Mesothelioma is a serious cancer that occurs in individuals exposed to airborne asbestos fibers. Even small amounts of asbestos and infrequent exposure can create a risk for contracting mesothelioma or other asbestos-related diseases. Mesothelioma is highly aggressive and is resistant to many cancer treatments. Currently there is no known cure for the disease.

The Mayo Clinic Schulze Center for Novel Therapeutics, a virtual three-site center that “is translating laboratory findings into vanguard methods to treat cancer,” was established in 2007 with a gift from The Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation. Richard M. Schulze is the founder and chairman of Best Buy, and his wife Sandra Schulze died in 2001 of mesothelioma.

Schulze hopes that at the center “some cancers will be cured and that Mayo’s talented scientists and physicians will find a way.”

The dangers of asbestos were known to many companies that made asbestos-related products as early as the 1920s. However, asbestos continued to be used up until the 1980s — when most asbestos products were banned in the United States and other countries. Most cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed 30 years or more after exposure. The latency period can be as long as 50 years. People exposed to asbestos in the 1950′s and 1960′s are just now showing signs of mesothelioma.

In a recent interview, Joseph W. Belluck, a partner in Belluck & Fox LLP , a New York law firm that focuses on representing victims of asbestos-related disease, says, “getting to the cause of asbestos-related disease involves taking a thorough life history.” There are those who know automatically how they were exposed to asbestos, then there are other people who are diagnosed with mesothelioma who have no idea how or when they could have been exposed to asbestos.

Life History

For those patients diagnosed with mesothelioma who cannot pinpoint their asbestos exposure, Belluck will delve into their life to find a point where the toxic substance could have been inhaled into their system.

• Occupation. Knowing all the occupations the patient held is critical. While mesothelioma is most closely associated to industrial workers including construction workers, insulators, plumbers, pipefitters, electricians and sheet metal workers, other jobs may have involved handling asbestos. Dentists that make casts for fillings, jewelers using crucibles, and laboratory technicians who have used Bunsen burners could all have been exposed to asbestos fibers.
• Occupation of Household Members. Asbestos is so toxic that mesothelioma has been diagnosed in family members whose only exposure came from contact with stray fibers and particles that have built-up on the worker’s clothing, shoes, skin and hair. This type of “second-hand” exposure to asbestos is known as para-occupational exposure.
• Home Renovations or Mechanic Work. The risk of developing mesothelioma can occur due to renovation or repair work in the home, as well as through mechanical work on car brakes or clutches. Many older homes contain insulation made from asbestos fibers, which once disturbed, can be inhaled creating a risk for mesothelioma. During brake and clutch maintenance, the pads and linings are often filed down, releasing asbestos dust.
• Military Background. Military personnel may have been exposed to asbestos between the 1940s and 1970s. Some jobs required military workers to cut asbestos-laden materials, or work in enclosed spaces, such as ship interiors, where loose asbestos fibers circulated freely. Even occupants of base housing constructed prior to 1970 could be at risk.

Mesothelioma Prevention Tips

While doctors are not sure why some people exposed to asbestos contract mesothelioma and others do not, the best way to prevent mesothelioma is to limit or eliminate interaction with asbestos fibers. If you know you have been exposed to asbestos in your past, contact your doctor even if you are not experiencing symptoms. Early detection can significantly increase your survival rate.

If you are aware of a potential asbestos-exposure risk, bring it to the attention of the proper authorities, and do not attempt to dispose of the asbestos yourself. Improper handling of asbestos can put you and others at risk.

Stay informed on asbestos-related news, mesothelioma treatments, and risks and hazards pertaining to asbestos in your area. The more you know, the better prepared you will be to avoid potential risks.

Mesothelioma is a serious cancer that occurs in individuals exposed to airborne asbestos fibers. Even small amounts of asbestos and infrequent exposure can create a risk for contracting mesothelioma or other asbestos-related diseases. Mesothelioma is highly aggressive and is resistant to many cancer treatments. Currently there is no known cure for the disease.

Bart’s Mesothelioma Research Fund is comprised of a group of medical professionals with a goal to “improve the treatment and increase our understanding of mesothelioma and lung cancer.” Bart’s is located at St. Bartholomew’s Hospital in London and is one of the largest outpatient clinics in the UK for patients with mesothelioma.

Doctors at Bart’s see two or three new patients weekly as well as patients who have completed treatment and are being followed up. Bart’s staff conducts clinical trials for mesothelioma treatment as well as laboratory research.

Adjuvant chemotherapy is one treatment method used for mesothelioma where chemotherapy is prescribed after surgery to kill cancerous cells that remain once the tumor was removed. In some cases, the surgery will appear to have removed all of the cancerous tissues, but some will remain that are undetectable to the medical team. This is especially true for mesothelioma patients, because the diffuse nature of mesothelioma’s invasion pattern makes complete surgical extraction very difficult, if not impossible, to perform.

High risk patients, those that had a large tumor and the mesothelioma has spread or metastasized, may find that the benefits of chemotherapy as an adjuvant treatment outweigh the side-effects and can slow or halt the regrowth of cancer cells. The side-effects of chemotherapy are well known and often instill fear in patients causing them to reject the treatment. Improvements have been made in the new chemotherapy drugs, however, and this combined with some adjustments to diet and lifestyle can minimize the effects.

