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Most Common Mesothelioma Treatments: Chemotherapy
June 5,2013

In part three of this three-part series looking at common mesothelioma treatments, chemotherapy will be examined.*

Chemotherapy uses medications to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. The medications are injected intravenously so that they will spread throughout the body via the bloodstream.

Typically, chemotherapy for mesothelioma treatment involves inserting a catheter through a tiny incision in the chest and injecting the medications directly onto the cancer site.

Chemotherapy is often used in conjunction with surgery, often before the surgery to shrink the tumor as much as possible and slow the rate of metastasizing or spreading. Sometimes, chemotherapy is also given postoperatively to clean up cancer cells left behind. Other times, chemotherapy may be the only mesothelioma treatment.

Sometimes, surgery is not possible because mesothelioma cancer cells are so diffuse, or spread out. In cases where chemotherapy is the only mesothelioma treatment, it is used to relieve the severity of symptoms rather than in an attempt to cure the cancer.

Often, chemotherapy medications are used in cycles. Recovery time for the body is important between cycles, as the side effects of chemotherapy can be severe. Typical side effects from chemotherapy for mesothelioma treatment include:

·         Hair loss

·         Loss of appetite

·         Nausea and vomiting

·         Mouth sores

·         Diarrhea

·         Infection

·         Bruising

·         Bleeding

·         Fatigue

Different chemotherapy medications have different side effects, all of which typically subside quickly once treatments cease.

This concludes this three-part blog series covering the most common mesothelioma treatments.

*This information is summarizing the American Cancer Society's Cancer Information Database. The information in this blog series is not intended as medical advice to replace the expertise and judgment of your cancer care team.
 

Reference:

American Cancer Society, Chemotherapy for malignant mesothelioma

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Most Common Mesothelioma Treatments: Radiation
June 3,2013

Mesothelioma is a deadly and rare cancer caused by asbestos exposure. The three most common treatments for mesothelioma are surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. In part two of this three-part series, radiation treatment for mesothelioma will be reviewed.*

Radiation is a treatment or therapy that uses high-energy rays such as X-rays to kill cancer cells. There are generally two types of radiation: external radiation and brachytherapy.

External radiation is when a focused beam or ray of radiation is pointed in the area of the tumor from outside the body. Brachytherapy is when radioactive markers are inserted into the body to attack the tumor directly. Mesothelioma treatment typically employs external radiation, which is generally applied five days per week for several weeks in a row.

Because radiation treatment harms healthy tissue as well as cancer tissue, radiation is not often the best mesothelioma treatment option. In cases where it might be a potentially good option, it may be used as:

·         A post-operative treatment in conjunction with surgery to kill more of the remaining tumor

·         An aggressive attempt to relieve severe symptoms such as acute pain, trouble breathing, and bleeding

There are some severe side effects to radiation including fatigue, lung damage, nausea, diarrhea, and loss of appetite.

In the next installment of this three-part blog series, chemotherapy for mesothelioma will be reviewed.

*This information is summarizing the American Cancer Society's Cancer Information Database. The information in this blog series is not intended as medical advice to replace the expertise and judgment of your cancer care team.
 

Reference:

American Cancer Society, Radiation therapy for treating malignant mesothelioma

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Most Common Mesothelioma Treatments: Surgery
May 29,2013

Mesothelioma is defined by the American Cancer Society as cancer that starts in the cells that line certain parts of the body, especially the chest and belly or abdomen. Mesothelioma is caused by asbestos exposure. The three most common treatments for mesothelioma are surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. In part one of this three-part series about common mesothelioma treatments, surgery for mesothelioma will be reviewed.*

Once mesothelioma is diagnosed, a doctor will typically assign a mesothelioma prognosis and complete a treatment plan. What typically determines both of these is the size and place of the tumor, how much it has metastasized or spread, the patient's general health, and the patient's desires. If it is determined that surgery is one of the best treatments, the surgery will be for one of two general purposes: to attempt to remove the cancer or to reduce the severity of symptoms caused by the cancer.

