Mesothelioma

What is Mesothelioma?

Malignant Mesothelioma is a rare cancer that occurs in a thin layer of tissue that covers most of the internal organs (mesothelium). Mesothelioma is an aggressive and deadly form of cancer. Treatment for mesothelioma is indeed available, but for many people suffering from mesothelioma, complete healing is not possible.

Doctors divide mesothelioma into various types based on which part of the mesothelium is affected by cancer. Mesothelioma most commonly affects the tissues surrounding the lungs (pleura). This type is called malignant pleural mesothelioma. Other types of mesothelioma (rarely encountered) affect the tissue in the abdomen (called peritoneal mesothelioma), located around the heart and around the testes.

Mesothelioma is not a form of non-cancerous (benign) tumor, occurring in the chest, sometimes referred to as benign mesothelioma or solitary fibrous tumor.

Symptoms

Signs and symptoms of mesothelioma may vary, depending on the location of the cancer in the body.

Pleural mesothelioma, which affects the tissues surrounding the lungs, raises signs and symptoms of:

• Chest pain under the ribs
• Cough with pain
• Hard to breathe
• Clumps of tissue under the skin on the chest
• Unexplained weight loss

Peritoneal mesothelioma, which occurs in the tissues in the stomach, has signs and symptoms that may be:

• Abdominal pain 
• Abdominal swelling
• Lumps of tissue in the abdomen
• Unexplained weight loss

Another form of mesothelioma

Signs and symptoms of other types of mesothelioma tend to be unclear, because other forms of the disease are very rare. Pericardial mesothelioma, which affects the tissues surrounding the heart, can cause signs and symptoms such as shortness of breath and chest pain. Mesothelioma tunica vaginalis, which affects the tissue that surrounds the testes, may first be detected as a swelling or an additional mass in the testes.

Causes & Risk Factors

In general, cancer begins when a series of genetic mutations occur inside the cell, causing the cells to grow and multiply out of control. It remains unclear as to the early causes of genetic mutations that can lead to mesothelioma. However, researchers have identified factors that may increase the risk of this disease. According to the researchers, the possibility of cancer formation is the result of the interaction of many factors, such as inherited condition (health), environment, health condition and lifestyle choices.

Exposure to asbestos: The main risk factor of mesothelioma Asbestos is a mineral found naturally in the environment.

Asbestos fibers are strong and resistant to heat, making them useful in a variety of devices, such as insulation, brake, shingle, flooring and many other products.

When asbestos minerals are cut off, for example when mining processes or when removing asbestos insulation, dust is usually formed. If this dust is inhaled or swallowed, then asbestos fibers will settle in the lungs or in the stomach, this precipitation causes irritation that can cause mesothelioma. How the irritation then develops into mesothelioma is not understood exactly. It takes about 30 to 40 years or more to develop mesothelioma after a person is exposed to asbestos exposure.

Most people exposed to asbestos in a long time tend not to develop mesothelioma. However, some people who experience a short exposure actually develop the disease. This suggests that other factors may be involved in the development of mesothelioma in a person. For example, a person inherited a tendency to have cancer or some other condition that may increase the risk of mesothelioma.

Risk factors

Factors that may increase the risk of mesothelioma include:

• Never or often exposed to asbestos exposure. If you have been exposed to asbestos fibers directly at work or at home, then the risk of mesothelioma will increase.
• Staying with someone who works in an asbestos environment. People exposed to asbestos can bring fiber home to their skin and clothing. Exposure to these fibers for many years can put his family at risk of mesothelioma. People who work with high levels of asbestos can reduce the risk of bringing home asbestos fibers by bathing and changing clothes before they return home from work.
• A monkey virus used in polio vaccine. Several studies have shown an association between mesothelioma and the simian virus 40 (SV40), a virus originally found in monkeys. Millions of people may have been exposed to SV40 when receiving polio vaccinations between 1955 and 1963 because the vaccine was developed using a monkey cell. Once it is known that SV40 has links to certain cancers, then the virus is removed from the polio vaccine. Whether SV40 may increase the risk of mesothelioma or not remains a debate, and further research is still needed.

