Symptoms and Treatments for Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is one of the few cancers have no symptoms until the cancer reaches the late stage of development and it is at this point that many cases become incurable. It has also non-specific symptoms and thousands of cases per year misdiagnosed as other, less severe respiratory disease. Simply put, mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that affects the organs thin protective tissue surrounding the large, most notably the lungs, heart andStomach and recently was positively related to the asbestos mineral. This thin layer of tissue, the mesothelium can embed inhaled asbestos fibers, and it is here that they were up to 50 years before dormant cancerous.

The symptoms that are connected with mesothelioma depend on which body organs are affected.

Pleural mesothelioma. This type of cancer affects the lungs and leads to a number of symptomsincluding:

· Persistent cough that does not improve with medication not

· Breathing difficulties

· Shortness of breath

· Fever

· Difficulty swallowing

· Chest pain

Weight loss

Pericardial mesothelioma. This second type of mesothelioma affects the heart tissue and includes the following symptoms occur:

· Breathing difficulties

· Cough

·Palpitations

Peritoneal mesothelioma. The third type of mesothelioma affects the stomach and causes the following symptoms occur:

"Nausea and vomiting

· Abdominal pain

Weight loss

· Distension of the stomach

· Bowel obstruction

· Fever

Of course, all these symptoms can also arise from a number of other conditions but who they should consult a doctor, especially those with experienceare exposed to asbestos in the past.

Unfortunately for mesothelioma victims, the symptoms only present themselves late in the development of cancer and so many cases in palliative treatment rather than curative. There are a number of possible types of treatment that the body can be used mesothelioma and the course of treatment has failed to spread, that will be required depends heavily on in how developed the cancer is and how far. This informationcan be determined, x-rays, CT scans and MRI scans because these imaging techniques, a detailed view of cancer progression and can offer as many areas of the body are affected. The possible forms of treatment are surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and palliative care and either a single form or combination can be used.

Surgery. The operation can be used in cases where there is an obvious large tumor, but it only be an option if the tumor causes chronic painor if it causes an obstruction eg in one or both of the lungs. Because mesothelioma and between 50 to 30 years to develop many sufferers are elderly when they are diagnosed, and so the possibility of surgery will depend on the age and health of the general condition of the. Sometimes it is safer with the tumor, when the rigors of surgery to live risk.

Radiotherapy. Radiation therapy is most effective when the site of the mesothelioma is confined to a single, such asLungs. It can be and often in combination with chemotherapy as an additional line of defense against any small pockets of cancerous cells, could survive the drug treatment may be used. Radiotherapy may be some side effects but they are easy to treat and in rare cases cause problems.

Chemotherapy. Chemotherapy for mesothelioma will not stay in the hospital than for a specific drug concoction is introduced one more body intravenously. Chemotherapy is used if the cancer has spread toother areas and so the treatment needs to attack multiple sites.

Palliative care. Palliative Care includes none of the above treatments, however, when they improve and enhance the quality of life, rather than a cure will be targeted. Palliative Care is as pain relief in many cases the mesothelioma is well advanced and causing chronic chest and abdominal pain.

Mesothelioma is considered a rare form of cancer, but in the last ten years, theNumber of cases diagnosed each year has increased steadily. Since he have sued successfully with asbestos many victims related their former employers, and many more are starting proceedings each year. Today, workers must wear protective clothing and breathing apparatus while working with asbestos and so it may be that the presence of mesothelioma die along with the current generation.

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