Risk factors Symptoms Complications Mesothelioma ,
Mesothelioma0Alternative Treatments Herbal medicines mind-body therapies holistic healing and other complementary therapies may benefit patients. Mesothelioma Lawsuits and Financial AssistanceMedical Support: A complete medical team with a mesothelioma specialist dietitian patient advocate and others can improve prognosis.The Mesothelioma Center’s monthly online support group meets every second Wednesday. Licensed mental health counselor Dana Nolan runs the support group. Patients and survivors can share their experiences with others on a similar cancer journey.Immunotherapy: This experimental treatment boosts the immune system to fight the cancer. Primarily used in clinical trials. Multimodal Therapy: A combination of two or more treatments. Clinical studies show this approach improves survival rates. HIPEC: A multimodal treatment for peritoneal mesothelioma patients. Surgery is first used to remove as many tumors as possible. Heated chemotherapy is then applied to the abdominal cavity to destroy remaining cancer cells.Mesothelioma is a rare cancer caused by exposure to asbestos.These mesothelioma symptoms usually do not show until tumors have grown and spread. Mesothelioma latency is 20-50 years. That’s how long it takes from initial exposure to accurate diagnosis. For that reason many people with mesothelioma are in their 60s or 70s.Mesothelioma is an aggressive and deadly form of cancer. Mesothelioma treatments are available but for many people with mesothelioma a cure is not possible.Types of Mesothelioma Oncologists name each type of mesothelioma by the location in the body where it develops. The pleural and peritoneal types of mesothelioma are the most common. Pericardial accounts for 1 percent of cases. Another rare type is testicular mesothelioma. It represents less than 1 percent of all mesotheliomas. Prognosis symptoms and treatment options vary by type.The most common treatments for mesothelioma include: Surgery: Offers greatest chance of survival. Usually used for diagnosis tumor removal or palliative care to reduce pain. Patients with strong health and limited cancer spread are good candidates. Chemotherapy: More than 70 percent of patients undergo chemotherapy. It uses powerful drugs to shrink tumors and kill cancer cells.MesotheliomaLeading Expert Dr. David Sugarbaker Explains Mesothelioma Causes Asbestos remains the primary cause of mesothelioma. The cancer develops when a person ingests asbestos and it causes changes to a person’s DNA. Our genes are made of DNA. Some of the genes in our body control how cells grow multiply and die. Changes in our genes may cause cells to divide out of control and may lead to cancer. Development of MesotheliomaWhy Should You File? Many companies that produced distributed or used asbestos products knew it was deadly. But they neglected to warn their employees. Filing a lawsuit can help mesothelioma patients cover lost wages medical expenses and other costs. Who Can File a Lawsuit?Workers’ Compensation: Financial help may be available to people exposed to asbestos on the job.MesotheliomaA person inhales or swallows airborne asbestos fibers. The asbestos fibers become lodged in the lining of the lungs abdomen or heart. The embedded fibers damage the mesothelial cells and cause inflammation. Over time tumors begin to form on the damaged mesothelium.MesotheliomaA person with mesothelioma can file a personal injury lawsuit. Mesothelioma lawyers file these against companies responsible for their client’s asbestos exposure. Families can file wrongful death claims when a loved one dies of mesothelioma. How Do I File a Lawsuit? Qualified mesothelioma attorneys can help you decide when to file a lawsuit. They can also guide you through the process. Time is of the essence because statute of limitations may expire. A mesothelioma lawyer will review your case so you receive the highest compensation. Other Types of Financial Assistance VA Claims: Military veterans can file asbestos-related claims through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Medicare and Medicaid: Government aid for older patients or those with limited income.Mesothelioma Support Support is available for mesothelioma patients survivors and loved ones in many forms. Mesothelioma Support Groups: Offer patients and survivors a safe place to share experiences. Grief Support: Counseling sessions and grief support groups can bring peace of mind. They can also provide the coping skills needed to grieve for the loss of a loved one.Importance of Finding a Mesothelioma Specialist Mesothelioma