Mesothelioma - Symptoms n Treatment

Mesothelioma is a form of cancer that is almost always caused by previous exposure to asbestos. In this disease, malignant cells develop in the mesothelium, a protective lining that covers most of the body's internal organs. Its most common site is the pleura i.e the outer lining of the lungs and internal chest wall, but it may also occur in the peritoneum i.e the lining of the abdominal cavity, the heart,the pericardium i.e a sac that surrounds the heart or tunica vaginalis.

Symptoms:

Chest wall pain is common in Mesothelioma.
Pleural effusion, or fluid surrounding the lung .
Shortness of breath .
Fatigue or anemia .
Wheezing, hoarseness, or cough is also seen .
Problems with bowel function and weight loss as in other cancers is also a symptom .
Jaundice, or yellowing of the eyes and skin low blood sugar level pleural effusion ood in the sputum (fluid) coughed up (hemoptysis ) is detected in mesothelioma.

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.

Treatment:

There are more treatment possibilities for Mesothelioma cancer than surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy: the clinical trials.

Surgery

Surgery for malignant mesothelioma is divided into a number of sub-classes, which are specially designed to limit the disease for individuals with particular strains of the disease.
The surgical procedure pleurodesis is a distinct technique insofar as it employs a blend of chemicals and/or drugs to create an intentional scar between the layers of the pleura. Post surgery, the space created by the scar must be drained, using either a catheter or chest tube, and is then filled with a chemical which inhibits the accumulation of fluid in the pleura cavity.

Radiation

The second primary medical technique used to fight the development of malignant mesothelioma is radiation where high energy x-rays are used to kill cancer cells.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy involves the use of two or more anticancer drugs which can be administered either orally or through injection that target cancer cells and stop them from dividing and thus prevent their growth.

Malignant mesothelioma is a difficult disease for anyone to bear, however, educating oneself as to the options available is an important step for making the process more manageable.