Mesothelioma Chemotherapy: Is It a Good Treatment Option?

In the medical world, there have been different approaches to the treatment of mesothelioma cancer. One form of treatment that is being administered by some physicians is chemotherapy. Is mesothelioma chemotherapy really worth anything to people?

Basically, mesothelioma chemotherapy refers to the use of medications to deal with the health problem of mesothelioma cancer. There are different ways by which chemotherapy can be administered, and the common ones involve the use of pills and intravenous medications.

In addition, mesothelioma chemotherapy can be administered directly to the affected area of the body. A typical case is that of patients who receive intra-peritoneal chemotherapy. The medical procedure is usually done after a surgical operation to remove tumors. It is also referred to as chemotherapy wash in which the medications or drugs are slightly heated and left to stay in the peritoneum for few hours and then subsequently drained. The treatment makes the drugs to be in direct contact with the affected cancerous region. The purpose of heating the drugs to normal body temperature is to increase the capability of the chemicals to penetrate the affected tissues.

Of a truth, receiving chemotherapeutic cancer treatment is not bearable to most patients. Mesothelioma patients will need some determination to go through the whole procedure without minding the side effects. Since this mesothelioma treatment option has been found to be the most promising, most people often choose to accept it.

Generally, it is expected that an oncologist who is experienced in the treatment of mesothelioma should be able to choose the most effective drugs that can be used for mesothelioma chemotherapy. Such a person will have to tell the mesothelioma patient what to expect in respect of the side effects of the treatment.

It is worthy of note that chemotherapeutic medications and their reactions vary from one patient to the other. Generally speaking, side effects can range from being mild to being severe. After receiving the treatment, you should report to your physician whenever your body reacts to the chemotherapy.

Here are common side effects of chemotherapy:

1. Fatigue
2. Fever and cold
3. Low platelet counts (this can disallow blood clotting)
4. Loss of appetite
5. Low white blood cell count (which leaves you prone to infections)
6. Nausea
7. Vomiting
8. Hair loss
9. Constipation
10. Depression
11. Rashes
12. Generalized body aches

Cases of any infections, high fever, urine that has traces of blood, or undue loss of appetite must be reported to your physician immediately since these are often termed as life-threatening symptoms.

To some extent, mesothelioma chemotherapy is a good treatment option as long as you can manage the symptoms until they finally disappear. Nonetheless, this requires the supervision of your doctor.

Mack Richie is a health adviser. He is a specialist on health secrets for wellness with the use of medical or natural remedies. Richie is a Medical Psychologist. You can find more help at http://www.prohealthsecret.com and also discover insights on Mesothelioma Chemotherapy.

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What Is Pleural Mesothelioma?

Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that affects the mesothelium, a membranous lining that surrounds the internal organs. The mesothelium that encloses the lungs is called the pleura; so pleural mesothelioma is the term used to refer to this cancer when it affects the lining of the lungs. The pleura is actually the most common location for this cancer to take hold. This is because the contaminants that cause the disease (usually asbestos fibers) enter the body through the airway and lodge in the lungs. However, it is important to note that pleural mesothelioma is not lung cancer.

Symptoms

Painful breathing, shortness of breath, constant, painful coughing, and chest pain are all common symptoms of the disease. Unexplained weight loss, fever, trouble swallowing, lower back pain, and a hoarse voice are additional issues that may occur with this cancer. Malignant mesothelioma can be present in the body for many decades before causing symptoms. When health problems do start to become evident, they may be mistaken for other illnesses. These are two reasons that this cancer is usually far advanced before it is detected.

Diagnosis

Since mesothelioma is most often caused by asbestos, a patient's history of exposure will be reviewed early on to determine the likelihood that the symptoms are being caused by this form of cancer. After a physical examination, several tests may be done to find out if mesothelioma is present. Chest X-rays, a CAT scan, and a PET scan are a few examples. An MRI and/or a pulmonary angiography are sometimes used for further confirmation of a diagnosis.

