Friday, July 18, 2008
Early diagnosis is essential for the effective treatment of mesothelioma
12:13 AM | Posted by
Musang |
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Cancer is a major killer diseases today. It does not choose its victims. Men and women, young and old die of cancer. Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that affects the Mesothelium, especially Pleura (membrane surrounding the lungs) and peritoneum (membrane around the abdomen). Both pleural mesothelioma and peritoneal mesothelioma are mainly caused by inhalation or exposure to asbestos, a mineral fiber-combustible impure magnesium silicate used in various industrial products. About 30 to 50 per cent of total cancer patients mesothelioma has not been exposed to asbestos, but they have acquired the disease. Cancer specialists continue to study this rare type of cancer, in order to provide the public with clear and precise as regards the information to his cause, nature and healing.
Like many other forms of cancer, mesothelioma has different stages. The first stage is still curable since only a layer of the pleura is affected. Surgery is the first option for patients with stage I mesothelioma. The doctor removes the part of the lining of the lungs or chest (in case of pleural mesothelioma) and the wall of the abdomen (in the case of peritoneal mesothelioma). In Phase II mesothelioma, surgery may still be executed even if some lymph May have already been infected with malignant mesothelioma cancer cells. The diaphragm May also be suppressed, in serious cases, the patient has mesothelioma to sacrifice one of his lungs.
Usually, surgery comes with systemic therapies, including radiation and chemotherapy. With radiotherapy, mesothelioma cancer cells are killed, but only cells in the treated area die. High-energy rays used in radiation therapy or radiotherapy May, or come from an external machine or thin plastic tubes placed in the tissues where mesothelioma stricken by cancer cells are located. Inside the plastic tubes are emitting radiation materials that kill malignant cells. Using an external machine is called external beam radiation, while the other is called internal radiation therapy. Also, a radioactive substance, such as radio labeled monoclonal antibody is distributed in the body during radiotherapy.
Chemotherapy is the use of anticancer drugs to kill malignant cells. In the treatment of mesothelioma, the fight against cancer drugs are generally administered to the patient by intravenous injection (in the vein). Oncologists are still studying the possibility of dealing with mesothelioma intracavitary chemotherapy (in the chest or the abdomen). Mesothelioma Some patients also undergo photodynamic therapy, a kind of cancer therapy that combines the use of drugs (photosensitize) with a specific type of light. The photosensitizing agent when exposed to light produce oxygen nearby that destroys malignant cancer cells. The drug is injected into the bloodstream and is absorbed by the cells.
To relieve symptoms of mesothelioma such as pain in the chest or the abdomen due to the accumulation of fluid, a doctor drains the fluid through a needle. The procedure is known as thoracentesis (removal of fluid in the chest) or paracentesis (removal of fluid in the abdomen). To avoid the accumulation of liquid lubrication in the membranes of the chest or the abdomen, drugs are given through a tube in the body reached.
Although these treatments mesothelioma have been proven effective, chance of recovery and survival still depends on the size or extent of the cancer. The odds are higher when mesothelioma is still in its infancy. The surgery is only desirable that until the second phase of cancer mesothelioma only one part or smaller portions membranes are affected. A patient diagnosed with stage IV mesothelioma (diffuse mesothelioma) has only about 4-24 months to live. In addition, patient's age and his overall health is also crucial to his recovery. Elderly patients do not respond well to certain treatments against cancer as surgery because their tissues, organs and other body parts are more delicate.
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Mesothelioma
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