Posts Tagged ‘mesothelioma asbestos’

The Hopes Of the Patients From Mesothelioma Research

Thursday, April 22nd, 2010

Mesothelioma is a sort of cancer that’s nearly always caused by exposure to asbestos. In this disease, malignant cells develop in the mesothelium, a protecting lining that covers almost all of the body’s internal organs. Its commonest site is the pleura ( outer liner of the lungs and internal chest wall ), but it may also occur in the peritoneum ( the lining of the abdominal cavity ), the heart, the pericardium ( a sac that surrounds the heart ) or tunica vaginalis.

The existing mesothelioma cures and diagnosis methods have been found wanting for a number of reasons. The disease lies harmless till the very last stages, making timely cancer detection difficult. The most prevalent cancer treatment methods like surgery, chemotherapy and radiation or a combination of these have hade no notable success so far. That the disease affects the cavities of our most vital organs also do not help much. But there is a silver lining now in the form of mesothelioma research which is throwing up several alternative cures. The results may be not at the desirable levels so far, but there is hope in the air that these researches would, in the near future bring in some sort of permanent remedy for this frightening disease.

The ongoing researches concentrate on how the healthy cells are destroyed by asbestos and this could be stopped or limited. The National Institute of Cancer is leading this move from the front. Some many mesothelioma patients willingly allow themselves to be experimented thus helping themselves and future generations. Seeing the improvements the scientists have made in this regard so far, there is a hope that an effective cure is at the door. Many are there earnestly waiting for such a dawn to arrive.

These days mesothelioma research is funded by the government. It is done by professional allied with drug companies and research groups. Some of the new therapies invented by these researchers include photodynamic therapy, which uses fixed frequency lights to detect malicious cells. Photosensitizing drugs are used to destroy them. Intensity modulated radiation therapy conducts specific attacks on the infected area and thereby saves the surrounding healthy cells and tissues. Immunotherapy is another invention which improves the defense system of the body. It helps the body to stand against the offensive cells.

The continuing mesothelioma research activities point to the fact that the society is alive to this potentially disastrous disease. It may take a while for the newly developed therapies and those on the pipeline to achieve great success. Such ongoing results are direct results of the ever-increasing public awareness about the disease.

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The Killer Personality Of Mesothelioma Asbestos

Wednesday, April 7th, 2010

A single layer of compressed cubical cells cover our vital organs. This layer is called mesothelium and it lines the serous cavities of our body. When the minute particles of mesothelioma asbestos get deposited in it, the cells of mesothelium become cancerous. Slowly and gradually it spreads to the adjacent organs and their functions are disturbed. The victim thus suffers from a premature death. According to statistics exposure to asbestos is the reason behind almost ninety percent of all mesothelioma cases.

Being a highly useful natural mineral, asbestos is put to use extensively for industrial purpose. Thin threads can be extracted from its flexible but strong fibers. Some of its industrial uses are in making cement, textiles, insulation, roof shingles etc. The health of the workers of these industries is always in peril because the thin fibers float in the air and get inhaled or swallowed by them. These particles finally reach the mesothelium. Having the ability to change the functions of macrophages, the fibers of this material create appropriate conditions for mesothelioma development. The normal working of our immune system is spoiled by the mesothelioma asbestos. This is done by deactivating tumor suppressor genes and activating proto-oncogenes, oncogenes, error prone DNA repair enzymes and telomerase and preventing apoptosis.

Populations residing near asbestos mines are environmentally exposed to mesothelioma risks. Those who work in factories using asbestos as raw material are the most risk prone. Wearing protective gear while handling asbestos can greatly reduce the risk quotient.

Even family members of the workers are not spared. They may also fall victims to the cancer through the particles carried by the worker’s hair and clothes. In order to avoid this, workers should go home after a bath and changing clothes. Some construction materials, especially the ones used for insulation contain asbestos, which can put the lives of the residents in jeopardy.

The symptoms of mesothelioma would be visible only many years after the exposure to the asbestos particles. This hinders the effectiveness of treatment. If the diagnosis is done early and proper treatment taken, the life of the patient can be increased to some extent. Traditional and modern therapies like gene therapy are used to fight against the disease. But prevention is always better than cure. Avoiding the exposure to mesothelioma asbestos and handling the compound with protective gadgets will help to resist the malaise.

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Mesothelioma Treatments And Their Efficacy

Monday, March 22nd, 2010

The success or failure of mesothelioma treatments basically depends on the phase of cancer at the time of exposure. Several treatment methods including traditional and modern are followed by doctors. Sometimes a combination of two or three conventional therapies including surgery, radiation and chemotherapy are used by physicians. Treatments enhance the lives of more than two-thirds of stage-1 and stage-2 patients by five years or more. Surgery has been doing the same in around 16% of the cases.

In surgery, the removal of cancerous growth takes place through incisions. The extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP), removes the lining around the lungs, inside the chest, the hemi-diaphragm and pericardium. The decortication or pleurectomy surgery involves the removal of chest lining. It is the most common surgery done in mesothelioma patients.

