Mesothelioma Pleural is a lethal cancer that initially affects the thin membrane enveloping the lungs. This affliction is mostly caused by exposure to asbestos. Currently about 3000 cases are reported in the United States every year. But according to reliable estimates, nearly 8 million people have been exposed to asbestos during the past fifty years and about .3 million new cases would turn up by 2030. Higher rate of incidence is noted in the Pacific and Mid-Atlantic States.
The disease is almost always fatal. If it is detected early, surgery could be helpful. But the problem is that Mesothelioma Pleural has a long latent period of 20 to 40 years or more and by the time it is diagnosed the cancer would be usually in an advanced stage. There is no universally accepted line of treatment as of now. Chemotherapy is not considered effective. Several combination therapies are tried.
Radiation may be of use, particularly as a palliative measure. Here the problem is that since mesothelioma is resistant to radiation, high doses have to be applied. This, not only kill the cancerous cells but also the good ones. To overcome the difficulty, many doctors who treat mesothelioma pleural patients are employing a century old procedure known as Brachytherapy, which was being, and still is, used for treatment of certain other cancers.
Brachytherapy today is a high-tech and precise form of radiation. It is a process applied internally instead of through a gadget outside the body. Radioactive sources (sealed in needles, catheters, seeds or wires) are planted on the tumor or very close to it. By this process the radiation is focused on the bad cells and therefore spares the good ones. This has been found to be effective.
Like all radiation, Brachytherapy also has side effects. But they are minor ones like short duration soreness in the area where the procedure is done. There is nothing to worry about if the patient follows the doctor’s instructions.
Related Articles of Interest :
-
Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
No Comments
Malignant pleural mesothelioma is a cancer of the thin layer of tissue that lines the chest and lungs. It is a rare form of cancer that is mostly associated with exposure to asbestos. Malignant pleural mesothelioma is a fast-moving cancer with a median survival time...
-
Malignant Diffuse Pleural Mesothelioma
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
No Comments
Majority of mesothelioma (cancerous tumor affecting mesothelial cells of organs) cases come under the classification ‘pleural mesothelioma’. This is a cancer that originates in the pleura, the delicate membrane covering the lungs. Out of these, seventy five percent are diffuse malignant pleural mesethelioma. The balance...
-
Pleural Mesothelioma
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
No Comments
Nearly 75 percent of mesotheliomas are initiated in the chest and are called pleural mesotheliomas. Pleural mesothelioma is the most common form of this devastating disease. This occurs when asbestos fibers enter the pleura, which is the membrane that covers the lungs, and results in...
-
Misdiagnosed Pleural Mesothelioma
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
No Comments
Let us take the scenario of a seventy-year-old man, who is a nonsmoker and otherwise fairly healthy, approaching the local doctor with complaints of persistent cough, chest congestion and weight loss. Other symptoms may include difficulty in swallowing and loss of appetite. The physician has...
-
Pleural Mesothelioma Information
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
No Comments
Pleural mesothelioma is the most common existing form of this malignancy, and it is more often than not a direct consequence of exposure to asbestos. One can get minor tumors with mesothelioma, but the malignant form is the most widespread. Inhaling asbestos fibers puts you...
-
Pleural Mesothelioma Diagnosis
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
No Comments
Proper diagnosis of Pleural Mesothelioma, a form of cancer in the thoracic cavity caused by contact with asbestos, is of great importance because it enables the patient to get disease-specific treatment immediately and also arms him adequately for any lawsuit for compensation. Unfortunately, diagnosis of...
-
Mesothelioma Pleural Symptoms
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
No Comments
Mesothelioma Pleural or Pleural Mesothelioma is generally a severe form of cancer that affects the membrane lining in the thoracic cavity. There are a few benign cases as well. The inhaling of asbestos dust either during the mining or manufacturing or handling of the material...
-
Pleural Mesothelioma Symptoms
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
No Comments
The earlier symptoms of malignant pleural mesothelioma are very similar to those experienced with other lung conditions, such as pneumonia or lung cancer. Symptoms also tend to present very gradually, and may therefore go unnoticed for a while. Breathlessness is one of the early and...
-
Mesothelioma Information
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
No Comments
Mesothelioma is an uncommon form of cancer, where cancer cells are located in the pleura, the peritoneum and the pericardium of the affected individual. Thus, the three main forms of mesothelioma are pleural mesothelioma, peritoneal mesothelioma and pericardial mesothelioma. Pleural mesothelioma targets the lining of...
-
Mesothelioma Treatment: An Overview
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
No Comments
Mesothelioma is a deadly form cancer developed through exposure to asbestos. The treatment procedure for mesothelioma depends on various factors, such as where the cancer is located, the actual stage of the disease, patient’s age, and the patient’s general health. The most common treatment procedures...