Mesothelioma Cancer

Asbestosis

2010-09-29T18:17:00.000-07:00

Asbestosis

One of Asbestos Caused Disease

Asbestosis is a disease that mainly caused by asbestos, it is one of lung disease that has slowly progressing. Even though the cause is the same with mesothelioma, there is a difference. Mesothelioma comes from a long time and a lot of asbestos exposure, however, unlike any other asbestos caused disease; it is not a cancer (like lung cancer and mesothelioma).

Asbestosis is actually a chronic inflammatory condition that caused by asbestos fibers inhalation, this condition affecting the parenchymal tissue of the lungs. Asbestosis won’t occur unless someone has a very intensive and long term of asbestos exposure. This is the reason why majority of asbestosis patient are those who works at manufacturing, mining, handling or removal of asbestos.

The patients of asbestosis are usually experienced breath shortness (dyspnea), plus they have a higher risk in getting lung cancer and mesothelioma. Asbestosis specifically refers to interstitial (parenchymal) fibrosis from asbestos, and not pleural fibrosis or plaguing.

When asbestosis occurs, the lung tissue around terminal bronchioles and alveolar ducts is scarring as the result from the inhalation of asbestos fibers. Amphibole is a fiber type that responsible for human disease that penetrates deeply into the lungs. And when its reach the air sacs (alveoli) in the lungs, this is caused the activation of the lung’s local immune system and provoke an inflammatory reaction.

The inflammatory will last in a long time, with a slow ongoing progression of the immune system in an attempt to eliminate the foreign fibers. Macrophages phagocytose (ingest) the fibers and stimulate fibroblasts to deposit connective tissue. Due to the asbestos fibers' natural resistance to digestion, the macrophage dies off, releasing cytokines and attracting further lung macrophages and fibrolastic cells to lay down fibrous tissue, which eventually forms a fibrous mass. The result is interstitial fibrosis. The fibrotic scar tissue causes alveolar walls to thicken, which reduces elasticity and gas diffusion, reducing oxygen transfer to the blood as well as the removal of carbon dioxide.

Asbestos

2010-09-27T05:57:00.000-07:00

Asbestos

Lung Cancer and Mesothelioma Risk Factor

Asbestos have become part of our life, it is exist among us, and we use it to build our house and many building. Asbestos can cause many types of lung disease, includes lung cancer. There is a synergistic effect between tobacco smoking and asbestos in the formation of lung cancer. In the UK, asbestos accounts for 2–3% of male lung cancer deaths. Asbestos can also cause cancer of the pleura, called mesothelioma (which is often mistaken with lung cancer).

In industrialized country, asbestos exposure is giving 4% to 12% of all lung cancer cases. The death number from asbestos exposure in the UK in 1929 to 1996 was reaching 18,000 for mesothelioma and 1,800 for lung cancer. . In a study of cancer mortality among about 5 100 asbestos factory workers in east London followed for over 30 years since first exposure10, the excess lung cancer to mesothelioma ratio was 1.55:1.

Most asbestos-caused lung cancers are seems has connection with the combined effects of asbestos and tobacco smoke, so that it is necessary to allow for cigarette smoking in comparable reference populations not exposed to asbestos in order to estimate the excess number of asbestos-caused lung cancers. In this respect, the synergy between tobacco smoke and asbestos has been studied more extensively than the analogous synergy between tobacco smoke and other occupational. In different studies the interaction between asbestos and tobacco smoke for lung cancer induction varies from more than additive to supra-multiplicative, but the relationship approximates a multiplicative model for insulation workers.

A long time of asbestos exposure in work place can cause lung cancer. In studies that calculate the time that needed from the first time asbestos exposure to the diagnosis of lung cancer. The result is, it needs about 35 years and 44 years respectively to make asbestos exposure into lung cancer. For workers who using asbestos-containing materials and works for more than 2 years, Nicholson et al1 observed a significantly elevated relative risk for lung cancer that occurred within 10 years and thereafter remained constant throughout the period of observation.

Biphasic Mesothelioma Cancer Cell

2010-06-05T16:34:00.000-07:00

Biphasic Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma Cancer Cell

Biphasic mesothelioma is number second most common mesothelioma cell after epithelioid mesothelioma cancer cell, counting about 20% to 40% of all mesothelioma cases. However, this mesothelioma cell apparently increase every year, and counting up to 65%. From the name we know that biphasic mesothelioma cancer cell is a combined cell from two mesothelioma cancer cells.

Unlike epithelioid and sarcomatoid mesothelioma cells, biphasic mesothelioma does not really have a specific form. Biphasic mesothelioma cancer is a combination of epithelioid and sarcomatoid mesothelioma cancer cells. Epithelioid mesothelioma cell has cubed shape and sarcomatoid mesothelioma has spindle or oval shaped. Although both mesothelioma types are present in a biphasic tumor, they have a tendency to form in differentiated groups; they are not usually found in the same area of the tumor.

Classifying a case of mesothelioma as biphasic is simply stating that the patient has both epithelioid and sarcomatoid mesothelioma cancer. When epithelioid and sarcomatoid cancer cells are separated throughout various parts of the tumor, it can lead to a misdiagnosis of the mesothelioma subtype.

Biphasic Mesothelioma Cancer Cell Diagnosis

The biphasic mesothelioma cell diagnosis maybe difficult since the examination of the tumor may only uncover epithelioid or sarcomatoid mesothelioma cells. By taking multiple sections of diseased tissue for examination, histopathologists are more likely to be able to identify a case of biphasic mesothelioma cancer. However, mesothelioma cells misdiagnosis may not a problem because the treatments among three mesothelioma cells are apparently same.

