What Is MESOTHELIOMA
Perceptions about malignant mesothelioma are changing.Incidence rates still hover around 3,000 new cases each year in the U.S., according to a 2017 report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
However, scientific research and increased awareness are leading to earlier diagnoses, while improved and developing mesothelioma treatments are allowing patients to live longer than ever.
As more thoracic surgeons and oncologists become familiar with mesothelioma, patients will have more experienced doctors who can extend their life expectancy and increase their chances of surviving this disease.
Types of Mesothelioma, Causes & Symptoms
In order to understand mesothelioma and choose the best path to extend survival, you must first grasp some of the basic information about this type of cancer, including its causes, types and symptoms.
Causes
Exposure to asbestos, a naturally occurring mineral once highly regarded for its insulation and fire-retardant properties, is still the overwhelming cause of mesothelioma.Approximately 75 percent of cases are men who were exposed to asbestos while serving in the military or working certain high-risk blue-collar jobs, including construction, firefighting, shipbuilding and industrial work.
Secondhand exposure also occurs when washing the clothes of someone in a high-risk occupation and living near abandoned asbestos mines or areas where asbestos occurs naturally in the environment.
Types
Each type of mesothelioma is classified by the location in the body where it develops. Prognosis, symptoms and treatment options vary by type.The pleural and peritoneal types of mesothelioma are the most common, while pericardial accounts for just 1 percent of cases. Another rare type known as testicular mesothelioma represents less than 1 percent of all mesotheliomas.
PLEURAL
PERITONEAL
PERICARDIAL
Symptoms
Mesothelioma symptoms do not usually arise until tumors have grown and spread, and they begin to press against the chest wall or abdominal cavity.
If you have a history of asbestos exposure and experience these symptoms, you should consult a mesothelioma specialist as soon as possible. Although symptoms appear during the late stage of the cancer, early diagnosis may improve your prognosis, survival rate and life expectancy.
How Is Mesothelioma Diagnosed?
The main reason the majority of patients are diagnosed later in life is because mesothelioma can take anywhere from 20 to 50 years after asbestos exposure before symptoms appear.
Doctors use several methods to test for malignant mesothelioma, but only a biopsy can truly confirm a diagnosis. This usually comes after a series of other tests and scans once symptoms arise.
Imaging Scans
Most people initially undergo a basic chest X-ray. If an abnormal growth is detected, doctors will recommend a more detailed imaging scan such as a PET scan, CT scan or MRI.
QUICK FACT
About 3,000 new cases are diagnosed annually
Blood Tests
Blood tests are also available, but they do not confirm the presence of mesothelioma. Research is underway to determine if blood tests can aid in early diagnosis for at-risk former asbestos workers.
Biopsies
If cancer is suspected, doctors will recommend taking a tissue sample, also known as a biopsy. Doctors use biopsies to definitively confirm the presence of mesothelioma cells.
Because mesothelioma is rare, the cancer is often misdiagnosed as less serious conditions such as the flu or pneumonia.
Anyone who thinks or knows they were exposed to asbestos at some point in time should immediately notify their primary care doctor about their exposure history. This will ensure mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases are not ruled out as the cause of the symptoms.
Four Stages of Mesothelioma Cancer
The stage of mesothelioma describes how far the cancer has spread locally, regionally, and distantly (metastasized) from its point of origin, and doctors label the extent of pleural mesothelioma as stage 1, 2, 3 or 4.
During the early mesothelioma stages, tumors are localized. By the late stages, the cancer has spread to nearby locations or throughout the body.
STAGE 1
STAGE 2
STAGE 3
STAGE 4
What Are Your Treatment Options?
QUICK FACT
More than 70 percent of mesothelioma patients undergo chemotherapy
The leading treatment options for mesothelioma include surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Many specialists prefer to combine two or more of these treatments, which is an approach known as multimodal therapy. Numerous studies show this approach improves survival rates.
Palliative treatments that ease symptoms are quite common for patients of all stages. Emerging therapies in clinical trials, such as immunotherapy, show promise. Additionally, many survivors credit less traditional alternative treatments for helping them live longer. Care in pursuit of these alternative approaches is recommended, as evidence to support claims of benefit may be lacking, and some practitioners may only be preying on fear and desperation to take advantage of patients.
Surgery
Surgery can be used for diagnostic or aggressive and potentially curative purposes. It offers the best chance of long-term survival for pleural and peritoneal mesothelioma patients eligible for surgery.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy can alleviate symptoms, improve quality of life and extend survival, but it can carry unpleasant side effects.
Radiation
With fewer side effects than chemotherapy, radiation can help shrink tumors and relieve pain. It can be performed at all stages.
Multimodal Treatment
A combination of two or more traditional treatments, including chemotherapy, surgery and radiation. Studies show multimodal therapy can improve survival.
HIPEC
Heated or Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy (HIPEC) is a multimodal treatment that involves heating chemotherapy drugs and delivering them to the abdomen after surgery.
Finding a Mesothelioma Specialist
Because this disease represents only 0.3 percent of all diagnosed cancers, most primary care doctors and many oncologists rarely treat or see mesothelioma. Finding a mesothelioma specialty center with a staff that truly understands the intricacies of the cancer — and the best ways to treat it — is crucial to extending survival.
Source : www.asbestos.com
