Mesothelioma Cancer

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?

This is a story and enquiry from one of mesothelioma survivor..read more here

Hi,

I held my mums hand and watched her die last Sunday (20/09/2007). She had mesothelioma cancer 5 years ago which came back secondary into her liver and eventually her spleen. She was 64 years old.

I am having a difficult time accepting her death, although at the time of prognosis were told they could not cure it but try and shrink and manage it. This resulted in her having 18 months of chemo in 6 months. In the end it did nothing. I am angry that her last 6 months were full of pain and suffering and had terrible side effects from the chemo. She had no quality of life.

I was with her, holding her hand when she died and although I feel privileged to share such a special part of the human life cycle, it was the most horrific thing I have ever experienced.

Being there and watching her gasp for breath, watching the physical changes to her body, listening to the sounds her body made as she came closer to death all have impacted on me significantly and I am struggling to process everything I heard, smelt, felt and saw.

When my mum took her last breath she squeezed my hand and my dad’s very hard. I am confused as to wether this was her way of saying goodbye or if it was just her muscles reflexing as she passed away. My husband thinks I should make of it what I feel and believe in that.

I cannot believe she is gone and keep hearing her voice and seeing snippets of her when we were together. I am so sad to know she will never get to met my children, nor have the chance to be a grandmother.

Just before she passed away I saw shadows move across the hospital room. I do not know what to make of this. Was I witnessing something or was it the fact I had no sleep for the last 48 hours?

I have been raised a catholic and have a very open mind to all things spiritual but find myself questioning what is there after death?

Can anyone help?