Mesothelioma Information

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What is Mesothelioma

Tumors of the mesothelium can be benign or they can be cancerous. A cancerous tumor of the mesothelium is called malignant mesothelioma, but this is often reduced to just mesothelioma.

Mesothelioma is a cancer that begins in cells that line certain parts of the body, especially the chest, abdomen, and heart. The coating formed by these cells is called mesothelium. These cells protect the organs by making a special fluid that allows organs to move. For example, this fluid, it is easier for the lungs to move during breathing.

Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that most often arises from cells lining the alveoli of the chest (the pleura) or abdomen (the peritoneum). Pleural mesothelioma is the most common form, often with symptoms in the chest area. Peritoneal mesothelioma is much less common. This may make the abdominal organs, and its symptoms are related to this area of ​​the body, that is, abdominal swelling, nausea, vomiting and intestinal obstruction. The rarest form of mesothelioma is pericardial mesothelioma, which implies the sac surrounding the heart.

There are two main types of mesothelioma cells, epithelial and sarcomatoid. Sometimes these two cell types may be present. The sarcomatoid type is rarer and occurs in about 15% of cases, it portends a worse prognosis. In very rare cases, mesothelioma can be from mild, non-malignant cells. There are three main types of mesothelioma based on how the cells look under a microscope.

• epithelioid: This is the most common type. It tends to have better prospects than other types.
• sarcomatoid: about 1 or 2 of 10 mesotheliomas are of this type.
• Mixed: This type has the characteristics of these two types above. about 3 or 4 of 10 mesotheliomas are of mixed type.

What causes mesothelioma?

Most people with malignant mesothelioma have worked on jobs where they breathed asbestos. Usually it is men over 40 years. Others have been exposed to asbestos in a home environment, often without knowing it. About 3 in 4 mesothelioma begin in the chest cavity. These are the pleural mesothelioma. Another 10% -20% starting in the abdomen. It is the peritoneal mesothelioma. Those starting around the heart are very rare. This cancer can also begin in the tissues around the testicles, but it is also very rare.

Written by admin on February 19th, 2012 with no comments.
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Mesothelioma and lung cancer

Mesothelioma is a form of cancer located in the lining of either the lungs, abdomen or heart. These linings are thin layers of tissue covering the organ. The pleura is the tissue covering the lungs and chest wall that protects and cushions the lungs. The peritoneum lines the abdominal wall and surrounds most organs of the abdomen. The pericardium is the tissue that surrounds the heart.

Mesothelioma is a rare but very serious cancer. There are three types of mesothelioma based on types of cancer cells. The most common type is epithelioid and consists of 50-70% of total cases and has the best prognosis. The second type is called sarcomatoid, consists of 10-20% of mesothelioma cases and is more unpredictable in nature. The third type is called biphasic mesothelioma is a combination of two other types and consists of 20-35% of all cases.

The majority of these cases begin in the chest wall (pleural mesothelioma), a little early in the abdomen (peritoneal mesothelioma) and very few cases from the wall surrounding the heart (pericardial mesothelioma).

The pleura is a thin membrane of mesothelial cells. There are two pleuras in the chest, the parietal pleura and visceral pleura. The parietal pleura lines the chest wall, including the inside of the ribs, diaphragm and pericardium. The visceral pleura covers the lungs and filters fluid from the chest. If the pleura becomes diseases it is not effective in removing fluid from the chest resulting in pleural effusion or too much fluid in the chest.

Mesothelioma is usually the result of exposure to asbestos. Most people who are diagnosed with mesothelioma have had jobs where they breathed asbestos fibers. It may take up to 60 years from the date of asbestos until mesothelioma develops.

Although rare, mesothelioma is a serious form of cancer that is often in its advanced stage when the diagnosis is made. In general, the prognosis for mesothelioma patient is poor, however, some patients live with the disease for a long time. As mentioned earlier, the type of mesothelioma has an impact on the prognosis and the patient’s age, how much tumor has developed and if treatment is rendered. There are many variables in evaluating a mesothelioma case, so the doctor can patients determine the best treatment and prognosis possible on an individual basis.

Pleural mesothelioma and lung cancer are the two serious diseases, but they are not the same. Pleural mesothelioma – sometimes called “asbestos lung cancer” – is not really a form of lung cancer, because it does not develop in the lung tissues. Instead, he is a cancer of the lining that surrounds the lung.

