Stage I mesothelioma is used to describe disease progression characterized by the presence of mesothelioma within the right or left pleura, which is the membrane that covers the lungs. The cancer may also be present, on the same side only, in the lung, pericardium, or diaphragm.
Stage 2 mesothelioma describes the state in which the cancer spreads to the extent of invading one or more additional areas, including the pleura on both sides, the chest wall, esophagus, heart, and/or lymph nodes in the chest.
Stage 3 mesothelioma indicates further spread of the cancer, involving penetration through the diagram into the peritoneum, which is the lining of the abdomen. This state my also involve additional lymph nodes beyond the chest area.
Stage 4 mesothelioma is the final state of mesothelioma, in which the cancer cells have gained entry to the bloodstream, enabling the disease to spread to other organs throughout the body. The process of spreading via the bloodstream is referred to as distant metastes.
List and describe the four stages of mesothelioma, as described by the Butchart Staging System.
Explain the staging of mesothelioma.
Staging allows the patient and doctor to determine treatment options. Staging is divided into 3 areas, designated by the capital letters TNM:
• T refers to whether the original tumor has exceeded its margins.
• N stands for lymph nodes that are affected.
• M refers to metastasis to other areas of the body.
Pleural mesothelioma is further divided into overall stages:
Stage I -The cancer is present only on the pleura of the chest wall and the outer lining of the lungs.
Stage II-The cancer has spread into the lining of the lung, the internal lung tissues, or the diaphragm.
Stage III-The cancer has invaded chest lymph nodes, or has not yet invaded lymph nodes but has spread to the mediastinum or the outer layer of the heart.
Stage IV-The cancer is present in adjacent structures, with or without spread to remote areas of the body.
Alimta for Mesothelioma
There are a number of mesothelioma treatments that can be used to help treat the symptoms of Mesothelioma and to deal with this illness. While there is no cure for mesothelioma, other methods can be used to help lengthen the expected lifespan of the person afflicted with the disease.
Alimta is a drug that has been used to help stop the rapid growth of mesothelioma cancerous cells within your body. This drug was brought about during 2004 and, since then, it has been helping patients that have Mesothelioma improve and stop the spread of this deadly disease. It has successfully helped patients live longer and happier lives just by taking Alimta. This particular medication has undergone careful and rigorous scrutiny successfully, which has allowed it to be approved by the FDA.
Alimta does more than simply work well for Mesothelioma - this drug has also been used to treat other various cancers. It has helped particularly well in lung cancers, among others and has starkly improved the quality of treatment that cancer treatments can receive since 2004. It can also be very helpful to anyone who is already taking other medications for their mesothelioma as Alimta can be combined with other treatment options.
While Alimta is not going to completely make your Mesothelioma go away, it will halt the progress of any cancerous cells within your body. This is why Alimta is a perfect to use as a medication because people that have mesothelioma may not have long to live. Once they have been diagnosed with Mesothelioma, most patients with the cancer are not likely to survive very long once the symptoms start to show. Hence, Alimta has been extremely helpful to people who are suffering from Mesothelioma - Alimta helps by halting the progress of the cancer, allowing the patient to live a longer and more fulfilled life than they normally could have.
Commonly, another drug that often goes well with Alimta is Cispltain, which is another form of cancer fighting medication. Often, Cisplatin is used in combination with Alimta because these two cancer-fighting agents complement themselves well when working to fight off mesothelioma. This is one element where two medications can be used in combination with each other to improve the health of a patient with Mesothelioma.
If you are wondering how the new drug Alimta will help you, then you should know that this cancer fighting medication could work for you in helping to destroy cancerous cells. Alimta actually works on the cancer cells themselves, decreasing their ability to grow at their natural rate. This actually provides you with less cancer cells in your body, which will give you a longer life but without this medical assistance you could be left with the 6-12 months that people who are diagnosed with mesothelioma have. Alimta has been tested and proven to help patients who are suffering with mesothelioma and this medication is currently being tested on other cancers to try to stop the growth of other cancerous diseases.
