Mesothelioma is a deadly form of cancer. Depending upon when diagnosis occurs, the patient usually has a year to 18 months to live. Mesothelioma affects the tissue that lines the heart, lungs or stomach. In cases of mesothelioma, treatment consists more of making the patient comfortable. While some cancer treatments may be used, mesothelioma never is cured.

On the other hand, asbestosis is a chronic lung condition. However, it is non-cancerous. Asbestosis results from the inhalation of asbestos fibers. As a result, the lung tissue becomes scarred. This then makes it difficult to breathe. It is possible that later on the asbestosis will lead to mesothelioma but they are two different problems. Like mesothelioma, asbestosis is diagnosed significantly later after the exposure. The patient’s health will worsen over time. Treatment of asbestosis could include vaccination, medication and/or cessation of smoking.

Asbestos Exposure

This is the number one risk factor for the development of mesothelioma. Asbestos is an insulating material that was used in various building materials. Initially, no one realize the harm it could do to one’s health. However, now knowing its link to mesothelioma, the substance is no longer used in making building materials.

Smoking

Smoking by itself is not a risk factor for contracting mesothelioma. However, smoking along with exposure to asbestos is. Smokers who have been exposed to asbestos have a higher rate of developing mesothelioma in the lunch. This risk is anywhere from 50% to 90%.

Radiation

A substance used in x-rays known as thorium dioxide has been shown to have a link to mesothelioma in the lining of the lungs and abdomen. Due to this link, the use of the substance has ceased.

One of the systems used to assign stages to mesothelioma is known as the Butchart Staging System. This is the oldest system and is still in use. The criteria for different stages are dependent upon the mass of the primary tumor. The cancer comes in four stages: stage I stage II, stage III and stage IV.

A second system is the TNM staging system. Derived from the Butchart system, the TNM system is much more detailed and therefore more precise. The letters of the system, TNM, stand for tumor, nodes and metastasis. T pertains to the size of the tumor and how far it has spread. The N represents the spread of the cancer to the lymph nodes. M is for the spread of the cancer to other organs way from the tumor known as metastasis. Like the Butchart system, there are four stages in the TNM staging system.

The most recently created system is the Brigham system used for staging mesothelioma. This particular system considers certain variables. For instance, it will focus on the status of the lymph nodes. Tumor respectability is also assessed. This would be the ability to remove the tumor via surgery.

This survival rate is not a perfect measure. There are many factors that play into the survival rate. For instance, the particular stage of the mesothelioma cancer at the time of diagnosis would be key. Additionally, the size of the tumor involved can help project one’s survival rate. Some tumors may be surgically removed which contribute to an improved survival rate. Other factors include the age of the patients as well as their overall level of health.

Recent studies show that about 9% of all patients diagnosed with mesothelioma will survive beyond 5 years. At year 4, 10% can be expected to live while 11% at year 3. Year 2’s survival rate is 20%. The survival rate for year 1 is only 39%.

Doctors may recommend other tests to provide them with more information as they proceed to create a treatment plan. Some common tests would include X-rays, CT scans and MRIs. Some other tests are used such as cytology. This involves testing the pleural fluid for malignant cells. While this can provide some useful information, it is quite limited in making a diagnosis of mesothelioma. Many times when the fluid is tested the findings can be negative or inconclusive. Only 15% of the time are the results accurate.

Biopsies are the most conclusive way in which to determine a mesothelioma diagnosis. One of these is a simple needle biopsy which is done under a local anesthesia. Tissue samples are collected by using a needle. Even this type of biopsy is limited. The sample taken is rather small which in some situations is not large enough to make a confident diagnosis. The more effective biopsy method is an open biopsy. This procedure provides a much larger tissue sample. Given this fact, this procedure must be done in an operating room under general anesthesia.

Radiation

Since mesothelioma is a form of cancer it can be treated using radiation. This treatment would kill the cancer cells. However, there are also a lot of side effects that can result from this course of treatment. When mesothelioma is finally able to be diagnosed, the cancer is often already at a very aggressive level. Due to this factor, radiation often is used in conjunction with some of the other treatment options that will be mentioned.

