February 8th, 2010
Chemotherapy is the treatment of cancer using specific chemical agents or drugs that are only destroying malignant cells and tissues. Your doctor may recommend chemotherapy exclusive of a chemical agent or a combination thereof. The exclusive one chemotherapy agent, as its name implies uses only one. Combination chemotherapy using more than one. Although not a cure for mesothelioma, chemotherapy may help reduce and slow the progression of cancer.
Alimta (Pemetrexed)
Alimta The drug can be prescribed for the treatment of patients with mesothelioma. It indicates the use of Alimta with cisplatin (see below) for the treatment of patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma. Normally, Alimta is administered through an IV tube. (IV infusion)
Onconase (Ranpirnase)
A new drug called Onconase could help slow the spread of mesothelioma tumors.
Navelbine (Vinorelbine)
Like Alimta, in combination with other chemicals in chemotherapy, Navelbine is used to treat mesothelioma tumors. Clinical trials are still in process and have already begun testing in some patients. Generally, Navelbine administered intravenously.
Carboplatin (Paraplatin)
Carboplatin is a chemotherapy drug that interferes with the growth of cancer cells, slowing their spread in the body. Carboplatin can cause serious side effects. Generally, Carboplatin is administered intravenously.
Cisplatin (Platinol)
Cisplatin is a clear fluid, usually given in combination with other drugs to treat certain types of cancer, including mesothelioma. In the treatment of mesothelioma, cisplatin is administered in combination with Alimta. As is the case with many of the chemotherapy, side effects may occur. Generally, Cisplatin is administered intravenously.
Tags: Chemotherapy, destroying malignant cells, Mesothelioma, Navelbine, Onconase, progression of cancer, treatment of cancer
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February 6th, 2010
Pleural
Pleural mesothelioma symptoms may include breathing problems, chest pains, back pains, pain in the ribs, fluid accumulation in the lung lining, hoarseness, coughing up blood, swelling of the face and arms muscle weakness, paralysis and sensory loss.
Peritoneal
Symptoms may include: stomach pain, weight loss, nausea, vomiting, hernia, fluid in the abdominal cavity or a mass in the abdomen.
From Pericardium
Symptoms may include chest pain and breathing problems. The tumor and / or fluids that accumulate between the heart and the sac can compress the heart, causing the above symptoms.
Tags: coughing up blood, From Pericardium, hoarseness, Mesothelioma Symptoms, Peritoneal, Pleural
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February 5th, 2010
Pericardial Mesothelioma is also known as cancer tissue sac containing the heart.
Symptoms may include chest pain and breathing problems. The tumor and / or fluids that accumulate between the heart and the sac can compress the heart, causing breathing problems. Your doctor may diagnose this cancer using a procedure called thorascopy for thoracoscopy, which might in turn require a cut in the chest cavity to remove the tumor.
Patients who develop an excessive amount of fluid around the heart, called an effusion, may be diagnosed with mesothelioma of the pericardium through a sample of fluid. It is also possible to drain the fluid to relieve symptoms of mesothelioma of the pericardium. The process of drainage of these fluids is known as pericardiocentesis.
Tags: breathing problems, chest pain, effusion, Mesothelioma, Pericardial Mesothelioma, pericardiocentesis, the heart, The tumor
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February 4th, 2010
Peritoneal mesothelioma, also known as cancer of the peritoneum, is a cancer of the lining of the abdominal tissue. Symptoms may include: stomach pain, weight loss, nausea, vomiting, hernia, fluid in the abdominal cavity or a mass in the abdomen.
One of the ways doctors diagnose peritoneal mesothelioma is by looking inside the abdominal cavity with an instrument called peritoneoscope. In this procedure, a cut is made through the abdominal wall and the device is inserted into the abdomen. This test, called peritoneoscopy, takes place usually in the hospital.
Some patients develop excessive fluid in the abdomen. This is called an effusion. The doctor could take a sample of fluid to diagnose if there is peritoneal mesothelioma. The fluid in the abdomen also may be drained to relieve symptoms of mesothelioma of the peritoneum. This fluid drainage procedure known as paracentesis.
Tags: abdominal cavit, abdominal tissue, cancer of the peritoneum, hernia, nausea, paracentesis, Peritoneal mesothelioma, peritoneoscope, stomach pain, vomiting, weight loss
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February 2nd, 2010
The easiest way to understand the difference between lung cancer and mesothelioma is that lung cancer is in the lung tissue, while pleural mesothelioma occurs in the layer of tissue lining the outside of the lung.
Smoking is considered the primary cause of lung cancer, and asbestos as the primary cause of mesothelioma. Asbestos can also cause lung cancer. Smoking does not cause mesothelioma. People who have been exposed to asbestos and who also smoke have up to 90 times more likely to be affected with lung cancer than those who do not smoke.
Tags: Asbestos, layer of tissue, Lung Cancer, Mesothelioma, pleural mesothelioma, Smoking
Posted in Asbestos, Malignant Mesothelioma Info | No Comments »
January 30th, 2010
Who is at risk for developing mesothelioma?
Those who have worked directly with asbestos or asbestos products are most at risk of developing mesothelioma, but have found some cases of mesothelioma in people with minimal exposure.
The professions that have a high risk of developing mesothelioma include:
* Workers with metal plates (including shipbuilding)
* Manufacturers of vehicle bodies (including rail vehicles)
* Plumbers
* Gas Technicians
* Carpenters
* Electricians
* Construction workers
* Plasterer
* Constructors
* “Manitas”
* Steel Installers
* Painting
* Sheet metal workers
* Welders
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Tags: amounts of asbestos, Asbestos, asbestos products, Malignant mesothelioma, Mesothelioma
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January 29th, 2010
What is mesothelioma?
Malignant mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that starts in the mesothelium, the membrane that covers and protects most internal organs of the body. The mesothelium is composed of two layers, one surrounding the body itself and the other forms a sac around it epithelium. Usually produces a small amount of fluid between these two layers, which lubricates the movement of the organs protected. When normal cells of the mesothelium lose control and fall rapidly, appears mesothelioma.
The most common form of mesothelioma is mesothelioma pleural which occurs in the lining of the lungs. Other forms are “peritoneal” mesothelioma, affecting the epithelium of the abdominal cavity and mesothelioma “pericardial” which affects the lining of the heart.
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Tags: Malignant mesothelioma, Mesothelioma, mesothelioma pleural
Posted in Malignant Mesothelioma Info | No Comments »
