Surgery and Diagnosis

The diagnosis of malignant pleural Mesothelioma is made most firmly by the inspection of a biopsy of the pleura under the microscope. A diagnosis confirmed by biopsy helps when planning further treatment, for some treatments it is essential and it also verifies claims for compensation. It may be possible to obtain a reliable biopsy either by the removal of fluid from the chest (pleural fluid cytology) or a needle biopsy whereby a biopsy is obtained under local anaesthetic sometimes guided by a CT or ultra sound scanner. However, particularly in the early stages, negative results by these tests do not rule out the possibility of Mesothelioma. It may be felt that a surgical biopsy is warranted.There are two “keyhole” procedures that can be used. Under a local anaesthetic it is possible to have a medical thoracoscopy. This involves a small camera telescope being introduced through a single 1-2 cm cut from which a biopsy can be taken. If a general anaesthetic is performed, a thoracic surgeon may perform Video Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery (VATS), through between 1 and 3 such cuts. This allows a larger biopsy to be performed and a full assessment of the pleura to be made. Picture Source - www.thoracicgroup.com

Malignant pleural mesothelioma in pregnancy

A 37-year-old pregnant woman presented at 18 weeks' gestation with unrelenting chest and shoulder pain, massive pleural effusion, and a large thoracic mass. Biopsy revealed an undifferentiated sarcomatous pleural mesothelioma. malignant mesothelioma is a rare thoracic malignancy, which has not been described in pregnancy and appears to be minimally affected by the pregnant state.

Chemotherapy & mesothelioma

Chemotherapy is the use of drugs for treating cancer. The drugs can be swallowed in pill form or they can be injected by a needle into a vein or muscle. Chemotherapy is systemic therapy. This means that the drug enters the bloodstream and circulates throughout the body (through the whole system) to reach and destroy the cancer cells.In treating mesothelioma, these drugs may also be given intrapleurally (directly into the chest cavity), or intraperitoneally (into the abdominal cavity). Depending on the type and stage of mesothelioma, chemotherapy may be given as the primary (main) treatment or as an adjuvant (addition) to surgery.Several anticancer drugs have been used to treat mesothelioma. The drug most effective when given alone is doxorubicin (Adriamycin). Other drugs that may be given alone include cisplatin and methotrexate. These anticancer drugs are often given in combination to try to increase their effectiveness. Combinations of drugs used in the treatment of mesothelioma include methotrexate and vincristine; cisplatin and alimta, vinblastine and mitomycin; cisplatin and doxorubicin; and doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide (or ifosfamide) and cisplatin. Other drugs such as paclitaxel and irinotecan are currently being studied to determine their effectiveness in treating mesothelioma.Chemotherapy drugs kill cancer cells but also damage some normal cells. Therefore, careful attention must be given to avoiding or minimizing side effects, which depend on the specific drugs, the amount taken, and the length of treatment. Temporary side effects might include nausea and vomiting, loss of appetite, loss of hair, and mouth sores. Because chemotherapy can damage the blood-producing cells of the bone marrow, patients may have low blood cell counts. This can result in an increased risk of infection (due to a shortage of white blood cells), bleeding or bruising after minor cuts or injuries (due to a shortage of blood platelets), and fatigue or shortness of breath (due to low red blood cell counts).Most side effects disappear once treatment is stopped. There are remedies for many of the temporary side effects of chemotherapy. For example, antiemetic drugs can be given to prevent or reduce nausea and vomiting. If you experience any side effects, be sure to talk with your doctor.


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Malignant pleural mesothelioma in pregnancy
A 37-year-old pregnant woman presented at 18 weeks' gestation with unrelenting chest and shoulder pain, massive pleural effusion, and a large thoracic mass. Biopsy revealed an undifferentiated sarcomatous pleural mesothelioma. malignant mesothelioma is a rare thoracic malignancy, which has not been described in pregnancy and appears to be minimally affected by the pregnant state.PMID: 11243299 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] Click here to order or save article

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Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Surgery and Diagnosis
The diagnosis of malignant pleural Mesothelioma is made most firmly by the inspection of a biopsy of the pleura under the microscope. A diagnosis confirmed by biopsy helps when planning further treatment, for some treatments it is essential and it also verifies claims for compensation. It may be possible to obtain a reliable biopsy either by the removal of fluid from the chest (pleural fluid cytology) or a needle biopsy whereby a biopsy is obtained under local anaesthetic sometimes guided by a CT or ultra sound scanner. However, particularly in the early stages, negative results by these tests do not rule out the possibility of Mesothelioma. It may be felt that a surgical biopsy is warranted.There are two “keyhole” procedures that can be used. Under a local anaesthetic it is possible to have a medical thoracoscopy. This involves a small camera telescope being introduced through a single 1-2 cm cut from which a biopsy can be taken. If a general anaesthetic is performed, a thoracic surgeon may perform Video Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery (VATS), through between 1 and 3 such cuts. This allows a larger biopsy to be performed and a full assessment of the pleura to be made. Picture Source - www.thoracicgroup.com