Surgically removing mesothelioma is usually very difficult or impossible due to its tendency to spread along tissue surfaces, nerves, and blood vessels. Therefore, most surgeries performed for mesothelioma are palliative, which means they are meant to help relieve symptoms.

Three of the most common mesothelioma surgeries are:

·         Extrapleural pneumonectomy or EPP: Removes all or most of the cancer and some of the tissues around it, including the nearby lung.

·         Pleurectomy/decortication or P/D: A smaller operation to relieve fluid build-up, improve breathing, and decrease pain caused by the cancer.

·         Debulking: Removes as much of the mesothelioma as possible.

Surgery may not always be a good option, as it is a very invasive mesothelioma treatment. When palliative surgery is considered, other, less invasive treatments might also be considered to relieve symptoms.

In the next installment of this three-part blog series, radiation for mesothelioma will be reviewed.

*This information is summarizing the American Cancer Society's Cancer Information Database. The information in this blog series is not intended as medical advice to replace the expertise and judgment of your cancer care team.

 

References: 

American Cancer Society,
Malignant Mesothelioma Overview

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Five Types of Mesothelioma and Their Causes
May 28,2013

In the final part of this five-part blog series, pericardial mesothelioma will be addressed.

The pericardium is the lining that surrounds and protects the heart. When mesothelioma affects this lining, it's known as pericardial mesothelioma. This type of mesothelioma is quite rare and also quite severe. Its severity is generally due to the fact that the tumors are spread out, covering the entire membrane around the heart. The diffuse nature of the tumors as well as their proximity to the heart makes pericardial mesothelioma particularly difficult to treat.

Pericardial mesothelioma is the second rarest type, after testicular mesothelioma. According to the American Cancer Society, there have been fewer than 150 cases of pericardial mesothelioma reported. This form of the disease accounts for about one to six percent of all mesothelioma cases.

Like all mesotheliomas, the cause of this type is asbestos exposure. Symptoms may not present for decades after asbestos exposure, and when they do, they can easily be mistaken for symptoms of the common cold or flu.

The American Cancer Society lists common symptoms for pericardial mesothelioma as:

·         Shortness of breath

·         Chest pain

·         Chronic cough

·         Fatigue after only light exertion

·         Heart palpitations

·         Irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia)

·         Murmurs

·         Fever or night sweats

·         Difficulty breathing, even when at rest (dyspnea)

·         Orthopnea (difficulty breathing when lying down)

Because fluid builds up around the heart with pericardial mesothelioma, some of these symptoms are a result of that swelling or the tumors themselves. Pericardial mesothelioma causes certain symptoms directly, which are low blood pressure, fainting, fluid retention in the legs, and heart palpitations.

Anyone exposed to asbestos at any time should get regular and frequent medical screenings for mesothelioma, especially if you are experiencing any of the symptoms listed in this blog series. Early detection is currently very difficult, but progress is being made in scientific research toward new tests for mesothelioma that will diagnose it much sooner, resulting in an improved mesothelioma prognosis.

Treatment options include radiation, chemotherapy, surgery, and medication. For pericardial mesothelioma, however, there is an additional procedure used to treat the symptoms of swelling. Procedures to drain the fluid from around the heart can help to reduce the seriousness of related symptoms.

This concludes the five-part blog series about five types of mesothelioma and their causes. 

References:
 

American Cancer Society
Mesothelioma Resource Online
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Five Types of Mesothelioma: Peritoneal mesothelioma
May 16,2013

In the fourth part of this five-part blog series, peritoneal mesothelioma will be explored.

The peritoneal is a tissue that lines the abdomen. This tissue protects and lubricates the abdominal organs. When the cells of this lining are cancerous, there is severe swelling of the abdomen and rapid growth of the cancer cells. Mesothelioma in this peritoneal lining is very rare and difficult to accurately diagnose as well as treat.

