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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Best Treatment Options for Mesothelioma

Finding the Best Solutions for this Tricky Cancer
When you are dealing with Mesothelioma, you don't have a lot of different options for treatment in most cases. The way that this condition presents, combined with its known latency period that can last between 4 and 5 decades, makes it very difficult to treat effectively. Patients can experience many types of this condition, and while 75% of cases present in the lungs, it can also be diagnosed in the abdomen or heart. Finding the right treatment is all about understanding the type of Mesothelioma that is present, its stage of development, and where it is located in the body.
Avoid Misdiagnosis
This is a very uncommon cancer in the grand scheme of things. Therefore, it often goes undiagnosed for a long time, or it is misdiagnosed because the odds of actually having it are so rare. Once a suspected diagnosis of Mesothelioma is present, the doctor will order tests to figure out exactly what is going on. Make sure that if you have had exposure to asbestos in your lifetime and you present with common symptoms, you note this so that you have a better chance of getting the right diagnosis for more effective treatment options.
The Prognosis
Mesothelioma doesn't have a particularly good outlook for patients who are suffering from the condition. There are plenty of elements that affect your survival rate and initial prognosis, including things like:
-The size and stage of the cancer
-Whether surgery is an option
-The type of Mesothelioma that is diagnosed
-The age and health of the patient
-Initial diagnosis vs. a secondary case after treatment and remission
Treatment Solutions
There are many different treatment options for this condition, depending on various factors like those mentioned previously. In most cases, radiation, chemotherapy, and surgery are the standard treatment options. Of course, this cancer usually requires an aggressive combination treatment for the best possible results.
Surgery:
There are four types of surgery that are used to treat Mesothelioma. An excision will remove the cancer and some of the healthy tissue to make sure that the cancer is completely gone. This is effective, but rarely an option because the cancer has spread too far by the time of diagnosis. Pluerectomy and decortication, which is a procedure that removes the lining of the lungs and other areas that are affected, is another option. In some cases, doctors will remove an entire lung, as well as parts of the diaphragm and the lining of the pericardium, which protects the heart. The final procedure involves using chemicals and drugs to create scarring in the lung lining. That stops the buildup of fluid in this disease.
Radiation Therapy:
Like most cancers, Mesothelioma can be treated using radiation in many cases. This helps kill the cancer cells, but can cause a lot of side effects that are less than desirable. Because of the advanced stage that is usually present at diagnosis, most people require aggressive radiation therapy combined with medications or surgery to get the best treatment possible.
Medications:
Chemotherapy, which is administered orally or by injection, is effective at stopping the cells from growing and spreading. This treatment can be done with pills, IV treatments, or intramuscular injections, which will help ensure that the cells are killed or stopped in the right area. In many cases, combination chemotherapy is employed because multiple drugs have a better chance of killing the disease than a single drug alone
Choosing the Right Treatment
It starts by talking to your doctor and developing a treatment plan. The type of Mesothelioma that you have, combined with other factors, will determine the right solution for your best prognosis.

Bob Hartzell is a freelance writer who writes on topics of education, health and law. More recently he has focused on small cell lung cancer as it pertains to mesothelioma cancer.

