Archive for the tag 'general health'

Mesothelioma Survivors - the lung or pleural cavity

Taken this conversation from this mesothelioma forum. It’s focusing on general health issues such as: Adolescents, Babies, Child Health, Eating Disorders, General Health and Fitness, Immunizations/Vaccines, Infectious Diseases, Medical Tests and Procedures, Senior Health.

The Patient :

My aunt has been diagnosed with mesothelioma though it is not clear whether this is a few cancerous cells or a full tumour. We believe it to be fatal. Could you explain where this is in terms of the lung or pleural cavity. Also what should we be pushing for in terms of treatment. She has had one lot of radiotherapy. I think she will take an 8hr chemotherapy session shortly. There is mention of a clinical trial but have heard that such trials are more likely to cause discomfort than be of help.

Her husband has oesophogeal cancer and we are unsure of the survival rate/life expectancy there too. He has had chemotherapy and is now undergoing radiotherapy. The tumour has not reduced in size so far. He has had a stent put in and can eat foods if mashed.

Any help or suggestions would be very much apprieciated.

And answered by doctor :

I am sorry to hear about the cancer diagnoses.

80 percent of mesothelioma is pleural in origin and is typically associated with asbestos exposure. The median survival of patients with mesothelioma is between 6 and 18 months, and is not significantly affected by currently available therapeutic interventions.

Chemotherapy and radiotherapy are currently the recommended treatments of choice.

Experimental approaches include intracavitary therapy (directly injecting compounds into the pleural space) and gene therapy. Unfortunately, there is minimal success with these treatments, but they may be worth discussing with your personal physician.

Mortality of esophageal cancer depends on the stage. The mortality rates for stages I-IV are 60, 31, 20, and 4 percent respectively.

Followup with your personal physician is essential.

This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.

So, what do you think about that?

Dealing With Mesothelioma Pain

Causes of Mesthelioma pain:

• The main cause of pain is due to the formation of malignant cells on the lining of the lung and abdomen.

• As the tumor presses against the nerves and other structures and organs around the area, it results in severe pain.

• It can arise due to effects of radiation and chemotherapy along with psychological stress.

Treating mesothelioma pain:

Mesothelioma pain can be acute and chronic. With the advancement in cancer research, various new techniques for controlling and treating are developing, which do not have side effects on mesothelioma patients.

• Some common treatments such as neurosurgery are performed by blocking or changing the nerve pathways through which pain transmits.

• Epidural or nerve blockage help mesothelioma patients manage pain.

• Counseling, meditation or body therapy reduce psychological trauma of suffering.

Mesthelioma treatment options:

With respect to traditional mesothelioma treatment options, locating the position of the cancer, the stage of the disease and age and general health of the patient is considered.

• Common treatments like radiation, chemotherapy as well as surgery are conducted on the patient.

• Radical treatment options and research has led to various available options. Based on the nature and severity of the disease, treatments such as gene therapy, immune augmentative therapy, photo dynamic therapy, interferon and interleukin therapy, radio frequency ablation, and angiogenesis therapies are used.

• At times, aggressive treatment is not possible due to age and health conditions. Under such circumstances, palliative treatment is recommended which treats the symptoms and not the disease.

Read the rest of article here…

Mesothelioma cost of the treatment: What you need to know

The Mesothelioma is a malignant disease. There are essentially three types, pleural effusion, pericardial and peritoneal dialysis. Like any form of malignant cancer, the overall cost of the treatment can be very large. A person may be asked thousands of dollars every month. The cost for the treatment of the disease depends on several factors, namely age, the side effects of treatment, the impact of treatment on the general health and the chances of survival, so that the timing and severity These problems and the institutions to which they . Subsequently, a number of treatments necessary to the outcome of the disease.

The radiation therapy is used to detect tumours with high energy radiation, which by some emission of radiation materials or machinery. The surgery is used to remove or mourners body of his hand, and the chemotherapy is used in cancer cells by intravenous injection of drugs in the affected areas. Sometimes a combination of two or more therapies required to ensure the disease. There are other methods of treatment, including thoracentèse paracentesis and the liquid from the chest and abdomen.

The important point to note is that individuals often have the disease because of negligence of the employer, often knows very well the effects of exposure continuing flakes dust, asbestos and the health of the worker, but does not issue warning before the provide employment or adequate measures to prevent, for example, employers are often responsible for stringent penalties. Thus, the responsibility for the cost of treatment in damages punitive, and the loss of wages to the employer. It’s best for a patient should be, a lawyer immediately after the disease as mesothelioma. As a professional and an experienced lawyer, the prosecutor has a pretty good idea of the cost of treatment, as it may have many similar cases. These costs can therefore be easily retrieved from the employer.