Mesothelioma Cancer

Mesothelioma Cancer: Types, Symptoms & Treatments

Mesothelioma Cancer

Mesothelioma is a cancer that develops in the linings of certain tissues. The common types of Mesothelioma are the Pleural mesothelioma and peritoneal mesothelioma. The cancer is caused by exposure to a fibrous mineral called asbestos.

Inhaled and ingested asbestos fibers can lodge in internal organs and lead to tumor growth. People who experience higher levels of exposure face an elevated risk of developing asbestos diseases. But any exposure may lead to mesothelioma.

For mesothelioma patients, average life expectancies range from 18 to 31 months with treatment. But there have been long-term survivors, such as Heather Von St. James. Heather is a 19-year survivor after completing a rigorous treatment plan.

Treatment often helps improve factors like quality of life and survival. Treatment plans may include traditional methods like surgery and chemotherapy or newer ones like immunotherapy. Multimodal plans, which combine different treatments, are common.

Symptoms of Mesothelioma Cancer

Mesothelioma disease symptoms include chest and abdominal pain, fluid buildup and coughing. They can take 10 – 50 years (the latency period) to present after initial asbestos exposure. When symptoms do appear, they can easily be mistaken for less serious illnesses. The flu, pneumonia or intestinal troubles may have similar symptoms.

If you or a loved one have a history of asbestos exposure, it can be helpful to provide this information to a doctor, who can then do periodic checkups. This may help lead to an earlier diagnosis and treatment plan. With an earlier diagnosis, patients may have different treatment options. In some cases, early detection can come with an improved mesothelioma prognosis.

The amount, severity and type of mesothelioma symptoms vary for each patient. Common signs and symptoms of mesothelioma include:

  • Abdominal or chest pain
  • Coughing or wheezing
  • Difficulty breathing (dyspnea)
  • Fatigue
  • Fever and night sweats
  • Fluid buildup
  • Loss of appetite
  • Muscle weakness
  • Shortness of breath
  • Unexplained weight loss

Tumor location and size can impact symptoms. The cancer commonly develops in the lung lining (pleura) and abdominal lining (peritoneum). Treatment may improve symptoms and quality of life.Each patient will have their own unique experience. Identifying symptoms early may help doctors diagnose mesothelioma sooner. Mesothelioma is prone to late diagnosis, partly because of vague symptoms and a long latency period.

As a result, it is important for patients to seek medical care as soon as they notice symptoms. Early diagnosis can positively affect prognosis and treatment options.

How Do Symptoms Help With Mesothelioma Diagnosis?

Symptoms are often the reason patients seek a doctor’s help in the first place. So, doctors may start the diagnostic process by analyzing these symptoms. Early symptoms of mesothelioma can be mild or similar to those of common illnesses.

The diagnostic process may include a number of different tests or techniques, such as physical examinations, imaging scans like chest X-rays and blood tests. These are all done to rule out other conditions and determine which areas of the body are being affected. If symptoms and early tests suggest mesothelioma, a doctor can perform a biopsy to definitively diagnose mesothelioma.

Early detection can allow patients to undergo aggressive treatment options like surgery, which may improve mesothelioma prognosis. Once a patient has a diagnosis, their doctor and care team can determine which treatments to pursue.

Treating Malignant Mesothelioma Symptoms

Mesothelioma treatment plans aim to slow or stop the cancer and help manage symptoms. Mesothelioma doctors review each patient’s unique medical history, diagnosis details and overall health. This helps them determine which treatments may have the best results.

Mesothelioma treatment types can be divided into two broad categories:

  • Therapeutic treatments seek to help patients live longer. They often aim to remove as much of the cancer as possible. Therapeutic treatments may ease symptoms by addressing the condition that causes them.
  • Palliative treatments seek to address symptoms, increase patient comfort and improve quality of life. Patients at any stage of mesothelioma can benefit from palliative care. One study found palliative cancer care can extend life expectancy by up to 6 months.

In some cases, a single treatment can offer both therapeutic and palliative benefits.

Therapeutic Treatments for Mesothelioma Symptoms

Therapeutic treatments are used to improve patient prognosis. Mesothelioma patients often receive multiple types of therapeutic treatments, a method known as multimodal therapy. Some of the most common therapeutic treatments for mesothelioma include:

  • Chemotherapy: Drugs are administered to attack fast-growing mesothelioma cancer cells. For example, heated intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) is a specific chemo treatment. During it, doctors administer a chemotherapy wash directly to the abdominal cavity.
  • Immunotherapy: This treatment uses the patient’s immune system to attack cancer cells. For example, checkpoint inhibitors can help a patient’s immune system find, fight and kill cancer cells.
  • Surgery: This method can fully or partially remove cancerous tumors and affected lymph nodes. Pleurectomy/decortication (P/D) is a common pleural mesothelioma surgery. It removes the cancerous lung lining and other tumors without fully removing the affected lung.

Other possible therapies include radiation therapy and experimental treatments.

Cancer treatments can remove or shrink cancerous tumors and tissues, which may help alleviate symptoms. For example, surgery may remove a peritoneal mesothelioma tumor. This can decrease pressure on organs in the abdomen, which can ease abdominal pain and reduce bloating.

For details, click HERE