Biphasic Mesothelioma Cancer Cell Treatment

Biphasic mesothelioma cancers, sarcomatoid mesothelioma cancer and epithelioid treatment are the same. But the prognosis associated with each mesothelioma cell is different, as the average survival time. The mean survival time of biphasic mesothelioma cancer patients (six months) is the lowest of the three.

Main article - Sarcomatoid Mesothelioma Cancer Cell

Mesothelioma Screening Test

2010-06-04T04:48:00.000-07:00

Mesothelioma is a very rare form of cancer and very lethal that affects the membranes that protect our inner organ, which is has three main membranes, pleural (coverings of the lungs), the peritoneal membranes (coverings of the abdominal organs) or the pericardium (covering of the heart). Mesothelioma is mainly caused by a long exposure of asbestos. The other thing that makes mesothelioma dangerous is the time it took to become cancerous, it needs decades to cancerous. To prevent the mesothelioma danger, screening for those who exposed to asbestos is the only option to prevent malignant mesothelioma. Those who endanger with this cancer are people who works in the manufacturing industry, shipbuilding and construction need to be screened routinely.

These screening tests are useful to diagnose mesothelioma cancer;

Imaging Tests

Imaging tests like chest X-Ray, CT Scans, and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) can provide strong evidence to support the diagnosis especially coupled with a history of asbestos exposure and often very useful and they may show thick, nodular masses on the pleural surface. However, other diseases can produce these symptoms and to be certain of a correct diagnosis more investigations often need to be carried out.

Needle Biopsies:

Needle biopsy is needed in order to take the fluid in the pleura for laboratory examination. Under a local anaesthetic, the doctor will make a hole to insert needle biopsy to take tissue sample. This tissue sample then examined in the laboratory for malignant mesothelioma cells. The needle biopsy is only about 40% accurate and these tests and results may take several weeks to complete.

A biopsy may be done in different ways, depending on where the abnormal area is located. If the cancer is in the chest, the doctor may perform a thoracoscopy. In this procedure, the doctor makes a small cut through the chest wall and puts a thin, lighted tube called a thoracoscope into the chest between two ribs. Thoracoscopy allows the doctor to look inside the chest and obtain tissue samples.

Open Biopsy

Open biopsy is the most accurate among mesothelioma diagnosis, but it is also more invasive. In open biopsy a large number of tissue samples are needed. When undergo this biopsy, patient is under general anaesthetic.

Cytology

Cytology is the less accurate in mesothelioma diagnosis and not performed often. About 80% of cytology result is negative despite the presence of mesothelioma.

However, even using the best mesothelioma diagnosis technique that available today, the detection of mesothelioma still may miss. Mesothelioma victims should take necessary action against their former employers and should get in touch with lawyers who have experience handling these kind or issues

Main Article - Mesothelioma Screening

California mesothelioma lawyer reviews strong mesothelioma lawsuit

2010-06-03T02:53:00.000-07:00

Building a strong Mesothelioma case starts with the obvious, a high quality and knowledgeable California mesothelioma attorney. The California mesothelioma lawyer is going to need the pertinent records necessary to file a Mesothelioma lawsuit. This includes employment records, health records, and various forms that may help to verify how you were placing at risk during the time in question. A strong mesothelioma lawsuit requires vigilance and endurance. It requires a mindset based on justice, not vengeance. It is perfectly acceptable to be angry about contracting Mesothelioma, normal in fact. However, any decisions that are basing on anger and vengeance typically do not carry a person for longer periods and supply them with the necessary endurance required to see a Mesothelioma lawsuit through to the end.

Just like any other situation that makes a person angry, Mesothelioma victims find their anger tends to subside as more important issues such as quality time with their friends and family members, treatment options, and Mesothelioma education come to the forefront. Anger only lasts a little while. Mesothelioma lawsuits are file to allow the victim to obtain their dignity and a sense of justice, as well as provide them with the financial resources necessary to continue their Mesothelioma treatment. Your California mesothelioma lawyer is going to require continuous updates to your condition.

While we live in a day and age where our medical records are considering as private as our innermost thoughts, your Mesothelioma lawyer is going to need access to your medical records. It is vital to have a quality working relationship with your Mesothelioma lawyer. Trust is imperative. However, your Mesothelioma lawyer is not a therapist, and it is uncommon for people who have never had a previous mental health issue in their life to need some form of counseling after being mesothelioma diagnosis. Mesothelioma symptoms are a difficult disease to deal with, and so is the betrayal, which led to the asbestos exposure and Mesothelioma.

You may be required to testify on your own behalf. Your California mesothelioma lawyer will counsel you on the importance of maintaining your composure while on the witness stand during your case, as well as your demeanor during the Mesothelioma settlement meetings. Too much anger can cloud a person judgment. Mesothelioma symptoms victims often require some short-term counseling to deal with the backlash if being mesothelioma diagnosis and living with Mesothelioma. These records typically are going to need to be available to your Mesothelioma lawyers well.

***
Nick Johnson is lead counsel and founding partner of Johnson Law Group. Johnson represents plaintiffs in many states and focuses on injury cases involving all types of Mesothelioma. Call 1-888-311-5522 today or visit http://www.nickjohnsonlaw.com for a free case evaluation.

Main article - Mesothelioma Symptoms and Signs

Mesothelioma Past Staging System

2010-06-02T10:53:00.000-07:00

There are mesothelioma staging system that proposed in the past that not used anymore.

