Mesothelioma Treatment

Mesothelioma can be hard to treat, whether the cancer is resectable or not. It’s very important that you understand the goal of treatment before it starts – whether it is to try to cure the cancer or to help relieve symptoms – as well as the possible benefits and risks. This can help you make an informed decision when looking at your treatment options.

Despite years of research since the disease was first identified, it’s still difficult to identify the best approach to treating the disease, says David Rice, MD, a cardiothoracic surgeon and nationally known mesothelioma expert who practices at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, TX.
The very rareness of the cancer—only about 3,000 people a year are diagnosed in the United States—makes it difficult to run the kind of research studies needed to compare treatments and determine the ideal therapy at each stage of the disease. “There isn’t a lot of evidence-based science in this disease,” Dr. Rice admits. So when his patients ask him what the best treatment is for the disease, he tells them what we tell you in this section, adding that “we don’t have a reliable cure for this disease.”
Thus, a major goal of treatment is to reduce pain and suffering and prolong a patient’s life as long as possible while providing them with the highest quality of life possible.

Choosing the right mesothelioma doctor is an important first step in planning for treatment.

There are a number of mesothelioma experts, like Dr. Rice, practicing in specialized clinics throughout the country. Each of these cancer specialists has an acute knowledge of the behavior and pathology of Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma and its treatment. It is likely that if you are diagnosed with mesothelioma, you will be referred by your personal physician to a larger scale comprehensive cancer center.
The most important consideration in mesothelioma treatment is the cancer stage and type, said Dr. Rice. Treatment decisions also depend on whether the cancer is localized to the chest or has spread to the chest wall, diaphragm, or lymph nodes, your age and overall health, and the center where you’re being treated. Learn more about finding a doctor here.
 

Conventional treatments for mesothelioma involve surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy.

As with most solid tumors, doctors turn to surgery, radiation and chemotherapy to manage mesothelioma. When exploring the various treatment options available with your doctor it is important to be informed about the risk and benefits of each one before making a final decision.

The stage (extent) of a mesothelioma is an important factor in determining treatment options. But other factors, such as whether the doctor feels the cancer is resectable (all visible cancer can be removed by surgery), as well as a person’s general health and preferences, also play a role.

Types of Mesothelioma

There are three main types of mesothelioma, and each affects a different area of the body.  The three types of this deadly cancer are:

• Pleural Mesothelioma
• Peritoneal Mesothelioma
• Benign Mesothelioma

Pleural Mesothelioma

Pleural mesothelioma is the most common type of malignant mesothelioma (accounting for an approximate 75% of all documented cases of the disease) and affects the section of the mesothelium called the pleura. Although the most common type of malignant mesothelioma, the disease is still somewhat of a rarity. As a result, pleural mesothelioma is often confused with other types of diseases, such as lung cancer and viral pneumonia. Lung cancer can be caused by Asbestos (asbestos lung cancer), though it differs from pleural mesothelioma in that it is a malignancy of the lung tissue itself, as opposed to pleural mesothelioma which is a malignancy of the tissue casing of the lungs. Viral pneumonia shares certain symptomatic similarities with pleural mesothelioma and is often misdiagnosed as such.
The most common presenting symptom of pleural malignant mesothelioma is chronic chest pain. A buildup of fluid inside the pleural space can cause severe and chronic chest pains; this is called pleural effusion. Steps can be taken to drain the fluid and relieve the pain (with the possibility of recurrence) or surgery can be performed to close the pleural space (with virtually no possibility of recurrence). Some of the other notable symptoms associated with pleural mesothelioma include:

• Shortness of breath
• Chronic coughing
• Weight loss
• Fever

Raw asbestos fibers

Pericardial Mesothelioma

Pericardial mesothelioma is much less common than malignant mesothelioma of the pleura or peritoneal. Peritoneal mesothelioma is the second most common type of malignant mesothelioma (accounting for an approximate 10% to 20% of all documented cases of the disease) and affects the section of the mesothelium called the peritoneum (the mesothelial lining of the abdomen). Peritoneal mesothelioma is most often caused by the ingestion of carcinogenic asbestos fibers. Inhaled Asbestos fibers can become lodged in mucous lining the mouth and esophagus. Once swallowed, it travels through the digestive system where it can potentially become lodged and develop into a tumor.
 In fact there are only about 150 cases ever reported in the medical literature. It affects the section of the mesothelium called the pericardium (the mesothelial lining of the heart). People in the fourth to seventh decades of life are most likely to have this cancer, and there is a 2:1 male to female ratio. Currently, surgical excision (removal) of the pericardium is the treatment for pericardial mesothelioma, primarily to lessen symptoms of constriction around the heart.

Symptoms that are associated with pericardial mesothelioma include:

• Chest pain
• Fluid buildup around the heart
• A mass in the space between the lungs
• Abnormal or difficult breathing (dyspnea)
• Chronic coughing
• Irregular heartbeat (palpitations)

 

Malignant Versus Benign

The aforementioned types of mesothelioma are malignant forms, and are thusly the most dangerous. Malignant mesothelioma is often the product of asbestos inhalation from individuals who have worked or resided in areas not up to current health and safety standards. Since the disease has a high latency period, often times it is not diagnosed until it has progressed far beyond any rectifiable measure.
As the name suggests, benign mesothelioma is a form of non-malignant mesothelioma that is easily treatable. While benign tumors can at times be cancerous, unlike malignant mesothelioma, the tumors do not spread, making it easier to isolate and remove.