Mesothelioma and lung cancer

Mesothelioma is caused almost exclusively by asbestos exposure. It is considered a disease for asbestos exposure, which means that if you have mesothelioma, it is assumed that you had exposure to asbestos at some point in your life. Smoking does not cause mesothelioma.

Lung cancer can be caused by asbestos exposure, it can also be caused by smoking. In fact, someone who smokes and was exposed to asbestos presents a much higher risk of lung cancer.

Written by admin on February 14th, 2012 with no comments.
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Mesothelioma Survival Rate

Mesothelioma survival rate refers to the proportion of people with a certain type and stage of mesothelioma who survive for a specified period of time after diagnosis. Most of these statistics cover the five-year survival.

There are no national statistics available for different stages of cancer or treatments that people have received. The statistics presented here are from a variety of references, including the views and experience of experts. These statistics are a general guide and can not be considered more than that.

For cancer, the result depends on advancing cancer at diagnosis. In general, cancer statistics are given for each stage and the stage is as important for mesothelioma than other types of cancer. For mesothelioma, the search for statistics is more difficult to do because, although the incidence is increasing, mesothelioma is not common. Normally, people have no symptoms at the outset and are therefore not see a doctor in the first line of ETEP cancer.

After page of detailed information on the survival of different stages of mesothelioma. These statistics are averages based on large numbers of patients. They can not predict exactly what will happen to patients. No patients are identical and the response to treatment also varies from person to person.

The prognosis may ask the doctor. However, even the doctor can not know for sure what will happen to the patient. It can use the term “5-year survival.” This is the proportion of people in research studies that are still alive five years after diagnosis.

For both types of mesothelioma (pleural and peritoneal mesothelioma), patients often say they have less than a year to live. However, experts working in major cancer centers around the world, often report better statistics than that based on clinical trials are underway.

Overall, of all people with mesothelioma only about 1 in 10 (10%) were still alive three years later and 1 in 20 (5%) are alive five years later. For those who have been diagnosed and treated in the early stages of the disease, there is little information to exploit. But the reports we have seen that the survival estimates up to 1 in every 2 (50%) after two years. Therefore, the range of survival times is very broad. Survival depends on the stage and other factors. These are the main things that impact mesothelioma survival rate:

• Stage of mesothelioma
• Size of the tumor
• If the tumor can be completely removed by surgery
• The amount of fluid in the chest or abdomen
• The age and general health
• The type of cancer cells and its appearance under the microscope
• If the patient has been diagnosed with mesothelioma and long ago.

Although there are the results of a number of tests available, which are often very small studies with fewer than 20 patients or more.

In the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, doctors followed 120 patients with different types of pleural mesothelioma from 1980 to 1995. All patients were treated with surgery to remove the lung and pleura (pleural pneumonectomy), followed by a combination of chemotherapy and radiotherapy with or without immunotherapy. 54 of 120 (45%) of patients in these trials were Alive 2 years late and 26,120 (22%) patients were alive five years later.

Patients with epithelioid-type tumors and cancer in the lymph nodes has a much better image. Nearly 3 in 4 (74%) were alive two years later and more than 1 in 3 (39%) still alive 5 years later.

Another study of survival of mesothelioma in a region of northwest Italy. This is called a population study. The researchers examined the records of all persons with the disease in a given area. This study of an area with a total population of 4.5 million Europeans. Studies have yielded similar results. One year after diagnosis, on average, 1 in 4 (24%) with pleural mesothelioma and 1 to 3 people (34%) with peritoneal mesothelioma were alive. Another study showed survival rates for each year after being diagnosed with mesothelioma in the following manner, the survival rate:
- Year 1: 39 percent
- Year 2: 20 percent
- Year 3: 11 percent
- Year 4: 10 percent
- Year 5: 9 percent.

Written by admin on January 16th, 2012 with no comments.
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Mesothelioma cancer information

Lately, many people have been looking for a mesothelioma cancer information. The surprising fact is that mesothelioma cancer mesothelioma is a rare cancer but every year about 2,000 new cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed in the United States and this number has increased steadily over the past 20 years.

Many of us are not aware that our organs of the body are covered with a thin protective coating called the mesothelium. The lungs, chest, abdomen, heart and even the testicles are covered with this coating. But sometimes, a problem occurs in the protective coatings and malignant tumors to develop in them. When this happens, the result of a condition known as mesothelioma or cancer of the mesothelium.

