Mesothelioma Medical Related Hospitals and Doctors

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There are mesothelioma related hospitals and doctors located all over the country. These are normally located in areas with university teaching and research facilities and are dedicated to treating mesothelioma cancers as well as conducting research and clinical trials on treatment and pain management methods for mesothelioma patients.




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Mesothelioma Treatment Options for Patients

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Mesothelioma treatment depends on several factors, including the stage of mesothelioma, the location of the tumor, and the age and overall health of the patient.

1. Surgery - Removal of Malignant Mesothelioma
Surgical removal of the tumor and surrounding tissue may be used depending on how far the mesothelioma has spread (the stage). The more advanced the stage, the less likely that surgery will be effective in treating mesothelioma.

Surgery for malignant mesothelioma can be used for long-term control or to cure the disease (aggressive surgery) or can be used to relieve pain (palliative).

a) Aggressive surgery
Aggressive mesothelioma surgery involves removal of the pleura, lung, diaphragm, or pericardim. (The type involving removal of the pleura is called extrapleural pheumonectomy.) The goal is to remove as much of the mesothelioma tumor as possible. This type of surgery, also called extraplueral pneumonectomy, typically is performed on younger patients in Stage 1 of mesothelioma.

Because of the complexity and the high risks involved with this type of surgery, some mesothelioma hospitals do not perform the procedure. Also, different mesothelioma treatment centers may have different criteria for accepting patients for surgery. Therefore, it is important to check with a mesothelioma hospital to see if you meet its criteria.

b) Palliative Surgery
Palliative surgery is typically used in the more advanced stages of mesothelioma. The goal is to relieve or control symptoms caused by fluid collection or by the tumor compressing the lung or other organs. It is not intended to cure mesothelioma.

Pleurectomy/decortization is usually a palliative operation. It is used in situations where the entire tumor cannot be removed. It is effective in controlling the accumulation of fluid in the lungs (effusion), and the pain caused by mesothelioma.

Thoracentesis is also used to treat effusion in pleural mesothelioma. This treatment involves inserting a needle into the chest in order to drain the fluid. Thoracentesis does not involve surgical removal of the mesothelial cells.

2. Radiation
Radiation therapy uses high-energy x-rays to kill mesothelioma cancer cells and to shrink tumors. There are two types of radiation therapy.

External radiation therapy uses a machine outside the body that beams x-rays to the location of the mesothelioma.

Brachytherapy involves putting chemicals that produce radiation directly into the site of the mesothelioma cancer. This is done by inserting a thin plastic tube into the chest or abdomen.

Because of the location of malignant mesothelioma, it is very difficult to deliver high-enough doses of radiation to kill the tumor without damaging surrounding organs. As a result, it is unclear whether radiation therapy is a successful method of treating mesothelioma. It has, however, been effective in killing remaining tumor cells after surgery has been performed.

Radiation therapy is also used as a palliative therapy to relieve symptoms of mesothelioma, such as shortness of breath, chest pain, and internal bleeding.

Radiation therapy has several side effects, such as fatigue, nausea, and vomiting. Although these side effects are sometimes temporary, you should let your doctor know, since they often can be controlled.

3. Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy uses drugs to treat mesothelioma cancer. It is administered either orally (through pills) or by injecting the drugs directly into the veins (intravenously), the muscles, the chest cavity (intrapleurally), or the abdominal cavity (intraperitoneally). The goal of mesothelioma chemotherapy is for the drug to enter the bloodstream and circulate throughout the body in order to destroy the cancer cells.

Several drugs have been used, either individually or in combination with others, to treat mesothelioma. Some of the single-agent drugs include:

	Adriamycin (doxorubicin), which is the most studied and, currently, the most effective single agent;
	epirubicin
	carboplatin
	detorubicin
	pirarubucin
	mitomucin
	cisplatin.

Single-agent therapy has been only modestly successful in treating mesothelioma, with studies showing a response rate in the 10 to 20% range.

Because of the relatively low response rate of single-agent therapy in treating mesothelioma, combinations of these drugs have been used to increase their effectiveness. Although some researchers have reported high response rates to these therapies, these rates have not been consistent, and more research is necessary.

Chemotherapy drugs are generally very toxic. Therefore, a doctor must be very careful in monitoring the condition of a patient during therapy. Some of the more common side effects include nausea, vomiting, loss or appetite, hair loss, and fatigue. Chemotherapy can also result in low blood cell counts, which increases the risk of infection and bleeding or bruising.

Side effects vary depending on the treatment, and generally disappear after treatment is completed.

