Choosing a lawyer
There are many specialized lawyers mesothelioma. Therefore, we detail here preferred practices that go beyond the standards. Lawyers must understand that this is a stressful time for the family, and should strive to stay comfortable. Best practices include:
- prompt payment. A case of mesothelioma can take from a few months to a year or more. Sometimes the delay of the process is due to efforts by the legal team for the best compensation for their clients. Once payments are received, it is desirable that the compensation money is available to the customer as soon as possible. Beware of lawyers who offer money upfront, promise a certain amount, or monthly deposits.
- Meeting at the place of residence of the patient. This also means that lawyers are willing to go to the place that is more comfortable for the patient without moving him.
- No request payment in advance. This means that there are no upfront costs for the customer, and consultation is free. This practice implies that the firm works on commission, charged only in case of winning the lawsuit and obtained compensation from the companies. To make a demand, travel costs and other expenses incurred in the signing process is also deducted. Such charges are detailed in the beginning.
-Consultation staff. Ideally, the lawyer, and not a paralegal or junior assistant, should be the one to join you. Complete and satisfactory explanations. All legal documents and the process must be explained until the customer is satisfied you have understood. For Spanish speakers, the presence of a person acting as a translator, and a contract in Spanish is desirable.
- not stressful procedure. Because most patients and their families are going through a difficult time emotionally and physically, they usually prefer to get involved as little as possible in the process and avoided a trial. It is desirable that the legal team offered the opportunity to participate in a meeting and only if necessary, in a later deposition, and take care of the rest.
Sunday 4 January 2015
Attorneys Mesothelioma and Asbestos
Although regulations in the United States with regard to asbestos and exposure to it began in 1970, more than three decades later many people are coming to the conclusion that they need an experienced mesothelioma lawyer. One result of the long latency period of diseases related to exposure to asbestos, such as mesothelioma, are the legal claims from patients who were affected without them having any blame. Companies and contractors of the military branches that workers exposed to toxic mineral being tried.
In the early 30s there were already links related to exposure to asbestos lung disease, mesothelioma and other cancers , diseases that limit life expectancy certain individuals. Although companies using asbestos knew the damage they could cause in their workers and the public in general, continued to use for decades.
Many veterans are in need of an experienced mesothelioma lawyer because most of them, especially the Navy, were heavily exposed to mineral during his years serving the government. More than 3,000 Americans are diagnosed annually with asbestos related diseases. If a doctor has diagnosed you or a loved one with a disease like cancer mesothelioma or lung cancer, you may have legal options that could help pay your medical bills and other related expenses.
Asbestos Exposure and Requests
For over one hundred years, asbestos was one of the most used in the shipping industry (boats) materials. Additionally, it was used in thousands of products that can still be found in homes, apartments and other buildings built before age 80. Many people and workers were exposed to asbestos in a lot of ways.
Another reason why more cases of mesothelioma are appearing is because it can take more than 50 years after exposure to a person showing any symptoms of mesothelioma. That is why a worker or operator worker who was exposed in the 60 or 70 could be that now was diagnosed with the disease. That's another reason why some companies and contractors can hide the fact that they exposed their workers to this mineral as toxic.
File a Claim
Costs associated with mesothelioma can be extremely high. These may include loss of income, expensive treatments that health insurance does not cover much further pain and suffering for you and your family. Because the disease can be prevented - because it is usually caused by some kind of negligence - could be legal options to help cover these costs.
Mesothelioma attorneys focus their practice in place before the eyes of justice to those companies that have exposed their workers and the public to products containing asbestos. An advocate of this type can help you consider your options and make a claim against the company responsible for his illness from asbestos exposure. More than one company can be responsible and a mesothelioma attorney can identify all those who are guilty.
Get compensation
The demands of mesothelioma have helped thousands of people to receive financial assistance. Demand may result in a need for families enough money and reduce the concern for the treatment of disease. In addition, financial assistance helps create economic stability for loved ones in the future. A specialist asbestos litigation lawyer can help you find the necessary financial compensation to cover the costs of the disease.
down arrow Expenses related to diseases caused by exposure to asbestos:
Lost wages
Medical Debt
Costs not covered by insurance
Travel costs for medical treatment
Pain and suffering
Funeral expenses
Emotional support for loved ones
Emotional support for you
Each claim is different. A mesothelioma lawyer can help explain what types of compensation are specific to your case. It is important to keep all evidence of medical expenses related to his illness so that your lawyer can keep an updated record of all your expenses.
You will be asked to show all records of medical expenses and additionally have to answer some questions regarding your exposure dealt normally do not need to be involved in other stages of the case. Lawyers know that your customers can be pretty tired by his illness to handle the entire process of demand or come to court. For this reason, they are responsible for every aspect of the case, representing you.
Types of Mesothelioma Lawsuits
The asbestos litigation are known for being the longest and highest economic impact in the United States. Legal analysts estimate that there are over 600,000 applicants and over 6,000 supporters, and it is estimated that the total amount paid for all claims is more than $ 200 billion.
Most mesothelioma lawsuits are among those who have been directly exposed to asbestos (also known as primary exposure to asbestos) and manufacturers of asbestos or products containing asbestos. However, workers and former workers of companies that know the problems they had with asbestos are not the only ones with rights against asbestos manufacturers. Another group of people who have not worked directly with the mineral but were exposed also have their rights (this is known as secondary exposure to asbestos). For example, if you shared a workspace with people handling asbestos or your spouse frequently worked with asbestos, you may also have a case. The mesothelioma lawyer can help you consider your options.
These are the two types of cases for injuries caused by asbestos. A demand made by any individual suffering from asbestos-related disease is known as personal injury claim. A claim made by a family or someone who has died from asbestos exposure is known as a demand for culpable homicide. There are specific rights in these lawsuits depending on the county and state in which the claim is made. A lawyer can explain your choices and solve their need to start a lawsuit.
Additional resources for mesothelioma
Only qualified mesothelioma lawyers can provide legal recommendations regarding eligibility to make a claim or seek recovery through a bankruptcy background. Asbestos.com provides basic care to explain to you the process of litigation mesothelioma and how to find a qualified mesothelioma lawyer. If you have any questions about mesothelioma or legal process, please feel free to call our Patient Department Council in our Mesothelioma Center at (800) 615-2270. Our department will ensure that you receive the best information for you to file a lawsuit.
In the early 30s there were already links related to exposure to asbestos lung disease, mesothelioma and other cancers , diseases that limit life expectancy certain individuals. Although companies using asbestos knew the damage they could cause in their workers and the public in general, continued to use for decades.
Many veterans are in need of an experienced mesothelioma lawyer because most of them, especially the Navy, were heavily exposed to mineral during his years serving the government. More than 3,000 Americans are diagnosed annually with asbestos related diseases. If a doctor has diagnosed you or a loved one with a disease like cancer mesothelioma or lung cancer, you may have legal options that could help pay your medical bills and other related expenses.
Asbestos Exposure and Requests
For over one hundred years, asbestos was one of the most used in the shipping industry (boats) materials. Additionally, it was used in thousands of products that can still be found in homes, apartments and other buildings built before age 80. Many people and workers were exposed to asbestos in a lot of ways.
Another reason why more cases of mesothelioma are appearing is because it can take more than 50 years after exposure to a person showing any symptoms of mesothelioma. That is why a worker or operator worker who was exposed in the 60 or 70 could be that now was diagnosed with the disease. That's another reason why some companies and contractors can hide the fact that they exposed their workers to this mineral as toxic.
