Mesothelioma News

Peritoneal mesothelioma is much less common than malignant mesothelioma, this cancer only occur between 10% and 20% of all cases of mesothelioma. Peritoneal mesothelioma is a cancer to asbestos exposure that affects the abdominal tissue, causing more precisely the lining in the abdominal wall. Peritoneal mesothelioma is usually fatal, although treatment options are becoming increasingly demanding, and the survival rate is always so slow, creeping upward.

Surgical options for a patient with peritoneal mesothelioma was diagnosed, a procedure known as paracentesis and a method called Peritonectomy. A paracentesis is a procedure that the fluid build up from between the lining of the abdominal cavity and the stomach removed.

A puncture is usually chosen for the front of a Peritonectomy. A puncture can relieve fluid pressure for a while, although some patients are lucky not to have the fluid and the degree to return to perform the procedure again. However, if a paracentesis is done and the liquid return rapidly Peritonectomy is usually recommended. This means the removal of the stomach wall lining, preventing any future build lasting liquid.

Since surgery on a healthy body are stressful, some patients opt for a Peritonectomy immediately and skip the more conservative method, the paracentesis. This means an operation that is guaranteed to build for the future, the liquid must be prevented, but there are risk factors, with a Peritonectomy.

mesothelioma treatment options are varied, that not all considering that most cases of mesothelioma are also in the later stages of the disease is diagnosed, if a surgical removal of the tumor is no longer possible. Radiation, external radiation and brachytherapy, are generally considered relatively productive at improving the quality of life and extending patient longevity.

Brachytherapy is the internal placement of radiation. A small device delivers a stream of radiation shown at the sight of active cancer. Brachytherapy has been proven more effective than other forms of radiation, as it will put more control and is able, in the center of cancer cells. The accuracy of brachytherapy has improved patient chances by about 8% in some cases.

Mesothelioma treatments are not easy on the body, and brachytherapy is no exception. External radiation therapy can often effective in cases where no exact or brachytherapy made secure. In both cases, this form of mesothelioma treatment is just one option. There are surgical options, mesothelioma, and some patients prefer that as much as possible of the cancer are removed from the body. While this saving is not always enough to remove the cancer of life, may the patient more comfortable, especially if other treatments included mesothelioma.

About 2000-3000 new cases of mesothelioma diagnosed each year in the United States of America. Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer, and it is an aftereffect of the asbestos exposure. The cancer cells interfere with and destroy the mesothelium, a protective sac that that keeps the internal organs of the body.

First, the pleura or peritoneum affected and it is common to other parts of the body. It is a deadly disease, and most victims do not survive on about a year after diagnosis, depending on the treatment and other factors. What is mesothelioma prognosis? Forecast for mesothelioma depends on the rapidity of diagnosis and treatment of the victim offered. The earlier the treatment the better the prognosis of patients is underway. Other factors to determine the prognosis, the general nature of the treatment, the histological type) (cellular type of mesothelioma patients and state of health and morality. The stage of disease at diagnosis is another critical factor decides the prognosis and the minimum life expectancy of survival of the victim.

There are a few patients who have survived far beyond the usual forecast for a year, the majority of mesothelioma victims and a handful that were actually cured, without any trace of aggressive cancer several years after treatment (although always return possible).

Many medical experts are puzzled by this observation, and for most of the time they are yet to declare a real scientific basis for why some mesothelioma patients survive and others do not find.

It seems a common factor among those who will have survived the disease for a long time - the immune system. Studies of those who have either survived or show since the disease that most of these patients participated in a kind of therapy that cured her immune system strengthened. Some treatments, including clinical studies in immunology, while others use alternative therapies involved with the immune system.
A number of mesothelioma survivors have their stories published on the Internet and talked to patients and their families with hope for a brighter outlook for their future. These survivors have also presented their cases to doctors and researchers. The most dramatic of these individuals is Paul Kraus, an Australian survivor of mesothelioma. Kraus was diagnosed with abdominal / peritoneal mesothelioma in 1997, a form of the disease, which is harder to treat than the more common pleural mesothelioma. Kraus worked in a factory 35 years before, when he exposed blue (crocidolite) asbestos.

Asbestos fibres are present in the environment wherever we go.  However the dangers they present arise ordinarily from the volume that we inhale.  Being in close proximity to damaged asbestos-containing materials increases our risk of contracting an asbestos related illness immeasurably.There are four diseases ordinarily associated with exposure to asbestos fibres – mesotheliona (always fatal), lung cancer (usually fatal), asbestosis (sometimes fatal but in any event debilitating) and diffuse pleural thickening (not fatal).Before its health implications were known asbestos was heralded as something of a magic substance, with a plethora of uses.  Asbestos can be found in cement products, textured coatings, floor tiles, textiles, sprayed coatings on ceilings and walls, insulating boards, lagging, or loose in ceilings and floor cavities. 

Keeping up with advances in mesothelioma research can be a difficult task.  It seems like every day there is a new clinical trial being conducted or some new area being researched, and for good reason.  Over 250,000 people have died as a result of asbestos exposure, and that number continues to climb.  With continued effort and support, we can defeat this deadly disease. 

