Pleural Mesothelioma

Pleural mesothelioma is the most common form of the deadly cancer mesothelioma. This type of disease affects the pleural mesothelium, or thin membrane that surrounds the lungs and secretes the lubrication necessary for them to expand and contract during respiration. Without this vital layer of mucous the lungs would not be able to fill with air or expel carbon dioxide.

Unfortunately, this vital but frequently overlooked part of the anatomy is the place mesothelioma strikes the most, because asbestos particles frequently enter the body through normal respiration processes.

Asbestos fibers are small, jagged, need-like shards frequently kicked up into the air during the myriad manufacturing processes that use asbestos for its heat-resistant and flame-retardant qualities. When the asbestos is processed it releases these small fibers into the air which are easily inhaled by workers, shippers, and can even linger on their hair and clothes and follow them home, potentially exposing their families and friends to pleural, peritoneal, and pericardial mesothelioma.

When a person inhales asbestos, it can begin a cascade reaction that more often than not results in terminal mesothelioma. The jagged asbestos shards enter the lungs where they pierce the through the inner layers of the lungs into the pleura mesothelium. Once these shards pierce the mesothelium they begin to fester and sprout potentially cancerous tumors. Pleural mesothelioma is particularly hard to diagnose because it takes many years for the cancer to develop, and once it does the early symptoms are so subtle that they are often confused with less fatal conditions such as the flu or pneumonia.

Common symptoms of pleural mesothelioma include:

• Chest pain
• Shortness of breath
• Pleural effusion (fluid surrounding the lung)
• Wheezing
• Coughing
• Hoarseness
• Blood Clots

Sadly, because it takes so long for pleural mesothelioma to display symptoms it is usually so entrenched in the lungs that it is impossible to effectively treat. Further complicating this already difficult situation is that it is extremely likely that the cancerous cells from the lungs will easily circulate throughout the bloodstream, where they can spread cancer to other systems and organs.

Pleural mesothelioma is 100% fatal. Most people usually die within six months after diagnosis, some people survive a year, but few if any survive past five years. New treatments can usually tend to focus on preserving the quality of life for the victims of pleural mesothelioma, but revolutionary treatments such as photodynamic, gene, angiogenesis, and immunotherapy treatments offer hope to those stricken with this terrible disease.

Mesothelioma Pain - An Overview

Root Cause of Mesothelioma Pain:

The root cause of the Mesothelioma pain is the cancer of the lining of lung and abdomen, which is attributed to the patient having had a long exposure of Asbestos. Asbestos is a natural fibrous mineral and has a multiplicity of uses in many industries such as construction process, boilers, railroad shipyards and other industries. It was widely used because of its stability and fire resistant properties even at high temperatures.

Asbestos the Monster cause of Mesothelioma Pain

But on account of it’s serious health damaging implications the manufacturing and use of asbestos is now considered as extremely hazardous. Exposure to asbestos increases the vulnerability to respiratory disorders, including a form of lung fibrosis known as Asbestosis. Inhalation of asbestos particles is also the factor causing mesothelioma cancers resulting in severe mesothelioma pain.

Mesothelioma Pain and Its Remedies:

Management of mesothelioma pain is based on different aspects such as what is causing the pain. The tumor pressing on nerves and other structures and organs around the area causes severe pain. It can also result from treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation and because of psychological reasons.

Doctors have defined mesothelioma pain as Acute, chronic and breakthrough and prescribe different types of medication for each kind. Three types of medicines are available for these pains. There are non-opioids that are non-toxic and are effective to treat the low level pain. The opioids treat moderate to severe pain. The third category is Rapid-onset opioids to treat the breakthrough or acute pain. The second and the third varieties of medicines for mesothelioma pain are narcotic in nature. Unfortunately, these the medicines in general and he narcotic medicines in particular have serious side effects and they should be taken under medical supervision.

New Techniques For Controlling Mesothelioma Pain:

With the advances in the field of health science, new techniques have been developed for managing mesothelioma pain. These new techniques do not cause any side effects on the patients. For example Neurosurgery is being used on some mesothelioma patients whereby the doctors block or alter the nerve pathways along which the pain messages are transmitted. Nerve blocks also called the Epidurals are also used to help treat the chronic pain. But the most effective way of controlling mesothelioma pain is through psychological help, counseling, body therapy and meditation.

Peritoneal Mesothelioma

Peritoneal mesothelioma is one of the deadliest and most painful forms of cancer. Fortunately it is also one of the rarer forms of a relatively uncommon cancer, though that is small comfort to the thousands of people that must endure it every day. This terminal condition begins when a person ingests the microscopic jagged asbestos fibers. Asbestos is a naturally-occurring, fibrous mineral that has been used in fireproofing and insulation for millennia, and even since these ancient times those that worked with asbestos tended to die even earlier than other people did.