Your doctor should know several things before treating you with Alimta. It is important that you tell your doctor if you have any previous medical problems. In most cases, they will run you through a rigorous pre-screening process. Your doctor will want to know everything possible about both your full medical history and the medical history of your family before you start treatment for Alimta.
Make sure that you tell the doctor if you are allergic to any medications, even though a doctor should have your full medical chart. There are may be instances when not all allergies that you have are written down and getting this sorted out is important prior to starting the treatment. If the doctor gave a patient a medication that he or she was allergic to, that patient could get sick or even die from this allergic reaction. It is also a good idea that, prior to taking Alimta, the doctor be well informed of a complete and exhaustive list of each of the medications that you take, how frequently, and how much at a time, including both prescribed and over the counter medications. This will help the doctor make sure that Alimta will not have a bad side effect with another one of your medications that you are currently taking.
Alimta is not a simple medication to take. It is far more than just taking a pill with some water. In this particular treatment, specific guidelines must be followed in order to have a successful treatment. Before taking Alimta, it is important to also take two other supplements with this medication, Vitamin B-12 and folic acid. The combination of these two supplements with the medication can create the best possible beneficial situation for the patient. These supplements are taken primarily because there is also a chance of a small skin inflammation after you first start taking the Alimta. Make sure to ask your doctor in which way you could lower the chance of having this outbreak, it is recommended that your doctor should put you on a steroid to lessen the chance of a bad skin reaction when taking Alimta.
Mesotheliona Clinical Trials
In order to one day find a mesothelioma cure, doctors engage in clinical trials where they test new mesothelioma drugs to determine the if they are effective.
Mesothelioma clinical trials follow a plan of very strict scientific guidelines, which is called a protocol. The protocol explains everything that will happen in the study. It must be approved by review boards made up of health care professionals and other qualified people before the study can enroll patients.
When a potential mesothelioma drug is first identified, preclinical studies, which are conducted in a laboratory setting, help to find out whether the drug is safe to test in humans. During this stage, the drug is usually studied in animals to answer questions about how a drug works and how the body changes and disposes of it. Humans do not participate in preclinical studies. There are four possible phases of cancer clinical trials in humans, each designed to answer different questions about the treatment being studies.
In Phase I mesothelioma clinical trials, doctors are primarily studying the safety of giving mesothelioma drugs to humans, while also looking for the best way to give a medication (for example, as a pill, an injection, or an infusion). They will usually study how the mesothelioma drug is eliminated from the body in humans. Also, doctors are trying to find the right doses for further testing. They carefully watch for any side effects. Phase I study drugs are usually given to small groups of humans. During this phase, for drugs used to treat mesothelioma cancer, investigators may be able to find out which tumors a treatment works best in.
In Phase II mesothelioma clinical trials, the mesothelioma drug is studies in a larger group. The primary purpose of these studies is to see how well the drug or treatment shrinks tumors in patients with specific types of cancer. The investigator will watch closely for side effects and will also watch how the disease responds to the treatment.
In Phase III mesothelioma clinical trials, the new cancer treatment is generally compared to a standard existing treatment. Patients are usually randomly assigned (that is, a process similar to flipping a coin is used to determine which treatment the patient receives) to receive either a standard treatment or the new treatment. During the trial, patients may or may not be told which treatment they are getting but are told what to expect and what to watch for. Occasionally, even the doctor will not know which treatment each patient is getting so that he or she can remain unbiased about how the disease is responding to the treatment. (This is uncommon in cancer clinical trials). Phase III studies are designed to ensure that any side effects that patients experience are identified treated according to local standards of care.
Phase IV mesothelioma clinical trials study a drug that has already been approved by the Food and Drug Administration. Drug companies often sponsor these trials to study even more uses of drugs already available
Clinical Trials: Mesothelioma
California
Duarte; City of Hope National Medical Center
A Double-Blind Placebo Controlled Randomized Phase II of Gemcitabine & Cisplatin With Or Without the VEGF Inhibitor Bevacizumab in Patients with Malignant Mesothelioma
San Diego; Sharp Clinical Oncology Research
ONCONASE ® plus doxorubicin vs. doxorubicin for patients with Malignant Pleural or Peritoneal Mesothelioma who have had no more than one prior chemotherapy regimen.