Heather Wakelee, MD, Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine, Division of Oncology, Stanford University, Stanford Cancer Center, says that adjuvant treatment is typically offered over a period of three months, approximately 8 treatments, and the toxicity level is not as high as neoadjuvant chemotherapy given prior to surgery.

Dr. Wakelee offers the following suggestions for managing your chemotherapy side-effects:

• Fatigue. While this is one of the biggest challenges of chemotherapy, it can be managed. Many patients want total rest due to the draining effect, but this can actually increase fatigue. Wakelee suggests patients get some form of exercise every day, walk around some, to help recover your energy.
• Low red blood cells or anemia. While blood transfusions are an option to improve this if the count gets too low, a change in diet can help you get the iron you need to raise the count. These foods are all high in iron: red meat, spinach, broccoli, beans, bran, tofu.
• Low white blood cells. Infection is a possibility with low white blood cell counts. Doctors are concerned about this in patients although it can be managed. Ways to avoid infection include avoiding raw fish, thoroughly washing fruits and vegetables, and washing your hands often.
• Nausea/vomiting. Significant improvements have been made in the medicines available to treat nausea, and many patients find they have little to no problems and can eat a normal diet. The patient may take medicines for several days after a treatment and should not be afraid of chemotherapy for this side effect. If there is a problem the doctor can use additional medicines.
• Hair loss. Some drugs do not cause hair loss, but they may not be the right drug for the patient. Once chemotherapy treatment is completed the hair often grows back quickly and thicker than before.
• Skin rash. This can happen although is not often severe. The use of topical lotions, and potentially with steroids, the rashes can be controlled.

Make sure to discuss your concerns and any side-effects you experience with your mesothelioma specialist so he can make any adjustments to your treatment to minimize any side-effects.

Sources:
Mesothelioma Treatment: What is Chemotherapy?
Understanding Adjuvant Therapy for Early-Stage Lung Cancer 

Mesothelioma, a cancer caused by asbestos exposure, can affect the lining of the lungs known as pleural mesothelioma, or the lining of the abdomen resulting in peritoneal mesothelioma. In rare instances, the lining of the heart can be affected resulting in pericardial mesothelioma. There is no known cure for the disease.

Researchers at eight medical research universities throughout the world including the U.S., Italy, and Australia, collaborated on the study and reported that of the patients treated for peritoneal mesothelioma, the overall median survival rate was 53 months, and 47 percent of the patients were alive after five years.

After surgery to remove the cancerous tumors from the lining of the abdomen, the doctors then used procedure called hyperthermic interperitoneal chemotherapy. The patient’s abdominal cavity was bathed for several hours in a heated chemotherapy solution to treat remaining cancer cells while the patient was in the operating room.

The researchers said that the improved survival rate could be attributed to the absence of cancer having spread to the lymph nodes, the completeness of the tumor removal and the chemotherapy treatment. The treatment can also help reduce pain associated with mesothelioma.

Source:
Combo Treatment for Mesothelioma in Abdomen Helps Some Patients Live Longer

Mesothelioma, an unusual form of cancer which can take up to five decades to be properly diagnosed, is responsible for approximately 3,000 new cases each year in the United States. Although there is no cure for mesothelioma, it can be treated with varying degrees of success through the use of surgical procedures, chemotherapy and radiation.

Types of Mesothelioma Pain

Mesothelioma tumors are invasive and can grow into nerves and muscles causing excruciating pain. The pain can come on quickly as in acute pain, or it can be continuous and ongoing, as in chronic pain. Pain can also be caused from the treatment regimen as well as any underlying conditions such as arthritis.

Mesothelioma surgery is another source of pain that typically lasts four to six weeks, but will dissipate as you recover from the surgery. Some patients, however, report pain at the incision site that is long lasting and is difficult to eliminate. Typically pain is treated through strong narcotics.

Use of TENS

An alternative to narcotics, is a process called transcutaneous electrical neural stimulation or TENS. TENS lessens pain by sending painless electrical impulses through electrodes placed on the skin. The electrical signals travel from the TENS unit through wires to the electrodes.

The signal then passes to the nerves under the skin sending messages to the brain describing sensations such as touch, warmth, pressure, and pain. TENS sends tingling sensations that replace the message of pain on these nerves changing your impression of the pain. Thus resulting in temporary relief.

The TENS signals may also increase the amount of endorphins, a pain-relieving chemical made naturally by your body, providing additional relief.

Medical Approval

TENS is an FDA-approved device that may be covered by Medicare. A prescription is required by your physician and will often call for various trials to determine if the treatment is effective for the relief of your mesothelioma-related pain. As with any pain relief, TENS may not be effective for everyone.

A prescription for the device may be either short-term for acute pain or for an extended period of time for managing chronic pain. Work with your mesothelioma specialist to determine for how long a TENS device can be effective for you.

Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer typically affecting the lining of the lungs. Primarily caused by exposure to airborne asbestos fibers, most cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed 30 years or more after exposure. The latency period can be as long as 50 years.

