Malignant Mesothelioma Diagnosis
The most critical form of mesothelioma is the malignant form. Known as malignant mesothelioma, the primary causal factor is asbestos infection. According to the US National Cancer Institute, "Malignant mesothelioma is a disease in which cancer (malignant) cells are found in the sac lining the chest (the pleura), the lining of the abdominal cavity (the peritoneum) or the lining around the heart (the pericardium)."
Mesothelioma can be classified into three types - pleural mesothelioma, peritoneal mesothelioma and pericardial mesothelioma. Pleural mesothelioma refers to a cancer of the lining of the lung (pleura), peritoneal mesothelioma refers to a cancer of the abdominal cavity (peritoneum) lining, and pericardial mesothelioma is a cancer that occurs in the lining that surrounds the heart (pericardium). The subtypes of mesothelioma are of three basic types, one very aggressive, one least aggressive, and one lying between the two extremes.
Malignant mesothelioma can be diagnosed through several imaging techniques. These imaging techniques enable physicians to assess mesothelioma. Once mesothelioma is suspected, patients are advised to undergo several tests, like X-ray, Computed Tomography (CT) scan, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scans, and Positron Emission Tomography (PET) imaging. The physician may also like to undertake special mesothelioma tests like thoracoscopy, peritoneoscopy and biopsy.
Learning about the stage of mesothelioma is a critical factor that helps physicians to decide the treatment plan. If the cancer is confined to the pleura, mesothelioma is considered localized. If the cancer spreads beyond the pleura and to other parts of the body such as the lungs, abdominal cavity, lymph nodes and the chest wall, mesothelioma is considered to be in an advanced stage.
The oft used and the oldest system for determining the stages of mesothelioma is the Butchart System. The Butchart System is based on the extent of the primary tumor mass available in a patient. This system divides mesothelioma into four stages. The TNM system, a slightly advanced system over the Butchart System, determines staging through variables of tumor in mass and the spread, the lymph node involvement and metastasis. However, the latest system is known as the Brigham System, where staging is done as per the respectability and lymph node involvement. In spite of such modern techniques, a definitive diagnosis of mesothelioma still remains possible through fluid diagnosis and tissue biopsy.
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Asbestos & Mesothelioma Statistics
Asbestos is a term used to classify a group of mineral fibers that share properties of thermal and chemical resistance, flexibility, and hight tensile strength. The term "asbestos" comes from the Greek word for inextinguishable and was termed the "magic mineral" because of its' extraordinary ability to withstand heat. There are six minerals defined as asbestos including: chrysotile, amosite, crocidolite, tremolite, anthophyllite and actinolite.
The history of this remarkable, but hazardous material dates back to at least 2500 B.C., when it was used as an ingredient in pottery making. Since then, asbestos has been used in a wide-range of products such as automotive brake pads and clutches, cement, ceiling and floor tiles, boilers, electrical wire insulation, gaskets, joint compound and adhesives, just to name a few.
Mesothelioma is type of lung cancer that is aggressive in nature and almost, always results from exposure to asbestos. At present there is no known cure for Mesothelioma and life expectancy is between 4 to 24 month from the initial onset of symptoms. Currently there is an ongoing epidemic of this disease in the US and it is not showing any signs of slowing down. The primary cause of the Mesothelioma problem is negligence on the part of asbestos manufactures since the1970's whom did not protect their employees from the dangers of asbestos. Due to this fact and because the latency period for Mesothelioma is between 20 to 40 years, the court system has being inundated with pending asbestos cases ever since. It is estimated that asbestos cases will not peak for another 20 years.
Below are some statistical facts about asbestos and mesothelioma lung cancer:
* Asbestos is considered a carcinogen, which means that it can cause cancer.
* Asbestos is a fibrous mineral that occurs naturally in the environment.
* About 70% to 80% of all reported cases of asbestos exposure occur in the work place.
* Over the past 50 years, occupational exposure to asbestos in the United States is estimated to have occurred in approximately 8 million people.
* Mesothelioma is an aggressive form of lung cancer that results from exposure to airborne asbestos fibers.
* There are two types of Mesothelioma, pleural and peritoneal.
* Initial symptoms of Mesothelioma do not appear until 30 to 40 years after first exposure to asbestos.
* Symptoms of Mesothelioma usually arise 2 to 3 months before the cancer is found and can resemble shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, persistent cough, pneumonia, chest and abdominal pain.
* Mesothelioma is a terminal disease with no known cure and victims die within 18 months of diagnosis due to the cancer being too advanced by the time it is detected.
