Mesothelioma Treatment & Symptom

Mesothelioma is a form of cancer that is almost always caused by previous exposure to asbestos. Asbestos is a mineral that was once widely used due to its fire resistant and insulating properties, but is no longer mined, milled or manufactured in Australia because of the health risks. All uses in new products are now banned in Australia and no asbestos products may be imported. Strict precautions also govern the removal and disposal of asbestos and asbestos-containing materials. In this disease, malignant cells develop in the mesothelium , a protective lining that covers most of the body's internal organs. Its most common site is the pleura (outer lining of the lungs and chest cavity), but it may also occur in the peritoneum (the lining of the abdominal cavity) or the pericardium (a sac that surrounds the heart ). It usually starts in the lungs, but can also start in the abdomen or other organs. Most people who develop mesothelioma have worked on jobs where they inhaled asbestos particles. It can take a long time - 30 to 50 years - between being around asbestos and getting the disease. Treatment includes surgery, radiation, chemotherapy or all three.

Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer (malignancy) that most frequently arises from the cells lining the sacs of the chest (the pleura) or the abdomen (the peritoneum). The lining around the lungs is called the pleura and in the abdomen it is known as the peritoneum . Mesotheliomas are uncommon cancers, although they are becoming more frequent. Currently, about 1800 people in the UK are diagnosed with mesothelioma each year. Mesothelioma of the lining of the lungs ( pleural mesothelioma ) is much more common than mesothelioma in the peritoneum. For every person with peritoneal mesothelioma there will be about 12 people who have pleural mesothelioma. The tissues lining (or covering) the lungs are called the pleura. There are two pleura. These can be called pleural membranes.  The gap between them is called the pleural space. The pleura are fibrous sheets. They help to protect the lungs. They produce a lubricating fluid that fills the gap between the two pleura. This helps the lungs to move smoothly in the chest when they are inflating and deflating as we breathe. The tissue lining the abdomen is called the peritoneum.  It helps to protect the contents of the abdomen. It also produces a lubricating fluid. This helps the organs to move smoothly inside the abdomen as we move around. Mesothelioma of the tissues lining the abdominal cavity is known as peritoneal mesothelioma. It is much less common than pleural mesothelioma. It is unusual for mesothelioma to spread to other parts of the body. But if it does, it does not usually cause troublesome symptoms.

Causes of Mesothelioma

Common Causes of Mesothelioma :

• Asbestosis.

Symptoms of Mesothelioma

Some common Mesothelioma :

• Shortness of breath .
• Fever.
• Difficulty swallowing .
• Abdominal pain.
• Cough .
• Chest pain .
• Weight loss
• Abdominal swelling.
• Nausea and vomiting
• Urinary problems.
• Anemia .

Treatment of Mesothelioma

• Cancer-killing drugs that can shrink the cancer and ease symptoms. Chemotherapy is often recommended if the cancer has returned following other treatment, or if other treatments are inappropriate.
• Sometimes used during pleurectomy. Stray cancer cells within the chest are highlighted with special dye and killed by laser.
• Surgery to remove the affected tissue. The affected lung may also be removed in whole or in part. Usually only small tumours are treated with surgery. Life span may be prolonged for a few months or years.
• The radiotherapy use a very high energy x-rays to destroy the cancer cells and cause a very little harm to normal cells. The radiotherapy is aimed at the affected part of the body and is very carefully planned. This therapy causes side effects and most common one involves is tiredness.
• This involves the use of anti-cancer drugs to destroy cancer cells. There are over 50 different Chemotherapy drugs. Some are given as tablets or capsules but mostly given by drip into a vein. It can cause side effects, again depends upon the combination of drugs used.