making an accurate diagnosis. CT scans are capable of providing images of the same location from many different angles. MRI technology uses magnetic fields rather than x-ray to provide additional views.

Testing fluid and tissue samples

If fluid build-up in the chest, abdomen or heart area is present, your doctor may want to obtain a sample. To accomplish this he/she will use a long needle to obtain fluid from the target area. The fluid will then be sent to the lab for analysis.

A bronchoscopy procedure may be recommended for patients who are suspected of having pleural mesothelioma. For this medical test, a soft tube illuminates the trachea and bronchi to determine if any masses are present in the airways. If deemed necessary, the technician my take sample of tissue that appears to be abnormal for further testing.

If lymph node involvement is suspected which is common with asbestos lung cancer, patients may also undergo a mediastinoscopy. This procedure is similar to a bronchoscopy in that a soft tube enters the body under the chest bone and illuminates the chest area. In this way, the surgeon can examine lymph nodes for abnormalities, check to see how far disease may have progressed and when necessary help diagnose lung cancer vs. mesothelioma.

Diagnosing mesothelioma is never easy. Fluid build up alone in the chest, belly or heart regions is not enough to confirm a diagnosis. Tissue samples obtained from biopsy procedures are also difficult to discern because mesothelioma cancer cells often resemble other types of cancer. For this reason, specialized laboratory procedures are often employed to identify certain chemicals that are known to exist with mesothelioma and high powered laboratory equipment is used to examine the smallest details of cancer cells to confirm that mesothelioma is present.

Source

National Cancer Institute - Mesothelioma: Questions and Answers
http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Sites-Types/mesothelioma

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Mesothelioma Causes

What are the main causes of mesothelioma?

Mesothelioma is most predominantly caused by asbestos exposure. Asbestos fibers that are inhaled through the mouth and nose may eventually become embedded in the lining of the lungs, causing damage and resulting in mesothelioma lung cancer or asbestosis (scar tissue formation in the lungs). It has also been found that swallowing asbestos fibers could contribute to a form of mesothelioma originating in the abdomen called peritoneal mesothelioma.

Mesothelioma cancer generally results from occupational exposure but there are instances of environmental exposure to asbestos that can cause mesothelioma disease. Oftentimes second hand exposure of a family member to an asbestos workers dirty work clothes can result in that family member having a mesothelioma diagnosis.

Asbestos insulation workers appear to have the highest death rate. One study reports that almost six percent of asbestos workers fall victim to mesothelioma or experience mesothelioma symptoms and asbestos insulation workers are over 300 times more likely to die from mesothelioma than the general public.

Find out more about Nanotechnology.

Sources

Cancerbackup - Causes of mesothelioma
http://www.cancerbackup.org.uk/.../Causes

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Mesothelioma Types

What are the different types of mesothelioma?

Pleural Mesothelioma – affects the chest and lungs

Malignant pleural mesothelioma often originates within the chest cavity and can, at times, involve the lung. This particular form of mesothelioma can metastasize to numerous organs in the body – even the brain - and tends to do so more frequently than not.

Pleural mesothelioma is not always easily detectable. Frequently, in the early stages of the disease, such as stage 1 mesothelioma, symptoms may be mild. Patients usually report pain in one area of the chest that never seems to go away, weight loss and fever. Occasionally, other symptoms are more severe and include problems with breathing due to fluid build up in the chest. A CT Scan of the chest area has proven to be the best test for identifying how far along the disease has progressed.

Frequently serum markers are used to diagnose of various forms of cancer. Mesothelioma cannot be diagnosed using this method as no serum markers currently exist. If high levels of hyaluronic acid are present it may be possible to distinguish mesothelioma types from other types of cancer or to determine the effectiveness of a treatment protocol.

The mesothelioma survival rate for patients diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma typically is not high. Patients typically do not live beyond seventeen months from the onset of symptoms. Only 8% of those with a mesothelioma diagnosis will live three to five years from the onset of mesothelioma symptoms.

Pericardial Mesothelioma – affects the heart

Pericardial mesothelioma is the least common form of mesothelioma. Pericardial mesothelioma, as the name suggests, involves the heart. This rare type of mesothelioma cancer invades the pericardium, the sac that surrounds the heart. As the cancer progresses, the heart is not able to deliver oxygen as efficiently to the body causing further decline in health at an increasingly rapid rate. The symptoms most commonly associated with pericardial mesothelioma mimic those of a heart attack: nausea, pain in the chest and shortness of breath.