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Malignant Mesothelioma

Malignant mesothelioma is an uncommon, but no longer rare, cancer that is difficult to diagnose and poorly responsive to therapy. Malignant mesothelioma is the most serious of all asbestos-related diseases.
A layer of specialized cells called mesothelial cells lines the chest cavity, abdominal cavity, and the cavity around the heart. These cells also cover the outer surface of most internal organs. The tissue formed by these cells is called mesothelium.
The mesothelium helps protect the organs by producing a special lubricating fluid that allows organs to move around. For example, this fluid makes it easier for the lungs to move inside the chest during breathing. The mesothelium of the chest is called the pleura and the mesothelium of the abdomen is known as the peritoneum. The mesothelium of the pericardial cavity (the "sac-like" space around the heart) is called the pericardium.
Tumors of the mesothelium can be benign (noncancerous) or malignant (cancerous). A malignant tumor of the mesothelium is called a malignant mesothelioma. Because most mesothelial tumors are cancerous, malignant mesothelioma is often simply called mesothelioma.
Mesothelioma was recognized as a tumor of the pleura, peritoneum and pericardium in the late 1700's. However it was not until much later, in 1960, that this particular type of tumor was described in more detail and even more importantly, its association with asbestos exposure was recognized. The first report linking mesothelioma to asbestos exposure was written by J.C.Wagner, and described 32 cases of workers in the "Asbestos Hills" in South Africa. Since than the relationship between mesothelioma and asbestos exposure has been confirmed in studies around the world.
The incidence of mesothelioma in the United States remains very low, with 14 cases occurring per million people per year. Despite these numbers the noticed threefold increase in mesothelioma in males between 1970 and 1984, is directly associated with environmental and occupational exposure to asbestos, mostly in areas of asbestos product plants and shipbuilding facilities.
Although the disease is much more commonly seen in 60-year old men, it has been described in women and early childhood as well. The cause of the disease is not so well understood in these latter two groups, but there is some evidence of possible asbestos exposure for some of these cases as well.
Mesothelioma is one of the deadliest diseases known to man; the average life span of an inflicted person from the time of diagnosis until death is less than 24 months. It's a disease that strikes approximately 3,000 United States citizens each and every year; hard working people who have labored for a lifetime to provide for their families, doing the work that keeps this country running and a great place to live. They worked in factories, at shipyards, in mines, for the US military, as engineers, as pipefitters, as steel workers, as auto mechanics, and in so many other professions. They came home to their loved ones exhausted and covered in dirt and dust; tired, but content that they had a job and were providing for their family. Content that they were putting food on the table and a house over their loved one's heads. Content that they were working to make a better life for their families in this generation and the next...
But what they didn't know was that while they were working so hard, they were not only slowly killing themselves, but those that they were working so hard to help; their family, their loved ones.
What is the mesothelium?
The mesothelium is a membrane that covers and protects most of the internal organs of the body. It is composed of two layers of cells: One layer immediately surrounds the organ; the other forms a sac around it. The mesothelium produces a lubricating fluid that is released between these layers, allowing moving organs (such as the beating heart and the expanding and contracting lungs) to glide easily against adjacent structures.
The mesothelium has different names, depending on its location in the body. The peritoneum is the mesothelial tissue that covers most of the organs in the abdominal cavity. The pleura is the membrane that surrounds the lungs and lines the wall of the chest cavity. The pericardium covers and protects the heart. The mesothelial tissue surrounding the male internal reproductive organs is called the tunica vaginalis testis. The tunica serosa uteri covers the internal reproductive organs in women.
What Is My Diagnosis?
There are three types of mesothelioma. Pleural mesothelioma is a cancer of the lining of the lung (pleura), peritoneal mesothelioma is a cancer of the lining of the abdominal cavity (peritoneum), and pericardial mesothelioma is a cancer of the lining surrounding the heart (pericardium). Sub-types (or cell types) of mesothelioma are epithelioid (the most common, and considered the most amenable to treatment), sarcomatous (a much more aggressive form), and biphasic or mixed (a combination of both of the other cell types).
The structural appearance of cells under the microscope determine the cell or sub-type of mesothelioma. Epithelioid is the least aggressive; sarcomatoid, the most aggressive. The biphasic or mixed cell type shows structural elements of both of the other two.
There are three types of mesothelioma. Pleural mesothelioma is a cancer of the lining of the lung (pleura), peritoneal mesothelioma is a cancer of the lining of the abdominal cavity (peritoneum), and pericardial mesothelioma is a cancer of the lining surrounding the heart (pericardium). Sub-types (or cell types) of mesothelioma are epithelioid (the most common, and considered the most amenable to treatment), sarcomatous (a much more aggressive form), and biphasic or mixed (a combination of both of the other cell types).