File a Claim
Costs associated with mesothelioma can be extremely high. These may include loss of income, expensive treatments that health insurance does not cover much further pain and suffering for you and your family. Because the disease can be prevented - because it is usually caused by some kind of negligence - could be legal options to help cover these costs.
Mesothelioma attorneys focus their practice in place before the eyes of justice to those companies that have exposed their workers and the public to products containing asbestos. An advocate of this type can help you consider your options and make a claim against the company responsible for his illness from asbestos exposure. More than one company can be responsible and a mesothelioma attorney can identify all those who are guilty.
Get compensation
The demands of mesothelioma have helped thousands of people to receive financial assistance. Demand may result in a need for families enough money and reduce the concern for the treatment of disease. In addition, financial assistance helps create economic stability for loved ones in the future. A specialist asbestos litigation lawyer can help you find the necessary financial compensation to cover the costs of the disease.
down arrow Expenses related to diseases caused by exposure to asbestos:
Lost wages
Medical Debt
Costs not covered by insurance
Travel costs for medical treatment
Pain and suffering
Funeral expenses
Emotional support for loved ones
Emotional support for you
Each claim is different. A mesothelioma lawyer can help explain what types of compensation are specific to your case. It is important to keep all evidence of medical expenses related to his illness so that your lawyer can keep an updated record of all your expenses.
You will be asked to show all records of medical expenses and additionally have to answer some questions regarding your exposure dealt normally do not need to be involved in other stages of the case. Lawyers know that your customers can be pretty tired by his illness to handle the entire process of demand or come to court. For this reason, they are responsible for every aspect of the case, representing you.
Types of Mesothelioma Lawsuits
The asbestos litigation are known for being the longest and highest economic impact in the United States. Legal analysts estimate that there are over 600,000 applicants and over 6,000 supporters, and it is estimated that the total amount paid for all claims is more than $ 200 billion.
Most mesothelioma lawsuits are among those who have been directly exposed to asbestos (also known as primary exposure to asbestos) and manufacturers of asbestos or products containing asbestos. However, workers and former workers of companies that know the problems they had with asbestos are not the only ones with rights against asbestos manufacturers. Another group of people who have not worked directly with the mineral but were exposed also have their rights (this is known as secondary exposure to asbestos). For example, if you shared a workspace with people handling asbestos or your spouse frequently worked with asbestos, you may also have a case. The mesothelioma lawyer can help you consider your options.
These are the two types of cases for injuries caused by asbestos. A demand made by any individual suffering from asbestos-related disease is known as personal injury claim. A claim made by a family or someone who has died from asbestos exposure is known as a demand for culpable homicide. There are specific rights in these lawsuits depending on the county and state in which the claim is made. A lawyer can explain your choices and solve their need to start a lawsuit.
Additional resources for mesothelioma
Only qualified mesothelioma lawyers can provide legal recommendations regarding eligibility to make a claim or seek recovery through a bankruptcy background. Asbestos.com provides basic care to explain to you the process of litigation mesothelioma and how to find a qualified mesothelioma lawyer. If you have any questions about mesothelioma or legal process, please feel free to call our Patient Department Council in our Mesothelioma Center at (800) 615-2270. Our department will ensure that you receive the best information for you to file a lawsuit.
A Mesothelioma Lawyer Can Help
Being diagnosed with a serious condition such as mesothelioma cancer is devastating. You probably have many questions and do not know where to get honest answers about asbestos exposure. Do come to the right place, because we can put you in touch with a lawyer mesothelioma cases has experience investigating cases of asbestos and analyzing evidence to help you discover the truth.
Our lawyers of mesothelioma cases have helped many people obtain compensation for:
Medical treatment
Lost wages due to illness.
Mental and emotional suffering
Temporary disability benefits and permanent
Maybe you do not feel the strength of accountable those responsible for your asbestos exposure. But it is important to understand that your rights may have been violated, and that you can be eligible to receive compensation for your pain and suffering. If you have decided to exercise your rights, you need an experienced attorney.
Our lawyers Mesothelioma you want to ensure the legal help you need
They work with contingency basis, so do not have to pay in advance, ie, u get a payment or you pay nothing.
Call time for your free consultation: 1-888-363-6363 to Advocates. Call Now your health may depend on this call.
The Mesothelioma Center estimated that men between 50 and 70 are four times more likely than women to be diagnosed with mesothelioma, and the National Institute of Health estimates that the number of exposed individuals will peak in the world for 2020. Most patients suffering from mesothelioma are diagnosed years after the first exposure to asbestos.
Certain industrial workers may be at increased risk of mesothelioma by the environment in which they work:
Mechanics
Construction workers
Electricians
Plumbers
Sheet metal workers
If you work in any of these areas, you should go see a doctor immediately if you have experienced any of the following symptoms:
Chest pain
Persistent cough
Shortness of breath
Dry cough or wheezing
Lower back pain
Difficulty sleeping
A condition such as mesothelioma, requires effective and immediate medical treatment, this may increase costs thousands of medical bills and loss of income due to the inability to work.
The sooner you do something to protect your rights, unless you have to wait for a lawyer mesothelioma cases for financial aid for you.
Our lawyers can help you do justice to have been negligently exposed to asbestos, achieving:
Determine what your legal options
Complete the necessary paperwork on your behalf
Conduct research to support your claim
Represent you in court
Speak with one of our attorneys mesothelioma cases free at 1-888-363-6363. Legal aid quality you can afford.
You can not afford to pay upfront legal fees does not mean you can not hire an experienced attorney. Our attorneys work with a contingency basis, which means that they charge a percentage of the compensation they get to you. If you do not get any compensation, you pay nothing at all.
Get the legal help you need, no matter what your budget. Call now to contact an attorney with experience in mesothelioma cases. 1-888-363-6363The Defenders.
Our lawyers of mesothelioma cases have helped many people obtain compensation for:
Medical treatment
Lost wages due to illness.
Mental and emotional suffering
Temporary disability benefits and permanent
Maybe you do not feel the strength of accountable those responsible for your asbestos exposure. But it is important to understand that your rights may have been violated, and that you can be eligible to receive compensation for your pain and suffering. If you have decided to exercise your rights, you need an experienced attorney.
Our lawyers Mesothelioma you want to ensure the legal help you need
They work with contingency basis, so do not have to pay in advance, ie, u get a payment or you pay nothing.
Call time for your free consultation: 1-888-363-6363 to Advocates. Call Now your health may depend on this call.
The Mesothelioma Center estimated that men between 50 and 70 are four times more likely than women to be diagnosed with mesothelioma, and the National Institute of Health estimates that the number of exposed individuals will peak in the world for 2020. Most patients suffering from mesothelioma are diagnosed years after the first exposure to asbestos.
Certain industrial workers may be at increased risk of mesothelioma by the environment in which they work:
Mechanics
Construction workers
Electricians
Plumbers
Sheet metal workers
If you work in any of these areas, you should go see a doctor immediately if you have experienced any of the following symptoms:
Chest pain
Persistent cough
Shortness of breath
Dry cough or wheezing
Lower back pain
Difficulty sleeping
A condition such as mesothelioma, requires effective and immediate medical treatment, this may increase costs thousands of medical bills and loss of income due to the inability to work.
The sooner you do something to protect your rights, unless you have to wait for a lawyer mesothelioma cases for financial aid for you.
Our lawyers can help you do justice to have been negligently exposed to asbestos, achieving:
Determine what your legal options
Complete the necessary paperwork on your behalf
Conduct research to support your claim
Represent you in court
Speak with one of our attorneys mesothelioma cases free at 1-888-363-6363. Legal aid quality you can afford.