If abnormal results are detected that might indicate mesothelioma, a biopsy will need to be performed. This may be done using a fluid sample from the pleural lining or with a sample of the pleura itself. The larger the sample taken, the more accurate the results of the biopsy tend to be. Gene pattern analysis and other advanced tests may be performed on the tissue sample to determine exactly what type of cancer is present.

Treatment

The recommended approach for treating mesothelioma depends on how far the cancer has spread and the patient's overall health. Radiation, chemotherapy, and surgery may be the best option for some situations. A few individuals are even candidates for lung transplantation. In other cases, treatment focuses on relieving symptoms such as pleural effusion (fluid buildup around the lungs). There are many clinical trials underway to find more effective treatments for each stage of mesothelioma. These include advanced options such as immunotherapy and gene therapy.

Lawsuits

Many patients who are diagnosed with this cancer file a lawsuit with the assistance of a personal injury lawyer. The goal is to obtain mesothelioma compensation that will cover medical bills and compensate the victim for the pain and suffering caused by the disease. Family members may also choose to file a wrongful death suit following the death of an ill loved one who has died from mesothelioma. Because this disease is commonly diagnosed in elderly patients after the cancer has started spreading, the long-term survival rates are generally very poor.

Consult with a medical expert to learn more about malignant mesothelioma, including pleural mesothelioma and its symptoms.

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What is Mesothelioma?

Mesothelioma is a cancer of the mesothelium; the protective sac that covers and protects most internal organs of the body. The mesothelium has two layers, one, which covers the organ, and a second, which forms a sac around it. The mesothelium has different names depending on the location in the body. The pleura is the name for the mesothelial tissue surrounding the lungs and lining the chest cavity. The peritoneum covers most of the organs in the abdominal cavity, while the pericardium covers and protects the heart.

The mesothelium produces a lubricating fluid that allows organs within it to move and glide easily. The fluid allows the lungs to breathe and the heart to expand and contract without creating any type of internal friction.

Like other forms of cancer, mesothelioma occurs when cells become abnormal and divide or grow out of control. When someone has mesothelioma, the helpful lubricating fluid described above may be over-produced. This excess fluid encases the organs with a thick layer of tumor tissue, described as a rind type of layer. In advanced cases of mesothelioma, cells metastasize, or grow and invade other organs and spread to other areas of the body.

The majority of individuals suffering from mesothelioma have cancer in the lining of the lung. Sometimes, mesothelioma occurs in the lining of the abdominal cavity (peritoneal mesothelioma) or in the lining of the heart (pericardial mesothelioma).

The symptoms of mesothelioma are common to a number of illnesses which means that mesothelioma is difficult to diagnose. Unique types of treatment for mesothelioma are still being investigated through clinical trials and research, but as a general rule, mesothelioma does not respond well to most treatments that are currently being offered.

Mesothelioma is caused by breathing or ingesting asbestos fibers. The coarse fibers cause scarring of the mesothelial tissue which can cause asbestosis or pleural plaques. Unfortunately, the scarring can also lead to cancer known as mesothelioma.

It often takes 20 to 50 years after exposure to asbestos before the symptoms of mesothelioma develop. This period of time is referred to as a latency period. Because of the latency period, the disease commonly affects men and women that are at least 50 years of age and that worked with asbestos between 20 and 50 years ago. Many workers working 20 to 50 years ago did not use any type of protection in the workplace while they were exposed to the dust or fibers from asbestos. At the same time, however, many of the companies employing the workers had full knowledge that asbestos was dangerous and that exposure to asbestos would harm the health of many of the workers. Insulators, plasterers, electricians, pipefitters, mechanics, ironworkers, ship builders, ship workers, brick layers, carpenters, and other tradesmen are just a few examples of workers that were likely to work with asbestos on a day-to-day basis. Also at risk are the families of these workers, as the asbestos fibers may be brought into the home from the clothes, skin, or hair of the worker.

If the mesothelioma is detected in the earlier stages and treated aggressively, studies have shown that half will survive two years and 20 percent will survive five years. However, if the diagnosis is for Advanced Mesothelioma, only 10 percent have a three-year survival rate and only 5 percent have a life expectancy of five years.