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Cures for Lung Cancer - The Important Things That You Should Know

"I'm sorry to inform you that you have lung cancer and you only have 12 months to live."
If the doctor said this you, what should be the first thing you do? That's right. You would be running around, researching the internet, asking for prayers, looking everywhere to find a cure for lung cancer. Why? Because we have been told that there is no cure for this one and that it is basically a death sentence.
This article will not try to convince you that there are cures for lung cancer. We KNOW that there are; it's just a matter of you opening up your mind to a brand new perspective; a whole new worldview that maybe something is amiss here.
With all the technology we have in this day and with all the resources at our disposal to research cures for lung cancer, with billions of dollars spent on experiments and lab tests; can we at least be optimistic and think that maybe they did find a cure?
Now you ask me, if they did find the perfect cure, why would they keep it from the public?
The answer is really surprising: THE LOVE OF MONEY! The root of all evil!
Billions of dollars are spent by cancer patients each year on treatments and medication. If the medical industry announced that a miracle has happened and that they found cure for lung cancer, what would happen then? They would lose those billions of dollars.
Drug companies and private medical institutions know this so they conspire to keep this fact away from the public. Instead of giving the cure, which would then stop the patient from coming back to spend more, they would treat the disease as slowly as possible so they keep coming back.
To be honest with ourselves, if we found out that there really are cures for lung cancer, would you still believe the way of the "accepted" and traditional methods like chemotherapy or surgery or high-energy radiation? I think most assuredly not. But this doesn't take away the fact that there are cures for lung cancer. And they are found in alternative medicine.
There are lots of alternative medicine that can be found not only through internet research but even contemporary physicians have begun to accept the healing powers of methods like Controlled Amino Acid Therapy (CAAT), Photodynamic Therapy or PDT, and many others.
If you do research and then dig deeper, you will find dozens of testimonies from people who have found a cure using the alternative methods. Just be under the impression that cancer is a symptom and not the disease itself. If you change the lifestyle, you can find cures for lung cancer; although the medical institutions would strongly disagree with you.

For effective cures for lung cancer and for more prevention and treatment read the next page carefully. If one of your loveones or friends that you care about is dealing with any type of cancer and are desperate for complete healing, go take a look at this site One minute cure.

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Mesothelioma - Ayurvedic Herbal Treatment

Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer which develops from the protective lining that covers the internal organs of the body such as the lungs, the abdominal cavity and the heart. Environmental or occupational exposure to asbestos is mainly believed to be the cause for this condition. The commonest presentation of malignant mesothelioma is in the pleura which covers the lungs. Common symptoms include breathlessness, chest pain, collection of fluid in the pleura, and general symptoms such as weight loss. Diagnosis of this condition is usually done with the help of chest x-ray, CT scan of the chest and biopsy of the pleura. Signs and symptoms of mesothelioma appear nearly 20 to 50 years after exposure to asbestos. The cancer can spread to other parts of the body and produce different local symptoms. The modern management of this condition involves surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation, or a combination of these treatment modalities; however, the overall results are quite poor even with combined treatment. Survival after a confirmed diagnosis of this condition is an average of 1 to 2 years. Exposure to asbestos can have medico-legal implications and this condition is usually associated with lawsuits, seeking compensation for the condition.
Ayurvedic herbal treatment for mesothelioma is aimed at treating the tumour, preventing its spread to other parts of the body, and improving the overall survival rate. Ayurvedic herbal treatment can also be combined with modern management such as surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. Because of the aggressive nature of mesothelioma, Ayurvedic herbal treatment needs to be instituted at the earliest possible. Ayurvedic herbal medicines are required to be given in high doses and for prolonged periods in order to control this condition. Since the commonest presentations of this disease is in the pleura covering the lungs, herbal medicines which have a specific affinity for the lungs and the pleura are used as the mainstay of treatment in the management of this condition. In addition, herbal medicines which have a specific action on the blood tissue are also used in the management of mesothelioma. Medicines are also used to prevent the spread of this condition through the blood and lymphatic circulation. The medicines which are most useful in the management of this condition have an anti-inflammatory effect as well as an anti-cancer effect. The use of such medicines therefore helps in controlling inflammation, infection, as well as actually killing and removing the cancer cells.
In addition to the above treatment, Ayurvedic herbal immunomodulatory agents are also used in high doses in order to boost the immune system of the affected individual so as to help fight against the cancer and bring about a complete remission of the condition at the earliest. A strong immune system also helps to maintain the strength of the affected in individual and brings on a feeling of vigor and vitality. Depending upon the presentation of the disease, symptomatic treatment is also given for symptoms such as chest infection, fever, hemoptysis, pneumothorax, and the formation of pus in the pleural fluid. Herbal medicines also need to be given to flush the dead cancer cells, toxins, and debris generated in the treatment either through the gastrointestinal system or through the kidneys. Medicines useful in the treatment of Mesothelioma include Kantakari (Solanum indicum), Manjishtha (Rubia cordifolia), Saariva (Hemidesmus indicus), Guduchi (Tinospora cordifolia), Gokshur (Tribulus terrestris), Amalaki (Emblica officinalis ), Kanchnar Guggulu, and Mahamanjishthadi Qadha.
Most individuals affected with mesothelioma require aggressive Ayurvedic herbal treatment for about 12 to 15 months in order to comprehensively control the condition and significantly improve the survival rate. Ayurvedic herbal treatment thus has a significant contribution to play in the management and treatment of mesothelioma.