During the manufacturing process asbestos fibers are often released into the air, where their light weight and small size allows them to settle in the mouths and throats of anyone nearby, and they can even be carried home where they can contaminate the friends and family of the original worker.

Peritoneal mesothelioma begins when asbestos fibers enter the digestive track and slice through the tissues of the stomach and intestines. These fibers shred through these organs and protrude through them and puncture the peritoneal mesothelium, the delicate membrane that secretes the lubrication that allows them to move during digestion. Without this vital lubrication the organs could not process food properly. Some of the symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma include:

• Abdominal pain

• Abdominal mass

• Weight loss

• Abnormal bowel function

• Fluid buildup in the abdomen

• Expanding waistline but losing weight

• Blood clots

Unfortunately, peritoneal mesothelioma does not usually present symptoms until it is extremely advanced, and by that time it is usually impossible to treat. Further complicating diagnosis of peritoneal mesothelioma is the nature of the disease itself; the symptoms are often confused with less dangerous conditions such as indigestion or heartburn.

Peritoneal mesothelioma is always fatal. By the time it is diagnosed it is usually so advanced that the only treatment available is to make the victim as comfortable as possible and relieve as much pain as they can. Most victims usually succumb within six to eight months after diagnosis; a few cases manage to survive longer than a year, but few if any survive longer than five years.

There is hope for victims of peritoneal mesothelioma. New treatments include photodynamic, gene, angiogenesis, and immunotherapy that could hold the key to turning the tide on this deadly, debilitating, and tragic disease.

Mesothelioma Treatments And Clinical Trials

For years, chemotherapy has been used as treatment for mesothelioma to shrink tumors. More recently, doctors have used surgery in combination with chemotherapy with more success.

In addition, newer chemotherapy drugs in combination with surgery has increased survival rates of mesothelioma patients.

Radiation has been used to control cancer symptoms such as pain, but it is not a primary treatment for mesothelioma. It is also used in combination with other treatments for mesothelioma and may possibly assist in killing cancer cells after surgery to prevent further growth of cancer cells in the chest area.

Much more research is required to improve treatment options through clinical trials. Clinical trials are used to evaluate new cancer treatments and their effectiveness. They are an important aspect of improving treatments and the ultimate prognosis of cancer patients.

Mesothelioma patients who participate in clinical trials are able to receive new treatments before they are available to other patients.

Clinical trials have three phases. Phase I trails are the first studies of a new treatment. The goals are to determine the correct dosage and the side effects. Phase I trials are only offered to patients who haven't responded to other approved treatments.

Phase II trials are further studies of treatments proven to be effective from phase I trials. They are a continuation of determining treatment safety and effectiveness on a particular type of cancer.

Phase III trials are used to compare a new treatment method with a currently used treatment program. Doctors can thus determine if the new treatment is more or less effective than the already approved treatment.

A patient must be willing to partcipate and provide written consent prior to starting a clinical trial. The use of clinical trials is very important in improving the treatments used in the fight against mesothelioma.

Over the past few years treatments have improved for treating mesothelioma, but further clinical trials are needed to continue mesothelioma treatment methods.

Malignant Mesothelioma

The diseased defined

Mesothelium is the protective tissue that covers the chest cavity, abdominal cavity and the cavity around the heart and also produces a special lubricating fluid that allows the internal organs of the body to move around. Malignant Mesothelioma can be defined as the cancer of the mesothelial cells which become abnormal and start dividing without any order. Majority of the mesothelioma patients have a prior history of exposure to asbestos.

Types of malignant Mesothelioma

Malignant Mesothelioma or simply Mesothelioma can be divided into 3 main types namely
- Epithelioid
- Sarcomatoid
- Mixed/biphasic

Of these, Epithelioid is the most common (50% to 70% cases) and stands the best chance of recovery. Sarcomatoid type is seen in 7% to 20% cases whereas mixed/biphasic type is seen in 20% to 35% cases.

Approximately, ¾ of the total cases of Mesothelioma originates in the chest cavity (pleura) and is known as pleural mesothelioma. The cancer affecting the lining of the abdomen (peritoneum) is called the peritoneal mesothelioma and that affecting the “sac like” space around the heart (pericardial cavity) is called the pericardial mesothelioma. Mesothelioma at times also affects the covering layer of the testicles. However, the last two types of cases are quite rare.

Diagnosis of malignant Mesothelioma

The tumors of the mesothelium can either be benign (non cancerous) or malignant (cancerous). So whenever there are symptoms like shortness of breath, pain in chest/abdomen or swelling in the abdomen, you should consult your doctor immediately.