Keep in mind that these statistics should only be used as general guidelines, and not as a definitive idea of an individual patient's survival rate. Patients are encouraged to speak with their physicians about their individual prognosis.

Unfortunately, millions of people have been exposed to asbestos over the years. Only now are we able to see the disastrous effects of asbestos exposure in the workplace.

As with other cancers, a speedy diagnosis is important to effective treatment of mesothelioma. If you believe that you may have mesothelioma and that you worked with asbestos in the past, you may wish to inform your doctor of this fact.

WHAT ARE YOUR LEGAL RIGHTS?

If you or a loved one have been diagnosed with mesothelioma in the last five years, you may wish to meet with an attorney to discuss your legal rights. Anyone who has been diagnosed with mesothelioma should consider this option. If you have a loved one who is deceased because of mesothelioma, their spouse or an executor of the estate should also consider legal representation.

There are different avenues to consider regarding representation and the possibilities of obtaining compensation. We believe it is important that you choose representation by a firm that is exclusively devoted to mesothelioma claims. We believe you should choose a firm that has years of experience and a proven track record with mesothelioma claims.

Patricia Hughes works for an Internet marketing firm ePlus Marketing
For more information contact: Maune Raichle Law firm 1-800-358-5922.
The firm specializes in mesothelioma cases. Or go to: legal-mesothelioma-help.com

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Peritoneal Mesothelioma: What Is It?

Peritoneal mesothelioma is a rare type of cancer that occurs in the lining of the abdomen (the peritoneum). Most doctors and researchers think that the main cause of this disease is exposure to asbestos. Because the symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma resemble those of other ailments, the disease is often diagnosed at a late stage. As a result, most patients with this illness have a life expectancy of one year or less. However, treatments are available to prolong the lifespan, alleviate the pain, and reduce the depression and anxiety of mesothelioma patients. Read on to learn more.

Causes

Peritoneal mesothelioma is caused by tiny asbestos fibers that become logged in the abdominal lining. There are two theories about how the asbestos fibers may reach the peritoneum. First, it may be that patients ingest the asbestos fibers while eating food covered with microscopic asbestos particles. Second, it is possible that patients inhale asbestos fibers that eventually enter the bloodstream and lymphatic system and become deposited in the stomach area.

Most mesothelioma patients were exposed to asbestos 30 to 40 years prior to their diagnosis. In previous decades, asbestos was widely used in home construction, shipbuilding and the automotive industry. Workers who handled asbestos materials typically did not have any protection against inhaling and ingesting asbestos particles. Sadly, many of these workers are developing symptoms of malignant mesothelioma now, many decades after their exposure.

Symptoms

Peritoneal mesothelioma causes the cells in the stomach lining to over-produce fluid. As a result, fluid is retained in the abdominal cavity. Consequently, some patients notice persistent bloating and swelling in the stomach area. Many patients also experience low-grade fever, overall weakness, shortness of breath and nausea. Unfortunately, these symptoms usually appear when the mesothelioma cancer has already advanced and spread. As a result, the prognosis of mesothelioma often is only a few months to a year. Generally, the sooner mesothelioma is diagnosed, the better the prognosis.

Treatments

Peritoneal mesothelioma is treated like most other cancers. The main therapies include radiation, chemotherapy and immune therapy. Most patients also receive comprehensive therapy designed to improve their overall strength, raise their red blood cell count, and drain their cells of excess fluid. A major part of any treatment plan is pain management. Fortunately, today's medical advances mean that mesothelioma patients do not have to experience extreme pain. Doctors can prescribe a variety of medications according to each patient's unique needs. Finally, many mesothelioma patients also consult a psychiatrist or psychologist in order to alleviate their psychological suffering and learn how to cope with their disease.

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, consult knowledgeable doctors and also talk to a skilled mesothelioma lawyer. The attorney might help you hold those responsible for your suffering financially liable through a demand of compensatory and punitive damages. While money cannot restore your health, it can help you pay your medical bills and other expenses and help your family overcome the economic strain produced by your illness and loss of income.

