Previously published in Storytime Tapestry and gather.com
Mesothelioma is specialized form of cancer affecting the upper share of the body namely the heart, pleura sac. and abdomen. The disease manifests in the form of cancer cells and cancerous growths as a exclaim result of inhaling asbestos dust particles.
There are three types of mesothelioma cancers cells.
Epithelioid cells are the most common cancer cells found in mesothelioma patients. About 70 percent of all mesothelioma cells are of this type. These cells take on a tubular or papillary shape and are found the organs of the upper body and in the lining of these famous organs as well. People exhibiting these cancer cells have the highest survival rate (up to 5 years).
Sarcomatoid are overlapping spindle like cancer cells, which are the most deadly cells. They attach themselves to bones, fleshy, and other secondary tissue such as cartilage. These cells are not treatable. Patients have the shortest survival rate but fortunately it affects less than 20 percent of the mesothelioma cancer patients.
Mixed/biphasic cancer cells are a mixture of both types of cells affecting about 30 to 40 percent of mesothelioma patients.
Pleural Mesothelioma is the most common form of mesothelioma cancer. The cancer attacks the lining of the lungs known as the pleural sac. The mesothelium (hence the name mesothelioma) is a membrane that is responsible for creating a certain amount of liquid that will help the lungs to move around in order to inhale and exhale. The production of this fluid, is a normal function of the body.
In the case of mesothelioma, the inhaled asbestos fibers that reside in the lungs protrude through the lungs and puncture through the mesothelium to the inner and outer most layer of the pleural sac causing damage to the mesothelium. Cancers forming in this fluid will thicken the fluid making it difficult to breath. Tumors resulting from the cancer involved can rest against the ribcage and other vital organs, causing excessive pressure and extreme pain.
Furthermore, mesothelioma can spread to other parts of the body from the re-oxygenated blood from lungs. It usually takes between 30 and 40 years for pleural mesothelioma to be correctly diagnosed. In the early days it is often mistaken for the symptoms of flu, bronchitis, laryngitis, and broken ribs extreme pain or worst. Still the pleural mesothelioma sufferer may be asymptomatic.
Peritoneal Mesothelioma
About one third of all mesothelioma cases are of the peritoneal type. This type of mesothelioma is diagnosed a bit faster, which is between 20 to 30 years after the inhalation of asbestos fibers. Usually patients are between 60 and 69 when the peritoneal mesothelioma is discovered.
The peritoneum is a thin membrane that covers the gastro intestinal tract. Like the mesothelium, this membrane also produces a liquid to facilitate movement of the stomach, intestines and other vital organs. The fluid helps the body to digest, absorb and process foods. When cancer invades this distinguished organs and functions, it can cause severe abdominal pain, preventing the stomach and intestines from functioning properly and causing cancerous tumors obstructing vital organs. Again peritoneum mesothelioma is often misdiagnosed in the early stages hindering the treatment and resulting in death.
Pericardial Mesothelioma
Only about 5 percent of all mesothelioma diagnosis result in pericardial mesothelioma. The pericardium is the sac surrounding the heart. This sac or mucous membrane is responsible for producing fluid to maintain a heart beat. If the pericardium is damaged because of the asbestos fibers, it will in turn cause massive heart problems.
Pericardial mesothelioma symptoms include: shortness of breath, coughing, chess pain, irregular heartbeat, and heart palpitations. Treatment is giving to relief the symptoms but there is no cure. Pericardial mesothelioma is fatal.
Benign Mesothelioma is a non-cancerous form of the disease. It is extremely rare and though the tumors are benign and therefore non-threatening, if diagnosed with this disease, it means the patient has been exposed to asbestos fibers. The doctors will be concerned about the exposure and peer for other cancers in the body that may be malignant at this time.
To be continued
Sources:
http://www.mesothelioma.org/understandingmeso/whatismeso.asp
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Filed under Mesothelioma Diagnosis by on Apr 1st, 2011. 
A cancer diagnosis is a devastating diagnosis. Suddenly your doctor is telling you that your time is about up and leaves you alone to cope with your feelings. There is no procedure to make this diagnosis easier to absorb. There are different coping methods though that can ease the burden. The following are ten tips for dealing with a lung cancer diagnosis.
• Learn as much as you can about your specific type of cancer. Learn what stage you are in, how many stages there are, what each stage is like and things of this nature. Also learn as much as you can about your different treatment options, what the duration of treatment is, side effects and outcome of treatment options.