Initially mesothelioma was recognized as a tumor of the pleura, peritoneum and pericardium. Later, the doctors studied the fact linking mesothelioma cancers to asbestos exposure. JCWagner wrote the first on mesothelioma, and emphasized its ties with asbestos exposure in about 32 cases of workers in the “Asbestos Hills” in South Africa.

It does on the relationship between mesothelioma and asbestos exposure has been confirmed in various research studies around the world. Mesothelioma is caused due to asbestos and the inhalation of asbestos particles. Asbestos was widely used in industrial processes and manufacturing and construction materials. Building materials like cement, tiles, shingles, pipes, insulation and many more, contained asbestos materials. The fact mesothelioma shocking is that almost all American buildings built before 1970 contain asbestos that could pose a risk to occupants.

Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation has published a fact that, although since 1970 the protections against asbestos exposure have been established, mesothelioma would take 30 to 50 years to be noticed. This is because the cancer mesothelioma and other asbestos diseases have a high latency rate. The asbestos particles can remain dormant in the body for 30-50 years to manifest as cancer mesothelioma.

Mesothelioma cancers are of two main types. In pleural mesothelioma, cancer cells are found in the sac lining the chest and peritoneal mesothelioma is found in the lining of the abdominal cavity. There are rare cases of mesothelioma in the lining of the heart and testes. Mesothelioma is most common in men than in women.

This is a new health problem we face, or we can meet in our lives. If we are not careful, we might just end up being an easy target for such a disease. Make sure you monitor your health so you can avoid having this kind of disease because it is very difficult to treat.

Awareness of the facts mesothelioma is also useful to have awareness of the symptoms of mesothelioma. This information helps in early detection and prompt treatment of the disease. Chest pain that is caused by the cancer itself or shortness of breath, abdominal pain and swelling, cough, fatigue and unexplained weight loss are possible symptoms of mesothelioma cancer.

Written by admin on January 13th, 2012 with no comments.
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Information About Malignant Mesothelioma

Malignant mesothelioma is a form of asbestos cancer that affects the thin layer of tissue surrounding an internal organ of the body. A layer of specialized cells called mesothelial cells lines the chest cavity, abdominal cavity and the cavity around the heart. These cells also cover the outer surface of most internal organs. The tissue formed by these cells is called mesothelium. Cancer is almost exclusively caused by asbestos exposure.

The mesothelium helps protect the organs by producing a special lubricating fluid that allows organs to move. For example, this fluid, it is easier for the lungs to move inside the chest during breathing. The mesothelium of the chest is called the pleura and the mesothelium of the abdomen is known as the peritoneum. The mesothelium of the pericardial cavity around the heart is called pericardium.

Tumors of the mesothelium can be benign (not cancerous) or malignant (cancerous). A malignant tumor of the mesothelium is called mesothelioma. Because most mesothelial tumors are cancerous, malignant mesothelioma is often simply called mesothelioma.

The mesothelium is a membrane that covers and protects most internal organs of the body. It is composed of two layers of cells: One layer immediately surrounds the organ; the other forms a sac around it. The mesothelium produces a lubricating fluid that is released between these layers, allowing moving organs (such as the beating heart and the expanding and contracting lungs) to glide easily against adjacent structures.

The mesothelium has different names, depending on its location in the body. The peritoneum is the mesothelial tissue that covers most organs in the abdominal cavity. The pleura is the membrane that surrounds the lungs and lines the wall of the chest cavity. The pericardium covers and protects the heart. The mesothelial tissue surrounding the male internal reproductive organs is called the tunica vaginalis testis. The tunica serosa uteri covers the internal reproductive organs in women

There are three types of mesothelioma.
• peritoneal mesothelioma in the peritoneum or membrane surrounding the abdomen. A rare form of peritoneal mesothelioma can also affect the testes of men, because the lining around the scrotum is an extension of the peritoneum.
• Pericardial mesothelioma, in the perdicardium or lining surrounding the heart.
• pleural mesothelioma, which is the most common form of mesothelioma affects the lining of the lung cavity.

All mesotheliomas are now considered malignant or cancerous. They begin as a localized tumor and the rapid spread to include most of the surrounding tissues and organs. The original fibrous cysts and other non-cancerous tumors that appeared in the serous membranes were considered mesothelioma and were described as “benign fibrous mesothelioma” and “multicystic mesothelioma.” These conditions are now known to do not derived from mesothelial cells, other cells in the serous membranes. These conditions are generally localized, non-cancerous and do not spread quickly.