After the initial X-rays and scans, the doctor may look inside the chest cavity (in case of pleural tumor) with an instrument called thoracoscope and the test is called thoracoscopy. In case of tumor in peritoneum the doctor may go for peritoneoscopy with the help of a tool called peritoneoscope. Finally, if the abnormal tissue is found then a biopsy is done, whereby a piece of the unnatural tissue is cut out and placed under microscope for examination.

After the confirmed diagnosis of Mesothelioma it is also essential to ascertain its stages i.e. whether it is in localized stage or in advanced stage. In the localized stage, the cancer is found in the lining of the chest cavity or in the diaphragm or the lung. Advanced malignant Mesothelioma can again be divided into 3 stages namely stage II, III and IV. In stage II, the cancer spreads beyond the chest lining to lymph nodes and in stage III it spreads into chest wall, center of the chest, heart, through the diaphragm or abdominal lining, etc. The final or the fourth stage is the one in which the cancer has already spread to distant organs.

Treatment

Depending on the stage of the cancer, its location and the health, age and medical history of the patient, 3 types of treatments are mated out to malignant Mesothelioma patients – surgery (to remove the tumor), radiation therapy (application of high energy rays) and chemotherapy (usage of combination of drugs). This apart, if there is any accumulation of fluid in the chest or abdomen, then the doctor needs to drain it out and the process is regarded as thoracentesis and paracentesis respectively.

So be aware of the disease, such that you can prevent it at the very onset.

A Cancer That Strikes 40 Years Later

Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer in which malignant (cancerous) cells are found in the mesothelium, a protective sac that covers most of the body's internal organs. Most people who develop mesothelioma have worked on jobs where they inhaled asbestos particles.

In his article called "Knee Deep in Asbestos", freelance writer Phil Jones relates how when he was a teenager he worked for a brief time in an asbestos mine in the Yukon. One of the features of daily life was the constant presence of asbestos dust in the air. As Jones writes,

"There were employees that worked in the mill whose sole job was to sweep up the dust that fell on the floor. There was so much of it that this was a constant ongoing job. The asbestos dust in the mill actually fell almost like snow and covered the floor completely. Without sweepers there would probably have been several inches of asbestos dust on the floor within an hour or so. In fact, I remember seeing sweepers go by pushing their wide brooms and the new dust settling onto the floor behind them as they walked."

This story illustrates a number of the more sinister aspects of the whole mesothelioma story.

First, over the course of many decades, countless workers were placed in work environments where they were exposed to high levels of asbestos fibre with little protection. Their exposure to asbestos fibres was constant and often took place over a very long period of time - in most cases, over many years.

Second, the owners and managers of these work places were often either unaware of the risk of mesothelioma, or they actively attempted to hide or cover up those risks.

Third, since the effects of exposure to asbestos fibre often do not become apparent for 30 or 40 years after prolonged exposure, there often appeared to be no immediate health risk in these work environments. This made it very difficult for workers or their representatives to make a convincing case that worker health was being sacrificed on the altar of corporate greed.

What Is Mesothelioma ?

Mesothelioma the medical name for cancer of the lung or the abdomen lining, and is usually caused by exposure to asbestos.

Asbestos is a type of building material used in thermal insulation products and ceiling tiles. Asbestos usage peaked during the 1950s - 1970s, but during the late 1960s, concerns over the health consequences of asbestos exposure began to arise, thereby decreasing the amount of asbestos manufactured over the following two decades. But even though new measures where brought in to get rid of it, many schools and public buildings still contain asbestos.

Small asbestos fibers that enter the air do not evaporate and can remain suspended in the air for a long time. These fibers, when breathed into the body, are toxic. The people most at risk are :-

People working in factories that manufacture asbestos are likely to have a high exposure to asbestos and are most at risk of developing asbestosis or mesothelioma.

Family members of workers exposed to asbestos in the workplace are susceptible to exposure from asbestos dust brought home by the worker on his clothes or skin.

Those who live in the vicinity of an asbestos manufacturing plant are also at risk.

Symptoms of mesothelioma may not appear until between twenty and fifty years after exposure, which explains why so many new cases of this form of cancer are coming to light now. Many people who haven't been in contact with asbestos for decades, are now showing symptoms of this dreadful disease.

As with many forms of cancer, mesothelioma can spread rapidly. Symptoms include shortness of breath, coughing, loss of weight, and chest pains. If it is diagnosed early enough, the tumor can be surgically removed, and with chemotherapy and radiation treatment, a full recovery is often possible.

However, in more advanced cases, cure is usually not possible. In such cases, chemotherapy and radiation treatment can be used alongside other pain relief treatments, to ease the symptoms. Where cure is not possible, the average survival time is between four and eighteen months, depending on the stage of the tumor and the general health of the patient.

I was prompted to write about mesothelioma because I personally know families who have suffered due to this terrible disease.