• Remain certain. Positivity is a powerful tool in your healing and in surviving a devastating illness. After you have learned about your treatment take an active role in your treatment. Make the decisions about what treatments you are willing to go through and which ones you aren’t. Don’t give up. Don’t turn the decision making power over to your doctors and family alone.
• Resolve problems with family and friends that have been ongoing. It will befriend your emotional health and relieve stress. This will grasp away feelings of remorse and regret and allow you to simply focus on the fight for your life.
• Make a strong network of help. Surround yourself with family and friends that share your positivity and determination in treatment. You can’t go through this alone and need a benefit system. This group will support you not only preserve fighting and staying positive but they will also help you with daily tasks, cleaning yourself and your environment, transportation and food.
• Build a network of support through support groups and forums online. Cancer patients learn from each other and accept support from each other. There are support groups that meet in various locations in most cities. There are also online support group forums. You can’t have too grand positivity and abet in your life as you fight to survive.
• Continue living your life as normal as possible. If you have a job it is often honorable to continue to work and go about your daily life as if nothing has changed as long as your health permits. Continue to position goals and construct plans but make sure they are reasonable.
• Stay engaged in life. Stay active and participate in the things that make you cheerful in life. If you are healthy enough to take part in your regular activities and sports do so. The activity will release positive chemicals called endorphins into your system.
• Counseling is a treatment that will attend you cope with the thoughts and fears your are inundated with. As your oncologist for the name of a good counselor so that you know they are specialized in cancer patients.
• Meditation, Relaxation and Breathing Techniques are vital to learn in your fight against cancer. Stress does not do a body good and when your body is already weakened it can be a major detriment to your health. If you are a religious individual prayer and meditation daily will help relieve the worry. Breathing techniques such as those taught in meditation and some Yoga classes will also assist relax you if you feel yourself becoming anxious.
• Eat healthy. Increase your intake of fruits and vegetables and decrease your intake of saturated fats and processed foods. Ask your doctor if there is a diet that has been found to help survival rates. Research natural and organic foods and their benefits.
• Alternative medicine is another route that can help you cope. Acupuncture is a treatment used for many conditions and its benefits are often profound.
• Visit the following websites http://www.cancercare.org/reading_room/pub_order.php and www.ipos-society.org/about/news/Inspire/INSPIRE_Patient_booklet.pdf for a wealth of knowledge and pamphlets about coping with cancer and cancer treatment.
Cancer is scary and it is a fight for your life. You can do it. Gather your resources, make a game plan and beat this awful disease.
Resources
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/lung-cancer/DS00038/DSECTION=coping-and-support
http://www.iaround.org/lung_cancer_support.php
http://www.cancercare.org/reading_room/pub_order.php
www.ipos-society.org/about/news/Inspire/INSPIRE_Patient_booklet.pdf
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Filed under Mesothelioma Diagnosis by on Apr 2nd, 2011.
Largest internal organ in the human body is the liver, and situated in the upper abdomen, on the right side of the body. Various necessary functions are performed by this organ: Makes some of the clotting factors needed to stop bleeding from injury or cut, processes and stores many of the nutrients absorbed from the intestines, secrets bile (Yellow – green fluid passes through the common bile duct into the duodenum (small intestine), where it helps digest plump.) into the intestine to help enjoy nutrients, and critically important to remove toxic wastes from the body. Cells within the liver can form tumors, could either cancerous or benign (not cancerous). Benign Tumors are Hemangioma (may need to be removed surgically), Hepatic adenomas (Sometimes attributed to taking birth control pills and men who use anabolic steroids. Sometimes is surgically removed.), and focal nodular hyperplasia. Most common type of liver cancer (tumor) is called hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This type of cancer can spread to other parts of the liver, and in most cases, symptoms do not develop until the advanced stages. One or two of every ten cases of liver cancer is cholangiocarcinoma (Malignant (cancerous) growth in one of the ducts that carries bile from the liver to the small intestine.). Cancer that begins in the liver is call primary liver cancer and cancer that enters the liver from the colon, lungs, breasts or other parts of the body is called secondary cancer. The majority of cancers seen in the liver are of a secondary type (Originates from the stomach, pancreas, and big bowel (colon)).