Although malignant mesothelioma is rare, it is a serious illness and death. It is often in advanced stages when it is detected, then the prognosis for mesothelioma patients is not as good as for patients with cancers that are detected earlier. The mean survival time after detection is 1 to 2 years. This time, survival also depends on the type of mesothelioma.

Written by admin on January 9th, 2012 with no comments.
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What Are Cancers of Mesothelioma

What are the cancer of mesothelioma? This is a deadly cancer that attacks the membranes surrounding the lungs, heart and abdominal cavity. Mesothelioma lung cancer is by far the most common form.

Mesothelioma cancers are the cancers that spread in the mesothelium tissues. Mesothelium is usually the name of tissue that forms lining of different organs such as heart, lungs, abdomen and reproductive organs. The lining around abdominal organs is known as the peritoneal membrane. Lining in the lungs is called pleural membrane while the lining around the heart is called pericardium.

These linings perform two functions. They protect the internal organs by producing a lubricating fluid and to allow the smooth movement of internal organs. Mesothelioma cancers are the cancers affecting these membranes. The names of cancers depend on the tissue or linings they affect.

Peritoneal mesothelioma, pleural mesothelioma and pericardial mesothelioma are the names of cancer of the linings of the abdomen, lungs and heart, respectively. Pleural mesothelioma is the most common of all cancers and mesothelioma was found in 70% of patients with mesothelioma. Peritoneal mesothelioma constitutes 10% to 20% of mesothelioma patients while third type pericardial mesothelioma, is rare.

Symptoms of mesothelioma cancer
Symptoms of mesothelioma cancer are the same as other common diseases. He made the diagnosis of mesothelioma cancers a difficult task. When mesothelioma develops in the pleura, there is usually thickening of the pleura and in many cases causes the pleura to become fibrous and harden. This tightens the movement of some lung and makes breathing more difficult.

Another common practice is the development of pleural effusion, which is the abnormal accumulation of fluid in the lung area. This creates additional pressure on the lungs and chest cavity. Some of the symptoms are similar to problems caused by pneumonia, chronic bronchitis, cardiovascular disease or other respiratory problems.

Common symptoms of mesothelioma cancer the impact of the patient may include: pain and swelling of the abdomen, weakness, weight loss, loss of appetite and nausea are symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma. Symptoms of pleural mesothelioma are persistent cough, difficulty breathing, weight loss, loss of appetite, weakness, chest pain, low back pain and difficulty swallowing.

History
History of mesothelioma cancers goes back as far as 1900. It took about 60 years to gather enough information about these mesothelioma cancers. At the end of the sixth decade of last century, experts could conclude that exposure to asbestos particles is the reason behind the disease.

A feature that makes this rare disease and to a degree insidious is the excessively long period of latency associated with it. Mesothelioma is a period of twenty to fifty years of latency, which means that people who develop the disease usually do between two and five years after their exposure to asbestos fibers occurred.

Survival of mesothelioma patients are rare and the average survival after diagnosis is not more than 12-24 months. Surgery if diagnosed early, chemotherapy and radiation therapy are common treatments for all types of mesothelioma cancers. People suffering from mesothelioma cancers can go to court to claim damages for medical expenses and other damages. They can file lawsuits against individuals and companies responsible for causing asbestos exposure.

Written by admin on January 8th, 2012 with no comments.
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Asbestos and lung cancer

Asbestos and lung cancer it is true that asbestos is a major reason for the cause of this deadly disease. Before analyzing the relationship between asbestos and lung cancer, it is necessary to understand what is asbestos and what are its effects on health.

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral form of fibers arranged in bundles. Asbestos fibers are heat and chemicals and are poor conductor of electricity. These qualities make to adapt it for commercial use. Industries use four types of asbestos: chrysotile asbestos or white, or blue asbestos crocidolite, anthophyllite or gray colored fibers and amosite or brown colored fibers. These asbestos fibers penetrate tiny dust particles and therefore easily inhaled or swallowed which can cause serious problems. Lung cancer caused by asbestos is an example.

Asbestos has been declared to be a human carcinogen by many reputable organizations such as the World Health Organization. It was established after the other cases that inhalation of asbestos causes cancer or at least increases the chance of causing cancer in an individual. Asbestos is not only the cause of lung cancer, but also a thickening of the pleura. In recent years, it was definitely established that mesothelioma from asbestos exposure in most cases.