Mesothelioma Staging Proposed by Butchart:

Mesothelioma Stage 1 Tumor confined within the “capsule” of the parietal pleura, i.e., involving only ipsilateral pleura, lung, pericardium, and diaphragm.
Mesothelioma Stage 2 Tumor invading chest wall or involving mediastinal structures, e.g., esophagus, heart, opposite pleura. Lymph node involvement within the chest
Mesothelioma Stage 3 Tumor penetrating diaphragm to involve peritoneum. Involvement of opposite pleura. Lymph node involvement outside the chest.
Mesothelioma Stage 4 Distant blood-borne metastases.

Mesothelioma Staging Proposed by Chahinian53,54

Stage I T1, N0, M0
Stage II T1-2, N1, M0
T2, N0, M0
Stage III T3, any N, M0
Stage IV T4, and N, M0, any M1

T = Primary tumor;
T1 = Limited to ipsilateral pleura only (parietal pleura, visceral pleura);
T2 = Superficial local invasion (diaphragm, endothoracic fascia, ipsilateral lung, fissures);
T3 = Deep local invasion (chest wall beyond endothoracic fascia);
T4 = Extensive direct invasion (opposite pleura, peritoneum, retroperitoneum);
N = Lymph nodes;
N0 = No positive lymph node;
N1 = Positive ipsilateral hilar nodes;
N2 = Positive mediastinal nodes;
N3 = Positive contralateral hilar nodes.
M = Metastases;
M0 = No metastases;
M1 = Metastases; blood-borne or lymphatic.

Source:
Butchart EG, Ashcroft T, Barnsley WC, Holden MP. Pleuropneumonectomy in the management of diffuse malignant mesothelioma of the pleura. Experience with 29 patients. Thorax 1976;31:15
Chahinian AP. Malignant mesothelioma. In: Greenspan EM, editor. Clinical interpretation and practice of cancer chemotherapy. New York, NY: Raven; 1982. p. 599.
Chahinian AP. Therapeutic modalities in malignant pleural mesothelioma. In: Chretien J, Hirsch A, editors. Diseases of the pleura. New York, NY: Masson; 1983. p. 224.

Main Article - Mesothelioma Staging System

Mesothelioma Cancer Staging System

2010-05-29T01:19:00.000-07:00

The stage of mesothelioma is mainly about pleural mesothelioma

International Staging System for Diffuse Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma
Tumor Size of mesothelioma
T1

Tumor limited to the ipsilateral parietal +/– mediastinal +/– diaphragmatic pleura
No involvement of the visceral pleura

Tumor involving the ipsilateral parietal +/– mediastinal +/–diaphragmatic pleura
Tumor also involving the visceral pleura

Tumor involving each of the ipsilateral pleural surfaces (parietal, mediastinal, diaphragmatic, and visceral pleura) with at least one of the following features:

involvement of diaphragmatic muscle
extension of tumor from visceral pleura into the underlying pulmonary parenchyma

Describes locally advanced but potentially resectable tumor
Tumor involving all of the ipsilateral pleural surfaces (parietal, mediastinal, diaphragmatic, and visceral pleura) with at least one of the following features:

involvement of the endothoracic fascia
extension into the mediastinal fat
solitary, completely resectable focus of tumor extending into the soft tissues of the chest wall
non-transmural involvement of the pericardium

Describes locally advanced technically unresectable tumor
Tumor involving all the ipsilateral pleural surfaces (parietal, mediastinal, diaphragmatic, and visceral pleura) with at least one of the following features:

diffuse extension or multifocal masses of tumor in the chest wall, with or without associated rib destruction
direct trans-diaphragmatic extension of tumor to the peritoneum
direct extension of tumor to the contra-lateral pleura
direct extension of tumor to mediastinal organs
direct extension of tumor into the spine
tumor extending through to the internal surface of the pericardium with or without a pericardial effusion; or tumor involving the myocardium

N-Lymph nodes

NX Regional lymph nodes cannot be assessed
N0 No regional lymph node metastases
N1 Metastases in the ipsilateral bronchopulmonar or hilar lymph nodes
N2 Metastases in the subcarinal or the ipsilateral mediastinal lymph nodes including the ipsilateral internal mammary nodes
N3 Metastases in the contralateral mediastinal, contralateral internal mammary, ipsilateral, or contralateral supraclavicular lymph nodes

M-Metastases

MX Presence of distant metastases cannot be assessed
M0 No distant metastasis
M1 Distant metastasis present

Main Article - Knowledge about Mesothelioma Treatment

Knowledge about Mesothelioma Treatment

2010-05-28T04:37:00.000-07:00

The hunting of mesothelioma answer seems found a dead end, even though it is try by many doctor and researchers. Is it mesothelioma cure really exist? Before talking about this kind of question you need to know about mesothelioma and things that can cause it. Like most people know, mesothelioma is a type of cancer that attacks the lining of inner organ. Mesothelioma doesn’t attack the organ, not until it metastasis. The only cause of mesothelioma cancer is a high exposure in a long time of asbestos.

Asbestos is known as a mineral fiber that nowadays has used widely in this world, it most uses in construction and building materials. Asbestos can be breaks into many small particles and easily fly with air, asbestos particles are so small and can be easily inhaled and stuck on the worker cloth, makes their family and increase the risks of mesothelioma.