Liver cancer is the fifth most common cancer in the world and many cases difficult to treat. According to the American Cancer Society, approximately 19,160 new cases of liver cancer will be diagnosed in the US during 2007. In the United States, average age onset of liver cancer is sixty to seventy years. The disease occurs more frequently in males (Eighty-five percent – 45 to 85 years old) than females. The development of heptaocellular carcinoma is strongly linked to chronic hepatitis ‘B’ (Virus in the liver causes a life long infection, liver failure and death. In many cases attributed to chronic alcohol abuse. Most people who become infected with hepatitis ‘B’ are treatable and cured within six months). Also, HCC attributed to cirrhosis (Chronic degenerative damage to the liver cells caused primarily by long – term alcoholism) of the liver due to hepatitis ‘C’ infection. Symptoms of liver cancer include: Fever, weakness, anorexia, abdominal fullness or bloating and dull upper quadrant abdominal pain. Often urine will appear darker because cancer blocks the drainage of bile from the liver, thus dark urine. As the tumor grows, pain may radiate to the back. Also, maybe present is jaundice (Icterus – yellow color of the skin and whites of the eyes). Radioisotopes scans, MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) CT scans X-ray, and hepatic arteriography or hepatic angiography (A dye is injected and viewed by X-ray to examine the liver for any signs of a tumor) diagnosis liver cancer. The common treatment of liver cancer: Chemotherapy, and surgical resection of the liver (when the liver cancer has not spread). Untreated liver carcinoma patients usually die in three — four months; treated patients may live six to eighteen months or longer if therapy is successful. In some cases, liver – transplant maybe the only chance for a cure.
German drug-maker Bayer and its US partner Onyx Pharmaceuticals (Biopharmaceutical company developing innovative therapies that target the molecular mechanisms that cause cancer), announced in February 2007, discontinued a phase three clinical trial comparing Nexavar (sorafenib), with a placebo to treat 602 advanced hepatocellular carcinoma patients. An independent data monitoring committed recommended that the trial be stopped early, after positive (significantly increased) survival rate in patients with advanced liver cancer and review of the safety and efficacy of the data. Bayer and Onyx thought to file for marketing Nexavar approval in the United States (Food and Drug Administration), and Europe, where it is already approved (In December of 2005 by the FDA) for the treatment of advanced kidney cancer. During the next meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (June 1 – 5, 2007), results of the trial study will be presented. Nexavar (Oral (pill) multi — kinase inhibitor) is type of targeted advantageous therapy, pinpoint cells that have lead to cancer, rather than the conventional treatment of chemotherapy, which kill tumors and harms neighboring tissue. During the process or treatment, stops the blood supply that feeds tumors. Common known side effects of Nexavar include: Diarrhea, rash, fatigue, hand — foot skin reaction, and nausea. Women of child- bearing age or desiring to get pregnant, recommend avoid taking this medication. Merck Finck analyst Carsten Kunold said: “We are quite confident that Nexavar will be approved for the treatment of primary liver cancer based on the positive statements from the independent data monitoring committee.” Nexavar statistically has shown a significant survival wait on in the first line of treatment for metastatic (spread) hepatocellular carcinoma. During the first nine months in 2006, Nexavar had more than $100 million in sales. George Farmer, an analyst with Wachovia Securities Incorporated, in New York said: “Nexavar could generate additional revenue of $220 million by 2010 if cleared for liver cancer.” Hollings Renton chairman and chief executive officer of Onyx said: “Increases our confidence that Nexavar can be a broadly applicable drug for different types of cancer.” The drug is being tested for a range of cancers including non-small cell lung cancer and breast cancer. However, in December of 2006, reported Nexavar was not effective against melanoma (skin cancer).
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Filed under Malignant Mesothelioma by on Apr 3rd, 2011.
All over the world cancer brings about fear and many unanswered questions, not only in the medical community, but in patients and families who don’t understand what they are up against or perhaps why domestic cats can be immunized against Feline Leukemia yet researchers have failed to come up with a solid vaccine or a concrete cure for most types of cancer.
Only upon disconnecting from the emotions the term cancer exudes can one truly see cancer for what it is; an awesome yet deadly genetic blunder on the molecular level that continues to baffle the minds of the best oncology researchers in the world. A look into the basics of cancer can shed some light as to why it is so difficult to treat and cure.
What is Cancer?
Cancer is actually a group of diseases where cells grow out of control and eventually metastasize, or spread to other parts of the body. Cancer cells, also referred to as malignant cells, are cells whose DNA has been genetically altered thanks to a genetic predisposition to certain types of cancer such as breast cancer, unhealthy work environments like working around asbestos, poor choices such as smoking, aging, or seemingly for no good reason at all. (ONS 2006)
Cancer Statistics
The American Cancer Society (2007) estimates that 1,444,920 new cancer cases will be diagnosed in 2007, and roughly 559,650 Americans will die of cancer in the United States. In comparison the American Cancer Society estimated 76,890 more new cases and 4,050 fewer deaths when compared to the 2004 statistics.
