Mesothelioma Prognosis -- The Science of Recovering Lives

By Fred Lindel

A brief on Mesothelioma

A whopping 2,000 to 3,000 new cases of mesothelioma is on the rise in United States of America. Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer and it is an aftereffect of the asbestos exposure. The cancerous cells tend to destroy the mesothelium, which is a protective sac that holds the internal organs of the body. Initially, pleura or peritoneum are affected and then it spreads to the other parts of the body. It is a fatal disease and the survival time of the victim is almost one year from the time of diagnosis depending on the treatment and other contributing factors.

What is mesothelioma prognosis?

Prognosis for mesothelioma is solely dependent on the merit of diagnosis and the treatment. If treatment is provided with much delay then the survival chance of the victim grows slimmer. Then again, survivability depends heavily on factors like treatment, type of mesothelioma as well as patients health and morale. The stage of the disease during diagnosis is the most crucial factor that decides the prognosis and the minimum survival expectancy of the victim. But disappointingly, mesothelioma unlike other cancers is somewhat difficult to stage. This is because the symptoms of mesothelioma are non-specific due to which the cells are already matured at the time of diagnosis.

What are the determining factors that lead to prognosis?

The early detection of the disease is imperative for pursuing any kind of treatment. The location and size of the cancer, response of the cancer to the treatment, the extent to which the cancer has spread, what impression does the cells give under the microscope and the patients age are some of the contributing factors that determine prognosis. It should be pointed out that diagnosis of the disease is not a child’s play. Further more it becomes all the very more difficult because of the deceptive nature of the subtle symptoms of mesothelioma. Like for example, if you are coughing and you might never know that you have contracted the disease unless and until your doctor clarifies it all by providing a mesothelioma prognosis.

Do you know about the mesothelioma treatment options?

Amongst the staging systems the oldest of them all is the Butchart system, based on the extent of mass, primary tumor and segregates the cancer into four stages. The TNM system is a more recent one while the Brigham system is the latest. It uses resectability and lymph node involvement for staging mesothelioma. The traditional kinds of treatments are also prevalent in case of malignant mesothelioma. Radiation therapy exercises high-energy X-rays to eradicate cancer cells while chemotherapy does it through use of drugs. Immunotherapy helps to strengthen the immune system; photodynamic therapy uses light energy while the genetic therapy resurrects the inherent genetic defects of the patient to fight the disease.

The process of removing fluid from the chest is known as thoracentesis while fluid reduction from the abdomen is known as paracentesis. Conventional surgeries and effective drugs like L-NDDP or Platar, Endostatin and Lovastatin somewhat come to the rescue of the victims of mesothelioma. The surgical removal of a part of the chest or the abdominal lining is called pleurectomy and if the lung is removed, then the operation will be termed as pneumonectomy.

Fred Lindell is a successful writer and publisher of
health related issues, for more informative articles go to
http://www.mesotheliomaplaza.com

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Symptoms of Mesothelioma -- Know More; Suffer Less

By Fred Lindel

What is Mesothelioma?

Mesothelioma can be defined as a rare form of cancer that affects mesothelium, the protective sac that covers most of the internal organs of the body. In this disease, the cells of the mesothelium become abnormal and they start dividing randomly. Mostly, the preliminary attack of Mesothelioma takes place in pleura or peritoneum and it is seen that majority of the Mesothelioma patients have a history of exposure to asbestos.

Mesothelioma’s nexus with asbestos

Mesothelioma is a relatively rare form of cancer with a rate of about 2000 new cases per year in the US. Though there is no specific age or sex for Mesothelioma, aged men seem to be more prone to catch the disease. As 70% to 80% of the case histories of patients reveal, Mesothelioma has a strong connection with asbestos exposure.

Asbestos is a group of minerals, which occur naturally as masses of strong, flexible fibers. It is required in several industries namely cement, flooring products, textiles, etc. When the tiny particles of asbestos are inhaled or swallowed, they pose severe health related threats like increased risk of lung cancer, asbestosis, mesothelioma, etc. The combination of asbestos exposure and smoking habit often aggravates the risk.