The relationship between asbestos and lung cancer was more or less established. Lung cancer in people who have access to asbestos occurs at a younger age than most other people with cancer and asbestos-exposed individuals the experience of cancer in the lower regions of the lungs. This is called the synergistic effect between asbestos exposure and cigarette smoking, and if the person is a smoker then the chances of contracting lung cancer are extremely high.

So if you have been exposed to asbestos the least we can do to increase your chances of improving the health is to quit. This would reduce your chances of suffering from lung cancer, even if you happen to be a victim of mesothelioma already.

The best way to protect yourself against asbestos is to learn more about what it is and how to reduce. The means are:
- Know when you touch it with products containing asbestos, tiny particles are released into the air. These particles can then lodge in your lungs for long periods.
- Realize that when asbestos particles remain in the lungs, they can cause inflammation and scarring of lung tissue. This can create abnormal cells that can become cancerous over time.
- Learn more about how you are exposed to asbestos. Asbestos is a natural product that is in the air, water and soil.
- Be aware of those most at risk of asbestos exposure are those who are exposed at work. This includes those working in construction, shipbuilding, mining of asbestos and the manufacture of asbestos textiles.
- Play an active role in reducing the threat of asbestos on health. You can talk with your supervisor about the possibility to test your workplace for the presence of asbestos and the development of preventive measures such as masks mandatory to reduce your risk.

Everyone is exposed to asbestos at some time during their lives. Low levels of asbestos in the air, water and soil. However, most people do not become ill from their exposure. People who become ill from asbestos are usually those that are exposed on a regular basis, most often in a job where they work directly with the hardware or by contact with the environment important. Ask your doctor about factors that affect risk. You can find your risk level can be determined by the quantity, size, shape and the source of asbestos you are exposed.

Written by admin on January 8th, 2012 with no comments.
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Cancer of the mesothelium

Mesothelioma (cancer of the mesothelium) is a rare form of cancer in which cells of the mesothelium become abnormal and divide without control or order. The most common site of mesothelioma in the pleura, a thin membrane that surrounds the lungs and chest wall. Mesothelioma also occurs in the peritoneum surrounding the abdominal cavity and the pericardium surrounding the heart.

Mesothelioma is a type of lung cancer that is caused by exposure to asbestos. Exposure to asbestos occurs primarily in the workplace. Plumbers and insulation workers have been widely exposed for many years. Each year about 3,000 people will die from mesothelioma after exposure to asbestos. This cancer is very rare a few decades ago, but it occurs more frequently than men and women who were born in the 1920s and beyond to advance in the age group.

There are a lot of lag time between exposure to asbestos and the onset of symptoms of mesothelioma. In many patients, the first signs of the disease will not occur for 30 to 50 years after exposure. Pleural mesothelioma, which is the most common form of the disease, is associated with the following symptoms:
Pain in the chest wall.
Shortness of breath (due to accumulation of fluid in the pleural cavity, also known as pleural effusion).
Excessive fatigue.
Chronic cough.
Blood in the airway surface liquid (sputum).

The abdominal symptoms, such as peritoneal mesothelioma, not usually seen until the cancer is advanced. These symptoms include abdominal pain, fluid in the peritoneal cavity, a visible mass in the abdominal area, and problems with bowel function. The symptoms of pericardial mesothelioma include chest pain, heart palpitations, and shortness of breath. Symptoms of more advanced or metastatic disease include extreme pleural effusion, blood clotting, reduces sugar levels in the blood, and severe fluid in the peritoneal cavity.

Treatment for mesothelioma depends on the location of the cancer, the stage of the disease and the patient’s age and general health. Standard treatment options include surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Sometimes, these treatments are combined.

Surgery is a common treatment for mesothelioma. The doctor may remove part of the wall of the chest or abdomen and some tissue around it. For cancer of the pleura (pleural mesothelioma), a lung may be removed in an operation called a pneumonectomy. Sometimes part of the diaphragm, the muscle below the lungs that helps with breathing, is also removed.

Radiation therapy, also called radiotherapy, involves the use of high-energy rays to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. Radiation therapy affects the cancer cells only in the treated area. The radiation may come from a machine (external radiation) or from putting materials that produce radiation through thin plastic tubes into the area where cancer cells are found.

Chemotherapy is the use of anticancer drugs to kill cancer cells throughout the body. Most drugs used to treat mesothelioma are given by injection into a vein (intravenous, or IV). Doctors are also studying the effectiveness of putting chemotherapy directly into the chest or abdomen (intracavitary chemotherapy).

