With radiation therapy, it is possible to damage or destroy cancer cells through an intensive treatment of X-rays. Although not a cure for mesothelioma, radiation may be used at various stages of treatment of malignant mesothelioma. Often, radiation is the main treatment for patients with health problems. Radiation can also be used to eliminate small formations of cancer cells that surgery could ignore. When radiation is used in conjunction with surgery, radiation is known as adjuvant.

* External beam radiation

The form of radiation therapy is best known for external irradiation. A machine similar to the X-ray focusing powerful beams of light directly into the tumor, but from outside the body, thus ending the cancer cells under the skin.

* Internal Radiation (Brachytherapy)

When the radiation source is placed inside the body, radiation therapy is called brachytherapy. In the case of mesothelioma, the active materials are placed directly into the chest or abdomen.

The mesothelium that covers the internal organs is called visceral mesothelium, while the coating on the body wall is called the parietal mesothelium.

The mesotelium tissue also surrounds the male internal reproductive organs and covers the internal reproductive organs in women.

Mesothelioma is an aggressive cancer of the mesothelium, in which cells of the mesothelium become abnormal and divide uncontrollably. They can invade and damage tissues and organs. Most cases of mesothelioma arises from the thoracic cavity (pleura) or the abdominal cavity (peritoneum)

Approximately 2000-3000 cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed each year in the United States, covering about 3 percent of all cancer diagnosis. This cancer occurs four times more common in men than in women. Any form of mesothelioma is fatal, with the exception of benign mesothelioma. The prognosis for mesothelioma is almost always poor and most studies report a median survival of less than a year, but the outlook really depends on how early the diagnosis is made and if it aggressively.

Mesothelioma Causes

Mesothelioma is caused by exposure to asbestos. Asbestos is a naturally occurring fibrous substance widely used in the twentieth century in a number of different industries. Popular because of its durability, fire resistance and insulating properties, asbestos was used regularly in the manufacture of thousands of products, so far in giving warnings of the dangers in the mid-1970s. It is estimated that approximately 80-90 percent of mesothelioma cases are caused by asbestos exposure.

The exact way as asbestos causes mesothelioma is not well understood, but doctors and researchers have presented many theories. What is clear is that any exposure to asbestos can be dangerous and may result in the development of asbestos-related diseases later in life.

Mesothelioma Types

There are five types of mesothelioma. Four of them are malignant cancers, and a condition is benign.

Pleural Mesothelioma: This type of mesothelioma develops in the tissue of the lungs, known as the pleura. It is the most common form of malignant mesothelioma, about 70 percent of cases are pleural in origin.

Peritoneal Mesothelioma: This form of mesothelioma develops in the tissue of the abdominal cavity, known as the peritoneal membrane. Approximately 25% of mesotheliomas are of this type.

Pericardial mesothelioma: This form of mesothelioma develops in the heart tissue, known as the pericardium. About 5 percent of all mesothelioma cases are pericardial.

Testicular Mesothelioma: This is the rarest type of malignant mesothelioma, to date, there have been fewer than 100 cases recorded. Testicular mesothelioma develops in the tunica vaginalis of the testes.

Benign Mesothelioma: The benign form of mesothelioma often develops in the pleura. This is the only form of mesothelioma which healing and recovery is a likely outcome, although it may be a precursor of asbestos-related problems in the future.

The most common symptoms of pleural mesothelioma is, shortness of breath, chest pain and persistent cough. However, some patients show no symptoms. A common sign is pleural effusion (water on the lungs).

Some symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma include weight loss, abdominal pain and swelling and intestinal obstruction. If the cancer has spread to other parts of the body, some other common symptoms can include difficulty swallowing, swelling of face or neck, blood clotting problems, anemia, and fever.

Also the diagnosis may be difficult due to the nonspecific nature of the symptoms of mesothelioma, symptoms that often seem far less serious diseases.

The diagnostic process usually begins with a compilation of a complete medical history and work history, including any exposure to asbestos. We performed a medical examination and if you suspect a problem ask several diagnostic tests. These typically include medical imaging tests such as X rays, CT and MRI, and biopsy procedures that test samples of fluid and tissues by the presence of cancer cells. Diagnostic tests are also used to determine how far the cancer has spread, and if progress has been made elsewhere in the body.

PET
The use of 2 – [fluorine-18] fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose (FDG) in the diagnosis of mesothelioma has been recently described, showing levels of abstraction higher than the inflammatory pleuritis and thickening secondary to exposure to asbestos, and help identify occult extrathoracic metastases excluded the patient for surgery. On the other hand, it might be useful to determine the most appropriate place for pleural biopsy to take us to the diagnosis, having linked the higher levels of abstraction with a worse prognosis.