You can not afford to pay upfront legal fees does not mean you can not hire an experienced attorney. Our attorneys work with a contingency basis, which means that they charge a percentage of the compensation they get to you. If you do not get any compensation, you pay nothing at all.
Get the legal help you need, no matter what your budget. Call now to contact an attorney with experience in mesothelioma cases. 1-888-363-6363The Defenders.
Asbestos and Mesothelioma Lawyers
The attorneys in cases related to the use of asbestos and its terrible consequences such as mesothelioma. In the case of being diagnosed with cancer or mesothelioma related by asbestos exposure, lawyers can help you sue and take legal action against the culprits.
What is asbestos?
Asbestos is the name given to a group of fibrous minerals with high strength at high temperatures and in many types of chemicals. Thanks to these properties, this type of fiber has been used to produce a variety of construction products such as floor tiles, roof tiles resistant, cement products, wall and have also been used in other production areas as the manufacture of automobile parts specific manufacturing or resistant fabrics.
Most people know the danger posed by the use of asbestos and increases the chances of contracting asbestos or mesothelioma. Unfortunately, the information related to this type of product is not very common on the Internet. Asbestos is a mineral with fireproof properties that people have used for various purposes for hundreds of years, an example of this is the origin of the word asbestos, which in ancient Greek, meaning inextinguishable. One of the features that have made asbestos as popular material has been the great strength and durability of this, but the side effects and dangers do not outweigh the benefits, so long term asbestos will disappear from our lives. In the event you have any symptoms related to asbestos or more in touch with a lawyer.
Asbestos and Mesothelioma LawyersWhen choosing a lawyer asbestos or mesothelioma for representation before the courts, it is very important to find one renowned for getting financial compensation and pay for medical expenses and suffering caused by the disease. According to the lawyer of your choice, the compensation to be received by the lawsuit can be much higher if the lawyer has great experience in this field of law related diseases.
What is asbestos?
Asbestos is the name given to a group of fibrous minerals with high strength at high temperatures and in many types of chemicals. Thanks to these properties, this type of fiber has been used to produce a variety of construction products such as floor tiles, roof tiles resistant, cement products, wall and have also been used in other production areas as the manufacture of automobile parts specific manufacturing or resistant fabrics.
Most people know the danger posed by the use of asbestos and increases the chances of contracting asbestos or mesothelioma. Unfortunately, the information related to this type of product is not very common on the Internet. Asbestos is a mineral with fireproof properties that people have used for various purposes for hundreds of years, an example of this is the origin of the word asbestos, which in ancient Greek, meaning inextinguishable. One of the features that have made asbestos as popular material has been the great strength and durability of this, but the side effects and dangers do not outweigh the benefits, so long term asbestos will disappear from our lives. In the event you have any symptoms related to asbestos or more in touch with a lawyer.
Asbestos and Mesothelioma LawyersWhen choosing a lawyer asbestos or mesothelioma for representation before the courts, it is very important to find one renowned for getting financial compensation and pay for medical expenses and suffering caused by the disease. According to the lawyer of your choice, the compensation to be received by the lawsuit can be much higher if the lawyer has great experience in this field of law related diseases.
Mesothelioma Lawyer
Why choose us? Our results of cases include:
Victim of mesothelioma (asbestos): $ 36,688,496.00
Victim of mesothelioma (asbestos): $ 2,800,000.00
Victim of mesothelioma (asbestos): $ 2,535,000.00
Victim of mesothelioma (asbestos): $ 1,600,000.00
Were you exposed to asbestos at work?
If you are suffering from malignant mesothelioma, that may be due to their exposure to the substance during work. The term "asbestos" refers to a set of six different minerals that have been mined in industries such as factories, shipyards, power plants, oil refineries, steel manufacturing plants and more. Although asbestos contains a number of desirable properties, it has been shown that prolonged exposure can lead to serious health risks, including malignant mesothelioma. In fact, asbestos is so dangerous that even high exposure may lead to complications. For this reason, you should not hesitate to discuss your legal options with an experienced personal injury attorney Orange County, if you or someone you love was exposed to asbestos.
Some occupations affected include, for example:
Mechanics
Building inspectors
Carpenters
Electricians
Factory workers
Herreros
Dockers
Painters
Plumbers
Roofers
Railway workers
Drywall Installers
Symptoms of Mesothelioma Caused by Asbestos Exposure
Malignant mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that attacks the lining of the lungs and abdomen. The symptoms of this disease may resemble viral pneumonia, as one can experience shortness of breath, chest pain and persistent cough. Other patients may not experience any symptoms at all, so you should not hesitate to undergo a medical examination if you think you may have been exposed to asbestos in the workplace . Even if your symptoms seem mild (p. Eg., Loss of appetite, shortness of breath, stomach pain or tiredness), should not overlook the possibility that something might be wrong. In most cases, it may take several years for mesothelioma to develop in the body, but early detection can significantly reduce the impact of the disease.
Contact Cohn & Swartzon, PC
If he was diagnosed with mesothelioma after being exposed to asbestos in the workplace, it is imperative to act quickly to discuss your case with an experienced personal injury Orange County Cohn & Swartzon, PC attorney; and you may be entitled to receive damages. With the help of our firm, you can seek rightful compensation for damages suffered. If you are concerned about the cost of hiring a lawyer, should not! Cohn & Swartzon, PC takes cases under a contingency fee, which means you pay nothing out of pocket. In fact, you pay nothing unless our firm succeed in getting compensation on your behalf. For this reason, it has nothing to lose by taking the first step today.
Victim of mesothelioma (asbestos): $ 36,688,496.00
Victim of mesothelioma (asbestos): $ 2,800,000.00
Victim of mesothelioma (asbestos): $ 2,535,000.00
Victim of mesothelioma (asbestos): $ 1,600,000.00
Were you exposed to asbestos at work?
If you are suffering from malignant mesothelioma, that may be due to their exposure to the substance during work. The term "asbestos" refers to a set of six different minerals that have been mined in industries such as factories, shipyards, power plants, oil refineries, steel manufacturing plants and more. Although asbestos contains a number of desirable properties, it has been shown that prolonged exposure can lead to serious health risks, including malignant mesothelioma. In fact, asbestos is so dangerous that even high exposure may lead to complications. For this reason, you should not hesitate to discuss your legal options with an experienced personal injury attorney Orange County, if you or someone you love was exposed to asbestos.
Some occupations affected include, for example:
Mechanics
Building inspectors
Carpenters
Electricians
Factory workers
Herreros
Dockers
Painters
Plumbers
Roofers
Railway workers
Drywall Installers
Symptoms of Mesothelioma Caused by Asbestos Exposure
Malignant mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that attacks the lining of the lungs and abdomen. The symptoms of this disease may resemble viral pneumonia, as one can experience shortness of breath, chest pain and persistent cough. Other patients may not experience any symptoms at all, so you should not hesitate to undergo a medical examination if you think you may have been exposed to asbestos in the workplace . Even if your symptoms seem mild (p. Eg., Loss of appetite, shortness of breath, stomach pain or tiredness), should not overlook the possibility that something might be wrong. In most cases, it may take several years for mesothelioma to develop in the body, but early detection can significantly reduce the impact of the disease.