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Surgery
Surgery can have an important role within the treatment of malignant Mesothelioma in confirming the diagnosis, assessing the spread of the tumour (stage) and in the control of symptoms.All terms in bold in this section can be found in the Glossary.Picture Source - www.mayoclinic.org



How dangerous is it?
Your close relative — perhaps even you yourself — has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, a form of cancer newly affecting 2,000 to 3,000 individuals in the United States each year. A thousand questions run through your mind: What is mesothelioma?How dangerous is it?How long has my relative got to live?How will this development impact my relative’s family?How did my relative contract mesothelioma?What kinds of medical treatments are available? How successful have they proven?Are there any nonmedical alternatives?What have others done in this situation? What can I do?What choices do I have?Is there any hope?Who can help?
Does anyone care?
Mesothelioma Legal Information Center
Posted by mudasir

How to Find a Mesothelioma Attorney

Selecting the right mesothelioma lawyer can be a daunting task. In addition to the emotional strains and struggles you may be experiencing as a result of a mesothelioma diagnosis, it may feel like choosing an attorney for your legal case is too daunting. In this article we will explore how to find a mesothelioma attorney.

It is your responsibility and right to obtain the best legal advice you can when submitting a claim to the court for a mesothelioma negligence suit. Large sums of cash, potentially millions of dollars, are ultimately at stake and you don't want to be unprepared for a case of this magnitude. The right attorney could, and probably will, impact the final settlement you are able to receive.

Experience in mesothelioma cases should be your first prerequisite. As a result of the substantial settlement payouts for the kind of case, the legal industry has seen a surge in lawyers looking to work on mesothelioma cases. Therefore, it is possible that some of the attorneys in the field are looking for a fast buck and don't posses the necessary resources to conduct a proper campaign in this area of the law.

It is also important to examine the legal firms fee structure. It is common today for mesothelioma attorneys to operate of a contingency basis. What this means is that the attorney is only compensated if and when you are awarded financial compensation as the result of this case. This type of fee structure ensures that you will never be stuck with extensive legal bills if the case is not decided in your favor.

Find more extensive information on what is mesothelioma as well as resources for mesothelioma injury at my website.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Bryan_Winters

Mesothelioma

Malignant mesothelioma is a rare type of cancer that occurs in the thin layer of cells lining the body’s internal organs, known as the mesothelium. There are three recognized types of mesothelioma. Pleural mesothelioma is the most common form of the disease, accounting for roughly 70% of cases, and occurs in the lining of the lung known as the pleura. Peritoneal mesothelioma occurs in the lining of the abdominal cavity, known as the peritoneum and pericardial mesothelioma originates in the pericardium, which lines the heart. The only recognized cause of mesothelioma is exposure to asbestos, though other factors such as smoking can make the disease more or less likely in some individuals. Industrial laborers were widely subjected to asbestos exposure on the job, as the material was widely used throughout the 20th century. Few of these workers knew they were being exposed to asbestos, however, despite the fact that many manufacturers were aware the material was hazardous. In most cases, mesothelioma symptoms will not appear in an individual exposed to asbestos until many years after the exposure has occurred. Those who believe they may have been exposed to asbestos should fill out our form to receive a free mesothelioma information packet, detailing treatment options, emerging therapies, and jobsite exposure information.

Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer. “Mesothelioma” is the term used to describe a cancerous tumor which involves the mesothelial cells of an organ, usually the lungs or abdominal organs.The most common type of mesothelioma is the pleural mesothelioma. The pleura is a thin membrane found between the lungs and the chest cavity. It provides a lubricated surface so that the lungs do not chafe against the chest walls. Thus, a pleural mesothelioma is often referred to as a “lung” cancer.Another form of mesothelioma is the peritoneal mesothelioma. The peritoneum is the membrane that encloses the organs of the abdomen. While peritoneal mesothelioma is less common than pleural mesothelioma, it tends to be more invasive, and may thus result in a shorter life expectancy for the patient. Mesothelioma has also been found in the stomach and other abdominal organs.
Why Me?
A common question posed by persons afflicted with mesothelioma is, “Why did this disease develop in me?” The answer is nearly always the same-exposure to asbestos. When diagnosed in the United States, its onset is typically linked to a history of exposure to asbestos fiber. Asbestos is a mineral that was used for decades as a thermal insulation material. It has been widely known since the 1920’s that asbestos is a carcinogen, which means that it causes cancer in humans. However, asbestos was used as an insulator until the mid-1970’s, and is still present in massive quantities in many buildings today. Unfortunately, in many cases very little exposure is required to set this cancer in motion.

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