Mesothelioma treatments are very depend on many factors, such as patient general health, their age, the size of mesothelioma tumor, and how many organ that may involved. The first step of mesothelioma treatment is surgery and the recovery after surgery. With surgical process, doctors remove the tumor and nearby tissue that affected by mesothelioma cancer. To increase its successful rate, doctors not only use surgery, they often combined with chemotherapy and surgery if the tumor size has grown very big. When mesothelioma in advanced stage, the fluid that collect in the abdomen and chest will increase. The next mesothelioma treatment phase is to remove these fluids, by removing the fluids, reducing discomfort feeling. This process is called thoracentesis.

Efforts to treat and cure mesothelioma may suffer a blow if this disease returns. In this case, mesothelioma treatment depends on the location of recurrence and patient’s medical history. However, the mesothelioma survival possibility is bad and the possibilities to treat mesothelioma are rare.

Main article - Mesothelioma Treatment

Benign Mesothelioma

2010-05-27T15:54:00.000-07:00

Mesothelioma is a very dangerous type of cancer that up until know, the cure is still not found yet. However, like other cancer there is a time when mesothelioma cancer still in situ (a condition where mesothelioma has not become cancerous yet) or benign mesothelioma.

There is a difference between mesothelioma and benign mesothelioma. When it still not cancerous, this cancer usually does not has any relation with asbestos exposure. Benign mesothelioma usually associated with solitary fibrous tumor of pleura, it is a former neoplasm that referred to as benign fibrous pleural mesothelioma. The visceral or parietal pleura fibrous tumors are often have not relation with asbestos exposure, with pleural effusion as an exception. Most of these fibrous tumors are benign, although a malignant form does rarely occur.

Clubbing and osteoarthropathy are common benign mesothelioma symptoms that present in 20% to 50% of cases, compared to malignant mesothelioma that only count 6%. Hyponatremia attributed to inappropriate secretion of anti-diuretic hormone and hypoglycemia has been described. Surgery is an appropriate treatment that can cure it.

When see under microscope, benign mesothelioma tumors are well circumscribed fibromas with a variable collage-nous matrix containing interweaving bundles of ovoid or spindle cells without atypia.

Mesothelioma of the atrioventricular node is another benign mesothelioma, however, it is rarely occurs (only 50 cases that reported), usually minute or even microscopic.P this mesothelioma is “the smallest one that can cause death,” since it can cause partial or complete nodal heart blocks and/or sudden death are the major consequences.

Two thirds of mesothelioma of the atrioventricular occurred in females, and have a large age range based attack from an 8-month-old fetus to an 86-year-old woman. Adenomatoid tumors are benign mesothelioma arising in or near the male or female genital tract organs, although occasionally more distantly in the peritoneum.

Benign multi-cystic peritoneal mesothelioma affects mainly young females and produces cysts of variable size and number lined by a single layer of benign mesothelial cells. The major differential diagnoses are lymphangioma and ovarian cancer of low malignant potential. The disease follows a benign course and is compatible with a normal life expectancy, requiring, occasionally, partial excision or decompression for relief of pain or other symptoms. The malignant potential is exceptional.

Source:

Warren WH. The clinical manifestations and diagnosis of mesothelioma. In: Kittle CF, editor. Mesothelioma: diagnosis and management. Chicago, IL: Year Book; 1987. p. 31.
Belani CP, Herndon J, Vogelzang NJ, Green MR. Edatrexate for malignant mesothelioma. A phase II study of the Cancer and Leukemia Group B. Proc Am Soc Clin Oncol 1994;13:329.
Chahinian AP. Case 38 1978. N Engl J Med 1979;300:263.
Craig JR, Hart WR. Extragenital adenomatoid tumor. Cancer 1979;43:1678.
David R, Hiss Y. Corpora amylacea in mesothelioma of the atrioventricular node. J Pathol 1978;124:111.
Schneider V, Patridge JR, Gutierrez F, et al. Benign cystic mesothelioma involving the female genital tract: report of four cases. Am J Obstet Gynecol 1983;145:355.
Weiss SW, Tavassoli FA. Multicystic mesothelioma. An analysis of pathologic findings and biologic behavior in 37 cases. Am J Surg Pathol 1988;12:737.
Ross MJ, Welch WR, Scully RE. Multilocular peritoneal inclusion cysts (so-called cystic mesotheliomas). Cancer 1989;64:1336.

Main Article - Pleural Mesothelioma

Sarcomatoid Mesothelioma Cancer Cell

2010-05-18T05:53:00.000-07:00

Sarcomatoid mesothelioma cell is a less common of mesothelioma cell type, and counting 10%-15% of all cases each year. The cell shape typically more oval, irregular shape and the nucleus of each cell, but it is not as visible with a microscope as the epithelioid mesothelioma cancer cells. These cells grow forth out of supportive structures, such as muscles and bones.

Sarcomatoid cancer cells have similar shape with sarcomatoid mesothelioma cell, so it can also easily be confused with the type of typical sarcoma cancer cells.

Sarcomatoid Mesothelioma and Sarcomatoid Carcinoma

From its name we can tell that sarcomatoid mesothelioma has sarcomatoid appearance. It appearance that makes this sarcomatoid mesothelioma often confuse with other cancer type due to its appearance. Even though sarcomatoid cancer occurs in the other parts of the body, such as kidney, this cancer cell can be mistaken with sarcomatoid carcinoma. However, its rarely present in the lungs, only 1.3% of lung cancer are the sarcomatoid type.

That is not the only cell that can mistaken with sarcomatoid mesothelioma, pulmonary sarcomatoid carcinoma is the other one. The similarity of sarcomatoid mesothelioma and sarcomatoid carcinoma is both of them more common in men than in women (about four times), and it has strong association with smoking. It worsens with these two also share the similar symptoms, such as chest pain, pleural effusions and respiratory difficulty.