During World Cancer Day individuals, businesses, non-profit organizations and governments work to educate the general public about the different types of cancer. This year’s campaign is “cancer can be prevented too,” and focuses on educating the public against smoking, sun exposure and other hazards.

When you encounter people on February 4th, raise awareness about mesothelioma with the following statement from the Mesothelioma Applied Resource Foundation website:”thousands of Americans each year are diagnosed with mesothelioma, a cancer caused by exposure to asbestos. Currently is no cure; but there is hope.”

For more information on mesothelioma treatment, support, and resources see MesotheliomaHelp.Net.

As with any disease, when you are first diagnosed, the medical jargon can be confusing and can leave you feeling overwhelmed. Understanding your doctor and medical team is critical to ensuring that you are comfortable with your treatment and that you feel you are included when making decisions.

As a reference, following are some key terms that you may hear early in your mesothelioma diagnosis.

Alimta. A chemotherapy drug developed by Eli Lilly specifically for mesothelioma patients.

Extrapleural Pneumonectomy. Surgery to remove a diseased lung, part of the pericardium (membrane covering the heart), part of the diaphragm (muscle between the lungs and the abdomen), and part of the parietal pleura (membrane lining the chest). This type of surgery is used most often to treat malignant mesothelioma.

Latency period. The time between the actual exposure to asbestos and the development of mesothelioma.

Mesothelial cells. Specialized cells that form the mesothelium.

Mesothelium. The protective membrane that surrounds the chest cavity, abdominal cavity, the cavity around the heart, and the internal reproductive organs.

Metastasis. Spread of disease from the original site in the body to other sites.

Palliative Treatment. Therapy that relieves symptoms, such as pain or blockage, but is not expected to cure the cancer. Its main purpose is to improve the patient’s quality of life.

Pericardial Mesothelioma. Cancer of the protective membrane that surrounds the heart. One of the rarest forms of mesothelioma.

Peritoneal Mesothelioma. Cancer of the protective membrane that surrounds the abdomen. The second most diagnosed form of mesothelioma.

Pleura. The thin covering that protects and cushions the lungs. The pleura is made up of two layers of tissue that are separated by a small amount of fluid. The most common site for mesothelioma.

Pleural Effusion. An abnormal collection of fluid between the thin layers of tissue pleura) lining the lung and the wall of the chest cavity.

Pleural Mesothelioma. Cancer of the pleura (membrane lining the lungs and chest cavity). Pleural mesothelioma is different from lung cancer. Lung cancer refers to any type of malignant tumor that originates in the lungs. Pleural mesothelioma effects the pleura.

Resection. Surgical removal of a diseased portion of a tissue.

For more information on mesothelioma and your treatment, order a free copy of “100 Questions & Answers About Mesothelioma.” 

Mesothelioma is a serious cancer that occurs in individuals exposed to airborne asbestos fibers. Even small amounts of asbestos and infrequent exposure can create a risk for contracting mesothelioma or other asbestos-related diseases. Mesothelioma is highly aggressive and is resistant to many cancer treatments. Currently there is no known cure for the disease.

In a recent interview, Joseph W. Belluck, a partner in Belluck & Fox LLP, a New York law firm that focuses on representing victims of asbestos-related disease, says,”to be frank, if you have mesothelioma, we know you were exposed to asbestos – it’s just a matter of reverse-engineering your life and figuring out where that exposure occurred.”

Exposure to deadly asbestos fibers most often occurred on-the-job, primarily in construction and general industry workers, but has also been known to be passed on through second-hand exposure through fibers from clothing.

Belluck stresses that mesothelioma is not limited to construction workers. A dentist may have used asbestos-containing material in making castings for fillings, or a jeweler may have used it in crucibles, whereas a lab technician may have been exposed to it through various heating chemicals.

In New York, as a matter of public policy, there is no “statute of repose” that would prevent a person from suing a manufacturer a number of years after the asbestos-containing product was produced. However, a person could lose his or her right to file a mesothelioma lawsuit if action is not initiated within three years of discovering the disease. This is called the “statute of limitations.”

If an individual in New York decides to move forward with a mesothelioma lawsuit, Belluck & Fox will file an individual legal claim on the individuals behalf in a state court and serve a summons on the companies suspected of being responsible.

The companies usually have one month to answer the complaint. The case will then go to “discovery,” which consists of depositions and written exchanges called interrogatories and requests for production. Finally, experts will be brought in to review your case and testify on your behalf.

The process generally takes 7-12 months to complete.

Mesothelioma is a serious cancer that occurs in individuals exposed to airborne asbestos fibers. Even small amounts of asbestos and infrequent exposure can create a risk for contracting mesothelioma or other asbestos-related diseases. Mesothelioma is highly aggressive and is resistant to many cancer treatments. Currently there is no known cure for the disease.

Oncology On Canvas honors the journeys people face when confronted with a cancer diagnosis. Entries must be postmarked by June 20, 2010. Winners will select a cancer charity of their choice to receive their prize donations.

Following the competition the artwork will be displayed nationwide at cancer centers, hospitals and patient advocacy group events.