Colorado
Aurora; Research Center
ALIMTA Plus Gemcitabine (Gemzar) for Patients with Malignant Pleural or Peritoneal Mesothelioma who have not had previous chemotherapy
Aurora; University of Colorado Cancer Center
ONCONASE ® plus doxorubicin vs. doxorubicin for patients with Malignant Pleural or Peritoneal Mesothelioma who have had no more than one prior chemotherapy regimen.
Florida
Miami; Oncology / Hematology Group of South Florida
ONCONASE ® plus doxorubicin vs. doxorubicin for patients with Malignant Pleural or Peritoneal Mesothelioma who have had no more than one prior chemotherapy regimen.
Tampa; Research Center
ALIMTA Plus Gemcitabine (Gemzar) for Patients with Malignant Pleural or Peritoneal Mesothelioma who have not had previous chemotherapy
Illinois
Chicago; Research Center
ALIMTA Plus Gemcitabine (Gemzar) for Patients with Malignant Pleural or Peritoneal Mesothelioma who have not had previous chemotherapy
Chicago; University of Chicago Medical Center, Section of Hematology / Oncology
ONCONASE ® plus doxorubicin vs. doxorubicin for patients with Malignant Pleural or Peritoneal Mesothelioma who have had no more than one prior chemotherapy regimen.
Indiana
South Bend; Northern Indiana Cancer Research Consortium
ONCONASE ® plus doxorubicin vs. doxorubicin for patients with Malignant Pleural or Peritoneal Mesothelioma who have had no more than one prior chemotherapy regimen.
Maryland
Baltimore; Research Center
ALIMTA Plus Gemcitabine (Gemzar) for Patients with Malignant Pleural or Peritoneal Mesothelioma who have not had previous chemotherapy
Massachusetts
Boston; Research Center
ALIMTA Plus Gemcitabine (Gemzar) for Patients with Malignant Pleural or Peritoneal Mesothelioma who have not had previous chemotherapy
Michigan
Grand Rapids; Spectrum Health, Cook Research Department
ONCONASE ® plus doxorubicin vs. doxorubicin for patients with Malignant Pleural or Peritoneal Mesothelioma who have had no more than one prior chemotherapy regimen.
New Jersey
Somerville; Somerset Medical Center
ONCONASE ® plus doxorubicin vs. doxorubicin for patients with Malignant Pleural or Peritoneal Mesothelioma who have had no more than one prior chemotherapy regimen.
New Mexico
Albuquerque; Research Center
ALIMTA Plus Gemcitabine (Gemzar) for Patients with Malignant Pleural or Peritoneal Mesothelioma who have not had previous chemotherapy
New York
New York; Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center
ALIMTA Plus Gemcitabine as Front-Line Chemotherapy for Patients with Malignant Pleural or Peritoneal Mesothelioma. A phase II Clinical Trial.
New York; Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center
Open - Label Study of Alimta (pemetrexed) Combination with Cisplatin for Chemonaive Patients with Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma.
New York; Research Center
ALIMTA Plus Gemcitabine (Gemzar) for Patients with Malignant Pleural or Peritoneal Mesothelioma who have not had previous chemotherapy
New York; Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center
ONCONASE ® plus doxorubicin vs. doxorubicin for patients with Malignant Pleural or Peritoneal Mesothelioma who have had no more than one prior chemotherapy regimen.
New York; Columbia University Medical Center
A phase II, open-label, non-randomized, multicenter, single agent study of intravenous sdx-102 for the treatment of patients with MTAP - deficient cancers.
New York; Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center
Phase II trial of combined resection, intraperitoneal chemotherapy, and whole abdominal radiation for treatment of peritoneal mesothelioma.