Contact Cohn & Swartzon, PC
If he was diagnosed with mesothelioma after being exposed to asbestos in the workplace, it is imperative to act quickly to discuss your case with an experienced personal injury Orange County Cohn & Swartzon, PC attorney; and you may be entitled to receive damages. With the help of our firm, you can seek rightful compensation for damages suffered. If you are concerned about the cost of hiring a lawyer, should not! Cohn & Swartzon, PC takes cases under a contingency fee, which means you pay nothing out of pocket. In fact, you pay nothing unless our firm succeed in getting compensation on your behalf. For this reason, it has nothing to lose by taking the first step today.
Saturday 3 January 2015
Types of Mesothelioma
Types of Mesothelioma
There are four different types of mesothelioma, the most common are those that affect the lining of the lungs and abdominal cavity. Mesothelioma each type indicates the body part where the disease originates. In addition, doctors examined the cellular characteristics of the affected with mesothelioma tumor to learn important features of the disease. This allows doctors to determine what kind of history has cancer, it is important to determine the treatment to be applied.
When mesothelioma cancer begins to develop, the tumors form in the cortex of the mesothelium lining the lungs, abdomen, heart and testes. These types of mesothelioma are known as pleural, peritoneal, pericardial, and testicular. While most tumors are malignant, there are some benign tumors, these are called benign mesothelioma.
The percentages of cases of mesothelioma are presented in the following graph.
Pleural Mesothelioma75%Pericardial Mesothelioma1%Testicular Mesothelioma<1%Peritoneal Mesothelioma10-20%
Pleural mesothelioma
Pleural mesothelioma develops in the mesothelium lining the lungs, also known as the pleura.Approximately 75% of cases of mesothelioma are pleural type. Although the symptoms can vary, the most common for this type of cancer are:
Symptoms Pleural Mesothelioma Associates
Short Breath
Shortness of breath
Dry Cough and Continuing
Persistent Chest Pain
Night Fever and Sudado
Fatigue
Treatment for cancer of the pleura mesothelioma varies depending on the stage at which the cancer. When the disease is detected in its early stages, curative surgery may be a viable option for patients. Most treatments are palliative and try to reduce symptoms and improve quality of life for patients.
Want to know more about pleural mesothelioma cancer?
Peritoneal Mesothelioma
Peritoneal mesothelioma cancer develops in the mesothelial lining of the abdomen known as the peritoneum. Approximately 20 percent of patients with this disease suffer from peritoneal type.
Peritoneal Mesothelioma Symptoms Associates
Abdominal Pain
Bloated Abdomen
Weight loss
Nausea / Vomiting
Constipation or diarrhea
Fatigue
Patients diagnosed with peritoneal mesothelioma may notice symptoms that result in thickening of the peritoneal membrane and fluid accumulation. The treatment of this cancer is quite complicated for their ability to metastasize very quickly.
Want to know more about peritoneal mesothelioma cancer?
Pericardial Mesothelioma
Pericardial mesothelioma develops in the lining of the heart, also known as the pericardium. This type of cancer is very rare and is accounting for 5% of all diagnosed cases. Symptoms develop when fluid buildup causes the edges of the pericardial membrane.
Pericardial Mesothelioma Symptoms Associates
Irregular heart palpitations
Chest pain
Shortness of breath
Cough
Night / fever sweating
Fatigue
Like other types of mesothelioma, pericardial mesothelioma is usually treated in terms palliative.Remove tumors with this type of cancer can be very risky for its proximity to the heart.
Want to know more about cancer pericardial mesothelioma?
Testicular Mesothelioma
Testicular mesothelioma affects the lining of the testicles. Less than 1% of mesothelioma cases are of this type, and most patients are diagnosed while receiving treatment or surgery for another condition. Because of the rarity of the disease, medical studies have failed to find a list of symptoms associated with the disease. The basic indicators that a patient has testicular mesothelioma are lumps in the testicular area and pain in the scrotum. Typically, this type of mesothelioma is not diagnosed until the point where the packages have been developed.
Patients with testicular mesothelioma may undergo surgery to remove all or part of the affected testicle. Adjuvant therapies are recommended also in this case the patient will also receive chemotherapy or radiation therapy to remove the remaining cells.
Mesothelioma Cell Types
One way in which experts mesothelioma can describe more fully the disease is examining the tumor type and structure of their cells. While it is more common for doctors classify this cancer based on its location in the body, there are several subtypes of pleural mesothelioma, peritoneal, pericardial and testicular.
Studies of cellular anatomy, also known as histology, researchers have been able to identify characteristics of cells present in a tumor affected by mesothelioma and determine what belongs mesothelioma subtype. With this information, you can predict a little better progression of the disease in the patient, life expectancy and likely to respond to treatments applied.
There are a lot of types of mesothelioma at the cellular level, but the three most common are epithelial, sarcomatoid and biphasic.
Epithelial Mesothelioma
Is accounting for between 50 and 70% of all cases the epithelial mesothelioma is the most common cancers in the present search. Compared to other types of cell, it responds best to treatment and consequently offers the greatest prognosis.
Sarcomatoid mesothelioma
It is less common types within this category mesothelioma affecting between 10 and 20% of patients. This type of cancer is very aggressive and life expectancy is rather short. The most recent study was conducted showed that on average, a patient afflicted with this type of cancer has an average life of three months.
Biphasic mesothelioma
It is a combination of epithelial mesothelioma and sarcomatoid, biphasic mesothelioma cancer affects between 20 and 35% of patients. By the fact that the proportion of epithelial cells biphasic cells can vary significantly, the distribution of cells influence life expectancy of the patient. Many epithelial cells represents a very favorable life prognosis.
Malignant mesothelioma vs. Benign mesothelioma
Most tumors are malignant, meaning that the disease is carcinogenic and has the ability to spread to other parts of the body. However, not all tumors are malignant. Some of mesothelioma tumors are benign and not cancerous. These tumors are characterized by growing slowly and not metastasize to distant organs.
Benign mesothelioma usually develops in the peritoneum of patients without any history of asbestos exposure. While most patients are young and middle-aged women have been diagnosed cases of benign mesothelioma in adult men. Most patients do not have any symptoms, however, complications can arise if a tumor grows too. 20 percent of patients with benign mesothelioma tumors larger than 7 inches can have bone pain and joint pain, low blood sugar and seizures.
Pleural Mesothelioma
The best treatment option for you depends on many factors, including your age, overall health, stage of cancer, cell type (which determines the aggressiveness of the cancer) and most importantly, your personal desires. To help you evaluate these options will have a "multidisciplinary team (MDT) of physicians who will discuss your case and offer the best treatment option. The members of this team may include a cardiothoracic surgeon, a medical oncologist, radiation oncologist, specialist in pain management and palliative care specialist. The nurses and other health workers could also participate in treatment.
Conventional treatment of mesothelioma offers several options, and you should widely discuss each one with its EMD before making a treatment decision. Be sure to inquire about risk factors, prognosis, treatment, possible side effects and quality of life offered by each of the options.
Surgery
There are two surgical methods for mesothelioma, pleurectomy / decortication (P / D) and extrapleural pneumonectomy (NEP). These are extremely specialized surgeries and it may not all centers offering them. Not all thoracic surgeons have experience in these types of surgeries. The ultimate goal of these procedures is to remove most of the mesothelioma, with the certainty that will Microscopic traces of the disease. Adjuvant therapy, which uses additional forms of treatment along with the main therapy usually aims to eliminate residual disease. The most common forms of adjuvant therapy is chemotherapy and / or radiotherapy.
