Symptoms
[6 Aug 2008 | No Comment | ]
The symptoms of mesothelioma are often confused with many other conditions, and because the onset of symptoms can occur many years after exposure (sometimes 20 years, or even 30 to 50 years), there can be a delay in diagnosis – or even seeking medical opinions.
The symptoms of the three types of mesothelioma will be covered here, as well as common symptoms seen in all types of mesothelioma.
The information contained here should not constitute a diagnosis. Only a doctor can determine whether symptoms are mesothelioma or something less serious such as pneumonia, flu or bronchitis.
Unfortunately, by the time the symptoms present and the patient has seen a doctor, the cancer is usually well advanced. The good news is mesothelioma is not common, and it is actually thought to be decreasing in occurrence, particularly in the United States of America.
Common Symptoms of Mesothelioma.
Pleural effusion is the most common symptom of mesothelioma. This is where fluid gathers in the pleural space, or the lining of the chest wall, diaphragm and lungs. Pleural effusion causes shortness of breath as the patient cannot draw air as easily due to decreased space for the lungs to inflate. Pain can also present, as well as a dry cough. A husky voice and difficulty swallowing go along with the effusion and resulting cough.
Difficulty breathing can lead to lack of sleep, and it is usually the cough, shortness of breath and poor sleep that sees patients present to their doctor. Loss of appetite and weight loss are also seen.
Pleural Mesothelioma (cancer in the lining of the lungs) results in symptoms relating to the chest and lung area: pain in the chest area, coughing and wheezing, shortness of breath, pleural effusion and trouble speaking/husky voice.
Peritoneal Mesothelioma (cancer in the lining of the abdomen) can present in the following ways: abdominal pain, abdominal swelling, obstruction of the bowel, vomiting, nausea, fever, anaemia and weakness. Blood clotting is a less common symptom, but just as serious.
Pericardial Mesothelioma (cancer of the lining of the heart) often shows in the following ways: pain in the chest area, shortness of breath, coughing that won’t go away, unusual amounts of tiredness after the smallest amount of exercise and heart palpitations.
Again, this information should not replace an accurate and informed diagnosis by a doctor.
Treatments
[6 Aug 2008 | No Comment | ]
There are many determining factors when it comes to finding the right treatment for Mesothelioma. The stage the cancer has progressed to is important. The location of the cancer and how much spreading has occurred plays a major role in determining the treatment. Another way to decide which treatment will be the best is to look at the cancer under a microscope. The status of these facts put together with the age and choices of the patient will help the doctor choose the treatment they feel will be most effective.
Patients that are diagnosed with malignant Mesothelioma are told that they have a rate for survival of only about eight months to a year. Specialists that treat Mesothelioma in the top rated cancer centers are coming up with statistics that are somewhat better. Many of these specialists will require that you be in the earliest stages of the disease, others may require you meet other criteria as well. As with all forms of cancer, time is a top priority when it comes to treating Mesothelioma.
There are three different forms of treatment available to patients diagnosed with Mesothelioma, surgery, radiation therapy and Chemotherapy.
One option that patients are faced with is surgery to remove the cancer. In ninety-eight percent of patient cases a diagnosis can be definitely determined by Thoracoscopy. This method lets the doctor see the pleural cavity and take a series of tissue biopsies. Video-Assisted Thoracic Surgery uses small incisions to insert cameras and get tissue samples. This more invasive method is used if the size of the tumor is believed to be increasing. Mediastinoscopy is used when large nodes can be seen. A Laproscopy may be used if it is believed that the tumor has moved to the patient’s diaphragm to determine the possible need for an extrapleural pneumonectomy or pleurectomy.
Another option available to Mesothelioma patients is Chemotherapy. Chemotherapy uses chemicals to battle the cancer. With cancer, the cells that are not normal will divide uncontrollably. The chemicals will destroy the cells of cancer in an attempt to keep them from multiplying.
Radiation therapy is an aggressive method that uses high energy beams to attack the cancer cells. Radiation therapy is used to remove an pieces of the cancer that may remain in the chest following an extrpleural pnuemonectomy. Radiation therapy is also used to help slow the spreading of the cancer.