Dr. A. A. Mundewadi is Chief Ayurvedic Physician at Mundewadi Ayurvedic Clinic based at Thane, Maharashtra, India. He is available as an online Ayurvedic Consultant at http://www.ayurvedaphysician.com
The online clinic offers Ayurvedic treatment for all chronic and refractory health problems. Dr. A. A. Mundewadi, B.A.M.S., has clinical experience of over 25 years and clinical research experience of 12 years. He has conducted extensive research in HIV infection, Schizophrenia and many other chronic diseases.

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Mesothelioma Survival Rate - Bad!

Mesothelioma Survival Rate is not high and on average people diagnosed live from 4 to 11 months after. This survival rate is just harsh reality and devastating to the patients and their families. Sad is this fact as well that there are around 3,000 new diagnoses a year. However, new experimental treatments are being worked on to increase that number. See, this is good news because you get to spend that much more time with your loved ones. The American Cancer Society has been quoted to say that 40% of the patients now diagnosed with mesothelioma not live longer than a year and an average 10% live longer than 5 years.
The estimating or predicting, or attempt to do so, for anyone is difficult and there are some factors to take into consideration. Plus, the fact that no two patients are alike and what is true for one is not for another. The first factor that affects the individual's mesothelioma survival rate is the latency period.
The latency period is a big factor in the mesothelioma survival rate. This period is the amount of time from the time of exposure to asbestos and the first symptoms of mesothelioma. The time span between the two, or latency period, is anywhere from 20 - 50 years. This is a very long time for any disease to establish and when doctors finally do diagnose the health issues of the patient as mesothelioma, unfortunately it has spread to an advanced stage.
My question I have, that was not answered by any of my research is:
Why not go to your doctor before the symptoms begin, and you are still in the latency period. Talk to them, inform the doctor you worked with asbestos and what can they do to stop mesothelioma from taking your life?
Another factor in the mesotheliom survival rate of the asbestos exposed is the stage it is in when they are diagnosed.
Stage 1 and 2 have a better rate of survival because the disease has been caught early.
Stage 3 and 4 have a lower survival rate due to the advanced cancer growth and fewer treatment options available. Treating a cancer that has spread to other organs is an almost impossible battle to win inside the human body.
So, to recap, we have learned here that our mesothelioma survival rate goes up with the earlier diagnosing of it. I say, go to your doctor if you work with, or have worked with or around asbestos products. Learn the symptoms, educate yourself, this will help you in the end.
Other factors in the survival rate are:
· Age of the patient when diagnosed
· Does the patient smoke
· Health of the patient at diagnosis
· Size of tumor and if it has spread or can be removed
Treatments can improve Mesothelioma Survival Rates among some patients. Some of these treatments being rather aggressive such as surgery, chemotherapy, radiation help some people. Remember though this varies from person to person. For some these therapies help, for others it does not.
Some survivors have had success with alternative therapies which aim to strengthen the immune system and boost their well-being. Some of these therapies are acupuncture, massage, yoga, nutritional supplements.
Mesothelioma Survival Rates are not good and that is a sad fact. However we can increase the time we have with out loved ones who have this dreaded disease and more time is always a good thing.

I am sorry that I need to reveal to you the very low Mesothelioma Survival Rate, if it is any consolation, I have been in your shoes of having a loved one diagnosed with this disease.
It makes me hate the material of Asbestos and the destruction Asbestos Poisoning does to the body and our loved ones. I know the hate for a fiber is not healthy and does me no good and I will not hold onto it.