Pleurectomy / decortication is considered the least radical of the two methods just because it involves removal of the pleura (lining of the lung) without resecting the underlying lung. In some cases, it may be removed pericardium and diaphragm, depending on the extent of the tumor. The advantages of this procedure are usually a shorter recovery time and usefulness in patients who can not tolerate the NEP. Disadvantages include increased risk of disease recurrence by the inability to remove all the cancerous tumor and the impossibility of using adjuvant high-dose radiation by the potential risk to the underlying lung.
The extrapleural pneumonectomy is a more radical procedure that involves removing the lung, pleura (the lining of the lung), the pericardium surrounding the heart and part of the diaphragm. During surgery, the pericardium and diaphragm are reconstructed similar to Gortex material. Patients may be candidates for this surgery only if they meet certain criteria stages of cancer development and show appropriate to tolerate the procedure lung and heart function.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy involves the use of anticancer drugs that prevent the multiplication of cancer cells. In most cases, combinations of drugs are used to increase efficiency. Chemotherapy can be used aggressively to retract the tumor or palliation to relieve symptoms such as dyspnea or pain. The administration of chemotherapy may be by intravenous or intramuscular injection, oral medication or sometimes, may be administered directly into the pleural or peritoneal cavity. Some of the drugs used most often include:
Pemetrexed (Alimta)
Cisplatin (Platinol)
Carboplatin (Paraplatin)
Gemcitabine (Gemzar)
Doxorubicin (Adriamycin)
Mitomycin
Raltitrexed (Tomudex)
Vinorelbine (Navelbine)
Pharmaceutical companies are constantly researching new drugs, so you can always ask your doctor about the most promising new drugs. One such drug, Alimta (pemetrexed) was approved in Europe in September 2005.
Radiotherapy
Radiation therapy involves using high energy X-rays to kill cancer cells and tumors retract. You can aggressively used along with surgery to help eliminate microscopic metastases that can cause disease recurrence or palliation to treat pain caused by tumors pressing nerve endings or other body. Radiation therapy has also proven effective in preventing the spread of tumor biopsies areas or chest tube drainage.
Clinical Studies
The purpose of the trials is to involve patients in finding new and better treatments for their illnesses. Several clinical studies have different objectives, which may include the study of new drugs, comparing several ways to treat a disease or the study of various techniques for preventing cancer. Clinical studies are divided into three phases. Here, we show brief summaries of the objective of each phase of the trial.
The clinical phase I studies are the first phase of clinical trial system. In this phase, the drugs have only tested in the laboratory, but had an effect on the destruction of cancer cells. These trials enrolled only a limited number of participants and are only made in limited centers specializing in the study of cancer. The objective of Phase I trials is to find the maximum tolerated dose of the drug does not cause significant side effects, know the most common side effects and whether the drug continues to exhibit anticancer activity when administered to humans. If it is shown that the drug has an effect on cancer using a safe dose, then the drug passes examined in phase II clinical trials.
The phase II clinical trials continue to study the safety of drugs or procedures, but also begin to more closely study its effectiveness in specific cancers. These trials enroll a larger number of participants and can be performed in most centers. These trials may be "randomized", meaning that a computer, not a doctor, selects different groups of participants.
The Phase III clinical trials comparing new drugs or procedures with the current standard treatment. In these trials large numbers of participants from many areas register and receive the new treatment or standard treatment. One of the first objectives of Phase III trials is to determine if the drugs have reduced or slowed the cancer, how long they stay stable patients without disease progression and drug treatment and affects the quality of life of patients.
If you are interested (a) to participate in a clinical study on mesothelioma, your doctor should be able to provide information about eligibility and availability in your area.
Conventional treatment of mesothelioma offers several options, and you should widely discuss each one with its EMD before making a treatment decision. Be sure to inquire about risk factors, prognosis, treatment, possible side effects and quality of life offered by each of the options.
Surgery
There are two surgical methods for mesothelioma, pleurectomy / decortication (P / D) and extrapleural pneumonectomy (NEP). These are extremely specialized surgeries and it may not all centers offering them. Not all thoracic surgeons have experience in these types of surgeries. The ultimate goal of these procedures is to remove most of the mesothelioma, with the certainty that will Microscopic traces of the disease. Adjuvant therapy, which uses additional forms of treatment along with the main therapy usually aims to eliminate residual disease. The most common forms of adjuvant therapy is chemotherapy and / or radiotherapy.
Pleurectomy / decortication is considered the least radical of the two methods just because it involves removal of the pleura (lining of the lung) without resecting the underlying lung. In some cases, it may be removed pericardium and diaphragm, depending on the extent of the tumor. The advantages of this procedure are usually a shorter recovery time and usefulness in patients who can not tolerate the NEP. Disadvantages include increased risk of disease recurrence by the inability to remove all the cancerous tumor and the impossibility of using adjuvant high-dose radiation by the potential risk to the underlying lung.
The extrapleural pneumonectomy is a more radical procedure that involves removing the lung, pleura (the lining of the lung), the pericardium surrounding the heart and part of the diaphragm. During surgery, the pericardium and diaphragm are reconstructed similar to Gortex material. Patients may be candidates for this surgery only if they meet certain criteria stages of cancer development and show appropriate to tolerate the procedure lung and heart function.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy involves the use of anticancer drugs that prevent the multiplication of cancer cells. In most cases, combinations of drugs are used to increase efficiency. Chemotherapy can be used aggressively to retract the tumor or palliation to relieve symptoms such as dyspnea or pain. The administration of chemotherapy may be by intravenous or intramuscular injection, oral medication or sometimes, may be administered directly into the pleural or peritoneal cavity. Some of the drugs used most often include:
Pemetrexed (Alimta)
Cisplatin (Platinol)
Carboplatin (Paraplatin)
Gemcitabine (Gemzar)
Doxorubicin (Adriamycin)
Mitomycin
Raltitrexed (Tomudex)
Vinorelbine (Navelbine)
Pharmaceutical companies are constantly researching new drugs, so you can always ask your doctor about the most promising new drugs. One such drug, Alimta (pemetrexed) was approved in Europe in September 2005.
Radiotherapy
Radiation therapy involves using high energy X-rays to kill cancer cells and tumors retract. You can aggressively used along with surgery to help eliminate microscopic metastases that can cause disease recurrence or palliation to treat pain caused by tumors pressing nerve endings or other body. Radiation therapy has also proven effective in preventing the spread of tumor biopsies areas or chest tube drainage.
Clinical Studies
The purpose of the trials is to involve patients in finding new and better treatments for their illnesses. Several clinical studies have different objectives, which may include the study of new drugs, comparing several ways to treat a disease or the study of various techniques for preventing cancer. Clinical studies are divided into three phases. Here, we show brief summaries of the objective of each phase of the trial.
The clinical phase I studies are the first phase of clinical trial system. In this phase, the drugs have only tested in the laboratory, but had an effect on the destruction of cancer cells. These trials enrolled only a limited number of participants and are only made in limited centers specializing in the study of cancer. The objective of Phase I trials is to find the maximum tolerated dose of the drug does not cause significant side effects, know the most common side effects and whether the drug continues to exhibit anticancer activity when administered to humans. If it is shown that the drug has an effect on cancer using a safe dose, then the drug passes examined in phase II clinical trials.
The phase II clinical trials continue to study the safety of drugs or procedures, but also begin to more closely study its effectiveness in specific cancers. These trials enroll a larger number of participants and can be performed in most centers. These trials may be "randomized", meaning that a computer, not a doctor, selects different groups of participants.
