How quickly does Mesothelioma progress?

You may ask, how quickly does Mesothelioma cancer progress? Normally the onset of Mesothelioma cancer is quite slow. Patients will begin to experience symptoms such as lower back pain and chest pain. These symptoms may also be accompanied by weight loss, fever and difficulty breathing. Unfortunately, once Mesothelioma develops, it quickly becomes aggressive and treatment must be sought immediately.

Can Mesothelioma be treated?

Doctors are able to use several traditional methods of cancer treatment for Mesothelioma cancer, including surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. Like all forms of cancer, detecting the disease at the earliest stage possible greatly increases the patient's chances for survival. If you have worked in an industry such as construction or suspect that you may have been exposed to asbestos, be alert for symptoms and contact your doctor immediately.

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How to Learn About the Mesothelioma Cancer Diagnosis Process

Mesothelioma is the term used to define cancer that afflicts the tissue surrounding the body's organs. Mesothelioma also affects the fluid and tissue in the space between organs. This makes mesothelioma one of the more difficult cancers to detect, as symptoms usually don't appear until the cancer is in more advanced (and more dangerous) stages. If you suspect you may have mesothelioma, it's important to begin the diagnosis process as soon as possible.

Understand the Mesothelioma Diagnosis Process:

Expect a CT Scan to be one of the first tools used in a mesothelioma diagnosis. The CT scan is able to process a detailed image of your abdomen to determine

Know that an X-ray is a common first step in any mesothelioma diagnosis process. Although it cannot directly detect the presence of mesothelioma, a chest X-ray is capable of detecting a thickening of the lining of the lungs.

Use the PET scan as another tool to detect the presence of mesothelioma. Although still technically in trials, PET scans introduce radioactive glucose into the body. These radioactive sugars become concentrated in cancerous tissue, although simple scar tissue is known to attract them, as well.

Expect fluid and tissue samples to be taken as a diagnostic tool, although less invasive methods like the CT scan or the MRI are more common.

Know that surgery is sometimes used in the diagnosis process, since it can be difficult in some cases to conclusively identify malignant tissue.

Avoid asbestos at all costs. Asbestos is the leading cause of mesothelioma, so people who are exposed through construction, mining or manufacturing should be tested for exposure on a regular basis.

Overall Tips & Warnings:

Be aware that the Patient Bill of Rights give you the authority to participate in any and all decisions related to your treatment. You can say yes or no to any treatment option presented, as well as any and all diagnosis options that are available.

Ask your doctor to explain the diagnosis process to you in plain English. If you speak a different language, ask for a translator. It's your right.

Stop smoking right away, particularly when facing the possibility of mesothelioma treatment. Smoking is known to intensify the side effects of chemotherapy and radiation treatment. Continue to abstain from smoking after your treatments are done.

Feelings of depression and anger are quite common in cancer patients. Learn to deal with this flood of emotions by speaking to a religious leader, friend, therapist or support group.

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Mesothelioma Cancer - What to Tell Children

What to tell your children if you suffered or been diagnosed with the mesothelioma cancer?

The amount of information you should give them depends on their age and how grown up they are. Being honest is one thing but giving them all the information at once may be too much. Try spreading it out a bit to ease the shock of the inevitable outcome.

Questions can be answered on a 'need to know basis' initially but as more hospital vists are undertaken and the patient is unwell at times then more detail needs to be offered. Getting the same question over and over again from young children can be difficult at times but it should be realised that this is a normal part of their development.

Teenagers may have a particularly hard time as they now have to cope with additional strong emotions and extra responsibilies, as well as the usual emotions which are part of their development into adults. They may need to turn to others outside the family if they find it difficult to talk to family members e.g.family friend, teacher or counsellor.

Grief raises its head everywhere and it is important to reasure children that it is not their fault that this illness has happened. It seems to be common amongst children that they feel they are to blame and these feelings could last for some time.

Additionally, they may need to be put right about what they have heard from friends and other people as it may not be correct.