Visit a lawyer to discuss your asbestos exposure and potential compensation for the costs of your peritoneal mesothelioma treatments.

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What Is The Latest Mesothelioma Disease Information?

One of the most aggressive cancers of the last century is also the one least known about in the public eye. Mesothelioma disease information was the least talked about, especially when it came to public news about dangers of asbestos. Strides towards ending this cancer were accomplished when the substance that causes it, asbestos, was removed, by law, from many of the same places that workers were exposed to it, like factories and shipyards, and its use in construction became outlawed. It was not until a number of workers in the mines where it was cultivated came down with the cancer than more information was finally released to the public.

What Is Mesothelioma?

Now that the world has learned more Mesothelioma disease information, some basic facts have become known about this very aggressive form of cancer. It is chiefly caused by exposure to asbestos, a naturally occurring mineral mined throughout the Southwest, and the victims most likely to develop it were construction workers, miners, and industrial workers that created the insulation used in construction and other industries.

Mesothelioma disease information also revealed that this cancer is primarily found in the lining of the lungs, heart and abdomen. Pleural Mesothelioma, where the asbestos fibers have lodged themselves within the very liner that allows the lungs their free movement during breathing, is the most common. Pericardial Mesothelioma is more rare, when asbestos fibers have found their way into the pericardium, the membrane around the heart. Peritoneal Mesothelioma, is also rare, and occurs when the asbestos finds its way to the stomach lining.

Symptoms And Treatment

The symptoms associated with Pleural Mesothelioma, the most common form according to Mesothelioma disease information, begins with shortness of breath, an extraordinary buildup of fluid within the lungs, and chronic hoarseness. By the time this cancer is diagnosed, the victim is also experiencing chronic coughing, with blood, muscle weakness and chest pain. Final stages include sensory loss, paralysis and swelling in the face and arms. All too often companies claimed that their workers were affected by it because they also smoked, causing the fibers to be inhaled in that manner, and ineligible for compensation through attorneys and law firms.

The treatment options available for this common form, according to Mesothelioma disease information, will require several surgeries to complete. The first surgery often performed by doctors at clinics and treatment centers is a pleurectomy decortication, removing part of the lung lining in order to remove any tumors. If the tumors continue to appear, a second surgery, a extrapleural pneumonectomy, removing up to one lung, in order to get all of the tumors out of the body.

Laws And Litigation

According to Mesothelioma disease information, because the symptoms are so similar to a host of other diseases, the fact that it is cancer is often found too late for effective treatment. This has led to many lawsuits filed by lawyers against the companies responsible, and to many states creating laws to limit litigation and compensation as a result.

To find out more Mesothelioma Treatment And Compensation Information [http://www.mesotheliomadiseaseinformation.com], pay a visit to [http://www.mesotheliomadiseaseinformation.com].

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Mesothelioma 101: What You Need to Know

Despite the fact that mesothelioma has been on the rise just recently, not many people know what this is, what causes it, and what the signs and symptoms are. This article aims to inform the general reading public about mesothelioma: its nature, its cause, and its signs and symptoms.

What Is Mesothelioma?

Mesothelioma, or more precisely known as malignant mesothelioma, is a rare form of cancer that develops from transformed cells that originated from the mesothelium, the protective layer that covers the many internal organs of the body.

It develops in many different parts of the body, but there are some of the common anatomical sites where mesothelioma develops. Among others, these anatomical sites include the pleura (the outer lining of the lungs and internal chest wall), peritoneum (the lining of the abdominal cavity), pericardium (the sac that surrounds the heart), and tunica vaginalis (a sac that surrounds the testis). This type of cancer is also known to grow at a much faster rate, and causes metastasis of isolated limbs of the body, thus, bringing unwilling predictions.

What Causes Mesothelioma?

