Treatment for Mesothelioma

Treatment For Mesothelioma

Do you want to know more about current treatment for mesothelioma? The following article presents why there is a need for mesothelioma cancer treatment, what mesothelioma is, and what the current treatment for mesothelioma is.

Why is Treatment for Mesothelioma needed?

According to the SEER program, 11 individuals for every million people in the US are diagnosed with mesothelioma each year. Of those diagnosed, only 8% survive the following five years.

Early detection and treatment for mesothelioma, however, can increase survival rates up to 70%. Mesothelioma has been found to be more common in men, Caucasian populations, and individuals over 65 years of age. According to the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), individuals in the boat construction and repair, the industrial and miscellaneous chemicals, the petroleum refining, and the electric light and power industries are most likely to be affected by mesothelioma.

It is vital that you seek treatment for mesothelioma if you think you or someone you know suffers from this cancer.

What is Mesothelioma?

Definition

Mesothelioma is a rare yet aggressive type of cancer that affects the mesothelium, the tissue that covers most of your internal organs. Mesothelioma is categorized according to the part of the mesothelium affected. Although mesothelioma most often affects the tissue surrounding the lungs (pleural malignant mesothelioma), it can also affect the tissue in the abdomen, and around the heart or testicles.

Symptoms

Mesothelioma can cause a variety of symptoms, depending upon where the cancer is located. Pleural mesothelioma (located in the lungs) causes chest pain, painful coughing, shortness of breath, unusual lumps on the chest, and unexplained weight loss. Peritoneal mesothelioma (located in the abdomen) causes abdominal pain and swelling, lumps of tissue in the abdomen, and unexplained weight loss. Because other forms of mesothelioma are rarer, not much information is known their accompanying symptoms.

Causes

Mesothelioma occurs when genetic mutations occur within a cell, causing it to develop and reproduce. Researchers have identified exposure to asbestos, a mineral found in the environment, to increase the risk of developing mesothelioma. Beyond exposure to asbestos, other risk factors increase the risk of mesothelioma, including polio vaccines containing SV40 (a virus originally found in monkeys), radiation, and a family history of mesothelioma.

Treatment for Mesothelioma

Treatment for mesothelioma varies according to the stage and location of the cancer, as well as the health of the individual. If the cancer is at an advanced stage, treatment for mesothelioma is often too late, and the mesothelioma doctors will attempt to control the cancer to make the individual more comfortable. Forms of treatment for mesothelioma include the following surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and combination therapy. Clinical trials are also on the search of treatment for mesothelioma, and often offer new drugs being tested to individuals suffering from mesothelioma. A large number of treatments for mesothelioma are currently being tested, including Suberoylanilide Hydroxamic Acid (SAHA), Desatinib, and Pazopanib Hydrochloride.