80% of all types of cancer are diagnosed in people 55 years of age or older (American Cancer Society, 2000). Annual statistics are published each year by the American Cancer Society and can be found online at http://www.cancer.org/docroot/stt/stt_0.asp .
Cell Structure
A normal cell has a membrane, which surrounds and contains cytoplasm. Within the cytoplasm are various organelles that do the “work” of the cell. The mitochondrion provides energy, and the endoplasmic reticula (smooth and rough) are used to make proteins. (Itano & Taoka 2005) The Golgi apparatus is the storehouse of the cell. Near the center of the cell is the nucleus, which houses all of the genetic material and is responsible for cellular duplication. (Itano & Taoka 2005)
Nucleus of a Cell
The nucleus of the cell can be thought of as the government of the cell. All the directions for cell growth, division and blood vessel growth are made in the nucleus, and the message is sent to the organelles in the cytoplasm to bring about the work of the cell. (Itano & Taoka 2005) These messages are transcribed copies of genes that tell the cell what to do, such as to make insulin after you have eaten a meal.
Cell Division
The cells in the body usually divide when the body needs more cells. Imagine that when you wash your hands, you are washing off the outer cells on your hands. The body needs to replace these cells, so it tells certain cells to divide. However, the body is careful that it only tells the cells to divide when it needs more cells so that cell birth equals cell death.
We have cells that promote cell division, called proto-oncogenes, and we have cells that support them in check, called tumor suppressor genes. (ONS 2006) That’s how the body keeps controlled cell division. In most cancers, the cells undergo at least four mutations, and in many cancers, mutations occur in both the proto-oncogene, making it an oncogene, as well as the tumor suppressor gene, so that there is no control of cell division.
The Cell Cycle
All cells, normal and malignant, go through a cell cycle where it divides to create two new cells.
G0 is called the resting phase; the cell is resting from the replication process. During this phase, a normal cell is functioning normally.
G1 (gap 1) is when enzymes and substrates necessary for DNA replication are created or synthesized.
S (synthesis) is the phase during which DNA is produced to prepare for cell division. Interestingly, many chemotherapy agents are effective in killing cells in this phase of the cell cycle.
G2 (gap 2) is the phase when protein and ribonucleic acid (RNA) are synthesized and the mitotic spindle is being created.
M (mitosis) is when the cell actually divides into two daughter cells.
Sometimes when the cell begins to divide, the DNA is copied incorrectly, and mutations occur. Often, the mutations do not change the message. The body has DNA repair genes that try to fix the mutations before the cell starts dividing. If the mutation can be fixed, the cell goes on to divide. If it can not be fixed, the cell is sent into programmed cell death or apoptosis. Genetic mutations can occur in any of the cell cycle phases involving replication.
Cancer Cell vs. Normal Cell
Where normal cells appear rather neat and orderly with a single small nucleus, cancer cells are irregularly shaped with a tremendous nucleus-to-cytoplasm ratio. (ONS 2006) Generally, a cancer cell’s structure and function are different from those of the parent tissue from which it originated. This phenomenon is called differentiation. The more closely a cancer cell looks and acts like a normal cell from the parent tissue, the more differentiated that cell is considered to be.
Cancer cells do not receive the signal to stop once a monolayer of cells is created. They have no contact inhibition and will continue to multiply indefinitely, unlike normal cells that stop dividing when conditions become overcrowded.
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor
It is now known that when cancer cells divide and fabricate a malignant tumor, and the size reaches about the head of a pencil (2 mm) the tumor needs to make new blood vessels in order to procure enough nutrition. (ONS 2006) This development of fresh blood vessels is called angiogenesis and is used to get oxygen to the cells and eliminate raze. The cell secretes vascular endothelial growth factor to start the process of building blood vessels. Without this growth factor, a tumor would suffocate and die once it became too big; much like a human embryo eventually needs a placenta for its oxygenation, nutrition and ruin. Researchers are looking into inhibiting this growth as a way to cure certain types of cancer.
Tumors
Not all tumors are cancerous. Some, while irritating or in a precarious area in the body, are benign, or not cancerous. There are two main types of cancer tumors; solid tumors, and tumors within the blood, lymph or immune systems called hematologic tumors. (ONS 2006) Examples of solid tumors are skin cancers, lung cancer, breast cancer, colon cancer, prostate cancer and bladder cancer. Examples of hematologic tumors include leukemia, lymphoma and multiple myeloma.
