A UK medical journal, The Lancet, released disturbing
results of a study finding no benefit of chemotherapy on
patients suffering from malignant pleural mesothelioma
(MPM).
The research, considered a setback for scientists seeking
treatment for the condition, was conducted by Nicholas J.
Vogelzang, MD, director of the Nevada Cancer Institute in
Las Vegas, and was released in May 2008.
Chemotherapy Ineffective Mesothelioma Treatment
The study found that chemotherapy not only did not offer
any improvement among mesothelioma patients but was found
to have no significant impact whatsoever on survival rate
of victims.
According to the study, the median average of survival rate
between victims who received an active symptom control
(ASC) versus those who received the same treatment plus
chemotherapy was less than a month apart, suggesting no
beneficial impact, although, the study did suggest further
investigation into treatments of ASC and chemotherapy were
likely required.
What is Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma?
MPM is considered an advanced and more severe form of
malignant mesothelioma and has been characterized as "an
aggressive tumor with poor prognosis," according to a study
published in The Oncologist, an international medical
journal, in 2007. The cancer typically affects an
individual's lungs and causes extreme difficulties when
breathing.
The condition is also difficult to treat because of the
high rate of misdiagnosis among patients. Unfortunately,
the incidence of this condition has also been on the rise,
and experts speculate that through the next 10 to 20 years,
the number will only increase.
Mesothelioma Causes
For years, mesothelioma has been linked to the inhalation
of vermiculite asbestos fibers and dust. Vermiculite is a
mineral that was heavily mined. During the 20th century,
several vermiculite mines, although the exact number is
unknown, were functional in the United States, with
countless other mines in operation throughout the world.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is currently in
charge of regulating and issuing guidelines for the safe
removal and cleanup of asbestos in homes and building
throughout the country. However, there is a large number,
although estimates are not clear, of structures with
asbestos-ridden insulation currently in the United States
and improper exposure to such could increase risk of
developing a form of mesothelioma.
Additional Malignant Mesothelioma Treatment Options
While the unfortunate truth is that malignant pleural
mesothelioma is usually fatal among victims, there are a
few treatment options for managing the disease, however
these often depend upon the symptoms and stage of the
illness.
Surgery is the most common mesothelioma treatment, although
a study released in July 2007 in The Oncologist emphasized
that the role of surgery in managing MPM is debatable.
However, the three main surgical techniques used to manage
MPM are pleurodesis, pleurectomy/decorication (P/D) and
extrapleural pnemonectomy (EPP).
The study noted that as of yet, there have been no
controlled studies determining whether one surgical
procedure is better than another. Of the surgical
procedures, the P/D and EPP methods aim for local control
of the disease and while P/D has a limited morbidity, EPP
has between 1.5 to 5 percent mortality rates.
It is often recommended that individuals who suffer from
this type of mesothelioma or any form of mesothelioma
locate an experienced mesothelioma attorney. Because of the
high costs and technical difficulties associated with
mesothelioma treatment, a mesothelioma lawsuit may
potentially offer relief in the form of monetary
compensation, especially since mesothelioma is considered
by some to have been highly preventable.
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Learn more about mesothelioma and other various treatments
at http://mesothelioma.legalview.com/ . Also, visit the
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