Symptoms of Mesothelioma

One peculiarity of Mesothelioma is that it has a long latency period of about 15-50 years, which means that the symptoms of the disease may start appearing 30 to 50 years after exposure to asbestos. Moreover, Mesothelioma symptoms are often not specific i.e. they are same in case of several other diseases. This is why Mesothelioma tests are very important to dispel the incidence of the disease if relevant symptoms crop up.

Speaking of symptoms, there are three prominent symptoms of Mesothelioma that cannot be overlooked. These involve pain while breathing or coughing, gasping for breath and a persistent cough that may result in sputum streaked with blood. Besides, exhaustion, weight loss and appetite loss are some of the other contributing symptoms. Other very rare symptoms are hoarse voice, swelling of the face or the neck, problem in swallowing and pain around the rib area.

However, depending upon the location of the cancerous tumors (pleura or peritoneum) the symptoms vary in case of pleural and peritoneal Mesothelioma. In pleural Mesothelioma, the fluid gets accumulated in the pleura and leads to shortness of breath, persistent coughing, pain in the chest, difficulty in sleeping, pain in the lower back and side of chest, husky voice, nausea, difficulty in swallowing and fever.

Cancer in the lining of the abdomen is what we know as peritoneal Mesothelioma. Because of the fluid retention in the abdominal cavity there is a subsequent abdominal pain and swelling.

Noticeable symptoms of peritoneal Mesothelioma are listed as follows:

- Weight loss

- Abdominal pain

- Build up of fluid in the abdomen

- Bowel obstruction

- Abnormal blood clotting

- Abdominal mass and fever

Mesothelioma’s treatment depends upon several factors like location of the cancer, stage of the disease, patient's age and general health. Standard treatments that are carried out to cure the disease include surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. Sometimes, these treatments are combined to achieve better results.

Thus it is worthwhile to mention, as all doctors say that to fight a disease we need to find the symptoms first. So be aware of the symptoms of Mesothelioma and consult the doctor at the very onset for an immediate treatment.

Fred Lindell is a successful writer and publisher of
health related issues, for more informative articles go to
http://www.mesotheliomaplaza.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Fred_Lindel

All About a Mesothelioma Lawyer

By Ivar Rudi

When someone is diagnosed with mesothelioma, they may find that they need an attorney to help them with their case. This is a disease that is rare, and there is little to be said about the condition. The rate of this disease is on the increase and there are new lawyers that are trying to settle many cases for different people. They have stepped in for the rights of the people to help them with their case.

Many victims of this disease need to have a mesothelioma lawyer to help them with their fight. These lawyers and law firms will deal with the victims and their families to help them claim the right compensation that they deserve from the companies that are responsible for their problems. These lawsuits result in a lot of money being won by the families when the right lawyer or firm handles them.

Handling asbestos causes mesothelioma. This comes from working in an environment that is affected by this deadly material or by someone that is contracted to remove it. Most of the time, the workers are made clear of the dangers that can be caused by working with this type of material. However, some employers will allow little or no protection from the material when the employees are handling it. These workers are entitled to compensation for their work.

Today there are many mesothelioma lawyers to choose from and there are many that are right for you. Many of these lawyers have dealt with this type of suit in the past and know the correct way to handle it. Those people that are looking for a lawyer should choose someone with a good history and experience in this type of case. Most lawyers are happy to provide clients with information that may be helpful in using them for your services. They will show past cases with the names deleted to show proof of their victory.

It is a good idea to find out if the mesothelioma lawyer that you are looking into has won any of their cases or not. These elements can make all the difference when it comes to trying to find the right lawyer to help you with your situation. It is a good idea to do as much research as you can on the entire situation. You may be able to determine your future when you choose their right mesothelioma lawyer for you and your case.

When it comes to being sick with a disease that could have been prevented, it is hard to deal with. Finding the right mesothelioma lawyer to help you in your fight against these companies is a good start. You will be fighting for something that means so much to a lot of people and it will be worth it in the end.

Copyright 2006 - Ivar Rudi. For more information and resources about this subject check out: http://www.mesothelioma-lawyer-guide.info/
and also http://www.mesothelioma-cancer-guide.org/ and http://www.mesothelioma-online.biz/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ivar_Rudi