is a rare cancer. It represents only 0.3 percent of all cancer diagnoses. Most doctors and oncologists have never encountered it.READ MORE ABOUT MESOTHELIOMA CAUSES Symptoms Common Mesothelioma Symptoms Dry coughingShortness of breathRespiratory complicationsPain in the chest or abdomenFever or night sweatsPleural effusion (fluid around the lungs)FatigueWeakness in the muscles Prognosis 40% of mesothelioma patients survive at least 1 year Source: Cancer.orgYou should talk to a mesothelioma specialist soon if you have a history of asbestos exposure and experience these symptoms. An early diagnosis may improve your prognosis and life expectancy.A 2009 study published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine states that cancer care “requires the technical knowledge and skills of specialty physicians such as medical oncologists surgeons and radiation oncologists.” Specialty cancer doctors establish: Goals for treatment and prognosisPossible use of chemotherapyFirst type of treatmentPossible participation in clinical trialsMalignant mesothelioma (me-zoe-thee-lee-O-muh) is a type of cancer that occurs in the thin layer of tissue that covers the majority of your internal organs (mesothelium).Palliative Treatments: May include surgery radiation chemotherapy or HIPEC. The purpose is not curative care. Instead the goal is to reduce pain and improve quality of life. Good for any mesothelioma patient. Clinical Trials and Emerging TreatmentsClinical trials offer mesothelioma patients access to experimental therapies. They also provide scientific and medical information for researches to develop new treatments. Patients in clinical trials also receive excellent medical care. LEARN MORE ABOUT CLINICAL TRIALSMalignant mesothelioma is a rare asbestos-related cancer. It forms on the protective tissues covering the lungs abdomen and heart. Symptoms include coughing chest pain and shortness of breath. Treatments combining surgery radiation and chemotherapy improve survival and life expectancy.Doctors divide mesothelioma into different types based on what part of the mesothelium is affected. Mesothelioma most often affects the tissue that surrounds the lungs (pleura). This type is called pleural mesothelioma. Other rarer types of mesothelioma affect tissue in the abdomen (peritoneal mesothelioma) around the heart and around the testicles.The American Cancer Society records about 3 000 new cases of mesothelioma each year in the U.S.Younger patients and women have a better mesothelioma prognosis than older men. People diagnosed with peritoneal mesothelioma also have a higher chance of survival. Patients eligible to undergo multimodal therapy which is a combination of two or more standard-of-care treatments have a better life expectancy and improved prognosis. patient’s mesothelioma cell type also plays a significant role in prognosis and life expectancy. The three types of cells include: Epithelioid: These cells are the most responsive to treatment which improves prognosis and life expectancy. They comprise 50 percent of mesothelioma diagnoses. Sarcomatoid: These cells are the least responsive to treatment. Patients with this cell type have a poorer prognosis and shorter life expectancy. These cells comprise 10 percent of diagnoses. Biphasic: A combination of epithelioid and sarcomatoid cells. This type is less responsive to treatment. But prognosis and life expectancy depends on the ratio of both types of cells. This type accounts for 30-40 percent of diagnoses. How Long Do Mesothelioma Patients Live?These are factors that impact a mesothelioma patient’s survival. That’s why finding a mesothelioma specialist is so important. Finding a mesothelioma specialty center with experienced mesothelioma doctors is crucial to survival. Treatment Options QUICK FACT More than 70 percent of mesothelioma patients undergo chemotherapy Mesothelioma treatment helps patients live longer lives. But not every patient is eligible for each type of mesothelioma treatment.The disease forms on the mesothelium — a protective lining that covers the lungs abdomen heart and testes. Tumors can be benign (noncancerous). But when tumors are cancerous doctors call the disease malignant mesothelioma. It is often shortened to mesothelioma.Radiation Therapy: Used to reduce pain from growing tumors. When combined with surgery and chemotherapy it reduces risk of local recurrence. It can be used at any cancer stage.MesotheliomaMesothelioma doesn't include a form of noncancerous (benign) tumor that occurs in the chest and is sometimes called benign mesothelioma or solitary fibrous tumor.Symptoms