New York; Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center
Phase II trial of perioperative gemcitabine and cisplatin chemotherapy in resected pleural mesothelioma
New York; Biomedical Research Alliance of New York
Cancer in the Lungs- Caused by exposure to asbestos
Oklahoma
Tulsa; Southwestern Regional Medical Center
Open-Label Study of ALIMTA (pemetrexed) and Cisplatin in chemonaive patients with malignant Pleural Mesothelioma.
Texas
Austin; Lone Star Oncology Consultants, PA
ONCONASE ® plus doxorubicin vs. doxorubicin for patients with Malignant Pleural or Peritoneal Mesothelioma who have had no more than one prior chemotherapy regimen.
Houston; S. R. Burzynski Clinic
Phase II Study Of Antineoplastons A10 And AS2-1 In Patients With Mesothelioma
Wisconsin
Madison; Research Center
ALIMTA Plus Gemcitabine (Gemzar) for Patients with Malignant Pleural or Peritoneal Mesothelioma who have not had previous chemotherapy
International
D-14109 Berlin, Germany; Pneumologie II, Zentralklinik Emil von Bering
ONCONASE ® plus doxorubicin vs. doxorubicin for patients with Malignant Pleural or Peritoneal Mesothelioma who have had no more than one prior chemotherapy regimen.
D-21075 Hamburg, Germany; Allgemeines Krankenhaus Harburg
ONCONASE ® plus doxorubicin vs. doxorubicin for patients with Malignant Pleural or Peritoneal Mesothelioma who have had no more than one prior chemotherapy regimen.
D-22927 Grosshansdorf, Germany; Krankenhaus Grosshansdorf, Zentrum fur Pneumologie und Thoraxchirurgie, Pneumo.- Onkolog. Abteilung
ONCONASE ® plus doxorubicin vs. doxorubicin for patients with Malignant Pleural or Peritoneal Mesothelioma who have had no more than one prior chemotherapy regimen.
D-81675 Munchen, Germany; TU Munchen, Klinikum Rechts der Isar, Med. Klinik Hamatologie und Onkologie
ONCONASE ® plus doxorubicin vs. doxorubicin for patients with Malignant Pleural or Peritoneal Mesothelioma who have had no more than one prior chemotherapy regimen.
D-82131 Gauting, Germany; Asklepios Fachkliniken, Zentrum fur Pneumologie und Thoraxchirurgie
ONCONASE ® plus doxorubicin vs. doxorubicin for patients with Malignant Pleural or Peritoneal Mesothelioma who have had no more than one prior chemotherapy regimen.
Alessandria, Italy; Azienda Osped. Nazion Antonio e Biagio e Cesare Arrigo, Divisione di Pneumologia
ONCONASE ® plus doxorubicin vs. doxorubicin for patients with Malignant Pleural or Peritoneal Mesothelioma who have had no more than one prior chemotherapy regimen.
Genova, Italy; Struttura Semplice di Pneumotisiologia, Ospedale San Marino
ONCONASE ® plus doxorubicin vs. doxorubicin for patients with Malignant Pleural or Peritoneal Mesothelioma who have had no more than one prior chemotherapy regimen.
Pavia, Italy; IRCCS - Policlinico San Matteo, Clinica Malattie dell Apparato Respiratorio
ONCONASE ® plus doxorubicin vs. doxorubicin for patients with Malignant Pleural or Peritoneal Mesothelioma who have had no more than one prior chemotherapy regimen.
Pavia, Italy; IRCCS - Policlinico San Matteo, Divisione di Pneumologia
ONCONASE ® plus doxorubicin vs. doxorubicin for patients with Malignant Pleural or Peritoneal Mesothelioma who have had no more than one prior chemotherapy regimen.