However, in this past decade women smoker increase rapidly, this may leads the comparison between women and men change too.

Sarcomatoid Mesothelioma and Sarcoma

The diagnosis of sarcomatoid mesothelioma can also confuse with the high grade sarcoma. However, unlike this mesothelioma cells that occurs in the epithelium, sarcoma occurs in the supportive tissue (bone, cartilage, fat or muscle). But the diagnosis will getting harder if the sarcoma spreads to the plural surface.

Main article - Epithelioid Mesothelioma

Epithelioid Mesothelioma Cancer Cell

2010-05-17T02:24:00.000-07:00

The most common mesothelioma cancer cell is epithelioid and counting 50%-75% of mesothelioma cells type. The cells usually have uniform shape, so epithelioid mesothelioma cells are easily distinguished if it viewed under high magnification from other cell nuclei. Even though it’s different from another mesothelioma cancer cells, other types of cancer can take a similar form, and if these cancers appear in the mesothelium, they can be confused with epithelioid mesothelioma. The cancer that has similar cell shape with epithelioid mesothelioma is adenocarcinoma.

Epithelioid Mesothelioma and Adenocarcinoma

Mesothelioma is cancer that occurs in the mesothelium, includes epithelioid mesothelioma. In this case, it occur in the protective layer of tissue that bodily environments (epithelium). It can be found throughout the body that have job to separate and protect the organ. Epithelia spread in all part of body, such as epithelial cells are found in the skin, which separates the outside of the body from the inside of the body. Depending on the location, an epithelium can serve many functions, including protection, absorption, filtration, excretion, secretion or sensory reception.

The other cancer that can occur in the mesothelium is adenocarcinoma. Since epithelioid mesothelioma can also appear in the pleura, it can be easily confused with adenocarcinoma. But it’s a little different with epithelioid mesothelioma, since adenocarcinoma not originate in the mesothelium, but it originate from the lining or inner epithelium. However, when adenocarcinoma attack the lining of the lungs, it can spread to the mesothelium that surrounding the lungs (pleura).

The things that make epithelioid mesothelioma and adenocarcinoma hard to distinguished:

Both of epithelioid mesothelioma and adenocarcinoma come from epithelial tissue, they have a similar cellular appearance.
The result of chemical staining from epithelioid mesothelioma and adenocarcinoma cancer cells sometimes shows similar results.
The clinical signs for adenocarcinoma of the lung and malignant mesothelioma are also similar.
The symptoms that come from these two cancers, both of which typically affect the older population, include chest pain, pleural effusions (fluid build-up) and respiratory difficulty.

This is the reason why cancer of the mesothelium, or epithelioid mesothelioma, and cancer of the lung epithelium, adenocarcinoma, are often mistaken for one another and therefore misdiagnosed.

Main Article - Mesothelioma Cancer Cells

Mesothelioma Cancer Cells

2010-05-16T05:13:00.000-07:00

There are many different types of cancer that can occurs in the lung, so x-rays and other types of imaging are cannot use in to do mesothelioma diagnosis. The best way to do mesothelioma diagnosis is by biopsy, by biopsy your doctor can know what type mesothelioma cancer cells you have, and this can use to distinguish mesothelioma with other cancer, such as lung cancer.

Mesothelioma has three different types of cells that often used in deciding mesothelioma prognosis, they are:

Epithelioid Mesothelioma Cancer Cell
The most common mesothelioma cancer cell is epithelioid and counting 50%-75% of mesothelioma cells type. The cells usually have uniform shape, so epithelioid mesothelioma cells are easily distinguished if it viewed under high magnification.

However, it is not as simple as that because of adenocarcinoma cell has a similar form with epithelioid mesothelioma cancer cells, if the not carefully diagnosed, mesothelioma can be misdiagnosed.
Sarcomatoid Mesothelioma Cancer Cell
Sarcomatoid mesothelioma cell is a less common of mesothelioma cell type, and counting 10%-15% of all cases each year. The cell shape typically more oval, irregular shape and the nucleus of each cell, but it is not as visible with a microscope as the epithelioid mesothelioma cancer cells. These cells grow forth out of supportive structures, such as muscles and bones.

Sarcomatoid cancer cells have similar shape with sarcomatoid mesothelioma cell, so it can also easily be confused with the type of sarcoma cancer cells.
Biphasic Mesothelioma Cancer Cell
The mix of Epithelioid and sarcomatoid mesothelioma cell types makes biphasic mesothelioma cancer cell. The biphasic type can occur with the two types of cells intermixed continuously throughout the tumor, or with them in specific groupings. Transitional areas between the two cell types are often present. Treatment options do not vary greatly between cells types, but often sarcomatoid mesothelioma are more difficult to treat as a result of the surrounding affected tissues from which they spread.

Within each of these mesothelioma cancer cell types, subtypes exist. Many mesothelioma patients display more than one cell type. Thoracoscopy and the use of special stains can be helpful in identifying cellular classifications, though obtaining adequate tissue samples often require more invasive surgeries.

Main article – Mesothelioma Prognosis

Mesothelioma Prognosis

2010-05-15T03:20:00.000-07:00

Mesothelioma prognosis depends on how early it is diagnosed and how aggressively it is treated. However, the prognosis for malignant mesothelioma usually disappointing, although there have been some modest improvements in prognosis from newer chemotherapies and multimodality treatments. Malignant mesothelioma Treatment at earlier stages has a better prognosis, but the cure rate is very low.