Just like the other types of mesothelioma covered in this blog series, asbestos exposure is the cause of peritoneal mesothelioma. When a person inhales asbestos dust for a prolonged period of time, the microscopic fibers can pass through the walls of the lungs and become lodged in the tissues lining the abdominal cavity. The long-term irritation this can cause to the tissues can eventually lead to the formation of cancer cells.

This whole process usually takes a long time, decades even. Usually, anywhere from 20 to 50 years will lapse before someone exposed to asbestos will notice mesothelioma symptoms.

According to the National Institutes of Health, the most common symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma include:
 

·         Nausea or vomiting

·         Inexplicable weight loss

·         Sweating or fever

·         Swelling or pain in the abdomen

·         Ascites (fluid buildup between the peritoneum and the abdominal organs)

·         Anemia

·         Fatigue

·         Diarrhea, constipation or any other inexplicable changes in the bowels

·         Development of lumps under the skin on the abdomen

 

Treatment for peritoneal mesothelioma is the same as that for other types of the disease — a combination of surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. None of these treatments can cure mesothelioma, however.

Currently, there are clinical trials and research projects that are working toward the development of a peritoneal mesothelioma cure. The earlier the diagnosis, the better the prognosis, so if you have been exposed to asbestos in the past, get frequent medical exams to screen for all types of mesothelioma.

In the next and final installment of this five-part blog series, pericardial mesothelioma will be covered.

References: 

National Institutes of Health
Mesothelioma Resource Online
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Five types of mesothelioma and their causes: Pleural mesothelioma
May 15,2013

In the third part of this five-part blog series, pleural mesothelioma will be examined. 

Pleural mesothelioma develops in the pulmonary (lungs) area and is the most common, accounting for three out of every four cases of mesothelioma. The cause of pleural mesothelioma is asbestos exposure. 

Asbestos was widely used over the past 150 years in industry, manufacturing, and construction due to its heatproof and fireproof properties. People who worked near airborne asbestos particles or asbestos dust are at the highest risk for developing mesothelioma. From the time a person is exposed to asbestos, it can take anywhere from 20 to 50 years for mesothelioma symptoms to begin. 

Symptoms of pleural mesothelioma can be mistaken for symptoms of a minor cold or flu, which often delays diagnosis and treatments. According to the American Cancer Society, common pleural mesothelioma symptoms include:

·         Fatigue

·         Persistent coughing, usually dry or raspy

·         Coughing up blood (hemoptysis)

·         Back or chest pain

·         Swelling

·         Development of lumps under the skin on the chest

·         Perspiration

·         Difficulty with swallowing (dysphagia)

·         Hoarse voice

·         Unexplained weight loss

·         Night sweats or fever

When diagnosing pleural mesothelioma, a doctor will need samples from fluid and tissues as well as additional tests. Once diagnosed, a treatment regimen to help reduce mesothelioma symptoms and possibly extend life expectancy will be planned. The most common treatments for pleural mesothelioma include surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy.

The earlier mesothelioma is diagnosed, the more successful the treatments will be. No matter how early the diagnosis, however, there is no known cure for pleural mesothelioma.

Research has shown that only about eight percent of all pleural mesothelioma cases will survive for longer than five years. Ten percent of all cases will live for three to five years from the time of diagnosis. The range in the number of years in mesothelioma life expectancies is wide and varied.

In the next installment of this five-part blog series, peritoneal mesothelioma will be addressed. 

References:

American Cancer Society
Mesothelioma Resource Online
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Five Types of Mesothelioma: Epithelial mesothelioma
May 9,2013

In the second part of this blog series, epithelial mesothelioma will be examined.

Epithelial mesothelioma is one of three major categories of mesothelioma: sarcomatous, epithelial, and mixed. Of all asbestos-related cancers, epithelial mesothelioma is the most common. Although it has the best prognosis of the three major types, the mesothelioma life expectancy is still just up to a single year.