* Treatments for Mesothelioma include surgery to remove the tumors, chemotherapy, radiation, or a combination of all three.
* Management of mesothelioma depends largely on the the staging of the tumor as well as the age and physical condition of the patient. Early diagnosis and surgical intervention may lengthen life expectancy.
* According to the National Cancer Institute, approximately 3,000 new cases per year of malignant mesothelioma are being reported in the United States, and the incidence appears to be increasing.
* Asbestos cases will continue to increase and it is estimated to peak around the year 2025, according to experts.
* The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued regulations to phase out the use of almost all asbestos products in 1989, and these rules were overturned in a court challenge in 1991.
* Asbestos is still not banned in the US and there are about 5,000 products that contain asbestos circulating in the US.
* Most asbestos products are used as an ingredient in the making of a final product, such as vinyl-asbestos flooring and friction products, which are purchased mostly by the construction and automobile industries.
* EPA has not banned any substance for any use since 1991 under the provision of the law used for the asbestos ban.
* It is estimated that about 8 million people in the U.S. have been exposed to asbestos in the work place, and, or their home.
* The Congressional Budget Office claims that there are 322,00 pending claims.
* Fair compensation for mesothelioma frequently means a settlement of over $1,000,000.
* About 2,500 victims of Mesothelioma die each year.
* The disease is three times more common in men than in women. In men, the occurrence of mesothelioma is ten times higher in men between the ages of 60-70 as compared to men between the ages of 30-40.
* Due to the monetary value of Mesothelioma as a keyword search term on the Internet, there are bids on Overture or Google Ad Words of over $160 per click, which primarily involved law firms.
For more information, please visit the Mesothelioma Information Resource Group.
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Determining Life Expectancy of Mesothelioma Patients
Once a person has been diagnosed with a cancer of any sort, the doctors will put their heads together to determine how great of a chance of survival the person will have with successful treatment. They will also try to determine how long they think the person will live without treatment or if treatment is unsuccessful.
In determining how long a person who has been diagnosed with mesothelioma has to live, the doctors will examine a number of factors. While it is true that they examine a number of known factors, every patient is a unique case whose life expectancy cannot be predicted with complete accuracy. Due to almost daily advances in the field of cancer treatment, the life expectancy of a person diagnosed with mesothelioma now is greater than that of a person who was diagnosed five years ago.
That being said, mesothelioma is still a serious disease that has not experience much luck in finding effective treatment options. Still, life expectancy is greater today than someone five years ago.
After analyzing all of the mesothelioma cases presented, doctors have determined that the middle portion of the bell curve is 4 and 18 months. This means that 25% of people diagnosed with mesothelioma live less than four months and 25% live for more than eighteen months. 50% of all diagnosed with mesothelioma live between four and eighteen months. While this information is scary, it does not break the cases down into stages of diagnosis or even whether treatment is even attempted.
Factors that influence the life expectancy of any cancer patient, including those who have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, vary. Some of the factors include:
- The stage of the disese when diagnosed
- The point at which it is diagnosed
- Whether the cancer is localized or has spread
- The patient's age and health condition
- Wha treatments are feasible based on the condition and health of the patient
Out of all of the factors influencing the life expectancy of a person diagnosed with mesothelioma, the stage of mesothelioma at diagnoses is the most important piece of the puzzle. It is the greatest indicator of how long or how short a patient's life expectancy is. Because the early symptoms of mesothelioma actually resemble those of other, much more common illnesses, many patients are misdiagnosed in the early stages. By the time the cancer has been discovered, the cancer has already reached an advanced stage.
Williams Kherkher is a full service law firm dedicated to providing representation who have been diagnosed with mesothelioma following the negligence of a former employer.
Joseph Devine
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Mesothelioma Cancer Cell Types - Epithelioid, Sarcomatoid & Biphasic
Mesothelioma is one of the deadliest cancers for a number of reasons. It has a prolonged latency period during which it destroys the mucous-producing membrane that lines the outer surface of a number of organs. This membrane allows the organs to move, which in turn allows them to function. Over a period of decades mesothelioma destroys healthy cells by assaulting them with three main avenues of attack: epithelioid, sarcomatoid, biphasic cells.
Epithelioid mesothelioma cells are the most common and relatively easiest to treat of all types of mesothelioma. This type of cell appears to be a papillary or tubular growth that usually affects the outer membranes and linings of the internal organs and other bodily surfaces. Somewhere between 50 and 70% of all mesothelioma cases belong to this category, and although this cancer is usually extremely difficult to treat, epithelioid mesothelioma is the most likely to respond to treatment.