Children need to be dealt with sensitively but honestly. But manage the communication of information according to age, maturity and circumstances.

Article by:

c) Paul Curran, CEO of Cuzcom Internet Publishing Group and webmaster at Information on Mesothelioma, providing information about mesothelioma and mesothelioma news.

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How to Prevent Occupational Exposure to Asbestos

Asbestos is a generic name for a group of dangerous fibers used in the construction business. Asbestos fibers can separate and be easily inhaled, causing considerable damage to the lungs and other organs. Asbestos is a highly-regulated material and many occupational safety measures are in place to prevent exposure to it. Following are some steps for avoiding occupational exposure to asbestos.

Repair the free flowing fibrous area. Many issues arise because the area that contains the asbestos has been damaged and the fibers are freely floating through the air. Repairing the effected area may include wrapping the asbestos, removing it and replacing it with a newer, less harmful substance, or enclosing the effected area.

Wear a HEPA filtered respirator that has been individually fitted for you. There are many respirators on the market to choose from. A dust particle mask is not sufficient protection from the airborne fibers. You should wear a mask certified safe by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Consult an OSHA specialist for more information.

Wet the asbestos when working with it. Wet fibers are heavier and fall to the ground or don't free-flow in the air. The point is to not inhale the fibers, so making the fibers heavy will help prevent this.

Train the employees on the dangers of asbestos. A major part of both the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Center for Disease Control (CDC) is to prevent exposures in the workplace through education.

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Mesothelioma Cancer Clinical Trials - New Chemotherapy And Drug Treatments

I read an article few days ago regarding the mesothelioma cancer clinical trials somewhere from the internet. The article was all about studies of new treatments in patients who are diagnosed with the mesothelioma cancer.

These treatments are most often new chemotherapy drugs, or sometimes surgery in combination with a drug treatment. Researchers perform a clinical trial when there is some reason to believe that the treatment under evaluation may aid patients. In general researchers perform clinical trials to determine whether a treatment works, whether it is more effective then existing treatments, whether the side effects are too severe to justify the treatments use, and which patients benefit most from the treatment. At any given time, there are usually between 15 to 20 active clinical trials throughout the world investigating new therapies for mesothelioma cancer. Researchers are conducting more than half of those trials in the United States.

While being treated for mesothelioma cancer, a doctor may suggest that a patient look into a clinical trial. Though this does not mean that the patient has no other hope, the patient should be aware of the risks associated with clinical trials. No one knows in advance if the treatment will work or exactly what side effects will occur.

Researchers conduct clinical trials in steps called phases. Each phase answers certain questions. Clinical trials are usually classified into one of three phases.

Phase I trials evaluate how doctors should administer a new drug (i.e. by mouth, injected into the blood, or injected into the muscle), how often, and at what dose. A Phase I trial usually enrolls only a small number of patients, sometimes as few as a dozen.

Phase II trials continue to test the safety of the drug, and begin to evaluate how well the new drug works. Phase II studies usually narrow the focus to a particular type of cancer.

Phase III trials test a new drug, a new combination of drugs, or a new surgical procedure compared to the current standard therapy. Researchers assign participants to the standard group or the new group at random. Phase III trials often enroll large numbers of people and may be conducted at many doctors' offices, clinics, and cancer centers nationwide.

The benefit of participating in a clinical trial is that a patient can receive a treatment that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has yet to approve and they may be of substantial benefit. Additionally studies have shown that mesothelioma patients that participate in clincial trials tend to live longer and received better care than those who do not partcipate.

For more info regarding this Mesothelioma cancer clinical trials please visit here.

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Mesothelioma Cancer Patient's Guide to Nutrition

At some point during our childhood we have all been told to eat our vegetables. Forcing down tasteless green beans and brussels sprouts were supposed to make us taller and stronger. Well, so it is for mesothelioma cancer patients. Diet is often an overlooked subject for cancer patients, but eating the right nutritional foods for strength and energy is just as important as taking the proper medication.