MRI
Magnetic resonance imaging may add additional information in the staging of mesothelioma, primarily, as Heelan et al, regarding the invasion of the diaphragm and chest wall, being also useful in patients allergic to iodinated contrast.

It most cases occurred in people who have been exposed to an asbestos work. They breathed asbestos fibers in their lungs.

Other cases of mesothelioma occurred in people exposed to asbestos in a household environment. Exposure to asbestos can be deadly, as we discovered. As little as one or two months of exposure can result in mesothelioma 30 or 40 years later. The National Institute against Cancer noted that “people exposed in the 40s, the 50s, the 60s, and 70s are now diagnosed with mesothelioma due to the long latency period of asbestos disease.” There are common early symptoms of mesothelioma, but usually they are too general for a common person to make a proper evaluation.

Sometimes a person thinks they have pneumonia. Other symptoms can include shortness of breath, chest pain, and / or persistent cough. However, and this is important, some patients exhibit no symptoms at all. It is always good to have regular medical examinations including a chest radiograph. However, the diagnosis of mesothelioma requires a sample of fluid or tissue for examination expert determines if the cancer is the current diagnosis is very important because the treatment depends on an accurate diagnosis.

Talk to your doctor or contact with a health care clinic of cancer for a list of expert pathologists to diagnose. Like most cancers, the prognosis for this disease often depends on how early it is diagnosed and how aggressively it is treated. People diagnosed with this disease are often told that the expected survival rate is only eight to twelve months. However, specialists in treating malignant mesothelioma at leading cancer centers often have better statistics. On the expert in this detailed cancer is Dr. David Sugarbaker at Brigham and Women in central Boston.

His patients have achieved a survival rate of five years in almost 40% for selected patients. However, here again, time is of the essence for even a partially successful treatment. There are three types of traditional treatment for patients with malignant mesothelioma: surgery to remove the cancer chemotherapy use dope to kill the cancer and radiation therapy using X-ray high-dose to kill cancer cells .

Mesothelioma is an aggressive malignancy and rarely linked primarily to exposure to asbestos. Asbestos, if inhaled or ingested, enters the body where tumors can form in the mesothelial lining of the lungs, heart or abdomen.

There are three main types of mesothelioma. Pleural mesothelioma, the most common form, affects the lining of the lungs. Cancer of the lining of the abdomen is called the peritoneum and pericardium of the heart is. Malignant mesothelioma may be localized or diffuse. The first sign of pleural mesothelioma is usually the presence of plaques that start in the chest. Tumors May then spread to other parts of the body.

Mesothelioma is most common among men. Two thirds of cases are diagnosed before the later stages of life because it can take decades for symptoms to develop from the time of initial exposure.

The three main histological types of mesothelioma are epithelial, sarcomatous, or mixed. Tumors affecting the epithelial lining of internal body cavities. Different types of epithelial cells are identified by their shape and number of layers. Sarcomatous tumors start in the muscles or connective tissues and are much more aggressive.

Exposure to asbestos is the major cause of mesothelioma. Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that was once used in the construction of numerous industrial and packaging materials. Most exposure to asbestos occurs professionally, but may occur through environmental contamination as well.

Millions of people in the United States have been exposed to asbestos through their work. The repair of construction equipment, railroad, and ship and marine and auto mechanics are occupations that are most at risk. Secondhand exposure can also occur in family members when they come into contact with clothing contaminated with asbestos or skin of workers.

Approximately 2500 – 3000 cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed annually in the United States alone. Risk of developing the disease is slightly higher for those living in contaminated areas, as part of large asbestos mines.

Much research and progress has been made, but to date no cure exists for mesothelioma. Without treatment the prognosis at diagnosis is only a few months, but treatment can be as long as five years. Longer survival times were associated with types of epithelial versus sarcomatous or mixed mesothelioma.

Early and accurate diagnosis of the disease is very exciting. Anyone with suspected or known history of asbestos that is experiencing health problems should consult their doctor immediately. If already diagnosed with mesothelioma, it is essential to find an oncologist or a pulmonary specialist in occupational medicine that you can build a trust relationship at home.

The cost of treating mesothelioma is high. Legally, you may be entitled to receive monetary compensation. Employers should be protected against exposure and manufacturers have placed warning labels, therefore, an experienced mesothelioma lawyer can help you obtain financial recovery for the costs of medical treatment and lost wages.

Early diagnosis of mesothelioma can make all the difference. Do not hesitate to consult a specialist mesothelioma if you know or suspect you may have been exposed to asbestos and are experiencing similar symptoms.