Epithelial tissue lines all the internal cavities of the body. It is made up of continuous sheets of cells known as epithelium. Anything going into or out of the body passes through at least one layer of epithelial tissue.

Epithelial mesothelioma is a higher-level category of mesothelioma that means cancer cells growing on any epithelial tissue. More specific types of mesothelioma can be identified based on which area of the body is affected.

For example, if cancer forms in the epithelial tissue around the heart, the specific type is pericardial mesothelioma. If the cancer cells form in the epithelial tissue of the lungs, the specific type is pleural mesothelioma. If the cancer forms in the epithelial tissue of the abdomen, it is referred to as peritoneal or abdominal mesothelioma. And in rare cases, cancer will form in the epithelial tissue around the testicles, which is called testicular mesothelioma.

Diagnosing epithelial mesothelioma usually requires a radiology and pathology exam. Doctors will also ask about any previous asbestos exposure.  Once diagnosed, there are certain treatments and therapies that might be available to help lessen mesothelioma symptoms. Common therapies include chemotherapy and radiation. It is also quite common that patients will require one or more surgeries.

In the next installment of this five-part blog series, pleural mesothelioma will be addressed. 

References:

Mesothelioma Resource Online
The Virtual Biology Lab
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Five Types of Mesothelioma: Testicular Mesothelioma
May 8,2013

In this blog series, five mesothelioma types and their causes will be examined. Some mesothelioma types are rarer than others. The first covered in this series is the rarest: testicular mesothelioma.

Mesothelioma is a rare cancer with nearly 3,000 new cases diagnosed each year. The National Cancer Institute (NCI) defines mesothelioma as a type of cancer in which malignant cells are found in the chest or abdomen lining, called the mesothelium.  The disease can also affect the lining of the heart and abdominal cavity.

However, there are little known and even rarer types of mesothelioma that affect the lining of other organs in the body. One such type is testicular mesothelioma. Testicular mesothelioma is the rarest form of the disease, with fewer than 100 cases reported to date, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS).

Testicular mesothelioma is thought to develop in the membranous lining that surrounds the testicle, which is called the tunica vaginalis. This lining contains mesothelial cells — the cells in which asbestos fibers lodge. An alternative theory proposes that mesothelioma may occur in the testicles through the serosal surface of the tunica, on which firm, yellowish tissue can be found encasing the scrotum and thickening the tunica vaginalis. Uncontrolled growth of the cells in this tissue can lead to the formation of tumors.

Testicular mesothelioma, when diagnosed, was primarily found as a secondary tumor to an initial occurrence in the abdominal area of the body. For this reason, treatment of testicular mesothelioma must address both the primary and secondary tumors and may involve surgeries to remove the tumors as well as part of the testicles.

It has long been known that inhaling asbestos fibers can cause mesothelioma decades later. The explanation for how inhaled asbestos could lead to tumors in the testicles is still theoretical. What is known is that both testicular mesothelioma and peritoneal mesothelioma — another rare type of the disease — are usually fast-spreading, aggressive types of cancer that are difficult to treat.

In the next installment of this five-part blog series, epithelial mesothelioma will be addressed. 

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Pfizer Appeals Asbestos Lawsuit
April 23,2013

Pfizer Inc., a large pharmaceutical company, is petitioning the U.S. Supreme Court for immunity from asbestos claims made against its subsidiary, Quigley Co. The subsidiary is a bankrupt company that once made asbestos-containing products for the steel industry. The company ceased most operations in 1992.

Quigley allegedly stopped making asbestos containing products in the 1970s. Pfizer purchased the company in 1968. Yet, Pfizer contends that it played no part in either making or selling the asbestos-containing products that Quigley produced. According to an article in Bloomberg, the U.S. Supreme Court justices recently asked the Obama administration for advice regarding how to respond to Pfizer's appeal. A ruling by a federal appeals court in New York said the claims against Pfizer could go forward.