Mesothelioma cancer patients undergoing treatment must follow a special cancer diet devised by their nutritionists. Cancer diets involve eating the correct amounts of protein and calories as well as drinking the right amount of water to keep the ailing body replenished and energized. The body needs plenty of nourishment when it is going through chemotherapy or even when the patient is taking certain medications.

Doctors and nutritionists may also recommend a special cancer diet because many mesothelioma patients tend to lose their appetites due to worry over their condition. Also, those who are undergoing treatment may choose not to eat because of the unpleasant side effects they may experience. Chemotherapy, for example, and even some particular medications may cause an imbalance of nutrients that must be corrected in order to keep the body as strong as possible and to keep the patient from losing an excessive amount of weight. Other side effects of mesothelioma treatment include nausea, vomiting, dry mouth, a change in the sense of smell or taste, and/or constipation.

Below are some of the important nutrients patients are encouraged to include in their mesothelioma diet:

Protein is important for any cancer patient because it helps repair tissue damaged by surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation. Protein also helps maintain a strong and healthy immune system, lowering a mesothelioma patient’s risk of infection after aggressive cancer treatments. The National Cancer Institute recommends increasing protein in a cancer diet with cheese, milk, ice cream, yoghurt, eggs, nuts, peanut butter, meats and fish.
Fats are an essential part of the cancer diet because they supply the body with the necessary energy it needs while undergoing treatment. The amount of fats (meaning the number of calories) a cancer diet should consist of is dependent on a mesothelioma patient’s age and body size. The National Cancer Institute recommends increasing caloric intake with such foods as butter, milk, cheese, honey, sugar, granola and dried fruits.
Water is another essential element of the cancer diet. Without a substantial amount of water, the body will dehydrate. It is important that anyone undergoing cancer treatment receive enough water to keep their bodies hydrated and replenished. The details of every patient’s mesothelioma diet will vary. Some patients will need to incorporate more fat into their diets, while others may need more protein. It is important that patients devise a cancer diet under the guidance of their doctor and nutritionist to ensure that they receive the proper amount of nutrients to improve their quality of life.
By Maggie Kay

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Signs And Symptoms Of Mesothelioma Cancer or Disease

In this post below we will discuss the signs and symptoms of the Mesothelioma cancer or disease...

Symptoms of mesothelioma cancer or disease may not appear until 20 to 50 years after exposure to asbestos. Shortness of breath, cough, and pain in the chest due to an accumulation of fluid in the pleural space are often symptoms of pleural mesothelioma.

Symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma include weight loss and cachexia, abdominal swelling and pain due to ascites (a buildup of fluid in the abdominal cavity). Other symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma may include bowel obstruction, blood clotting abnormalities, anemia, and fever. If the cancer has spread beyond the mesothelium to other parts of the body, symptoms may include pain, trouble swallowing, or swelling of the neck or face.

These symptoms may be caused by mesothelioma or by other, less serious conditions.

Mesothelioma cancer that affects the pleura can cause these signs and symptoms:

chest wall pain
pleural effusion, or fluid surrounding the lung
shortness of breath
fatigue or anemia
wheezing, hoarseness, or cough
blood in the sputum (fluid) coughed up

In severe cases, the person may have many tumor masses. The individual may develop a pneumothorax, or collapse of the lung. The disease may metastasize, or spread, to other parts of the body.

Tumors that affect the abdominal cavity often do not cause symptoms until they are at a late stage. Symptoms include:

abdominal pain
ascites, or an abnormal buildup of fluid in the abdomen
a mass in the abdomen
problems with bowel function
weight loss

In severe cases of the disease, the following signs and symptoms may be present:

blood clots in the veins, which may cause thrombophlebitis
disseminated intravascular coagulation, a disorder causing severe bleeding in many body organs jaundice, or yellowing of the eyes and skin
low blood sugar level
pleural effusion
pulmonary emboli, or blood clots in the arteries of the lungs
severe ascites

A mesothelioma cancer or disease does not usually spread to the bone, brain, or adrenal glands. Pleural tumors are usually found only on one side of the lungs.

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