Various factors that play role in mesothelioma prognosis:

How early it is diagnosed and how aggressively it is treated
Tumor size
Tumor location
Metastasis
The extent of mesothelioma symptoms
Asbestos exposure periods
Mesothelioma cell types

Epithelioid Mesothelioma
Sarcomatoid Mesothelioma
Biphasic Mesothelioma

Patient’s age

There are prognostic factors that allow some refinement of prediction of life expectancy. Apart from non-epithelioid histology the most important poor prognostic factors are male gender, advanced stage disease, poor performance status, leucocytosis and thrombocytosis. Several scoring systems (European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC), Cancer and Leukaemia Group B (CALGB)) have been used extensively in chemotherapy trials and have been validated as useful in estimating survival.

The minority who survive more than 3 years are almost exclusively from the epithelioid group. Distant metastases occur commonly, although they are usually late and seldom cause problems.

Main article - Mesothelioma Screening

Pericardial Mesothelioma

2010-05-14T03:49:00.000-07:00

Pericardial mesothelioma, or mesothelioma of the pericardium, is a disease that affects the lining of the heart (pericardium). It is the rarest type of mesothelioma, it only count less than 10% of all this mesothelioma cases. This disease cases are related to the lining of the heart. Just like plural mesothelioma, the fast growth of the tumor can cause expansion of the tissue and accumulation of fluid. The fluid can interfere with the functioning of the heart and cause chest pain.

Because pericardial mesothelioma is so rare, there is little specific research on this type of mesothelioma. Approximately 2,000 new cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed each year, and fewer than 200 of them are pericardial mesothelioma.

Pericardial mesothelioma is pretty hard to understand, since it is completely unknown how the asbestos fibers enter the tissue layers surrounding the heart. A theory says that asbestos fibers are broken into smaller pieces in the lungs and then carried into the blood stream. From there, proponents of this theory hypothesize, the fibers are pumped through the heart, become lodged in the heart lining, and cause the chronic inflammation that leads to cancerous growths (as with pleural mesothelioma).

The symptoms that often happen if pericardial mesotheliomas are chest pain and irregular heartbeat, since the rapid growth of the cancerous tumors can cause expansion of the tissue and accumulation of fluid. The fluid can interfere with the functioning of the heart. Shortness of breath and cough are less common symptoms of pericardial mesothelioma cancer. Unlike the lungs, it is less common for other cancers to metastasize to the heart.

Main article - Types of Mesothelioma

Pleural Mesothelioma Symptoms

2010-05-13T03:22:00.000-07:00

Pleural mesothelioma is the most common mesothelioma type counting up to 75% of all mesothelioma cases. Pleural mesothelioma is a dose-dependent disease, meaning that the longer and more heavily your exposure to asbestos, the greater the chance you have of developing pleural mesothelioma (or another type of mesothelioma). This can affect how quickly you are diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma, although mesothelioma is known for its long periods of even d0 years from exposure to disease progression.

However, pleural mesothelioma symptoms are not specific, and may indicate other disease. But if you have a history of asbestos exposure, it is wise to be proactive regarding your health care choices and observant of potential pleural mesothelioma symptoms. Have regular medical checkups with your physician and make sure he or she is aware of your concerns and your history of asbestos exposure.

Pleural mesothelioma symptoms that may shows:

Chest Pain
The most common symptom for pleural mesothelioma patients. However, it is not specific and may sometimes be felt in upper abdomen, shoulder, or arm. Chest pain often shows first when pleural mesothelioma occurs.
Shortness of breath
It is also a common symptom.
Pleural effusion
It is the result of too much fluid building up between the parietal and linings of the chest and lungs, respectively (visceral pleura). Pleural effusion may cause chest pain and difficulty breathing (dyspnea).
Fatigue or anemia
Breath shortness (dyspnea)

Less common pleural mesothelioma symptoms but still cited enough to be considered as symptoms:

Weight loss and cough
Blood in the sputum (fluid) coughed up (hemoptysis)
Night sweats

Main Article - Pleural Mesothelioma

Pleural Mesothelioma

2010-05-12T02:22:00.000-07:00

The most common mesothelioma type

Pleural mesothelioma is the widely known variant of mesothelioma and the most common mesothelioma and counts 75% of all mesothelioma. In this form of mesothelioma, tumours develop on the lining of the lungs (lung pleura), and can grow fast and enlarge the pleural space, causing it to fill with fluid. Over time, they cause chronic inflammation that eventually leads to growth of cancerous tumors or, in some cases, asbestosis. Sometimes doctors refer to this disease as mesothelioma of the pleura.
Pleural mesothelioma cancer normally appears as multiple tumor masses affecting the parietal surface (outside; further from the lung) and visceral surface (inside; closer to the lung) of the pleura. Typically, the parietal surface has greater involvement than the visceral. There is a slightly higher incidence of mesothelioma in the right lung, apparently due to the fact that the right lung is larger and has a greater amount of pleural surface area. Also, the lower lungs typically show more tumor masses than the upper lung. This is thought to be due to gravitational factors influencing how the asbestos fibers settle in the lungs after they have been inhaled.

Large growths in the pleura are normally noted in patients upon diagnosis. As the diseases progresses, these growths lead to a complete obliteration of the lung cavity. The tumors can spread from the lung pleura to other organs, including the heart and abdomen. Mesothelioma can also invade the lymph nodes and circulatory system.