Peritoneal Mesothelioma – affects the abdomen

Peritoneal mesothelioma originates in the abdomen and will frequently spread to other organs in area including the liver, spleen or bowel. Severe abdominal pain is the most common complaint that patients present to mesothelioma doctors. There may also be a discomfort level with fluid build up in the abdomen as well. Other symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma may include difficult bowel movements, nausea and vomiting, fever and swollen feet.

The survival rate is even worse for those diagnosed with peritoneal mesothelioma will patients typically surviving only ten months from time that they first started experiencing the symptoms noted above.

Malignant Mesothelioma

Malignant mesothelioma is an uncommon form of cancer and of all asbestos related diseases, the most serious. The symptoms associated with the disease make it difficult for doctors to diagnose. Often, by the time that a proper diagnosis is made, the disease has progressed to a point where patients do not respond well to treatment therapy. Malignant mesothelioma is caused almost exclusively by the inhalation of airborne asbestos particles. Another unique factor associated with the disease is that there can be a long latency period between the time of asbestos exposure and the actual manifestation of the disease in the form of malignant mesothelioma.

Benign Mesothelioma

Benign mesothelioma, or non-malignant mesothelioma, is much easier to treat than the malignant form of the cancer and can be treated successfully in many cases.

Mesothelioma in Uncommon Sites

A form of cardiac cancer that is rarely seen involves the pericardium. Tumors associated with this type of mesothelioma are not easily detectable and patients presented with this diagnosis tend to have a very low survival rate. There have also been reports of mesothelioma involving ovaries in women and the scrotum in men. Mesothelioma treatment for all of these rare forms of the disease will vary depending on what stage a patient has progressed to but in most all cases the projected outcome is not favorable.

Sources

Mesothelioma Research Foundation of America - Types of Mesothelioma
http://www.mesorfa.org/about-meso/types.php

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Asbestos Exposure

Asbestos exposure is the single known cause of mesothelioma. Inhaled or ingested asbestos fibers may cause an inflammation of internal tissue and disrupt organ function which leads to the development of the disease. Asbestos products were used extensively throughout the 20th century in a wide variety of applications. Many of these products were responsible for asbestos exposure sustained by both the individuals who manufactured the products as well as those who used them at commercial and industrial jobsites including shipyards, refineries, power plants, steel plants and more. Several asbestos companies continued to produce these products even after they were known to be hazardous and harmful to workers and their families. Those who have become sick because of exposure to these products may now be eligible for financial compensation if they were wrongfully exposed.

Asbestos was also used at many New York jobsites including Ground Zero and the former World Trade Center site. Common asbestos exposure sites in New York include the Brooklyn Navy Yard, Todd Shipyard, and the Con Edison power plant in New York City.

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Posted in: Asbestos

Mesothelioma Treatment

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 those 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 features a comprehensive mesothelioma cancer treatment section that includes important information for patients and families. We've included resources on top mesothelioma doctors such as Dr. Sugarbaker, 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.

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Mesothelioma

What is it?

Malignant mesothelioma is a rare type of cancer that occurs in the thin layer of cells lining the body's internal organs, known as the mesothelium. There are three recognized types of mesothelioma. Pleural mesothelioma is the most common form of the disease, accounting for roughly 70% of cases, and occurs in the lining of the lung known as the pleura. Peritoneal mesothelioma occurs in the lining of the abdominal cavity, known as the peritoneum and pericardial mesothelioma originates in the pericardium, which lines the heart.

Who is at risk for Mesothelioma?

The only recognized cause of mesothelioma is exposure to asbestos, though other factors such as smoking can make the disease more or less likely in some individuals. Industrial laborers were widely subjected to asbestos exposure on the job, as the material was widely used throughout the 20th century. Few of these workers knew they were being exposed to asbestos, however, despite the fact that many manufacturers were aware the material was hazardous. In most cases, mesothelioma symptoms will not appear in an individual exposed to asbestos until many years after the exposure has occurred. Those who believe they may have been exposed to asbestos should fill out our form to receive a free mesothelioma information packet, detailing treatment options, emerging therapies, and jobsite exposure information.

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Posted in: Mesothelioma