Whether you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, the same set of common questions often pop into our minds. These are mesothelioma issues we covered often on this blog, but they are so important, so critical, it is worth reviewing from time to time. Covering the bases mesothelioma is at the heart of what we try to do in our efforts to connect patients and families with critical information. As with any disease, you learn a lot that you meet with doctors, but it is important to do your own research as well. Here are some common mesothelioma questions we have heard asked over the years by newly diagnosed patients:
What exactly is mesothelioma
mesothelioma is? a rare form of cancer that attacks the mesothelium and is caused by exposure to asbestos particles in the inhaled air and injested. Mesothelioma usually infects the pleura (lungs) or the peritoneum (abdomen). The forms of asbestos cancer in the lining of the organs. When infected with asbestos fibers, the cells of the mesothelium become abnormal and begin to divide at a rapid pace that often causes malignant cells to grow and spread.
What causes mesothelioma?
Mesothelioma can be attributed to exposure to asbestos. Due to the latency period of the disease, exposure to asbestos is most often decades before diagnosis, between 30-40 years before in many cases. Many diagnosed with mesothelioma were exposed to asbestos in the workplace; However, the dangers of exposure were also taken among family members. Even low levels of exposure can lead to the development of mesothelioma. In addition, there are environmental exposures to the deterioration of buildings and old building materials for asbestos disturbance of asbestos occurring naturally in the earth.
How is mesothelioma diagnosed?
If you have already been diagnosed with mesothelioma, then it may be a little less common to ask this question, but many family members and people in search of a second opinion are interested in how mesothelioma is diagnosed. Mesothelioma symptoms are similar to asbestosis, a noncancerous inflammation even life-threatening lung caused by exposure to asbestos and lung cancer, which makes identification difficult. A complete patient history is needed to determine a diagnosis of mesothelioma, including any exposure to asbestos. Of course, a physical examination is performed and radiographs of the chest and belly. A CT scan, MRI and biopsy are most often used to make a diagnosis of mesothelioma.
What are the mesothelioma treatment options?
The treatment of mesothelioma varies from case to case. Factors that influence treatment options for mesothelioma include the location of asbestos cancer, how cancer has developed, and the age and health of the individual diagnosed. Treatment options include surgery to remove the cells, radiation therapy and chemotherapy. The National Cancer Institute is sponsoring clinical trials to advance treatment options for mesothelioma. Unfortunately, there is currently no cure for mesothelioma.
The most difficult question, one of the first questions any normal person think, is that the expectation of life of mesothelioma. This must be determined on an individual basis. As a treatment, it strongly depends on the type of tumor (pleural mesothelioma or peritoneal mesothelioma), stage of disease, and the patient's overall health.