Complications

When pleural mesothelioma spreads in the chest, this condition will place pressure on the structure around the area. This can lead to complications, such as:

• Difficulty breathing
• Chest pain
• Difficulty swallowing
• Swelling of the neck and face caused by pressure on large veins, the vein that leads from the upper body to your heart (superior vena cava syndrome)
• Pain caused by pressure on the nerves and spinal cord
• Accumulation of fluid in the chest (pleural effusion), which can compress the lungs and make a person difficult to breathe

When to Go to a Doctor?

 If you have signs and symptoms that may indicate mesothelioma, see your doctor immediately. Signs and symptoms of mesothelioma are usually not specific, because mesothelioma is relatively rare, and signs / symptoms tend to be associated with other conditions. If there are persistent or disturbing signs and symptoms that persist, ask your doctor to evaluate. Please also inform your doctor if you have been exposed to asbestos fibers.

Lifestyle & Home Care

The type of treatment that can be treated for mesothelioma cases will depend on the health conditions and certain aspects of cancer, such as the extent and location of the cancer. Unfortunately, mesothelioma is often an aggressive disease and for most people, total healing is not possible. Mesothelioma is usually diagnosed at an advanced stage - especially in cases where cancer is not possible to be removed by surgery. However, doctors may try to control the cancer and make patients 'more comfortable'.

Discuss the purpose of treatment with the doctor. Some people want to do everything they can to treat their cancer, even if the treatment will cause permanent side effects with minimal recovery opportunities. Others prefer a treatment that can keep them comfortable so they can live the rest of their remaining time without symptoms.

Operation

The surgeon will attempt to remove mesothelioma when the cancer is successfully diagnosed at an early stage. In some cases, this action can cure cancer.
Sometimes it is impossible to remove all parts of the cancer. In this case, surgery can help reduce the signs and symptoms caused by mesothelioma so as not to spread in the body.

Operation options may include:

• Surgery to reduce fluid buildup. Pleural mesothelioma can cause fluid to accumulate in the chest, so psien will find it difficult to breathe. The surgeon will insert a tube or catheter to the chest to drain the fluid. The doctor may also inject the medicine into the chest to prevent fluid return (pleurodesis).
• Surgery to remove tissue around the lungs or stomach. The surgeon will remove the tissue lining the ribs and lungs (pleurectomy) or tissue lining the abdominal cavity (peritonectomy). This procedure does not cure mesothelioma, but it can relieve signs and symptoms.
• Surgery to remove as much cancer as possible (debulking). If all cancer cells can not be removed, then the surgeon may try to remove as much of the cancer cells as possible. The debulking procedure allows doctors to perform direct radiation treatment more accurately, aimed at relieving pain and fluid buildup from mesothelioma.
• Surgery to remove the lungs and surrounding tissues. Lifting the lung part of the problem and surrounding tissue can alleviate the signs / symptoms of pleural mesothelioma. If patients undergo radiation therapy in postoperative chest, this procedure will allow doctors to use higher doses, as they do not have to worry about radiation damage to the patient's lungs.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy procedures use chemicals to kill cancer cells. Systemic chemotherapy runs throughout the body and can shrink or slow the growth of mesothelioma that can not be removed by surgery. Chemotherapy may also be performed before surgery (neoajuvan chemotherapy) to make surgery easier or after surgery (adjuvant chemotherapy) to reduce the likelihood of the return of cancer.

Chemotherapy drugs can also be heated and channeled directly into the abdominal cavity (intraperitoneal chemotherapy) -in the case of peritoneal mesothelioma-or into the chest cavity (intrapleural chemotherapy), -in the pleural mesothelioma case. Through this strategy, chemotherapy drugs can reach mesothelioma directly without injuring healthy cells in other parts of the body. This allows doctors to administer chemotherapy drugs in higher doses.

Radiation therapy

Radiation therapy directs a high energy, such as an X-ray, to a specific spot or toward the spots of the body. Radiation can reduce the signs and symptoms in people who have pleural mesothelioma. Radiation therapy is sometimes used after a biopsy or surgical procedure to prevent mesothelioma from spreading to the surgical incision area.