Malignant tumors vary from one type of cancer to another. Generally they are not encapsulated so the shape of the tumor is irregular, often with finger-like projections that invade neighboring tissue. (ONS 2006) They also have an abnormal structure, which often is poorly differentiated and has the ability to migrate or spread. Not all cancerous solid masses are equal despite common cellular characteristics, which is one reason scientists have a hard time curing many types of cancer. Understanding the biology of cancer is the first step in dealing with a diagnosis. Cancer biology can be a complicated matter for some but armed with this knowledge, one can feel more in control and can go on to properly understand a specific diagnosis and prognosis.
Sources:
The Cancer Basics Course (2006);Oncology Nursing Society (ONS).
Joanne Itano & Karen N. Taoka (2005) Core Curriculum for Oncology Nursing; 4th edition. Missouri: Saunders.
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Filed under Malignant Mesothelioma by on Apr 4th, 2011.
Mesothelioma is a rare form of malignant cancer. Mesothelioma most often develops in the lining of the chest or the lining of the abdominal cavity. Mesothelioma that develops in the lining of the chest is known as pleural mesothelioma. Mesothelioma that develops in the abdominal cavity is known as peritoneal mesothelioma.
Asbestos exposure is most often the cause of mesothelioma development. Radiation, tobacco, and zeolite exposure may also cause mesothelioma development. People who have worked in jobs in which they were exposed to asbestos are at an increased risk for developing mesothelioma. Some people may have been unknowingly exposed to asbestos pollution. Building codes and health standards have changed greatly within the last few decades. There is now a conscious misfortune to prevent asbestos exposure in the public and private sector.
An estimated 2,000 to 3,000 new cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed yearly in the United States. Mesothelioma diagnosis is on the rise. This may be due to increased awareness if the condition. The average age that a diagnosis of mesothelioma is made is 60. Mesothelioma affects men 3 to 5 times more often than women. Mesothelioma is less common in African Americans than in white Americans. The average survival time following mesothelioma diagnosis is one year. This is because the mesothelioma is often in advanced state when the diagnosis is made. When mesothelioma is found early, aggressive treatment can prolong the life expectancy as considerable as 3 to 5 years.
Mesothelioma related to asbestos exposure can invent as much as 50to 70 years after initial contact. Asbestos exposure lasting for only a few weeks or months are also linked to mesothelioma development. Mesothelioma has a long latency period. Many will not experience noticeable symptoms during the initial stages of mesothelioma.
As pleural mesothelioma progresses, many people may demonstrate with pain in the lower back or at the side of the chest. Shortness of breath, difficulty swallowing, cough, and fever are other symptoms associated with pleural mesothelioma. Other symptoms of pleural mesothelioma include hoarseness, coughing up blood, swelling of the face and arms, muscle weakness, and sensory loss. The symptoms may vary in intensity and duration in each individual sufferer.
As peritoneal mesothelioma develops, weight loss, abdominal pain, and vomiting may be present. Other symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma include hernia, fluid in the abdominal cavity or an abdominal mass.
Diagnosis of mesothelioma is based on several physical examinations and diagnostic procedures. A complete medical history and physical examination will be taken to determine risk factors and possible triggers of mesothelioma. Chest x-rays and CT scans will be faded to assess pleural and peritoneal cavities. Tissue samples may also be taken to further exam and diagnose mesothelioma.
Mesothelioma treatment is based on the type and stage of the mesothelioma. Cancer medication, immune therapy, and photodynamic therapies may be musty in the treatment of mesothelioma.
Tags: definition malignant pleural mesothelioma, diagnosis malignant pleural mesopotamia, Diagnosis Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma, prognosis malignant pleural mesotheliomaRelated posts
Filed under Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma by on Apr 5th, 2011.
Malignant peritoneal mesothelioma is a form of cancer that affects the peritoneum, which is the lining of the abdomen. It is a rare disease, and it presents in 100 to 500 people a year in the United States. It is also called abdominal mesothelioma, because the peritoneum is the membrane that supports and covers the abdominal cavity, as well as the organs located there. The peritoneal membranes are called visceral and parietal. The visceral refers to the covering of the organs and the parietal refers to the covering of the abdominal cavity.
To further understand mesothelioma we must know that it involves the cells that secrete a lubricating fluid so that the organs can depart against each other without friction. These cells make up the mesothelium. When the mesothelium becomes cancerous the cells over-produce fluid. Mesothelioma is usually secondary to the primary source of the malignancy, which is pleural mesothelioma. It is thought that the asbestos fibers may be ingested when swallowed, where they enter digestive tract. It is also believed that the fibers are inhaled into the lungs and transported via the lymphatic system to the abdominal cavity. Cancer cells from the primary source can also become mobile and relocate via the lymphatic system to other areas, this process is called metastasis.
Symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma are abdominal pain, swelling of the abdomen-which may be caused by fluid retention (acites) or tumor growth-small or large bowel obstruction, anemia-red blood cells below normal level, which causes decreased oxygen levels in the blood, and makes the heart work harder, also causing shortness of breath-weight loss-but you may appear larger around the waist-and fever. If you have been exposed to asbestos in your lifetime and you are having any of these symptoms, you should be evaluated by your physician.
Mesothelioma can be passed on to other people in the family. Spouses who handled dirty clothes to launder them are at risk to having asbestos transferred to them via physical contact with the fibers. Now that more is known about asbestos, workers must change clothes before going home. Special care is taken to limit exposure to the asbestos fibers.
Diagnosis of peritoneal mesothelioma is similar to that of pleural mesothelioma. An x-ray will be taken. Mesothelioma cannot be seen on an x-ray, but a tumor may cause pleural effusion (fluid buildup) which can be seen. The doctor may also order a CT scan or an MRI to back up and add to the findings in the x-ray. Once the scans are done, a biopsy must be done to inquire of to tissue. The doctor will make a cut through the chest wall; this procedure is called a thoroscopy. This will be done in the hospital under local anesthesia. The doctor may also perform a peritoneoscopy, which is surgically inserting a scope into the abdomen. The draw is similar for both thoracic and abdominal examinations. Samples of tissue will be obtained for the pathologist to examine under a microscope.
Mesothelioma is quite rare, so if you are diagnosed with it, you should have your doctor help you find a specialist. There is no cure for malignant mesothelioma, but there are treatment options that include surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, and others. The life expectancy of someone with malignant peritoneal mesothelioma varies from person to person. The prognosis depends on how vigorously the cancer is treated and how the patient responds. The patient may live for years, or only for a few months.
Source:
Mesothelioma information page
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Filed under Malignant Mesothelioma by on Apr 6th, 2011.
Physicians who treat patients at risk of developing lung cancer may have a new diagnostic tool at their disposal if researchers get their procedure. Researchers made this announcement in a recent press release.
Currently, the standard treatment to detect lung cancer involves using CT scanning. CT scans are useful to detect anatomical changes that have occurred in a patient’s lungs, however the PET scan provides different data.
Using a PET scan, it is possible to detect minor biochemical processes that are not detectable by a CT scan. These biochemical processes often occur long before a patient is officially diagnosed with lung cancer.
When a patient is diagnosed with lung cancer, they are staged. Staging refers to the prognosis and treatment plan that is put into residence once a patient is diagnosed with lung cancer. Staging is based upon the severity and degree of damage that has happened to a patient’s lung.
CT scans are useful to identify the stage of cancer that a patient is experiencing. The cancer patients lungs are examined to detect any anatomical changes that have transpired. However, the CT scan is not particularly effective at diagnosis new cases of lung cancer before they have become more severe.
Researchers have determined that the PET scan differentiates between malignant and benign tumors that are very small, even as small as 1 centimeter. In addition, the PET scan is more effective at providing useful data concerning how far lung cancer has advanced, into the lymph nodes that are in the center of one’s chest (mediastinal).
Armed with this information, physicians can recall the most appropriate course of treatment for each lung cancer patient.
To the layman, CT and PET scans are easily confused. The same machinery can be used when conducting either scan. However, the PET scan shows the molecular activity that occurs inside of a person’s body. The CT scan simply shows the structure of a persons body, and does not show the molecules.
Although it is not discussed nearly as much as many other forms of cancer, lung cancer causes more deaths than any other type of cancer. In 2007 alone, lung cancer will claim an estimated 1.3 million lives worldwide.
Popular symptoms of lung cancer include coughing (particularly when someone coughs up blood), shortness of breath, and weight loss.
“Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related death and early diagnosis provides the best chance for long term survival. It is our hope this systematic review contributes to clinical guideline discussions exploring the potential of PET as part of standard preoperative work-up – along with computed tomography (CT) – to further enhance assessment of early-stage lung cancer,” said Dr. Ung, chair, Lung Cancer Site Group, Odette Cancer Centre, Sunnybrook.
Sources:
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2007-11/shsc-pis112707.php
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lung_cancer
http://www.petscan.org/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Positron_emission_tomography
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ct_scan
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Filed under Malignant Mesothelioma by on Apr 7th, 2011.