The most common and considered as the undisputed cause of mesothelioma is prolonged exposure to asbestos. There are several ways a person can come in contact with asbestos fibers: occupational, environmental, and paraoccupational.

People who work in asbestos-exposed areas, such as construction site, ship yards, and factories are considered to have the highest risk rate of developing mesothelioma. However, some people come in contact with asbestos fibers due to their locality's proximity to naturally occurring asbestos or minerals with the same properties as that of asbestos, such as the zeolite mineral known as erionite. Some people develop mesothelioma due to secondary exposure to asbestos; this is known as the paraoccuopational exposure. Those whose family members work in an asbestos-exposed area are also in the risk of developing mesothelioma, as asbestos dust and/or fibers can accumulate in their clothes and can be brought home. This is the reason why people who work in asbestos-exposed area are required to take a shower and change clothes before going out of the area. Another reason that a person can develop mesothelioma is due to their exposure to buildings constructed with asbestos-based materials. Small but regular exposure to asbestos can lead to mesothelioma development.

What Are the Common Signs and Symptoms of Mesothelioma?

Common symptoms of mesothelioma include breathing problem, uncontrollable cough, severe chest pain, weakness, and/or unexpected weight loss. The common signs and symptoms of mesothelioma are often wrongly thought of as simple diseases and/or symptoms of common illness, and when it is detected, it is often too late to reverse or cure it. Most of the time, mesothelioma are confirmed after the doctor have conducted a biopsy on the anatomical site where the mesothelioma cells have gathered.

Christian George Acevedo has been writing for the web since 2005. Since then, he has written thousands of articles for his clients. Check out more of Christian's articles at Helium and Suite 101. He has actually written dozens of articles about mesothelioma at http://gettoknowmesothelioma.blogspot.com/.

Feel free to contact him at powerwordsonlinewriting@gmail.com.

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What Is Mesothelioma Cancer, and How Should It Be Dealt With?

What is mesothelioma, you might ask? Mesothelioma is a rare disease caused as a result of malignant cancerous cells which show up in the lining of an individual's body cavities, such as the chest, the abdominal region and the area surrounding the heart. Mesothelioma is usually, but not always, associated with exposure to asbestos.

Symptoms of mesothelioma may include shortness of breath, pleuritic pain, lasting cough, fatigue, and weight loss. The presence of these symptoms of mesothelioma do not necessarily mean that one has mesothelioma. They only raise the possibility. These symptoms of mesothelioma, however, should never be ignored. They should be called to a doctor's attention for diagnosis and treatment as soon as possible. Because the recurrence rate of cancerous cells is extremely high, it is very important that the disease be diagnosed and treated as early as possible. In the event that any or all of these symptoms of mesothelioma are present, the sooner a person gets to the doctor and gets the necessary testing done the better.

If a person experiences mesothelioma symptoms, their physician will in all likelihood want them to undergo a series of tests to ascertain whether these symptoms are actually true indications of this rare form of asbestos cancer or if they point to some other, hopefully less serious problem. The medical tests that are usually ordered by a physician when these symptoms of mesothelioma occur many times will include cat scans, x-rays and MRI's.

It needs to be emphasized that should these symptoms of mesothelioma occur the sooner a person is checked by a physician the better. This is a very fast acting and aggressive form of cancer. Unfortunately, the symptoms of mesothelioma do not usually become apparent during the early stages of the disease when medical treatments are most effective.

If you or someone you know shows even one or two symptoms of mesothelioma, take every precaution and don't delay in getting a specialized physician involved in the situation as soon as possible. Don't put it off. For your own sake as well as for the sake of your loved ones, you need to take action immediately. Although it is highly unlikely that you have been stricken with the mesothelioma cancer, you do not ever want to take any chances when it has to do with your health or the health of your loved one.

James has been writing articles about health issues for over 5 years. Please visit his latest website about cancer at the Cancer Information Center [http://www.cancerinformationcenter.org], with help relating to What is Mesothelioma [http://www.cancerinformationcenter.org/what-is-mesothelioma.html] and other questions, with straight talk for anyone affected by this disease.

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