If the disease is not widely spread, radiation is the best treatment option. It can also be given post-operatively. In consonance with chemotherapy, sometimes the entire hemi-thorax is made to undergo radiation. Thousands of mesothelioma patients have received added years due to this type of treatment. The spread of destructive cells can be further prevented through radiation. Among all the mesothelioma treatments chemotherapy is found to be the best. It is not a harsh treatment like radiation or surgery, though the process is lengthy. The patient finds it physically and emotionally difficult to tolerate.

Immunotherapy, which strives to improve the immune response, has yielded vacillating results so far. Heated Intraoperative Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy, in which drugs are heated to a certain degree of temperature before being administered, helps improved penetration of anti-cancer drugs. Researches are on to find alternative and more effective mesothelioma treatments.

Before starting the treatment, the extent of the disease, the patient’s age and his overall health have to be reflected upon. The patient should be given a chance to find out the best possible treatment, the costs, advantages and disadvantages of the treatment method, the risk involved and chances of success. Palliative treatment, which alleviates pain, is followed where other mesothelioma treatments are found to be futile. Here only the symptoms are treated, not the cause.

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Mesothelioma Patient – In A Death Trap

Friday, March 5th, 2010

Mesothelioma is a sort of cancer that’s almost always caused by being exposed to asbestos. In this illness, malignant cells develop in the mesothelium, a protecting lining that covers most of the body’s internal organs. Its most common site is the pleura ( outer lining of the lungs and internal chest wall ), but it could also happen in the peritoneum ( the liner of the abdominal cavity ), the heart, the pericardium ( a sac that surrounds the heart ) or tunica vaginalis.

A person who has developed mesothelioma cancer is described in medical jargon as a mesothelioma patient. This type of cancer is rare and usually detected only at advanced stages and these two factors combine to make the cancer much deadlier than most tumors. In most cases, a person gets affected after inhaling air filled with asbestos particles for prolonged periods. Mostly, it is workers employed in asbestos extraction or companies using asbestos as raw material who are affected, but family members of such workers and people staying near asbestos mines can also contract this deadly disease.

A mesothelioma patient has the right of law to ask for compensation for the physical damage, the resultant sufferings, income loss due to loss of health and medical expenses. Even family members are entitled in some cases to seek damages. As the disease is detected usually after it has assumed gargantuan proportions, medical help may not be immensely successful. But monetary compensation from the employer or the government can act as a cushion to expenses incurred in diagnosis and treatment.

Mesothelioma is a deadly disease that affects the mesothelium, a protective coating on crucial organs like lungs, heart, abdomen, liver, etc. The thin fibers of asbestos cause some chemical reactions in the mesothelium cells, which result in abnormal division of these cells and the membrane becomes cancerous. Symptoms become visible only after the infection reaches our vital internal organs and by then, the situation would be too bad for effective recovery. The usual symptoms a mesothelioma patient may witness are difficulty in breathing, pain around the chest, continued cough, high fever and so on. In many cases, the cancer is detected when a physician conduct detailed tests for treating some other minor ailments like fever, pain and cough.

There are four stages of mesothelioma cancer. The first, the initial stage, is categorized as stage 1 and can be cured by local surgery. Stage 2 requires more aggressive tactics like surgery combined with medication and radiotherapy. Stage 3 and 4 patients are not so lucky because they would have to undergo prolonged treatment, and even then, the prognosis of mesothelioma is not too bright. The lifespan of a mesothelioma patient in advanced stages can be increased through modern therapies which include immunotherapy, photodynamic therapy and gene therapy.

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The Real Deal On Mesothelioma Asbestos

Wednesday, March 3rd, 2010

Our vital organs are sheathed in a single layer of compacted cuboidal cells. This layer, called mesothelium lines the serous cavities of our body. The cells of this covering become cancerous when particles of mesothelioma asbestos get deposited in it. The infection slowly retards the normal functioning of nearby organs thereby resulting in death. Statistics prove that almost ninety percent of all mesothelioma cases occur due to asbestos exposure only.

Immense industrial use is there for asbestos, which is a naturally occurring mineral. Being flexible and strong it is used in making roof shingles, cement, insulation, textiles etc. The problem with asbestos is that in the manufacturing process, thin fibers float in the air. This is inhaled or swallowed by the workers and the particles reach the mesothelium. Functions of macrophages are changed by the fibers of this material resulting in the development of suitable conditions for mesothelioma development. Mesothelioma asbestos has the capacity to retard the proper functioning of our immune system by activating oncogenes, proto-oncogenes, error prone DNA repair enzymes and deactivating tumor suppressor genes.

Risks of contracting mesothelioma are common among those who are staying near asbestos mines. Increased risks are there for the workers of factories and workshops where asbestos is used. The risk factor can be significantly decreased by wearing protective gear while handling asbestos.

Family members of people who work in asbestos filled atmosphere may also contract the cancer through the particles carried by the worker\’s clothes and hair. Showering and changing cloths after work are essential to counter this. Some building materials, especially those used for insulation contain asbestos, which may endanger the lives of the inhabitants.

Mesothelioma symptoms are visible only many years after the exposure to asbestos particles. By that time it will be too late. An early diagnosis along with proper treatment has increased the lifespan of many affected people. Traditional methods like surgery, chemotherapy, radiation and new methods of treatment like gene therapy are used to fight against this malady. But it is always better to use preventive measures than going for a cure. Using protective gadgets will help while handling mesothelioma asbestos.

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