Surgery

For treating mesothelioma, surgery could be another option. Surgery could consist of simply removing the cancer as well as some of the surrounding healthy tissue to insure that the cancer was fully removed. In other situations, an organ could be removed such as in the case of the lungs.

Medication

Another common treatment option for cancers, including mesothelioma, is chemotherapy. The drugs administered with this treatment option can be given either orally or as an injection. In most cases, multiple chemotherapy drugs may be used as pairing them up can increase the effectiveness of this treatment option.

Peritoneal mesothelioma attacks the lining of the abdomen which is called the peritoneum. The purpose of this lining is the help facilitate movement of organs within the chest cavity. In order to do this, a special fluid must be secreted. However, when this part of the abdomen becomes afflicted with mesothelioma it goes into high gear. The peritoneum actually will make too much of this fluid creating an overabundance of it.

With very few exceptions most cases of peritoneal mesothelioma are caused by some sort of exposure to asbestos. The exposure probably occurred many years ago. When inhaled, the fibres of the asbestos become trapped in the membranes of the organs and chest. Over a long period of time, the cells will start to divide abnormally. When an asbestos fibre is inhaled, there is no route for it to exit the body or a way for the body to clear it. Some fibres never develop into cancer while many others do.

There are certain symptoms that could possible point to a diagnosis of peritoneal mesothelioma. These would include swelling of the abdomen. Weight loss is also a common sign as well as obstruction in the bowels. If a patient finds they have these symptoms, they should also report any possible situation where they were exposed to asbestos to their physician.

Pericardial mesothelioma affects the protective tissue surrounding the heart. In most diagnosed cases, some exposure to asbestos is the root cause of pericardial mesothelioma. Inhalation of asbestos fibers are often the culprit. Unfortunately, symptoms do not present themselves until a significantly long time following exposure. Often when they are detected, the cancer simply has spread too much to be treatable.

The symptoms of pericardial mesothelioma are also ones that can indicate other heart problems with less serious outlooks. For instance, a person with pericardial mesothelioma may be bothered by a nagging cough. They may also have heart issues such as murmurs or arrhythmia. Other symptoms include fatigue, night sweats and chest pain. Very rarely is pericardial mesothelioma caught earlier enough to treat. Typically, the course of action is to relieve pain that the patient is suffering or try traditional cancer treatment to buy those diagnosed with more time.

So long as the mesothelium is healthy, the organs will work properly. However, if one contracts mesothelioma, the mesothelium will become abnormal and affect the organs it is designed to protect. Of all the organs protected by mesothelium, the lungs are often the most affected. When mesothelioma is diagnosed in the lungs it is referred to as pleural mesothelioma.

Exposure to asbestos fibers is the greatest risk factor for contracting pleural mesothelioma. In fact about ¾ of all cases of mesothelioma are due to asbestos. Asbestos are fibers that has been used in building materials, cement, brake lining and textiles. Pleural mesothelioma can occur from either primary exposure to asbestos or even secondary.

Once a diagnosis of pleural mesothelioma is made, there really is not much that can be done. Typically the diagnoses do not even occur until the pleural mesothelioma has entered later stages. Actions can be taken to keep the patient free from pain. However, most cases of pleural mesothelioma are fatal.

One of the most popular treatments are surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. While these processes may have their own inherent risks, treatments for Mesothelioma are some of the most comprehensive in the world. With these effective treatments, a person will have some great successes, in whatever measure that they use. There are some other experiemental treatment options out there, including gene therapy, that has been making waves in the industry, as well. For those who may be looking for some of these treatments, there are quite a few clinical trial options available to them, as well.

For the person who may be experiencing, or know someone who may be finding trouble with Mesothelioma, they’ll be happy to know that there are a plethora of different solutions available to them. Financially you could look into taking out some critical illness cover.