About Malignant Mesothelioma

Sometimes it is hard to tell the difference between malignant mesothelioma and lung cancer, as the symptoms can be quite similar. The cancer can cause fluid to collect around the lungs or in the abdomen. Symptoms may be caused by the fluid or the malignant mesothelioma. A doctor should be consulted if any of the following problems occur; shortness of breath, pain under the rib cage, pain or swelling in the abdomen, lumps in the abdomen and weight loss for no known reason.

To diagnose the disease, doctors use a combination of the following tests; physical examination and history of the patient's exposure to asbestos, past illnesses/treatments and health habits. Chest X-rays will be done as well as various blood tests and biopsies and/or tube insertions in the chest and abdomen area.

The chance of recovery and treatment options depend on the following: the stage of the cancer, the size of the tumor, whether the tumor can be removed completely by surgery, the amount of fluid in the chest or abdomen, the patient's age/general health (lungs and heart), the type of mesothelioma cancer cells and whether the cancer has just been diagnosed or has recurred.

 

Mesothelioma Treatments

Choosing the most appropriate cancer treatment is a decision that ideally involves the patient, family, and health care team. The three types of standard treatment are surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy. Even if the doctor removes all the cancer that can be seen at the time of the surgery, some patients may be given chemotherapy or radiation therapy after surgery to kill any cancer cells that are left.

Surgical mesothelioma treatment can include surgery to remove the cancer and some of the healthy tissue around it, surgery to remove part of the covering of the lungs and lining of the chest and part of the outside surface of the lungs, surgery to remove one whole lung and part of the lining of the chest, the diaphragm, and the lining of the sac around the heart and finally Pleurodesis, which is a surgical procedure that uses chemicals or drugs to make a scar in the space between the layers of the pleura. Fluid is then drained from the space, using a catheter or chest tube and the chemical or drug is put into the space. The scarring stops the build-up of fluid in the pleural cavity.

Radiation therapy is a cancer treatment that uses high-energy x-rays or other types of radiation to kill cancer cells. There are two types of radiation therapy. External radiation therapy uses a machine outside the body to send radiation toward the cancer. Internal radiation therapy uses a radioactive substance sealed in needles, seeds, wires, or catheters that are placed directly into or near the cancer. The way the radiation therapy is given depends on the type and stage of the cancer being treated.

Chemotherapy is a cancer treatment that uses drugs to stop the growth of cancer cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping the cells from dividing. When chemotherapy is taken by mouth or injected into a vein or muscle, the drugs enter the bloodstream and can reach cancer cells throughout the body (systemic chemotherapy). When chemotherapy is placed directly into the spinal column, an organ, or a body cavity such as the abdomen, the drugs mainly affect cancer cells in those areas (regional chemotherapy). Combination chemotherapy is the use of more than one anticancer drug. The way the chemotherapy is given depends on the type and stage of the cancer being treated.

Another type of treatment that is being tested in clinical trials includes Biologic therapy. Biologic therapy is a treatment that uses the patient�s immune system to fight cancer. Substances made by the body or made in a laboratory are used to boost, direct, or restore the body�s natural defenses against cancer. This type of cancer treatment is also called biotherapy or immunotherapy.