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Mesothelioma - All About It

Mesothelioma also commonly referred to as malignant mesothelioma, is an odd type of cancer which grows in the protective lining which shells most of the body's inner organs, the mesothelium. The cancer is as a result of exposure to asbestos.
The cancer usually develops on the pleura (i.e. the exterior lining of the lungs as well as interior chest barrier). Nonetheless, the cancer can also grow in the peritoneum (the coating of the abdominal cavity), the tunica vaginalis (a bag which environs the testis) or the pericardium (i.e. the pouch which surrounds the heart).
A majority of individuals who acquire mesothelioma have at one point in their lives worked on professions where they breathed in asbestos as well as glass specks, or were exposed to asbestos dust along with fiber by other means. It has also been shown that cleaning the garments of family members who worked with asbestos can put the person doing the laundry at risk of suffering from mesothelioma. While it is true that smoking can enhance one's chances of suffering from other types of asbestos-stimulated cancers, there is no medical proof to show that there is a link between mesothelioma and smoking. Individuals who have been subjected to asbestos have already accumulated harm for asbestos-related illnesses which include mesothelioma. Payments from asbestos funds or litigation are a critical matter in law practices concerning mesothelioma.
The signs that someone is suffering from malignant mesothelioma consist of shortness of breath as a result of pleural effusion (i.e. the fluid in-between the lung and chest barrier) or chest barrier pain, on top of general signs, for example, weight loss. The diagnosis can be identified with chest x-rays coupled with CT scan, and is verified with a biopsy (tissue test) on top of microscopic analysis. A thoracoscopy (this is where a tube with a camera is inserted into the chest) can be utilized to get biopsies. It enables the insertion of substances, for instance, talc to destroy the pleural space (known as pleurodesis), that deters more fluid from gathering and surging on the lung. In spite of therapy with chemotherapy, radiation and at times surgery, the mesothelioma has a bleak prognosis. Studies regarding screening examinations for the early prognosis of mesothelioma are still going on.
Signs and Symptoms
The signs and symptoms of mesothelioma might not show until twenty or fifty years after the initial exposure to asbestos. Shortness of breath, coughing and aches in the chest, as a result of gathering of fluid in the pleural space, are some of the most common signs of pleural mesothelioma.
Signs of peritoneal mesothelioma are weight loss, intestinal swelling along with aches as a result of ascites (this refers to accumulation of fluid in the intestinal cavity). Other signs of peritoneal mesothelioma might include bowel blockade, anemia, blood clotting irregularities as well as fever. In case the cancer has spread further than the mesothelium to other areas of the body, signs might be aches, issues with ingesting, or swelling of neck or face.
These signs might be triggered by mesothelioma or by other disorders that are less grave.
Mesothelioma which touches on the pleura can create the following signs and symptoms:
- Chest barrier aches.
- Coughing, wheezing and hoarseness.
- Exhaustion or anemia.
- Difficulties in breathing.
- Pleural effusion (i.e. fluids which environs the lung).
- Traces of blood in the sputum coughed out.
In acute cases, the individual might have numerous tumor heaps. The person might also develop a pneumothorax (collapsing of the lung). Over time, the illness can metastasize or spread to other areas of the body.
Tumors which affect the intestinal cavity frequently do not trigger signs till they are at a later stage. The signs and symptoms might include:
- Intestinal aches.
- Weight loss.
- Issues with bowel movements.
- A load in the abdomen.
- Uncharacteristic accumulation of fluid in the belly.
In acute cases of illness, the following signs and symptoms might show:
- Acute ascites.
- Low blood sugar level.
- Pleural effusion.
- Clotting of the blood in the veins which may in turn trigger thrombophlebitis.
- Disseminated intravascular coagulation. In a layman's term, this refers to a condition resulting in acute bleeding in numerous body organs.
- Jaundice. This refers to the yellowing of the eyes as well as the skin.
- Clotting of the blood in the arteries of the lungs.
Unlike other types of cancers, mesothelioma does not normally invade the brain, adrenal glands or the bone. Pleural tumors are normally located on one side of the lungs.
What causes mesothelioma?
The main cause of mesothelioma is exposure to asbestos. In the U.S., asbestos is the main cause of malignant mesothelioma and is regarded as "incontrovertibly" related to the growth of mesothelioma.

Click here to learn more about mesothelioma or visit us at www.asbestosmesotheliomacancer.net.

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