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Understanding Mesothelioma

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Dealing with mesothelioma is a very difficult process. It will require a lot of physical and emotional endurance, a strong family and social network, and expert medical and professional advice and assistance. The best way to approach dealing with mesothelioma is to first learn everything that you can about the disease. This should include the causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of mesothelioma.

Understanding all of the aspects of mesothelioma will help the patient and their family and caregivers feel less helpless during treatment and give them the hope they need to recover successfully from this terrible disease. There are many sources of information available to help with understanding mesothelioma. They include doctors, nurses and community health care workers. They also include cancer information centers and university teaching hospitals that specialize in mesothelioma.

There are also many books written about the subject of mesothelioma, including ones written by mesothelioma patients, survivors and their families. Some books written by specialists in the field also provide helpful tips for patients and families who are beginning their mesothelioma treatments on what to expect and how to maximize pain management tools and techniques. The Internet has a wide range of websites that promote education and information about mesothelioma and offer suggestions on where to find specialists and other resources.

The relationship between the doctor and patient should be the primary source of understanding mesothelioma for the patient. The doctor has made the preliminary diagnosis and has the experience of dealing with similar situations in the past. To make the most of this important relationship the patient should prepare a list of questions in advance of any meeting or session with the doctor so as to minimize the time required and to get the most accurate information and answers to their questions.

Other people who have been through mesothelioma treatments can also provide helpful suggestions from their own experience on not just what to expect but how to best assist in one's own recovery. These suggestions will probably include tips on pain management but will also likely help the mesothelioma patient to physically and psychologically prepare for possible surgery and the recovery period that will follow.

Mesothelioma patients will require a lot of other support if they are going to successfully navigate the path to recovery. Some time and consideration will need to be given to financial concerns that will arise during the period of treatment and recovery from mesothelioma. This may include meetings and advice from a range of financial and insurance advisors in order to ensure that medical costs are covered and regular bills are paid during this difficult time.

It is certainly not easy to deal with all of the medical, physical, emotional, and financial issues that may be raised when dealing with a serious disease like mesothelioma, but it always better to be prepared.

For more information visit http://www.mesotheliomamedical.com/

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Mesothelioma Tests Diagnosis

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Like with any other illness or serious, terminal disease, the medical tests and confirmation of the existing condition, progression and prognosis, is actually the start of the process of identifying, addressing and effectively dealing with mesothelioma.

A full and detailed review of the patient's medical history will be taken to enable and effect, underscore and make an accurate diagnosis possible.

Any occupational exposure to asbestos is placed under closer scrutiny. Any work I mines, with some of the products containing asbestos (insulation, cement, HVAC etc, as well as some other professions like construction, engineering and the like), will be considered. These factors will all contribute to a heightened clinical hypothesizing about possible origin, root cause of the symptoms.

Diagnostic testing will back up and follow any level of suspicion for mesothelioma.

A full and comprehensive, physical medical examination will follow. Chest X-rays and lung-capacity testing is the logical next avenue of choice. Thickening and presence of fluid will be detected and clearly visible. These will all contribute to more than mere suspicion now for the dreaded mesothelioma.

Next steps will be MRI, CT or CAT scan as they are commonly referred to in the medical community.

Cytology might be performed where lots of the excessive fluids are aspirated with a syringe, pleural taps or chest drain, paracentesis or ascitic drain or pericardiocentesis. The method will depend on the location and amount of fluid present the feasibility of the test procedure. Even if the diagnosis is negative at this point, the data obtained can also be used to rule out other illnesses like TB or heart conditions.

Biopsies are next in line to confirm the diagnosis. A tissue sample through thoracoscopy for example. Looking inside and taking a sample are the goals of this process and outcome.

A Laparoscopy will be done if the lower abdomen or trunk cavity is in question.

Sometimes going deeper would require exploratory diagnostic surgery to determine the nature and extent of the disease, also disease and diagnosis confirmation will be given upon a positive diagnosis.

Mesothelioma Research

Mesothelioma Clinical Trials

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Mesothelioma & Lung Cancer General Information

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Mesothelioma & Lung Cancer General Information

Mesothelioma is a form of cancer that develops in the tissues of cells that line the lungs, heart and stomach. These tissues are called mesothelial cells and they become infected by inhaling particles of dust from asbestos fibers. Once these cells become infected they dry up the fluids surrounding these major organs of the body and tumors begin to develop. The most common form is pleural mesothelioma which accounts for 75% of all malignant cases however there are two other types peritoneal, and pericardial which you may be interested in reading about.




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