ONCONASE ® plus doxorubicin vs. doxorubicin for patients with Malignant Pleural or Peritoneal Mesothelioma who have had no more than one prior chemotherapy regimen
General Information / Anatomy / Function / Statistics Types Surgery Radiation Chemotherapy General Support and Symptom Control
Symptoms / SignsSymptoms and signs from mesotheliomas depend upon location of the mesothelioma, its size and whether it is benign or malignant Benign forms of the disease are generally asymptomatic The symptomatology of malignant mesotheliomas is due to tumour growth resulting in invasion of surrounding structures and/or the production of fluid (pleural effusion, ascites, or pericardial effusion). Chest pain may be caused by invasion of the chest wall. Pleural effusion causes collapse of adjacent lung and shortness of breath. Symptoms of distant spread are possible, but uncommon since the tumour is usually a local problem and blood borne spread is uncommon Patients with more advanced disease may be ill generally with fever, night sweats and weight loss Involvement of the membrane around the heart (pericardium) may cause heart rhythm disturbances
Etiology / Carcinogens / Risks
Prevention
Diagnosis / Screening / Staging / Grading / Types
Treatment
Seeking Medical help
Mesothelioma can develop between 15 and 40 years or more after an exposure to asbestos. If you have been exposed to asbestos in the past and you start to suffer from any of the following symptoms you should visit your GP and mention your concerns:
* Pains in the lower back, abdomen or chest
* A persistent cough
* Breathing difficulties, shortness of breath or a feeling of tightness in the chest
* Rapid weight loss
* Problems with appetite or difficulty swallowing
* Sweating, fevers, diarrhoea or constipation
* Nausea or vomiting
* Swelling of the abdomen
Some people with mesothelioma have no symptoms at all in the early stages; therefore, if you know that you have been exposed to asbestos in the past and believe it may be the cause of your symptoms, it is always a good idea to visit a doctor for medical advice. Any damage caused by asbestos may be possible to detect with a scan or x-ray
Here are some suggestions provided by www.cancer-pain.org to help you work effectively with your health care providers in assessing your pain:
* Put it in writing. If possible, written notes about your pain (see Pain Diary, below) are valuable in giving accurate and comprehensive information.
* Plan to ask questions. It’s important that you fully understand what your health care professional says to you about your pain. Ask questions until you are satisfied that you understand.
* Have a notetaker. Sometimes it’s difficult to talk about your pain, ask questions and take notes on what’s being said to you all at the same time, especially if you are in pain. Bringing a friend or family member to take notes during the discussion about your pain can provide a valuable resource for you once the conversation has ended.
* Make your views heard. Don’t hesitate to offer an opinion about what may be causing or contributing to your pain. No one knows your body as well as you, and your insights can be valuable to your health care providers.
* These are points to consider as you prepare to discuss your pain and its management with your health care providers:
o The location of all of your pains.
o How the pain feels (use descriptive words such as dull, aching, throbbing, stabbing, piercing, pinching, sharp, aching, burning, tingling).
o The intensity of your pain (when it is at its worst) and whether the intensity changes throughout the day and night.
o When you have the pain (all the time or occasionally).
o How quickly the pain comes on (suddenly or intermittently), how long it lasts (a few minutes or several hours), and how often it occurs.
o What makes the pain worse? Describe conditions under which the pain becomes more intense, such as moving, walking, talking, coughing, laying down, eating, going to the bathroom, etc.
o What eases the pain? Be ready to discuss anything that has helped you, including medication(s) you have been using, and the amounts you are taking.
* Medications you are taking. Tell them about your pain medications, including any over-the-counter pain relievers, any alternative medications like herbs, and any medications you may be taking for other health conditions not related to cancer.
* Side effects of your pain medications. Tell them what side effects you are experiencing, how the side effects are currently being treated, and if you are satisfied with this treatment.
* Quality of life issues: What impact does the pain have on your quality of life? Can you work, enjoy your family and friends, eat and sleep well? If not, describe how the pain is limiting your activities. Also, tell your health care provider(s) what you want from pain management in terms of quality of life.