A doctor will usually ask about exposure to various toxic agents in the history and physical examination. It’s time to tell your health care provider if you think you were exposed to asbestos. Your doctor will probably be for a chest x-ray if you have symtomps chest. According to the findings of x-ray as well as your symptoms, your doctor multislice CT scan or MRI to determine if a tumor could be a mesothelioma. You would probably also blood tests. None of these tests are painful, and you should not be afraid to have tests. Finally, if a tumor is a biopsy is usually performed.

Written by admin on January 8th, 2012 with no comments.
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What is malignant mesothelioma

Malignant mesothelioma is a type of cancer that develops in the thin layer of tissue that covers most of your internal organs (mesothelium). The mesothelium has two layers of specialized cells called mesothelial cells.

Doctors divide mesothelioma into different types depending on what part of the mesothelium is affected. Mesothelioma most often affects the tissue that surrounds the lungs (pleura). Other common sites include the lining of the abdomen (peritoneum) and the lining of the heart (the pericardium).

Mesothelioma in the lung
The base fabric (or cover) the lungs are called the pleura. Mesothelioma is most often diagnosed in the pleura. This is known as pleural mesothelioma.

Mesothelioma in the abdomen
The tissue that lines the abdomen called the peritoneum. Mesothelioma that develops in this tissue is known as peritoneal mesothelioma. This type of cancer is much less common than pleural mesothelioma.

Mesothelioma Benin
A type of noncancerous (benign) mesothelioma can develop in the lining of the lungs or the lining of the reproductive organs.

Most cases of mesothelioma are associated with prior exposure to fibrous minerals, including asbestos is the most important. There is now compelling evidence of the role of these fibers in the development of this disease. This has been demonstrated in animals and many other experiences. Not everyone who is exposed to asbestos fibers has developed malignant mesothelioma, suggesting that other factors may also be involved.

All mesotheliomas are now considered malignant or cancerous. They begin as a localized tumor and the rapid spread to include most of the surrounding tissues and organs. It is unusual for mesothelioma to spread to other body parts. But if it does, it does not usually cause troublesome symptoms.

Symptoms of mesothelioma vary depending on the location, type and stage of cancer. About 70 to 80 percent of cases of mesothelioma caused by exposure to asbestos. Symptoms of mesothelioma may not appear until 50 years after initial exposure to asbestos.

Although malignant mesothelioma is rare, it is a serious illness and death. It is often in advanced stages when it is detected, then the prognosis for mesothelioma patients is not as good as for patients with cancers that are detected earlier.

Written by admin on January 6th, 2012 with no comments.
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Mesothelioma: Definition

Malignant pleural mesothelioma is a form of so-called primitive cancer of the pleura (membrane surrounding the lungs), which is characterized by a proliferation of tumor cells in the pleural tissue (tissue making up the pleura) itself.

We distinguish the primary cancer of the pleura and secondary cancer of the pleura.

The pleura is the serous sac consisting of a layer (of cells) in two layers which envelop the entire lung, except the hilum (entry of vessels and nerves in the lungs). The deep layer, visceral, covers the entire surface of the lung. The parietal pleura covers the chest wall and mediastinum. The two layers together around the hilum, drawing cul-de-sac pleural.

Mesothelioma, also known as primary cancer of the pleura, pleural endothelioma or pleurome, is a malignant tumor whose frequency is increasing in recent years.

This tumor develops from the mesothelium (layer of cells covering the inside of serous tunics such as the peritoneum, pericardium, pleura, lung) of the pleura.

The diffuse form of this variety of cancer develops rapidly and invades a few months (more rarely a few years) the surface region of the lung and the pericardium (membrane surrounding the heart). It also sometimes spreads to the peritoneum and then gives metastases in lymph nodes and viscera.

It seems that asbestos is responsible for 70% of cases of this variety of cancer. Inhalation of asbestos is asbestosis, a disease that were exposed subjects working in many industries such as mining of asbestos but also shipbuilding and building insulation (see the term asbestosis in Medical Encyclopedia Vulgaris).

There are currently 600 new cases per year in France mesothelioma. Approximately 20-40% of them are not directly caused by asbestos.

There is a male.

The value of thoracoscopy (viewing inside the chest, qv in the medical encyclopedia vulgaris) is related to the scanner, is the most accurate recognition of the achievement of the parietal pleura and visceral at the beginning of disease, allowing early diagnosis. Its sensitivity is about 95%.

Written by admin on January 4th, 2012 with no comments.
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