Tumors unrelated to pleural mesothelioma also grow in the pleura. These tumors start in other parts of the body and metastasize to the pleura. The most common form of non-pleural mesothelioma cancer that occurs is lung cancer, representing about 36 percent of the cancer occurring in the pleura. The next most common forms are breast cancer (25 percent), ovarian cancer (5 percent) and gastric cancer (2 percent). Lymphoma also accounts for a small portion of cancers that metastasize to the pleura.

Main Article - Mesothelioma Types

Peritoneal mesothelioma Symptoms

2010-05-09T22:53:00.000-07:00

Mesothelioma symptoms and signs may not appear until next 20 to 50 years (or more) after exposure to asbestos. However, once the cancerous tumors start to grow in the peritoneum, fluid begins to rapidly accumulate in the abdominal area. This fluid causes swelling and discomfort and leads to the symptom of peritoneal mesothelioma:

Upper abdominal pain.
It is the most common peritoneal mesothelioma symptom.
Cough and shortness of breath.
Less common symptoms
Bowel obstruction.
Blood clotting abnormalities.
Anemia.
Fever.
Weight loss and abdominal pain.
Swelling due to a buildup of fluid in the abdomen.

Many patients have symptoms four to six months before diagnosis. If the cancer has spread beyond the mesothelium to other parts of the body, symptoms may include:

Pain
Trouble swallowing
Swelling of the neck or face.

However, these symptoms may be caused by mesothelioma or by other, less serious conditions.

Peritoneal mesothelioma patients can exhibit all three kinds of mesothelioma cancer cells: epithelioid mesothelioma, sarcomatoid mesothelioma and biphasic mesothelioma. These are type of cancer cells that can affect the mesothelioma prognosis. It is thought that patients with biphasic mesothelioma cancer cells have a shorter life expectancy, than that for epithelioid or sarcomatoid.

Main article: Peritoneal Mesothelioma

Peritoneal mesothelioma

2010-05-07T18:29:00.000-07:00

Peritoneal mesothelioma is number 2 most common form of mesothelioma cancer that affects the lining of the abdomen. This mesothelioma type affects the lining that protects the contents of the abdomen (peritoneum) and which also provides a lubricating fluid to enable the organs to move and work properly. Sometimes doctors refer to this disease as mesothelioma of the peritoneum. Peritoneal mesothelioma can spread to the lungs and when this occurs, it is considered secondary lung cancer.

The peritoneum is made of two parts, the visceral and parietal peritoneum. The visceral peritoneum covers the internal organs and makes up most of the outer layer of the intestinal tract. Covering the abdominal cavity is the parietal peritoneum.

Peritoneal mesothelioma cancer counts 10% to 20% of all mesothelioma patients. The only known cause of mesothelioma is exposure to asbestos. For pleural mesothelioma (cancer of the lung lining), the disease process is fairly well understood. The asbestos stays in the lung when it inhaled, and these fibers enter in the pleura (lung lining). Our body cannot eliminated the asbestos fiber, and they can cause chronic inflammation that eventually leads to growth of cancerous tumors or in some cases asbestosis.

However, it still questioned how the asbestos fibers become lodged in the abdomen's peritoneum lining. It is possible that asbestos fibers, after being broken into smaller pieces in the lungs, are carried from the lungs into the blood stream, and lodge from the blood stream in the abdomen lining.

Main Article - Mesothelioma Types

Mesothelioma Treatment

2010-05-06T19:51:00.000-07:00

Mesothelioma treatment that often uses:

Traditional mesothelioma treatments
Which is use the same treatments to treat most other cancer, includes:

Surgery
Chemotherapy
Radiation therapy (radiotherapy)

New methods of mesothelioma treatments
As its name, it use new treatment methods that have been research and developed, includes:

Development of new chemotherapy agents
Intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT)
Photodynamic therapy (PDT)
Immunotherapy
Gene therapy

Other Treatment:

Multimodality Therapy
Heated Intraoperative Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy

As with other cancerous diseases, the progression of mesothelioma is typically broken into stages, with the treatment options based on the stage of the disease.

However, mesothelioma treatment still depends on the prognosis. The prognosis for malignant mesothelioma remains disappointing, although there have been some modest improvements in prognosis from newer chemotherapies and multimodality treatments. Treatment of malignant mesothelioma at earlier stages has a better prognosis, but cures are exceedingly rare. Clinical behavior of the malignancy is affected by several factors including the continuous mesothelial surface of the pleural cavity which favors local metastasis via exfoliated cells, invasion to underlying tissue and other organs within the pleural cavity, and the extremely long latency period between asbestos exposure and development of the disease. The histological subtype and the patient's age and health status also help predict prognosis.

Main Article: Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma Types

2010-05-06T19:25:00.000-07:00

Mesothelioma cancer is a type of cancer that attack the serous membranes that surround the major organs in the midsection of the body. It can metastasis and attack different organs because the serous membranes surround the lungs, heart, abdomen and others. Pleural mesothelioma is the most common type of mesothelioma is that which affects the lung lining. Other types are pericardial mesothelioma, which affects the lining of the heart, and peritoneal mesothelioma, affecting the lining of the abdomen.

Unlike what people might think, mesothelioma is not a type of primary lung cancer. That is, mesothelioma does not originate in the lungs, but as described above, it starts in the serous membranes or lining around the lungs (or other organs). However, mesothelioma can spread to the lungs and when this occurs, it is considered to be a secondary lung cancer. Mesothelioma is also commonly referred to as an asbestos lung cancer. Technically, it is not really right, since mesothelioma does not originate in the lungs. Asbestosis is a type of asbestos lung disease and different from mesothelioma, yet people often confused with it.