* To keep an accurate record of what you are experiencing, consider creating a simple pain diary. You can do this in a notebook, recording information such as the date, time of day, level of pain you are feeling, what you did to remedy or alleviate it (i.e., medications taken, use of ice or heat, and so forth), and the outcome of your efforts to control the pain (Did the medication work? For how long? Were there side effects?)
Many health care professionals also use various “pain assessment scales” to record patients’ levels of pain. You can use this system, as well, in conversation with your health care provider. Make sure you always use the SAME scale when describing your pain, for consistency and clarity. One of the simplest involves describing your pain level in terms of numbers: “0″ means “no pain at all,” and “10″ means “the worst possible amount of pain.” The higher the number, the greater the pain. If your health care provider uses a different assessment measuring approach, you may want to use that one. Ask for an explanation of how she or he records patient pain levels.
Diagnosis is the process of determining the kind of disease that is present. An accurate diagnosis is important because it helps to determine the type of treatment that you will undergo.
Your doctors may use a number of procedures to aid in the diagnosis of mesothelioma. The most common of those procedures are listed here. Whether one or a combination of these tests are conducted in a given patient’s case will depend on factors unique to the patient. Some tests might first be conducted to determine whether a biopsy should be performed. A biopsy is usually necessary to confirm a diagnosis.
For your reference, a word with “-scopy” at the end refers to the use of a scope or viewing instrument that can be used to look directly inside the body at the abnormal or suspected area. A word that ends in “-ectomy” refers to the removal of tissue through surgery.
Pleural Mesothelioma
Peritoneal Mesothelioma
Pericardial Mesothelioma
A patient’s doctor or medical records may refer to the “cell type” of the malignant mesothelioma. This refers to the type of tissue where the cancer first developed. For example, “epithelial” malignant mesothelioma refers to cancerous cells that develop in the “epithelium,” which is the membrane lining of the lung, heart, or abdomen. In contrast, “sarcomatous” malignant mesothelioma arises in connective tissue. “Biphasic” refers to malignant mesothelioma that arises in two different cell types. Other cell types of malignant mesothelioma are lymphohistiocytoid and desmoplastic.
Pericardial mesothelioma is also known as mesothelioma of the pericardium or cancer of the sac that holds the heart.
Your doctor may diagnose this cancer using a thoracoscope to perform a thoracoscopy, which might also involve opening up the chest cavity to remove the tumor.
Patients who develop excessive fluid around the heart, called an effusion, may have a sample of the fluid taken to diagnose pericardial mesothelioma. Fluid might also be drained to relieve symptoms of pericardial mesothelioma. The procedure for drawing out this fluid is called “pericardiocentesis.”
For more information about the diagnosis of this disease, click here.
Symptoms
Symptoms can include chest pain and shortness of breath. The tumor and/or fluid that accumulates between the heart and the sac can compress the heart, causing such symptoms
Peritoneal mesothelioma, also known as cancer of the peritoneum, is a cancer of the abdominal lining.
One way doctors diagnose peritoneal mesothelioma is by looking inside the abdominal cavity with an instrument called a peritoneoscope. In this procedure, a cut is made through the abdomen wall and the peritoneoscope is placed into the abdomen. This test, called a peritoneoscopy, is usually performed in the hospital.
Some patients develop excessive fluid in the abdomen. This is called an effusion or ascites. A doctor may take a sample of such fluid to diagnose peritoneal mesothelioma. Fluid in the abdomen might also be drained to relieve symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma. The procedure for drawing out this fluid is called “paracentesis”.
For more information about the diagnosis of this disease, click here
Symptoms
The symptoms of this cancer may include stomach pain, weight loss, nausea, vomiting, hernia, fluid in the abdominal cavity or a mass in the abdomen.
Pleural mesothelioma, also known as mesothelioma of the pleura, is a tumor of the lining surrounding the lungs. The pleura is a thin tissue around the lungs and the inside of the chest. In order to protect the lungs, the pleura produces a small amount of fluid which helps cushion the lungs, making the lungs move more smoothly during breathing.
