Mesothelioma

Symptoms

Common Symptoms Include:

• Dry coughing
• Shortness of breath
• Respiratory complications
• Pain in the chest or abdomen
• Pleural effusion (fluid around the lungs)
• Fever or night sweats
• Fatigue
• Weakness in the muscles

Diagnosis

A biopsy is the only test that can confirm a mesothelioma diagnosis.

Imaging tests, such as CT scans, PET scans and X-rays, are also used with the biopsy to identify the location of tumors and evaluate their progression and growth, which is known as stage of the cancer.

If tumors are cancerous, doctors will diagnose this as malignant mesothelioma. They may simply call it mesothelioma. Doctors may discover that tumors are noncancerous. In that case, they will diagnose it as benign mesothelioma.

An early mesothelioma cancer diagnosis may increase a patient’s eligibility and access to all treatment options.

Cause

Asbestos exposure is the primary cause of mesothelioma.

How Mesothelioma Develops

1. A person inhales or swallows airborne asbestos fibers.
2. The asbestos fibers become lodged in the lining of the lungs, abdomen or heart.
3. The embedded fibers damage the mesothelial cells and cause inflammation.
4. Over time, tumors begin to form on the damaged mesothelium, which is the lining of the abdomen, lung, heart and testes.

Who Is at Risk of Mesothelioma?

Stages

The stages of mesothelioma, which range from 1 to 4, are based on tumor size and location.

• 

  Stage 1

  The cancer is localized. Surgery is most effective at this stage. Survival rate is higher. Median life expectancy at stage 1 is 22.2 months.

• 

  Stage 2

  Tumors have started to spread from the original location into adjacent structures. Surgery is still an option. Median life expectancy at stage 2 is 20 months.

• 

  Stage 3

  Cancer has progressed to a more advanced stage with spread into the regional lymph nodes. Surgery may still be an option. Median life expectancy at stage 3 is 17.9 months.

• 

  Stage 4

  Cancer has spread extensively in the area where it developed. Chemotherapy and immunotherapy control symptoms and prolong survival. Median life expectancy at stage 4 is 14.9 months or less.

Types

There are four types of mesothelioma cancer based on where it develops in the body: Pleural, pericardial, peritoneal and testicular mesothelioma.

Additionally, there are three types of cells found in mesothelioma tumors: Epithelioid, sarcomatoid and biphasic. Prognosis, symptoms and treatment options vary based on both the location and cell type.

• 

  Pleural Mesothelioma

  • 75% of cases
  • Forms on soft tissue covering the lungs
  • Best treated with a multimodal approach

• 

  Peritoneal Mesothelioma

  • Less than 20% of cases
  • Forms on the outer lining of the abdomen
  • Treated by surgery and chemotherapy

• 

  Pericardial Mesothelioma

  • 1% of cases
  • Forms on soft tissue around the heart
  • Best treated with a multimodal approach

• 

  Testicular Mesothelioma

  • Less than 1% of cases
  • Develops on the lining of the testes
  • Responds best to surgery

Cell Types

Doctors can diagnose mesothelioma further by identifying the cell type of the tumors. Each cell type reacts differently to treatment. Some are more common and respond well to treatments, while others are rarer and more resistant to therapies.

Treatment

Mesothelioma cancer is treated with conventional therapies such as surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. But not every patient is eligible for each type of mesothelioma treatment. Some patients also opt for emerging cancer treatments, including clinical trials, and alternative therapies.

Conventional Therapies

Emerging Treatments

Prognosis

The prognosis for mesothelioma is not good. The life expectancy for most patients is about 12 months after diagnosis.

Key Factors

Factors that most affect mesothelioma prognosis are stage and cell type. Age, gender and exposure history also affect outlook. Younger patients and women have a better mesothelioma prognosis than older men. People diagnosed with the peritoneal mesothelioma type also have a higher chance of survival.

Ways to Improve Prognosis

Patients can improve prognosis by eating a nutrient-rich diet, undergoing cancer treatments like multimodal therapy — which is a combination of two or more treatments — and staying healthy.

Legal & Financial Options

Legal and financial options for mesothelioma patients and their families include filing for lawsuits or settlements, qualifying for trust funds and applying for VA claims.

These options can provide financial compensation to pay medical bills, lost wages and other expenses. A mesothelioma lawyer can review your case, so you receive the highest compensation.

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