The second type of mesothelioma is sarcomatoid mesothelioma. This type is the most serious form of the disease, as it is the least likely to respond to treatment. These spindle-shaped pattern of cells that appear to overlap each other are also fortunately the rarest type of the cancer, with approximately 10-20% of all mesothelioma cases falling into this type. Sarcomatoid mesothelioma is so dangerous because it attacks and arises from the support tissues of the body, such as bone, cartilage, fat, and muscle, and cancers in these areas are notoriously difficult and painful to treat. Patients with this form of cancer rarely live longer than six months after diagnosis.
The final condition, biphasic mesothelioma, is not an independent type of mesothelioma, but a combination of sarcomatoid and epithelioid. It is also a mixed bag of conditions in that it can take the good and bad aspects of the other two types, and almost 20-35% of all mesothelioma cases fall into either mixed or biphasic areas.
Without a doubt, mesothelioma is one of the most devastating types of cancer. Most people rarely live beyond a year after their initial diagnosis, and few victims reach five years. Mesothelioma is almost always caused by asbestos exposure, and millions of people have had contact with this deadly substance.
To learn more about Epithelioid Mesothelioma, Sarcomatoid Mesothelioma or Biphasic Mesothelioma please visit our website at www.resource4mesothelioma.com This article may be freely reprinted as long as this resource box is included and all links stay intact as hyperlinks.
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Types and Stages of Pleural Mesothelioma
Pleural mesothelioma is a cancerous tumor involving the mesothelial cells that make up the pleura or lining around the outside of the lungs and inside of the ribs. It can also involve the heart and abdomen. Pleural mesothelioma is caused by exposure to asbestos fibers, including chrysotile, amosite, or crocidolite that occurred twenty or more years before the disease becomes evident. These fibers are ingested into to the body through breathing or swallowing. Pleural mesothelioma is the most common type of mesothelioma, accounting for about 75% of all cases.
Types of Plural Mesothelioma
"Localized and benign" mesothelioma is non-life threatening and can be removed by surgery.
"Diffuse and malignant" mesothelioma is a cancer that generally results in death within one year of diagnosis.
Symptoms of Pleural Mesothelioma
Chest wall pain, pleural effusion, or fluid surrounding the lung, shortness of breath, weight loss, fatigue or anemia, wheezing, hoarseness, or cough and blood in the sputum (fluid) coughed up. Patients may develop several tumor masses. Patients may experience pneumothorax, or collapse of the lung. The disease may metastasize, or spread, to other parts of the body.
Stages of Pleural Mesothelioma
There are four stages of this disease. Localized pleural mesothelioma cancer ranging from - Stage I; the cancer remains on the membrane surface where it originated to Stage IV; advanced. In this final stage, the cancer has (metastasized) spread beyond the original membrane surface to other parts of the body, such as the lymph nodes, lungs, chest wall, or abdominal organs.
Screening and Diagnosis
Doctors first review the patient's medical history including any exposure to asbestos. The doctor may perform a complete physical examination. Doctors are then likely to order x-rays of the chest or abdomen and lung function tests. These tests include various imaging tests such as CT (or CAT) scan or an MRI.
A biopsy is needed to confirm a diagnosis of mesothelioma cancer. Doctors perform a thoracoscopy on patients showing symptoms of Pleural Mesothelioma. This procedure involves making a small cut through the chest wall then inserting a thin, lighted tube called a thoracoscope into the chest between two ribs. Doctors suction out any access fluid in the lungs through a procedure called thoracentesis. They can then obtain tissue samples for analysis. Other types of tube insertions include bronchoscopy or a mediastinoscopy
Treatment Options
Here are some of the most widely used treatments at this time.
Surgical removal of the entire lung and a part of the chest lining, the diaphragm and part of the sac surrounding the heart.
Radiotherapy is applied to the sites of chest drain insertion, in order to prevent growth of the tumor along the track in the chest wall. Though not particularly successful, radiation is preformed to relieve symptoms arising from tumor growth, such as obstruction of a major blood vessel.
Chemotherapy is used to stop the cancer cells from growing and dividing.
It is important to note that there are no successful treatments for pleural mesothelioma to date. Patients usually have a median survival time of 6 - 12 months after presentation of the symptoms.
About the Author:
Dave Casey is a medical writer for Mesothelioma-Adviser.com, a guide for mesothelioma cancer victims. Visit the site for mesothelioma cancer help, articles on asbestosis symptoms and legal advice.
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