MESOTHELIOMA

In USA, the health condition of mesothelioma proved to be serious concern. This is because a significant number of individuals in the recent years have been affected by this typical form of cancer. Among the total number of cancer patients a substantial proportion are mesothelioma patients. The situation is a bit alarming! People living in places with exposure to asbestos particles or involved in professions requiring handling asbestos particles directly or indirectly are mainly the victims of this deadly disease. Family members of an asbestos worker may get affected while cleaning the cloths worn during the working hours. We are here to share some useful information about mesothelioma, its treatment, research, possible prevention, and government’s assistance programs for the mesothelioma patients and their dependents.

WHAT IS MESOTHELIOMA? Mesothelioma, more precisely malignant mesothelioma, is a rare form of cancer that develops from the protective lining that covers many of the body's internal organs, the mesothelium. It is usually caused by exposure to asbestos. Its most common site is the pleura (outer lining of the lungs and internal chest wall), but it may also occur in the peritoneum (the lining of the abdominal cavity), the heart, the pericardium (a sac that surrounds the heart) or tunica vaginalis. In general, the chest cavity, the chamber of the heart, as well as the outer layer of the inner organs in human body is affected by mesothelial type of cells. The fatal disease of Mesothelioma takes it course on the mesothelium and named as mesothelioma. Each cavity has a independent name for the mesothelial cavity is covered. These are as: Peritoneum--abdominal cavity; chest wall pleura pericardium-- heart cavity. The mesothelium performs certain specific activities in the body. The mesothelium generates a oily fluid that keeps our body organs lubricated and giving free movements of the body parts. For example, the pleural mesothelium helps an animal’s lung to move normally throughout the sequences of breathing. On the other hand, active difficulties would be experienced in normal breathing and it will turn very very painful. So far, three main categories of malignant mesothelioma have been diagnosed ranked less likely to see more often: mixed sarcomatoid / biphasic epithelioid malignant mesothelioma most often begins in, Mesothelioma, the chest cavity (pleural mesothelioma). Most people who develop mesothelioma have worked on jobs where they inhaled asbestos particles, or they have been exposed to asbestos dust and fiber in other ways. It has also been suggested that washing the clothes of a family member who worked with asbestos can put a person at risk for developing mesothelioma. Unlike lung cancer, there is no association between mesothelioma and smoking, but smoking greatly increases the risk of other asbestos-induced cancers. Compensation via asbestos funds or lawsuits is an important issue in mesothelioma. SYMPTOMS OF MESOTHELIOMA:

1. Shortness of Breath: The patients experience shortness of breath ecause of fluid between the lung and the chest wall
2. Chest Wall Pain: The patients experience pain in the chest walls as the layers of the lungs and the associated regions are affected.
3. Weight Loss: Sudden loss of body weight is observed in the mesothelioma affected patients.

DIANOSIS OF MESOTHELIOMA: Chest x-ray: In the patients with mesothelioma, chest x-ray reveals the signs of mesothelioma. However, chest x-ray has limited usefulness because the findings of mesothelioma on chest x-ray are nonspecific and observed in other diseases as well. CT Scan: The observation of CT scan are almost the same as to those of chest x-ray but in a CT scan Test the elements are shown in more detail. Examining through CT scan is ideal for staging the tumors. MRI: In some people, MRI complements the findings on CT scan. MRI provides better delineation of soft tissues (better soft-tissue contrast) and may provide additional information not obtained from other studies. Biopsy (tissue sample): Positron emission tomography (PET) scan: PET is the clinical examination procedure where to analyze the metabolic activities of the cells a radio-labeled substance is used. Cancerous cells demonstrate increased metabolic activity. PET is being increasingly used to diagnose the size of the tumor and to see if the tumor has spread. Microscopic: Thorough microscopic analysis diagnosis the spreadover this disease. The asbestos particles in general are 1200 time thinner than human hair and hover around everywhere. A microscopic test detects the existence of the asbestos particles in a patient’s heart and on the surfaces of the inner body organs. Thoracoscopy: Thoracoscopy procedure is about inserting a tube with a camera into the chest. This procedure allows the introduction of substances such as talc to obliterate the pleural space (called pleurodesis), which prevents more fluid from accumulating and pressing on the lung. Despite treatment with chemotherapy, radiation therapy or sometimes surgery, the disease carries a poor prognosis. Research about screening tests for the early detection of mesothelioma is ongoing. Thoracoscopy: Under this clinical observation method, a very small pierce is made in the chest wall and a flexible, lighted tube (thoracoscope) is inserted between the two ribs. Thoracoscopy allows the doctor to observe the things inside and collect samples for laboratory analysis. The collected samples are examined by a pathologist. A thoracoscopy text is the standard confirmatory diagnosis in 98% of patients with the disease of mesothelioma.

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