Clinical trials

Clinical trials are the study of new mesothelioma treatment methods. Mesothelioma patients may take the opportunity to undergo clinical trials as a new type of treatment process. However, total cure is not guaranteed. Be careful in considering treatment options, consult your doctor about the types of clinical trials available. Participation in clinical triaTreatment for other types of mesothelioma
Pericardial mesothelioma and mesothelioma from tunica vaginalis is a very rare type of cancer. When the cancer is still at an early stage, then the cancer can usually be removed by surgery. Nevertheless doctors have not been able to determine the best way to treat advanced cancer. Doctors can recommend other forms of treatment so that patients can improve their quality of life.

Alternative therapy

There is no other type of alternative treatment that is actually proven to help treat mesothelioma. However, complementary and alternative medicine can help control the signs and symptoms of mesothelioma. Discuss alternative treatment options with your doctor.

Mesothelioma can cause pressure on the chest that can make the patient feel as if short of breath. Your doctor may suggest using extra oxygen or taking special medications to make the patient feel more comfortable, although (often) this is not enough. Combining a doctor's recommended treatment with a complementary / alternative approach can help patients feel better.

Promising alternative treatments and helping people overcome breathlessness include:

• Acupuncture. Acupuncture uses a thin needle inserted at certain points on the skin.
• Breathing training. A nurse or physical therapist can teach breathing techniques that can be used when the patient feels asphyxiated that sometimes panics. Application of this technique can help control the condition of breathing.
• Relaxation exercises. Stretching and relaxing a group of different muscles slowly can help the patient feel more comfortable and breathe easier. The doctor may recommend a therapist who can teach relaxation exercises so that patients can do it themselves.
• Sit near the fan. Directing the fan towards the face can help ease the sensation of shortness of breath.

Support

Diagnosis of mesothelioma can have a negative and severe impact, not only for the sufferer, but also for family and friends. Try to:

• Learn about mesothelioma before making a decision about treatment. Write down the questions you want to ask your doctor. Asking for information to the health care team can help better understand mesothelioma disease.
• Seek support. A close friend or family can help with everyday tasks, such as helping to make a doctor's appointment or treatment.
• Look for other people with similar conditions (cancer). Sometimes there are certain questions that can only be answered by people who experience the same thing (cancer). Support groups offer patients the opportunity to ask questions and receive support from people who understand the situation.
• Future plan. Ask the health care team to provide family guidance on the patient's medical needs, especially when the patient is unable to express it indivi- sively.

Prevention

Reducing exposure to asbestos can lower the risk of mesothelioma. Most people with mesothelioma are exposed to asbestos fibers in the workplace. Workers who may interact with asbestos fibers include:

• Miners
• Factory worker
• Manufacturers of insulation
• Builders of ships
• Construction workers
• Auto-mechanics

Follow the 'Safety Rules'

Follow all safety precautions in the workplace, such as wearing protective equipment. Bathe and change work clothes before lunch break or go home. Talk to your doctor about other precautions you can take to protect yourself from exposure to asbestos.

Securing asbestos at home

Old houses and buildings may contain asbestos. In many cases, removing asbestos tends to be more dangerous than leaving it in intact condition. Termination of asbestos minerals can cause asbestos fibers into air, so this fiber can be inhaled. Consult with trained experts on asbestos or to detect asbestos at home. Experts can test the air content at home to see if asbestos can be a risk to health. Do not try to remove / remove asbestos from your own home, ask for expert helpls can help doctors to better understand the type of treatment appropriate for future mesothelioma.

Currently, clinical trials are investigating the types of targeted drugs (given as targeted). This type of drug therapy is targeted using drugs to overcome certain abnormalities in cancer cells. The target being studied in mesothelioma is one of the substances that make cancer cells able to attract new blood vessels that carry oxygen and nutrients to the cancer area. Researchers hope that the type of drug that targets these areas can help kill mesothelioma cells.