The Phase III clinical trials comparing new drugs or procedures with the current standard treatment. In these trials large numbers of participants from many areas register and receive the new treatment or standard treatment. One of the first objectives of Phase III trials is to determine if the drugs have reduced or slowed the cancer, how long they stay stable patients without disease progression and drug treatment and affects the quality of life of patients.
If you are interested (a) to participate in a clinical study on mesothelioma, your doctor should be able to provide information about eligibility and availability in your area.
Pleural Mesothelioma
Pleural mesothelioma is one of the four types of mesothelioma and accounts for 75 percent of the diagnoses of diseases related to asbestos exposure. The disease develops in the pleura, the protective lining of the lungs that can be attributed directly to a strong or consistent occupational exposure or inhalation of asbestos fibers.
Once these fibers are inhaled, they migrate directly into the pleural membrane, where they lodge.The body of the person exposed to asbestos have difficulty disposing of the needle-like fibers. Over the years, the fibers are staying irritating the pleural and as a result this causes chronic irritation and scarring in some cases can cause pleural mesothelioma. For this type of cancer, asbestos penetrates directly into the pleural cells. If these cells are cancerous, they multiply uncontrollably and form tumors.
The life expectancy of a patient suffering from this disease is between 4-18 months and 80 percent of people who get pleural mesothelioma are male seniors who have had exposure to asbestos at work, and with a certain period of time when the disease soon appeared. The first symptoms presented by a patient is coughing and shortness of breath. This is mainly caused by reduced lung capacity and fluid retention on the sides of the pleura.
Anatomy and Function of the Pleura
Pleura coating comprises two layers provide protection and support to the lungs or other vital structures such as the breast. Additionally it produces lubricating fluid for the cavity between the two layers so they can help the expansion and contraction of the lungs when we breathe. The outer layer is the parietal pleura lining the chest cavity and while the inner layer also known as visceral layer covers the lungs.
It is extraordinary that the two layers of the pleura are affected by cancer. Generally pleural mesothelioma develops in a layer of the pleura and quickly invade nearby destinations such as the diaphragm, the look of the breast or lung. If the cancer reaches the lymph nodes, can reach metastasize or spread to different parts of the body.
Symptoms Pleural Mesothelioma Associates
Someone who has been affected by pleural mesothelioma may have one or more symptoms related to the presence of tumors or thickening of the pleural membrane. Unfortunately, most of the symptoms associated with the disease do not appear until the cancer in its final stages - stage III or IV. The thickening can cause pleural effusion, this is an accumulation of fluid in the space between the layers of the pleura. This fluid puts pressure on the lungs and results in chest pain and disability to breathe naturally. These complications occur due to a number of factors including:
Continuous and dry cough
Cough with bleeding (hemoptysis)
Shortness of breath
Pain in the rib area or lower back
Painful breathing
Development lumps under the skin in the chest area
Shortness of breath
Night sweating or fever
Unexplained weight loss
Fatigue
During the first consultation with a doctor, more than 60 percent of patients with pleural mesothelioma pain in the chest and has a fairly short breath. Weight loss and fatigue are not among the most common symptoms and the time in which they appear means that the disease is in its final stages. Less than 30 percent of patients with pleural mesothelioma report these symptoms before being diagnosed.
Learn more about symptoms associated with pleural mesothelioma
Diagnosis of Pleural Mesothelioma
Like many other diseases, cancer, pleural mesothelioma can be difficult to diagnose . Symptoms come to light long after the first exhibition took place. Additionally, by the fact that many other respiratory conditions cause similar symptoms, pleural mesothelioma can be confused with a much less severe disease like influenza or pneumonia. All this comes together it is quite difficult for experts to define the difference between this cancer and adenocarcinoma, a common type of lung cancer.
Scan diagnostics
The X-ray or CT scan are commonly used to diagnose pleural mesothelioma.
A diagnosis of pleural mesothelioma can be made based on the patient's symptoms, additionally this can be confirmed by tests to diagnose the presence of cancer. To ensure the best option to treat the patient and their health in general, a diagnosis at an early stage is crucial. After a medical and occupational history together with physical examinations, patients undergo scanning tests to determine cancerous tumors. An X-ray examination may reveal pleural effusion and in some cases the presence of staying in the pleura masses, however, a CT scan provides the doctor with the image normally reveal exposure to asbestos.
With the introduction of PET scan in the 60s, doctors can have the facility to distinguish between benign cancer and malignant mesothelioma. Additionally, a PET scan can detect signs that a mesothelioma tumor is spreading to the lymph nodes, which the CT scan can not detect, which can be very beneficial to determine the status of the disease. A combination quite promising, known as PET-CT scanning, emerged in 2000 and many of the experts in the field say that this technique help predict more clearly if the patient will react in a better way to chemotherapy or PET and CT scan applied separately. However, many studies have to be carried out to make this something official.
Smears and biopsies
The cytologies and biopsies help diagnose mesothelioma more accurately.
While technological advances in scanning process has contributed to a more accurate diagnosis, a little more invasive procedures should be doing to make an official diagnosis of mesothelioma. One such process is the thoracentesis in which a needle is inserted in the lungs to collect the pleural fluid.Making to inspect cytology cell samples, doctors look for biomarkers indicating presence of a cancer, examples of such markers are the epithelial membrane antigen, calretinin and WT1. Specialized doctors can make a cytology to diagnose mesothelioma cancer in 80% of cases are successful.
Sometimes the results are inconclusive or simply no presence of pleural fluid. In these cases doctors prefer to biopsy tissue from the pleura. Color dyes are added to the sample in order to help doctors visualize cellular structures. A type of biopsy is often used aspiration of thyroid fine needle although many other doctors have applied thoracoscopy and have received much more favorable results. A thoracoscopic biopsy produces a result that in 98 percent of patients. Current golden rule when diagnosing pleural mesothelioma, you have to take a test cell taken within an electron microscope. If the number of examinations and biopsies can confirm the presence of mesothelioma, doctors can start working on a plan based on results.
Treatment of pleural mesothelioma
Historically, doctors have sought pleural mesothelioma cancer with surgery, chemotherapy or radiation therapy. Depending on how advanced the disease in the patient, these treatments can be curative or palliative. While not many patients are diagnosed early enough to be treated with curative surgery, many palliative treatments exist that can relieve a lot of symptoms, improve quality of life and significantly increase life expectancy. There is research that are evaluating a variety of alternative treatments such as immunotherapy and gene therapy, which may become a common treatment for mesothelioma patients once they are perfected.
Surgery
The surgery remains a primary treatment for patients with pleural mesothelioma. One of the most common procedures is pleurectomy / decortication, where the goal of the operation is to remove the tumor affecting the pleura. A more aggressive treatment is the extra-pleural pneumonectomy, this is safely remove the entire lung, the diaphragm and the pericardium.Only a small fraction of patients have a proper function of your lungs to qualify for treatment as aggressive as this.
Chemotherapy
One of the most common is the palliative therapieschemotherapy in which the use of one or more drugs infected try to eliminate cancer cells and shrink tumors. While a recent study has shown that patients respond better to chemotherapy, the results have been unfavorable. Only 15 to 20 percent of patients with mesothelioma notice a significant reduction of the tumor after the therapy is applied.
However, many clinical studies combine chemotherapy treatment that has shown considerable potential. A multi-center Phase 3 study found that a combination of pemetrexed and cisplatin prolongs median survival 2.8 months compared a single therapy in which only cisplatin is one. 41 percent of patients who were treated with pemetrexed and cisplatin regimen experienced tumor shrinkage of at least 50 percent. While the combination of drugs used for chemotherapy pleura mesothelioma cure has yet been found, this is the main objective of countless researchers involved in clinical trials.
