about mesothelioma
The Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer derived from the mesothelium, consisting of the pleura of the lungs, pericardium surrounding the heart and abdominal peritoneum. The pleura is formed by two thin layers of membrane that cover the entire lung surface, including the areas between the lobes. The cancer that begins in the pleura can spread to other parts of the body. When cancer begins in the lung pleura, it is called malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM).Types
There are three histological subtypes of mesothelioma :
The epitheloid represents between 60% and 70% of all cases and usually carries the best prognosis .
The sarcomatoid represents between 10% and 15% of all cases. It is a much more aggressive form of mesothelioma .
The biphasic or mixed one represents between 10% and 15% of the cases. This form has characteristics of the epithelioid and sarcomatoid mesotheliomas, but is associated with a worse survival than the epithelioid.
symptom
In patients with MPM, fluid accumulates in the space between the two layers of membrane, which presses the lung and can cause it to collapse. Symptoms include:
More frequent
Difficulty breathing
Chest or abdominal pain
Fatigue
Less frequent
Persistent cough
Important weight loss
Blood in sputum coughing from the lungs
Difficulty to swallow
Prolonged Hoarseness
Sickness
Reduction of oxygen concentration
The presence of one or more of the above symptoms does not necessarily imply that you have a mesothelioma . However, it is important that you consult these symptoms with your doctor as they may indicate other health problems.
Mesothelioma Biphasic
Malignant mesothelioma is a cancer that is defined by the presence of malignant cells membrane called pleura, located next to the chest cavity overlying the lungs. Cancer cells can also be located in the peritoneum, which is the tissue surrounding the abdomen and organs thereof, and the membrane of the heart, the pericardium. It's kind of cancer is very rare.Those who are at risk for malignant mesothelioma are people who somehow have inhaled asbestos at work at home, or those who lived with people who worked near asbestos. Most cases of mesothelioma are not diagnosed until late and when 20 or 50 years have passed before the first symptoms appear. Some of these symptoms are difficulty in breathing, weight loss, lumps in the abdomen area, pain under the ribs, and swelling or pain in the abdomen.
Biphasic malignant mesothelioma
One of the main forms of malignant mesothelioma is the biphasic form. Biphasic malignant mesothelioma accounts for 30 to 40% of cases of malignant mesothelioma. It is a mixture of two other forms of mesothelioma, the epithelial and the sarcomatoid. When a person is diagnosed with this disease, he will be diagnosed with both mesotheliomas, epithelial and sarcomatoid.Diagnosing the disease
Mesothelioma is diagnosed through medical examinations and the use of imaging tests. Other tests that may be performed include blood tests, bronchoscopy, and biopsies. Malignant mesothelioma cells are classified into three categories epithelial histological -mesotelioma, biphasic mesothelioma, sarcomatoid and mesothelioma.bifasic mesotheliomaFor the specific form of biphasic mesothelioma, to be able to correctly diagnose it, it is necessary to rule out that other cancers contain similar characteristics as synovial sarcomas and carcinomas. In order to do this, there are techniques that allow specific identification and labeling of proteins that exist in cells, such as immunohistochemical tests that can be carried out to distinguish this disease from other forms of cancer.
Because the cells are very small and both sarcomatoid cells and epithelial cells have the ability to be present in different areas of the tumor, it is difficult to diagnose and detect biphasic mesothelioma. Given this knowledge, the best way to get a correct diagnosis is to evaluate the substantial amount of tissue that is affected. Taking a sample, similar to that taken on biopsies, is a good way to determine the type of tumor.
Treating the disease
The treatment of malignant biphasic mesothelioma is different from other simpler types since it will vary depending on the ratio of sarcomatoid to epithelial cells that are present. Since sarcomatoids are typically more aggressive than epithelial, patients diagnosed with a biphasic mesothelioma with low levels of sarcomatoid cells tend to have better results. There are two types of treatment:Traditional Treatments - Traditional treatments include chemotherapy, radiation and surgery. These treatments usually combine to achieve a better result and increase life expectancy. The combination of treatments chosen will depend on the stage of the cancer.
The type of surgery that will be performed as a treatment for malignant mesothelioma will include drastic procedures such as removal of the affected part of the lung and the surrounding pectoral layer. Less drastic is the procedure to drain the fluid that surrounds the lung and that can cause pain and pressure.
New treatments - Some of the new treatments for mesothelioma include gene therapy, immunotherapy and photodynamic therapy, new chemotherapeutic agents and radiation modulated therapy. Currently these treatments are not as successful as traditional treatments but over time as they develop they will reach results in those
Additional treatment methods
Along with the new forms of treatment mentioned above, other more radical treatments for biphasic malignant mesothelioma, such as angiogenesis, interferon, and interleukin therapy, as well as many clinical trials, are being tested. Research is studying the effectiveness of alternative treatments, such as the use of herbs, special diets, acupuncture, homeopathic medicine, long doses of vitamin C and therapeutic massages.Cancer caused by asbestos, also known as mesothelioma , is an extremely aggressive cancer for which there is currently no cure. Even aggressive treatment can only improve the quality of life for most patients.
As the name suggests, asbestos cancers are caused by exposure to asbestos. In the twentieth century, workers in various professions were repeatedly exposed to asbestos, before and after the effects of the exposure were recognized. Asbestos cancers have a very long latency period, which means that they can take several decades between the exposure of asbestos and the appearance of the first symptoms of cancer. Because of this, the rate of asbestos cancer incidence is likely to increase over the next two or three decades before it begins to decline.
Symptoms of Asbestos Cancer
The first symptoms of asbestos cancers are often indistinguishable from a simple viral infection, making the condition very difficult to diagnose in the early stages. Individuals may suffer:Chest or abdominal pain
Difficulty breathing
A persistent cough
Weight loss
Fever and night sweats
Nausea
Anemia
Diagnostics and Forecasting
Patients are diagnosed for a combination of symptoms and physical examination. This examination may include chest x-rays, CT or MRI scans that determine not only the type of cancer that is present but also the progression of cancer. The diagnosis is typically confirmed with a blood test or a biopsy.
For most people with cancer caused by asbestos, the prognosis (life expectancy) is poor. An early and correct diagnosis is essential but does not change the problem, due to the long latency period of asbestos cancers and the lack of specific symptoms in the early stages of cancer. Most individuals are not diagnositicados until the cancer sen is the middle stage or advanced. Of those affected by asbestos cancer about 50% will die within a year of the diagnosis.
Treatment
Treatments for cancer caused by asbestos vary depending on the stage of cancer. Common treatments include surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. Surgical treatments are performed to remove tumors, while chemotherapy and radiation therapy are used to remove the remaining cancer cells, or to improve the quality of life for patients.Other forms of treatment, such as gene therapy and immunotherapy, are currently experimental treatments. Both of these treatments involve manipulating the body's immune system in a way that kills cancer cells. Such treatments have little hope but there are currently no treatments that can cure cancers caused by asbestos, or even slow their progress significantly.
If you have been diagnosed with asbestos-related cancer and would like to learn more about your treatment and financial options, we can help. Contact us today.