One interesting study that looked into the relationship between asbestos related deaths and insulation workers is called, "Asbestos-associated deaths among insulation workers in the United States and Canada, 1967-1987 by Selikoff, IJ | Seidman, H Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences [ANN. N.Y. ACAD. SCI.]. Vol. 643, pp. 1-13. 1991.   Here is an excerpt:  "In addition to showing an increase in deaths from asbestosis, a study of the causes of death in the 17,800 asbestos insulation workers followed prospectively for 20 years (1967-1986) has also showed significant increases in cancer in a variety of organs. These include lung cancer, pleural and peritoneal mesothelioma, gastrointestinal and other forms of cancer such as that of the oropharynx and buccal cavity, larynx, kidney, pancreas, gallbladder, and bile ducts. On the other hand, no increase were found for cancer of the urinary bladder, prostate, testis, primary cancer of the liver, and primary cancer of the brain, nor for melanoma, leukemia, or lymphoma. Since the study provided extensive data, reflecting 301,592.6 person-years of experience, one can be fairly confident that, at least for this asbestos exposure, at this time, the "negative" finding can be accepted with some assurance. Apparently each organ and tissue has its own neoplastic response to asbestos; in some tissues cancer risk is increased, but not in others." 

Mesothelioma patients and allies to their cause have made a courageous step forward in ensuring they are able to pursue legal action against companies which may have been directly responsible for exposing employees to toxic asbestos. Residents of Indiana spoke in front of the last legislative session of the year, seeking a change in a law that prohibits employees and former employees from filing a lawsuit seeking damages after 10 years have passed. An interpretation of a state law by the Indiana Supreme Court reads such that it limits the compensation workers exposed to toxic materials can receive if they do not file a mesothelioma lawsuit within a decade after the assumed exposure date.

Since the current interpretation requires that lawsuits be filed within ten years of exposure to asbestos, many of those who develop serious health concerns relating to asbestos exposure, such as asbestosis, lung cancer, or malignant pleural mesothelioma, are excluded from filing suit or seeking monetary compensation. This is due to several factors. First, properly identifying the time, place, and amount of exposure can be a lengthy process involving employment documentation, corroboration of dates and times, and discovering the materials that contained the asbestos. Second, it can take years for these conditions to manifest themselves, sometimes between 20 to 60 years to manifest any symptoms in the case of mesothelioma. This is obviously far beyond the statute of limitations on filing suits against employers for asbestos exposure and any subsequent sickness.

 As Mesothelioma is a relatively uncommon disease, there are very few dedicated treatment centers in the US and in other places of the world. This limits the choice of mesothelioma victims in finding centers for specialized and specific help for their condition.Most major hospitals however have highly specialized general oncology{cancer} departments where mesothelioma victims can get the necessary treatment for their disease.Cancer treatment centers elicit different emotions in many people. 


The presence of so many critically ill people searching desperately for a cure can cause fear and depression, while others draw inspiration from the devotion of so many professionals working for a common cause or the courage of terminally ill people fighting their terrible conditions. In reality, these impressions vary greatly from individual to individual depending on their previous experiencesClearly, the disposition of the person suffering from this deadly disease will greatly affect the opinion they draw from these centers.Cancer centers usually provide a number of different services. 


They provide specialized treatment and management for the different types of mesothelioma cancer, they also provide spiritual, emotional, and legal counseling for the patients and their families. Cancer is responsible for a variety of ancillary conditions, and many of the patients need help coping with the side effects of treatment, or require advice on how to plan their estates.Treating cancer in a medical center often provides the best hope for victims of mesothelioma, but the expense of travel, lodging, and treatment often prohibit many victims from pursuing adequate treatment. 

Pleural mesothelioma diagnosis is typically met with the striking news that a patient has less than a year or two to live. Early diagnosis of pleural mesothelioma can increase the likelihood of effective treatment. Identifying a level of protein from a specific gene might just be the key to early mesothelioma treatment.

Pleural mesothelioma is significantly more alarming than other asbestos-caused diseases such as asbestosis because of the high risk of death that comes along with the diagnosis of this cancer. However, the short life span that follows mesothelioma is often a result of its late diagnosis. If this asbestos caused cancer were to be diagnosed earlier, then potentially life-saving treatment could begin earlier.

Pleural mesothelioma and asbestosis are lung diseases that produce symptoms similar to hundreds of other potential respiratory illnesses and cancers. Although a history of working with asbestos is a strong indicator that asbestos may be the cause of a patient’s lung disease, many patients fail to mention their working history to their physicians, and many physicians dismiss the possibility of asbestos related disease because of its low reported statistics. These statistics, however, are vastly under-reported, as many countries do not have the access to the medical knowledge, equipment, or personnel to correctly determine and report asbestos-caused diseases. Asbestos use continues to thrive around the world, and the incidences of asbestos caused cancer and asbestosis will continue to thrive as well. 

Centuries ago in ancient Greece, the Greeks named asbestos the "miracle mineral," because it was both flexible and tough but also able to withstand high amounts of heat. In fact, "asbestos" itself is a Greek word, meaning "inextinguishable."

Even in ancient times, the Greeks recognized that asbestos was dangerous; slaves who worked with the material experienced damage to their lungs. Over the years, asbestos was made into cloths that wowed the guests of royal Persian and Chinese households.

Beginning with the industrial revolution in the mid-nineteenth century, asbestos became a popular source of insulation due to its fire retardant properties. In 1879, the first asbestos mine opened up in the Appalachian region of Quebec. Asbestos became widely used in the twentieth century as a fire-retardant coating. It's use ranged from inside drywall, common household roofing and extended to products such as outdoor furniture.