Mesothelioma of the Tunica Vaginalis Testis

Mesothelioma of the tunica vaginalis testis is the least common type of malignant mesothelioma (amounting to less than 100 of all documented cases of the disease) and affects the section of the mesothelium called the tunica vaginalis testis (the mesothelial lining around the testes). Most patients are in their 50s or older, but about ten percent of the patients are younger than 25 years. Patients generally present with a hydrocele (an accumulation of serous fluid in a sac-like cavity (as the scrotum)) or hernia. Treatment is usually a high inguinal orchiectomy (surgical excision of the entire affected testis through an incision in the lower abdomen - called also orchidectomy). Prognosis is somewhat better than for pleural mesothelioma.
Symptoms that are associated with this cancer include:

• Hydrocele (a fluid filled sac attached to a testicle)
• Suspected hernia

Mesothelioma Symptoms

Early symptoms of mesothelioma are generally shortness of breath and a heavy feeling in the chest area. Ninety percent(90%) of all patients will notice these two symptoms. However, because the symptoms do not seem serious many choose not to seek out medical care. The shortness of breath or heaviness is caused by a fluid buildup in the lungs. These two symptoms should be taken seriously, especially if a person has a history of asbestos exposure .
                                      
The most common form of mesothelioma cancer is pleural mesothelioma, which affects the lining of the lungs.  Symptoms of pleural mesothelioma are often compared to symptoms of the flu or a common cold.  These pleural mesothelioma symptoms include:

• Shortness of breath
• Chest pain or lower back pain
• Persistent, dry cough
• Difficulty swallowing
• Fever
• Fatigue

Other forms of mesothelioma affect the abdominal area (peritoneal mesothelioma), and the heart (pericardial mesothelioma).  For a complete list of symptoms associated with these forms of mesothelioma cancer, visit mesothelioma charities

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Additional Symptoms of Mesothelioma

Some symptoms common with pleural mesothelioma include back, chest or side pain, difficulty swallowing, cough, fatigue and weight loss. Peritoneal mesothelioma is often accompanied by abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, back pain, anemia and bowel obstruction. Both types of mesothelioma may leave a person feeling very weak. It is extremely important a person visits their doctor if they notice any of these symptoms. The longer mesothelioma injury is allowed to go untreated the less favorable the outcome.

Similar Diseases and Illnesses

Any of the earlier mentioned symptoms can also indicate asbestosis, which is a benign result of Asbestosis exposures . However, an asbestosis diagnosis does not mean a person will not develop mesothelioma later. It is crucial a person has their symptoms evaluated to determine whether or not they are benign or malignant. asbestos mesothelioma  will need to be closely monitored as well just in case it becomes malignant and can pose serious health concerns.

Mesothelioma Advice

About  Mesothelioma 

A patient with Mesothelioma usually begins showing symptoms 10 to 50 years after their exposure to asbestos. It is a rare form of cancer almost always caused by exposure to asbestos dust.

It is not uncommon for people to have been diagnosed who have lived near asbestos factories or who have washed their husband’s clothing. You need not have worked with asbestos in order to develop Mesothelioma as it can be caused by only small amounts of exposure. The risk of developing the disease increases depending on how much asbestos dust you have breathed in, the more you have breathed in the more at risk you are of developing the disease. It is estimated that more than up to 3,000 Americans face a mesothelioma diagnosis every year. 

Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer, many people aren’t even aware that they have it. It is very subtle at the beginning and could go unnoticed. Some people have experience no symptoms at all and this can lead to being left undiagnosed or misdiagnosed for several years. The development of the disease can take between 10 – 40+ years after exposure to asbestos dust.

Mesothelioma victims are affected by the cells that comprise the lining of vital organs such as the lungs, the heart, and the abdomen.  This cancer causes lining cells, known as mesothelioma, to divide at an abnormally fast rate.  This rapid mesothelial cell regeneration leads to the buildup of scar tissue, fluid, and tumors that compromise organ function and can lead to the death of the patient. It is difficult to diagnose and quite often a biopsy needs to be carried out to diagnose mesothelioma. Unlike lung cancer there is no known connection between cigarette smoking and the development of the disease.

  Mesothelioma Causes

Exposure to asbestos is the main cause of mesothelioma. Asbestos is a mineral commonly used as an insulator and binding agent in industrial, commercial, and residential products and equipment. Though the dangers of asbestos exposure and the resulting asbestos-related diseases like asbestosis have been documented for more than a century, products containing asbestos are still on the market in the United States today.
More than 80 percent of mesothelioma and asbestosis patients were exposed to asbestos on the job.  This occupational exposure to asbestos, when industry clearly knew of the dangers associated with the material, has been the basis for thousands of mesothelioma and asbestosis patients .