Radiation therapy
Pleural mesothelioma usually resists radiation therapy . In this treatment, doctors give a local radiation to kill cancer cells and shrink the tumor. Although it is a very poor to cure the patient this may be effective for managing symptoms such as chest pain option. One of the most successful techniques of radiation therapy is intensity modulated. It is usually applied to patients at intervals of low doses after radical surgery such as extra pleural pneumonectomy, this technique prevents recurrence of cancer in many cases. While it is effective in preventing the cancer from returning to areas where radiation was applied, is even spreading of the tumor is something that is unresolved.
Multimodal therapy
Currently, there is no universally accepted treatment to treat pleural mesothelioma, most experts can agree that life expectancy can be improved if a combined treatment is applied. This is known as a multimodal therapy and researchers are constantly experimenting with surgery, chemotherapy and radiation to discover the most efficient combination. In one example of multimodal therapy applied to patients with pleural mesothelioma, doctors applied extra-pleural pneumonectomy first. Radiation therapy is then administered to reduce the risk of the cancer coming back in the place where the radiation was applied and that this does not spread from areas near the affected organ, chemotherapy is applied.a
whats is Mesothelioma?
Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that affects the lining of the lungs and chest cavity (pleura), the abdomen (peritoneum) or the sac that contains the heart (pericardium). It is a serious disease, whose symptoms usually occur when it is at an advanced stage.
Most people who become ill with mesothelioma have had some exposure to asbestos, often in the workplace (although sometimes exposed through family or environmental exposure)
Symptoms usually appear 20-50 years after exposure. This long latency period means that when the disease is detected, usually already be in advanced stages, increasing the difficulty of treatment.
AyudaMEsotelioma, AC was created to disseminate information about mesothelioma, so that helps the patient and family to take másacertadas decisions to face its challenges, quickly.
Most people who become ill with mesothelioma have had some exposure to asbestos, often in the workplace (although sometimes exposed through family or environmental exposure)
Symptoms usually appear 20-50 years after exposure. This long latency period means that when the disease is detected, usually already be in advanced stages, increasing the difficulty of treatment.
AyudaMEsotelioma, AC was created to disseminate information about mesothelioma, so that helps the patient and family to take másacertadas decisions to face its challenges, quickly.
Causes of Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma is a tumor derived from mesothelial cells of the pleura, peritoneum, pericardium and tunica albuginea of the testis . The mesothelium is a membrane that covers all our cavities inside.
The pleura is the most frequent (80%), affecting the pleura diffusely. The pleura is the membrane that covers the rib cage and the surface of the lungs.
It is a rare tumor. It occurs between the 5th and 7th decade of life because of previous occupational exposure toasbestos or asbestos (a mineral) in youth. The incidence is highest in Australia, Belgium and Britain (with 20 cases per million inhabitants); in Spain, the incidence is less than 22 cases per million, and mesothelioma accounts for 0.3% of all cancer deaths. The incidence is higher in men than in women.
The median survival of those affected by malignant mesothelioma is between six and 18 months.
Causes of Mesothelioma
The trade-name of a mineral asbestos formed by silica, magnesium oxide ferroso- lime and is the leading cause of mesothelioma, having proven carcinogenic potential in animals. In humans it has been shown that the risk is proportional to the exposure to it, with miners and workers in the naval industry, construction, textile and plumbers , the groups most at risk. In fact it is estimated that up to 10% of workers at risk develop mesothelioma, and 80% of mesothelioma cases have a history of asbestos exposure, whose use in construction began limiting decades and has been banned in many developed countries (in Spain in 2001), but is still present in many of the buildings around us. Currently, there are several lawsuits and associations of victims claiming compensation for those affected by their use.
The latency period (time between exposure and onset of disease) can be between 14 and 75 years, and other factors that may influence are the exposure time, intensity and environmental exposure, and there are even cases of familial mesothelioma .
Other causes of mesothelioma are ionizing radiation (increased incidence in patients previously treated with radiation therapy) or SV40 virus present between 60 and 86% of samples of mesothelioma (although no conclusive results can be drawn in the studies).
Malignant mesothelioma
Malignant mesothelioma is a disease in which malignant (cancer) cells in the lining of the chest or abdomen are formed.
The malignant mesothelioma is a disease in which there are cells malignant ( cancerous ) in the pleura(the thin layer of tissue that lines the cavity thoracic and covers the lungs ) or the peritoneum (the thin layer of tissue that lines the abdominal and covers most of the organs of the abdomen). This summary is about malignant mesothelioma of the pleura.
EnlargeAnatomy of the respiratory system, showing the trachea and both lungs and their lobes and airways. Lymph nodes and the diaphragm are also shown. Oxygen is inhaled into the lungs and passes through the thin membranes of the alveoli into the bloodstream (see box).
Exposure to asbestos can affect the risk of malignant mesothelioma.
Anything that increases the risk of getting a disease is called a risk factor . Having a risk factor does not mean that you will get cancer; not having risk factors does not mean that you will not get cancer.Talk to your doctor if you think you may be at risk.
Many people with malignant mesothelioma have worked or lived in places where they inhaled or ingested asbestos . After exposure to asbestos, it usually takes a long time until a malignant mesothelioma is formed. Other risk factors for malignant mesothelioma include:
Living with a person who works near asbestos.
Be exposed to a virus .
Possible signs of malignant mesothelioma include shortness of breath and pain under the rib cage included.
Sometimes the cancer causes fluid to collect around the lung or abdomen. These symptoms may be caused by the fluid or malignant mesothelioma. Other conditions may cause the same symptoms.Check with your doctor if any of the following symptoms:
Shortness of breath.
Pain under the rib cage.
Abdominal pain or swelling thereof.
Nodes in the abdomen.
Weight loss for no known reason.
To detect (find) and diagnose malignant mesothelioma Tests that examine the inside of the chest and abdomen are used.
In some cases it is difficult to differentiate between malignant mesothelioma and lung cancer . You can use the following tests and procedures:
Physical exam and history : An exam of the body to check for signs general health, including checking for signs of disease, such as lumps or anything else that seems unusual. It also takes the history of health habits, exposure to asbestos, disease and previous treatment of the patient.
Chest x-ray : X-ray of the organs and bones inside the chest. An x-ray is a type of energy beam that can go through the body and onto film, making a picture of areas inside the body.EnlargeChest x-ray. X-rays are used to make pictures of organs and bones of the chest.X-rays pass through the body and onto film.