Mesothelioma Types:

Pleural Mesothelioma
This is the most common mesothelioma and counts 75% of all mesothelioma. The tumor develops on the lining of the lungs, and can grow fast and enlarge the pleural space, causing it to fill with fluid. This fluid makes the patient have a difficult time swallowing, breathing and cough often. This fluid may also make it press on the lung or attach itself to the chest wall and can cause breathlessness (also known as Pleural effusion).
Peritoneal Mesothelioma
Less common than pleural mesothelioma, but not less lethal, it count about 10% to 20% of all mesothelioma cases. It attack the serous membrane surrounding the abdomen (peritonium). The covering layer of the scrotum is actually an out-pouching of the peritoneum. Peritoneal mesothelioma is due to the ingestion of fibrous materials, including asbestos. Learn more about peritoneal mesothelioma.
Pericardial Mesothelioma
The rarest type of mesothelioma, it only count less than 10% of all cases. This disease cases are related to the lining of the heart. Just like plural mesothelioma, the fast growth of the tumor can cause expansion of the tissue and accumulation of fluid. The fluid can interfere with the functioning of the heart and cause chest pain. Most mesothelioma cases are known to be caused by exposure to asbestos, however, it is completely unknown how the asbestos fibers enter the tissue layers surrounding the heart.

Main article: Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma Screening

2010-05-06T17:19:00.000-07:00

Mesothelioma screening test may able to detect and diagnose mesothelioma earlier than conventional methods. With this screening the survival rate hope will improve for patients. However, this method has no universally agreed for screening people who have been exposed to asbestos. The screening methods use osteopontin serum, the serum osteopontin level might be useful in screening asbestos-exposed people for mesothelioma.

With osteopontin serum, the level of soluble mesothelin-related protein is elevated in the serum of about 75% of patients at diagnosis and it has been suggested that it may be useful for screening. Doctors have begun testing the Mesomark assay which measures levels of soluble mesothelin-related proteins (SMRPs) released by diseased mesothelioma cells.

Main article: Mesothelioma Treatment

Mesothelioma Symptoms and Signs

2010-05-06T16:24:00.000-07:00

It is a serious disease that attacks the mesothelium part. There are many reason that makes mesothelioma dangerous, one of them is mesothelioma symptoms or signs will not appear until 20 to 50 years (or more) after exposure to asbestos. The symptoms are also similar with other diseases that less serious.

The mesothelioma common symptoms are:

Shortness of breath,
Cough,
and pain in the chest

These symptoms often occur due to an accumulation of fluid in the pleural space (pleural effusion). Because early mesothelioma symptoms tend to be general, they often go ignored or else confused for symptoms of less serious ailments. Generally, however, individuals begin to manifest mesothelioma symptoms two to three months prior to being diagnosed .

These are symptoms that may be caused by mesothelioma or by other diseases that less serious:

Chest wall pain
Pleural effusion, or fluid surrounding the lung
Shortness of breath
Fatigue or anemia
Wheezing, hoarseness, or cough
Blood in the sputum (fluid) coughed up (hemoptysis)

In severe cases, the person may have many tumor masses. The individual may develop a pneumothorax, or collapse of the lung. The disease may metastasize, or spread, to other parts of the body.

Mesothelioma tumors that affect the abdominal cavity often do not cause symptoms until they are at a late stage, include:

Abdominal pain
Ascites, or an abnormal buildup of fluid in the abdomen
A mass in the abdomen
Problems with bowel function
Weight loss

In severe cases of mesothelioma, the following signs and symptoms may be present:

Blood clots in the veins, which may cause thrombophlebitis
Disseminated intravascular coagulation, a disorder causing severe bleeding in many body organs
Jaundice, or yellowing of the eyes and skin
Low blood sugar level
Pleural effusion
Pulmonary emboli, or blood clots in the arteries of the lungs
Severe ascites

However, the mesothelioma symptoms differ from its type. A mesothelioma does not usually spread to the bone, brain, or adrenal glands. Pleural tumors are usually found only on one side of the lungs.

Main article: Malignant Mesothelioma

Malignant Mesothelioma

2010-05-06T16:09:00.000-07:00

Malignant mesothelioma is rare type of cancer that occurs in mesothelium part (lining that cover and protect internal organ). The main cause of mesothelioma is exposure asbestos. Although malignant mesothelioma is rare, it is a serious, deadly disease. It is often in the advanced stages when it is detected, so the outlook for the mesothelioma patients is not as good as it is for patients with cancers that are detected earlier. The average survival time after detection is 1 to 2 years. This survival time also depends on the type of mesothelioma. Despite how dangerous mesothelioma is, up to 3,000 new cases diagnosed each year.

Malignant mesothelioma affects the lining or membranes of certain large cavities in the body, these cavities called the serous cavities which are filled with serous membranes, it is house certain major organs in the body including the heart, lungs, abdomen and others. And they protect these organs from the impact, friction and abrasion that occur as the organs move against each other during typical daily functioning, such as breathing and heart beating accident. The serous membranes derive from specialized cells called mesothelial cells. These cells form to create the mesothelium, which is the major tissue layer of the serous membranes. Cancer that occurs in the mesothelium tissue is called mesothelioma.

Since mesothelioma often associated with asbestos, most patient who develop this disease have worked on jobs where they inhaled asbestos fiber, or exposed to asbestos dust or fiber in other ways. Unlike lung cancer, there is no association between mesothelioma and smoking, but smoking greatly increases the risk of other asbestos-induced cancers. Compensation via asbestos funds or lawsuits is an important issue in mesothelioma.