Benign (Non-Cancerous) pleural mesothelioma
Benign pleural mesothelioma is a non-cancerous tumor that has not spread to other organs of the body. If the tumor is large, it may squeeze the lung itself and cause shortness of breath and pain.
Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma
Malignant Pleural mesothelioma is cancerous and can spread to other parts of the body. This rare form of cancer is found in the pleural sac lining of the lung. Exposure to asbestos is considered the primary cause of pleural mesothelioma.
Symptoms
Pleural mesothelioma may include shortness of breath, chest pain, back pain, pain in the rib cage, fluid build-up in the lung lining, hoarseness, coughing up blood, swelling of the face and arms, muscle weakness, paralysis and sensory loss.
Mesothelioma Symptoms
The early symptoms of mesothelioma are generally non-specific, and may lead to a delay in diagnosis. Sometimes resembling viral pneumonia, pleural mesothelioma patients may present with shortness of breath, chest pain and/or persistent cough; some patients show no symptoms at all. A chest x-ray may show a build-up of fluid or pleural effusion (discussed below). The right lung is affected 60% of the time, with involvement of both lungs being seen in approximately 5% of patients at the time of diagnosis. Less common symptoms of pleural mesothelioma include fever, night sweats and weight loss. Symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma may include pain or swelling in the abdomen due to a build-up of fluid, nausea, weight loss, bowel obstruction, anemia or swelling of the feet.
PLEASE KEEP IN MIND THAT THESE SYMPTOMS MAY BE CAUSED BY MESOTHELIOMA OR BY OTHER LESS SERIOUS CONDITIONS. ONLY A DOCTOR CAN MAKE A DEFINITIVE DIAGNOSIS.
Mesothelioma symptoms are not specific to the disease; that is, many mesothelioma symptoms are also symptoms of other medical problems.Most studies show that the symptoms of mesotheliomausually begin to appear 30 to 40 years after exposure to asbestos. Thus, many mesothelioma patients are unaware that the symptoms they are experiencing are related to something that happened much earlier in their lives. Even a short period of asbestos exposure (as little as a few months) can create the conditions for a disease that erupts much later in life.
Mesothelioma affects the lining of various cavities in the body. Over time, the growth of cancerous tumors causes these tissues to expand and gather fluid. The presence of excess fluid is typically what causes the symptoms to occur. Mesothelioma symptoms also depend on the location of the tumors.
Pleural Mesothelioma Symptoms
For pleural mesothelioma, or mesothelioma of the lining surrounding the lung, common symptoms include shortness of breath, chest pain and a persistent cough. Unfortunately, these symptoms are also very common for a number of other ailments, including pneumonia. The most common symptom is localized chest pain, but this may not occur until the disease is well advanced. A less common but still prevalent symptom of pleural mesothelioma is weight loss. Some patients show virtually no symptoms.
Peritoneal Mesothelioma Symptoms
Peritoneal mesothelioma is a cancer of the abdominal lining. Symptoms include swelling or a mass in the abdomen, weight loss and abdominal pain. Bowel obstruction and blood clots also have been known to occur and fever is sometimes present.
Pericardial Mesothelioma Symptoms
Pericardial mesothelioma affects the lining of the heart, or pericardium. Symptoms include chest pain, cough, irregular heart beat and irregular breathing patterns. Many of these symptoms manifest during physical exertion – even minimal exertion. Pericardial mesothelioma is the rarest type of mesothelioma.
The earlier cancer is detected – mesothelioma or otherwise – the more effective treatment aimed at halting its progression will be.
Mesothelioma
CT scan of a patient with
mesothelioma, coronal
section (the section
follows the plane the
divides the body in a
front and a back half).
The mesothelioma is
indicated by yellow
arrows, the central
pleural effusion
(fluid collection) is
marked with a yellow
star. Red numbers:
(1) right lung,
(2) spine,
(3) left lung,
(4) ribs,
(5) Aorta descending part ,
(6) spleen,
(7) left kidney,
(8) right kidney,
(9) liver.