CT scan (CAT scan) : A procedure that makes a series of detailed pictures of the chest and abdomen from different angles. The pictures are made by a computer linked to an x-ray machine was created injected one dye into a vein or swallowed to help the organs or tissues show up more clearly. This procedure is also called computed tomography, computerized tomography, or computerized axial tomography
Biopsy : The removal of cells or tissues from the pleura or peritoneum by a pathologist to observe the microscope and check for signs of cancer.The procedures used to collect cells or tissues are:Biopsy fine needle aspiration (FNA) of the lung : The removal of tissue or fluid using a thin needle. Used one imaging procedure to locate the tissue or fluid abnormal lung. You can make a small incision in the skin where the biopsy needle into the abnormal tissue or fluid is introduced and a sample is extracted.EnlargeLung biopsy fine needle aspiration. The patient is lying on a table that slides through the CT machine (TC), which takes pictures of the inside of the body.X-rays help the doctor see where the abnormal tissue in the lung. A biopsy needle is inserted through the chest wall to the area of abnormal lung tissue. A small piece of tissue is removed through the needle and observed under a microscope to check for signs of cancer.Thoracoscopy : A procedure in which an incision (cut) is made between two ribs and introduced thoracoscope (a thin, tube-like instrument with a light and a lens for viewing) in the chest.Thoracotomy : incision (cut) is made between two ribs to look inside the chest and check for signs of disease.Peritoneoscopy : A procedure in which an incision (cut) in the wall is abdominal and peritoneoscope (a thin, tube-like instrument with a light and a lens for viewing) is inserted into the abdomen.Laparotomy : A procedure in which an incision (cut) in the wall of the abdomen to check for signs of disease within the abdomen.Open biopsy : a procedure in which an incision (cut) in the skin to expose and remove tissues to examine and check for signs of disease becomes.
Review cytology : examination of cells under a microscope by a pathologist performed to check for anything abnormal. For mesothelioma, fluid is taken from around the lungs or abdomen. The pathologist looks at the cells of the liquid.
Certain factors affect prognosis (chance of recovery) and treatment options.
The prognosis (chance of recovery ) and treatment options depend on the following:
The stage of the cancer.
The 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 of the patient, including the health of the lungs and heart.
The type of mesothelioma cancer cells and their appearance under the microscope.
If the cancer has just been diagnosed or has recurred (come back).
Mesothelioma
INTRODUCTION
Mesothelioma is a very rare type of cancer in which cancer cells invade the mesothelium, the protective covering that covers most of the internal organs.
The mesothelium is composed of two layers of cells: one layer is in contact with the body, while the latter forms a pocket around. The mesothelium produces a lubricating fluid that allows both layers one above the other movements allowing covering bodies (eg, the lungs) slide . Depending on your location, the mesothelium given a particular name: the one surrounding the lungs is called pleura, which surrounds the heart called the pericardium, which surrounds the testicles is called the tunica vaginalis testis and surrounding the uterus is called uterine tunica. Most of the abdominal organs are covered by peritoneum
Pleural mesothelioma
Pleural mesothelioma is the most common, with an incidence 9 times higher than the peritoneal mesothelioma. It is more common in men than in women, with the age of onset of symptoms between 50-70 years with a latency period of 20-40 years. In 80% of cases the cause is exposure to asbestos dust. Other possible causes of mesothelioma are radiation therapy and polio vaccines contaminated with simian virus SV40. Pleural mesothelioma is approximately 3% of malignant neoplasms of the pleura, and when the diagnosis is made for the course is rapid and invariably fatal, usually during the next two years.
The most common clinical presentation is diffuse chest pain, which can occasionally be pleuritic or radiating to the shoulder accompanied by pleural effusions. Dyspnea, cough, weakness, malaise and fatigue usually appear in later stages of the disease. In 89% of cases, abnormal electrocardiogram being the most frequent abnormalities sinus tachycardia (42%), ventricular arrhythmias or headphones (17%) and a branch block bundle (30%)
The most common radiographic finding is an irregular opacity in the lung periphery, associated with ipsilateral pleural effusion with evidence of loss of volume contraction committed hemithorax and no mediastinal shift to the opposite side, despite significant pleural effusions ( * ) The diagnosis should be suspected when pleural thickening surrounding the lung trapping and fixing the mediastinum is.
From the histological point of view, the mesoepitelioma is classified into 3 types:
Epithelioid covering 50% of cases and generally better prognosis and life expectancy;
sarcomatoid that occurs between 7 to 20% of cases;
mixed or biphasic occurs in 20 to 35% of the cases,
From the standpoint of the pathologist, mesothelioma metastatic adenocarcinoma differs in the following aspects:
PropertyMesotheliomaAdenocarcinomaGlycogen in cytoplasmabundantlittle bitStaining mucicarminenegativepositiveHyaluronic acid production20% is producednoCytokeratin 5/6, calretinin and thrombomodulinpositivenegativeCEA *negativepositive
* CEA: CEA
In 1976 Butchard proposed the following classification of the stages of mesoepitelioma:
• Stage I: tumor confined within the "capsule" of the parietal pleura (affecting only the ipsilateral lung, pericardial pleura and diaphragm)
• Stage II: tumor invading the chest, mediastinal lymph nodes or wall
• Stage III: penetrating the diaphragm affecting the peritoneum corresponding to the opposite pleura
• Stage IV: with blood dissemination and distant metastases
Other classifications frequently used in the clinic are the Sugarbaker, 1993 ( * )
DIAGNOSIS ( * )
The diagnosis of pleural mesothelioma is often difficult because the symptoms are similar to many other conditions. Diagnosis begins with a review of the medical history of the patient, followed by a complete physical examination, including a chest radiograph and pulmonary function studies. Computed tomography and resonance can be useful to determine the extent and location of the lesion.
To confirm the diagnosis biopsy can be done by thoracoscopy (requires * ) or, if this is not possible by conventional surgery. Once the doagnóstico confirmed, determine what stage is the disease with the purpose of making the best treatment
TREATMENT
Surgery.
3 types of surgery are used to treat mesoepitelioma. Diagnostic surgery to obtain a sample for biopsy is performed thoracoscopic ( *), or laparoscopic or open pleural mediatinoscopia surgery. Second, palliative surgery including partial pleurectomy with pleurodesis, thoracoscopy with pleurodesis and more rarely, pleuroperitoneal shunt. The third is curative surgery involving extrapleural pneumonectomy in order to remove most of the tumor. In most centers, this surgery is followed by adjuvant therapy. Not all patients are candidates for this procedure, which otherwise has a 6% mortality
Chemotherapy
Although there have been several chemotherapy regimens, none has proved to be curative. The two most useful (in the sense of reducing the tumor mass and improve symptoms) are pemetrexed + cisplatin + cistaplatino and gemcitabine. In both cases, we recommend adding dexamethasone and folic acid and vitamin B12
Radiotherapy
Radiotherapy has been used for many years with disappointing results due to the diffuse nature of the tumor as it may cause radiation pneumonitis. Just found some effectiveness when applied locally on the scar area after surgery remains preventing disseminated tumor cells
Other treatments under investigation include immunotherapy, gene therapy, photodynamic therapy and some antiangiogenic agents
REFERENCES
Yesner, R. Atlas of Lung Cancer. 1998. Lippincott. 291páginas
De Vita, V. Principles and Practice of Oncology (2005) Lippincott. 3120 pages + CD-ROM
F. Clifton Mountain, MD; Libshitz I. Herman, MD; and Kay E. Hermes. LUNG CANCER . A Handbook for Staging, Imaging, and Lymph Node Classification
Villalba Caloca J, R Martinez Crown. Frequency of malignant mesothelioma. Clinical review. Journal of the National Institute of Respiratory Diseases , (2003), Vol. 16 Issue 3, p150-158 (Ref.1)
Robinson BWS, Musk AW, Lake RA. Malignant mesothelioma. Lancet, (2005), Vol. 366 Issue 9483, p397-409 (ref 2)
British Thoracic Society Standards of Care Committee. Statement on malignant mesothelioma United Kingdom Thorax 2001; 56: 250-265 (ref.3)
Sterman DH, Albelda SM. Advances in the diagnosis, evaluation, and management of malignant pleural mesothelioma. Respirology,(2005) Vol 10 Issue 3, p266-82.;
Monograph revised on October 13, 2005. Drafting Team BSI
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