Symptoms and Treatments for Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is one of the few cancers that don't exhibit
symptoms until the cancer reaches the late stage of
development and it is at this point that many cases become
incurable. It also has non-specific symptoms and thousands
of cases each year are misdiagnosed as other, less severe
respiratory conditions. Simply put, mesothelioma is a rare
form of cancer that affects the thin layer of protective
tissue around the major organs, most noticeably the lungs,
heart and stomach and recently it has been positively
linked to the mineral asbestos. This thin layer of tissue,
the mesothelium, allows inhaled asbestos fibres to embed
themselves, and it is here that they can lay dormant for up
to 50 years before becoming cancerous.

The symptoms that are associated with mesothelioma depend
on which of the body's organs are affected.

Pleural mesothelioma. This type of cancer affects the lungs
and causes a number of symptoms including:

· Persistent cough that doesn't improve with medication
· Breathing difficulties
· Shortness of breath
· Fever
· Difficulty swallowing
· Chest pain
· Weight loss

Pericardial mesothelioma. This second type of mesothelioma
affects the heart tissue and includes the following
symptoms:

· Breathing difficulties
· Chesty cough
· Palpitations

Peritoneal mesothelioma. The third type of mesothelioma
affects the stomach and causes the following symptoms:

· Nausea and vomiting
· Abdominal pain
· Weight loss
· Bloating of the stomach
· Bowel obstruction
· Fever

Obviously all of these symptoms can also be due to a number
of other conditions however anyone who experiences them
should consult a doctor, especially those who have been
exposed to asbestos in the past.

Unfortunately for mesothelioma victims, the symptoms only
present themselves late in the cancer's development and so
in many cases treatment is palliative rather than curative.
There are a number of possible types of treatment that can
be used against mesothelioma and the course of treatment
that is prescribed will depend to a large extent on how
developed the cancer is and how far it has spread around
the body. This information can be determined using x-rays,
CT scans and MRI scans because these imaging techniques can
provide a detailed view of the cancer's progression and how
many areas of the body are affected. The possible forms of
treatment include surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and
palliative care and either a single form or a combination
will be used.

Surgery. Surgery can be used in cases where there is an
obvious large tumour however it will only become an option
if the tumour is causing chronic pain or if it is causing
an obstruction e.g. in one or both of the lungs. Because
mesothelioma can take between 30 and 50 years to develop
many sufferers are elderly when they are diagnosed and so
the option of surgery will also depend on age and general
state of health. Occasionally it is considered safer to
live with the tumour than to risk the rigors of surgery.

Radiotherapy. Radiotherapy is most effective when the
mesothelioma is confined to a single site, such as the
lungs. It can and often is used in conjunction with
chemotherapy as an extra defence against any small pockets
of cancerous cells that might survive drug therapy.
Radiotherapy can produce some side effects however they are
easily treated and rarely cause problems.

Chemotherapy. Chemotherapy for mesothelioma will more often
than not involve a stay in hospital while a specific drug
concoction is introduced to the body intravenously.
Chemotherapy is used when the cancer has spread to other
areas and so the treatment needs to attack multiple sites.

Palliative care. Palliative care can include any of the
above treatments however they will be aimed at improving
and extending the quality of life rather than providing a
cure. Palliative care will also include pain relief as in
many cases the mesothelioma is well advanced and causing
chronic chest and abdominal discomfort.

Mesothelioma is considered a rare form of cancer however in
the last decade the number of cases diagnosed each year has
steadily risen. Since becoming associated with asbestos
many victims have successfully sued their former employers
and many more are starting proceedings each and every year.
Today workers have to wear protective clothing and
breathing apparatus while working with asbestos and so it
may be that the presence of mesothelioma dies along with
the current generation.

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Andrew Daigle is the owner, creator and author of many
successful websites including CancerAbout at
http://www.cancerabout.net , a Cancer Resource site and
http://mesothelioma-attorney-search.com , a Mesothelioma
Lawyer Resource site.