Pleural Mesothelioma
Pleural mesothelioma is a type of asbestosis that presents in the cells that makes up the lining of your lungs. This lining is called the pleura. In the United States this disease is caused only by exposure to asbestos. If you worked with asbestos, or asbestos products such as chysotile, crocidolit, or amosite you are at risk of developing pleural mesothelioma. If you now have been diagnosed with the disease, you were probably exposed to asbestos about twenty years prior to diagnosis.
Fortunately, some people are diagnosed early with pleural mesothelioma before having any symptoms because tumors were visible on a routine chest X-ray. There is a cancerous and a non-cancerous obtain of pleural mesothelioma. Of course, the best kind to have, if you have to have it is the non-cancerous kind. This is called benign mesothelioma and it is not usually life-threatening and is not usually caused by exposure to asbestos. This form of mesothelioma can be removed surgically. However, the cancerous kind is called malignant mesothelioma, which involves the entire pleural lining, and it is found in approximately 2.000 people in the United States each year.
The signs and symptoms of this disorder do not explain up for years after exposure, but when they do, your symptoms might be complaints of lower back injure, shortness of breath, weakness, loss of appetite, weight loss, a persistent cough, chest pain, and difficulty in swallowing. You could have one, or any of these symptoms or even all of them.
If your doctor suspects mesothelioma he/she will set about to confirm the diagnosis. Chest X-rays may have already been done, so there may also be a CT scan done just to verify the X-ray. Then the doctor will do a brochoscopy, which is the insertion of a tube that is equipped with a camera and surgical equipment. The doctor can then visualize the tumors from the inside of the lungs and snip off pieces of the tumors and lesions so they may be studied by the pathologist.
If you have a history of working with asbestos and asbestos products and you come to your doctor with symptoms, your doctor can suspect you have mesothelioma during the routine examination-It is popular to have pleural effusion, which is a build up of fluid within the lungs. The lungs become edematous (swell) and this movement of fluid can be heard by the doctor who is listening to you breathe under the stethoscope. Some patients can have such serious effusion that they can be heard without a stethoscope and they almost sound like they are bubbling on the inside-however a final diagnosis cannot be made until a biopsy is obtained. The pathologist has to prepare the samples with a special stain to be visualized under a microscope. The pathologist will be able to roar which kind of mesothelioma it is (cancerous or not) and he will be able to stage it if it is cancerous.
When symptoms develop grand of the pleura may be involved with tumors. As the tumors grow they crowd against the lung tissue. The tumors cause thickening of the pleura so there is little elasticity in the pleural cavity. The lungs become pressured and they cannot expand. The person with this disease becomes very short of breath. The tumors can also grow outward and invade the chest wall and ribs. This is a very painful disease at this point. The patient’s lung function drops drastically over time and the patient slowly suffocates.
Not much is known about how the asbestos changes the cells in the pleural cavity. It isn’t known if just one fiber of asbestos causes a tumor or if long time exposure to asbestos causes the cells to change into tumors. There are now laws in place to protect people who have contact with asbestos. Asbestos is a mineral that is allotment of our environment. People who tear down old houses may approach into contact with asbestos fibers because asbestos was once worn in roofing and flooring materials. If you have a job that puts you in contact with asbestos it is imperative that you wear protective clothing and a mask.
Asbestos fibers are shaped similarly to a fish hook. The fibers are barbed and once the fibers pierce a part of your anatomy the fiber is there and will not come out. Mesothelioma can present in most any part of your body. Wherever asbestos causes irritation can be an area that the disease presents. If you swallow asbestos it can get into your stomach, you breathe it and it gets into your lungs. If you are not wearing protective clothing, asbestos can regain into your skin folds. Males can earn asbestos in their testicles. It is distinguished to heed safety regulations when working with asbestos.
The non-malignant type of mesothelioma of the pleural tissue can be removed with surgery, but the malignant type may be treated with chemotherapy, radiation and surgery. There is no cure for malignant pleural mesothelioma. Some people have a 5 or a 10 year survival rate, but sadly, some die after a few months of diagnosis. The average survival time for a person after diagnosis with no surgical intervention is one year. Some patients benefit from a surgical procedure called debulking, which is a removal considerable of the bulkiness of the tumors. This makes more room within the pleural cavity, which in turn gives the lungs more position, and it relieves a tremendous deal of hurt the patient may have been experiencing due to the pressure exerted onto the lungs and the rib cage.
Source:
Mayo Clinic information page
Advanced Cancer Help information page
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Filed under Mesothelioma Diagnosis by on Apr 10th, 2011.