The steel industry used asbestos abundantly, usually to help protect employees from fire and heat they are exposed to in metal working. Ironically, the same material used to keep workers safe from injury is the material that caused a deadly injury in the end. Asbestos is a dangerous carcinogen that causes mesothelioma, a deadly form of cancer.

When asbestos-containing products are damaged through regular wear and tear, airborne particles may break free and form a dust. When asbestos dust is inhaled, the particles can become embedded in the lung tissue and other parts of the body, eventually causing mesothelioma.

Pfizer argues that Quigley’s bankruptcy proceedings shield the drug maker from lawsuits filed in asbestos injury cases related to products made by its subsidiary unit, according to Bloomberg. Since 1999, a Baltimore law firm has been suing Pfizer for asbestos-related claims. The law firm alleged that because the Pfizer logo is on Quigley products that contained asbestos and caused asbestos-related injuries, Pfizer was liable for those injuries.

The U.S. Supreme Court ruling on the appeal will determine the fate of many mesothelioma victims and their families.

Reference: Stohr, Greg.  (January 14, 2013). “Pfizer Gets High Court Inquiry on Asbestos Suit Shield.” Retrieved on Jan. 14 from Bloomberg.com

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Witness testifies chrysotile asbestos can cause mesothelioma
March 27,2013

Three bankrupt manufacturing companies that once made asbestos-containing products — Bondex International, Specialty Products Holding Corp., and RPM International Inc. — are defending themselves in a Pennsylvania court room against existing and future personal injury claimants who developed illness from asbestos exposure.

Asbestos is a known carcinogen that causes both mesothelioma — a deadly, rare form of cancer — and other serious illnesses.

During the trial, a witness for the defense testified that chrysotile asbestos, the type used by Bondex and the other defendants, is not likely to cause mesothelioma on its own. The witness, Dr. Allan Feingold, testified in the estimation hearing on behalf of the asbestos companies.

However, another medical expert witness, Dr. Laura Welch, refuted Feingold's claim. Welch took the stand for asbestos claimants in the ongoing asbestos bankruptcy trial in western Pennsylvania arguing that chrysotile exposure can lead to respiratory illnesses and cancer, including mesothelioma.

Welch's testimony was based on her own personal research conducted with sheet metal workers that has been ongoing since around 1995. Her research confirmed that exposure to chrysotile asbestos alone can and does lead to mesothelioma.

Mesothelioma is defined by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) as a type of cancer in which malignant cells are found in the chest or abdomen lining, called the mesothelium. The disease can also affect the lining of the heart.

One of the problems with mesothelioma is its long latency period, which means symptoms don't present until 30 to 50 years after the initial asbestos exposure that caused it. In Welch's testimony, she claimed that the average latency period is more than 40 years. For this reason, a new mesothelioma diagnosis can often leave victims and their loved ones confused about the cause of the illness. It's important to think back to decades earlier when the asbestos exposure happened.

The outcome of this particular mesothelioma bankruptcy case remains to be seen as the trial is ongoing. The claimants report that future asbestos claims against the three companies will amount to about $55 million.

Reference: Campisi, Jon (Jan. 11, 2013). “Claimants’ witness in asbestos bankruptcy case: Chrysotile can cause mesothelioma.” Retrieved on Jan. 12, 2013 from Legal Newsline

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Recent Articles

  • Most Common Mesothelioma Treatments: Chemotherapy
    In part three of this three-part series looking at common mesothelioma treatments, chemotherapy will be examined.* Chemotherapy uses medications to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. The...
  • Most Common Mesothelioma Treatments: Radiation
    Mesothelioma is a deadly and rare cancer caused by asbestos exposure. The three most common treatments for mesothelioma are surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. In part two of this three-part series...
  • Most Common Mesothelioma Treatments: Surgery
    Mesothelioma is defined by the American Cancer Society as cancer that starts in the cells that line certain parts of the body, especially the chest and belly or abdomen. Mesothelioma is caused by...

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Last updated June 05, 2013


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