Saturday, November 26, 2011

What Is Mesothelioma? Types and Treatment Options

Mesothelioma is a cancer that affects the mesothelium. The mesothelium is a thin membrane over the heart, lungs and other internal organs. Basically, you get the disease caused by exposure to asbestos fibers at some point in your life.

Types of Mesothelioma

Pleural mesothelioma

Pleural mesothelioma is the most common form is pleural mesothelioma, which develops in the mesothelium. Pleural mesothelioma develops in the pleural membrane, which is the lining of the lungs.

Inhalation of asbestos fibers are the cause of pleural mesothelioma. Once in the lungs, asbestos fibers work their way into the pleural membrane of the lungs. Once there, the body is that it is almost impossible to get rid of them. During a period of several decades, asbestos fibers cause pleural cells to change. These changes can lead to scarring of the lungs and eventually form a tumor.

If the cancer cells divide they always turn into pleural membrane, leading to a reduced lung capacity and leads to an accumulation of fluid between the pleural membrane layers.

Since mesothelioma is usually not until the later stages of the disease occurs, the prognosis for these patients is generally poor. But when the disease is detected early, the prognosis and life expectancy can be significantly improved.

Peritoneal mesothelioma

Peritoneal malignant mesothelioma - a rare form of cancer, the peritoneum of the influence of concerns (the cell wall surrounding the abdominal cavity, lubricates the peritoneum of the abdominal cavity, so that the surrounding organs and structures in the body to expand and move in mesothelioma Peritoneal together is very rare.. less than 500 people who contract this type of cancer each year.

A few decades after the asbestos fibers are inhaled, ingested, developed cancer of the stomach of the patient. Type of test can diagnose whether a patient has peritoneal mesothelioma. Although this is usually diagnosed until later stages, there are some options.

Although some patients may be eligible for surgery or other curative treatment options, patients simply decide for other palliative measures. Most patients with peritoneal mesothelioma survived less than a year. But with proper treatment increases the life expectancy. Mesothelioma Specialists can help patients find the best treatment for her cancer, the patient may improve the prognosis.

According to some studies, the average life expectancy for a man diagnosed with peritoneal mesothelioma seven months, although some people have survived nearly 100 months. Women generally live about nine months after being diagnosed with some women in a maximum of 49 months to survive. Patients whose lung cancer was detected early and with less severe symptoms, were clearly a better prognosis.

Mesothelioma Treatment Options


When it comes to cancer treatment, doctors focus on the death of malignant cells and healthy salad. There are many ways to do this.

Doctors use surgery, chemotherapy or radiotherapy or a combination of three as the most effective way to treat mesothelioma. The treatment will be recommended based on several themes:

The type and location of mesothelioma
How big is it?
How much has the cancer spread?
The cancer
The age of patients
Patient's condition

Different types of physicians in the treatment of cancer by an oncologist or cancer researcher, a pulmonologist and a radiologist or pulmonologist may be involved. It may take some time to find the exact location and number of cancers, but these factors will determine the most effective mesothelioma oncologist prescribe treatment.