Asbestosis is a chronic inflammation of the lungs caused by inhaling particles of asbestos over a long period of time. For many years asbestos was used as an insulation material in homes and offices. Although there have been tremendous or remove as much asbestos from the environment as possible, there is tranquil considerable remaining, especially in older buildings. Even today, asbestos exposure is the leading cause of work-related lung disease.
Asbestos is a major cause of the otherwise rare form of lung cancer known as mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is virtually never seen in people who have not been exposed to asbestos.
Asbestosis is most commonly seen in men, typically who are over age 40. This is because none of the stage were more likely to have worked in buildings containing asbestos. All people who were exposed to asbestos over a long period of time are potentially at risk.
As a person inhales small particles of asbestos, the particles proceed to the deepest and smallest airways in the lungs. The asbestos fibers will then collect in the outer edges of the lungs, gradually causing a chronic inflammation and irritation to the delicate lung tissues.
Symptoms
In many cases, it can consume up to twenty years for symptoms of asbestosis to become apparent. The most common symptom will be a chronic cough and shortness of breath. The cough will be dry and constant, producing very puny sputum.
As the disease progresses, a person can experience chest hurt, a coarse voice, a loss of appetite and weight, and changes in sleep patterns. On occasion, a person will cough up some blood. This is a notice that the disease is becoming relatively advanced.
Risk and prevention
Obviously the greatest risk of getting asbestosis is asbestos exposure. If you suspect that you may be working in an station with asbestos, always be sure to wear proper protective masks.
If you are a smoker, try to quit. Smoking can increase the pain done by asbestos exposure. The combination of damage done by the inhaled asbestos fibers and the cigarette smoke can be devastating to your lungs.
Regular consume can help limit the damage done by asbestos exposure. This helps for a number of reasons, including maintaining good circulation and airflow through the lungs.
If you suspect or know that you have exposure to asbestos, be certain to tell your doctor and conception regular chest x-rays to look for signs of damage to your lungs. Asbestos can lead to mesothelioma, a rare and deadly form of lung cancer.
Treatments
Treatment for asbestos exposure is largely aimed at controlling the symptoms. There is no known way to reverse damage which is already done, but symptoms can be treated and further distress can be prevented.
People with asbestosis must pick good care of their lungs. Be definite to get proper treatment for any other condition which can affect your lungs, such as pneumonia, colds, bronchitis, and influenza. These conditions can be made much worse in people who suffer from asbestos exposure.
Respiratory therapists and work with people who have been exposed to hiss them proper care of their lungs. Bronchial drainage and the spend of misting humidifiers can help tremendously with the symptoms.
If you activity you may have been exposed to asbestos, or maybe experiencing symptoms of asbestosis, make an appointment to seek your doctor as soon as possible. Asbestosis is not a medical emergency, however the sooner you are able to identify your risk and begin capable care and treatment, the more you can minimize the damage done to your lungs.
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Filed under Mesothelioma Treatment by on Apr 20th, 2011.
Mesothelioma is a rare cancer that is caused from breathing or swallowing asbestos fibres. Mesothelioma is cancer of the mesothelium—the lining around the heart, chest and lungs, and abdomen. The disease usually develops 30-40 years after a person is exposed to asbestos. Sometimes, there are no early symptoms of mesothelioma, and it is discovered in a patient while they are being examined or tested for something else. The early symptoms of mesothelioma are often ignored, because they may be caused by a variety of ailments. More often, however, a person experiences discomfort, visits their doctor, and learns they are suffering the symptoms of mesothelioma.
It is important to note that mesothelioma symptoms often are similar to the symptoms of other conditions, so if you are experiencing any undiagnosed pain or discomfort, see your doctor as soon as impossible.
The below given information can be useful for you.
The symptoms of mesothelioma depend on the area of the mesothelium that is affected. It is important to remember that some people can have early mesothelioma and experience no symptoms at all, so if you’ve been exposed to asbestos, or lived with someone that worked around asbestos, be sure to tell your physician honest away
Symptoms of pleural mesothelioma: shortness of breath; weight loss; hoarse voice; hard time swallowing; coughing up blood; chest pain or pain in the upper abdomen, shoulder or arm; fever; and pleural effusion, which is a build up of fluid in the lungs or chest.
Symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma: a feeling of discomfort or a mass or swelling in the abdomen; weight loss; fever; bowel obstruction and blood clots.
Symptoms of pericardial mesothelioma: chest pain or a “tight” feeling approach the heart; persistent cough; weight loss; fever; and/or an irregular breathing pattern or heartbeat, especially during exercise or exertion.
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Filed under Mesothelioma Symptoms by on Apr 21st, 2011.