The adrenal glands are orange-colored endocrine glands which are located on the top of both kidneys. The adrenal glands are triangular shaped and measure about one-half inch in height and 3 inches in length. Each gland consists of a medulla (the center of the gland) which is surrounded by the cortex. The medulla is responsible for producing epinephrine and norepinephrine (adrenaline). The adrenal cortex produces other hormones necessary for fluid and electrolyte (salt) balance in the body such as cortisone and aldosterone. The adrenal cortex also makes sex hormones but this only becomes important if overproduction is present
Indications for Surgical Removal of Adrenal Glands
The indications for surgical removal of the adrenal gland are relatively straightforward and include, but are not limited to the following:
Tumors of the adrenal cortex which overproduce hormones. One such tumor is shown in the picture...it is the round yellow mass located within the triangular adrenal gland. This picture is blown up about 2-fold to make it easier to see. The normal adrenal gland is NOT this big. Endocrine glands are very important despite their small size since they make important hormones.
Tumors of the adrenal medulla which overproduce adrenaline (pheochromocytoma).
Most solid tumors of the adrenal gland which are greater than 4 cm (~2 inches) regardless of whether they produce hormone or not (to rule out malignancy).
Primary cancers of the adrenal.
Any size adrenal mass which causes symptoms such as flank pain or tenderness.
Note: the above conditions which indicate the surgical removal of an adrenal gland all exclude the situation in which cancer has spread from another organ to the adrenal (metastatic spread)...with very few exceptions.
The remainder of the adrenal section of this large endocrine disorders site is arranged in small segments to make topics easier to understand.
Specific hormones are discussed on pages which illustrate the typical treatment of that disorder. Illustrations and actual patient x-rays are used extensively and new ones are added regularly. If you get lost, or want to see what else is discussed, go to our Home Page.
Five Specific Operations for adrenal tumors [includes reasons why one approach may be better than another]
X-Ray Tests to evaluate adrenal masses and tumors
More on Pheochromocytomas (go here first) as the "Ten Percent Tumor"
Diseases of the Adrenal Cortex: Cushings Syndrome from cortisol overproduction
Diseases of the Adrenal Cortex: Cohns Syndrome from aldosterone overproduction coming soon!
Adrenal Cancer: symptoms, diagnosis and treatments
Laparoscopic Adrenalectomy: the new minimally invasive way to remove most adrenal tumors
Overview of Hormones produced by endocrine glands.
Saturday, March 7, 2009
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Mesothelioma Treatments
A wide selection of treatments for the cancerous disease of mesothelioma have been developed and are continuously being improved from the numerous clinical trials that have been conducted and are now made available for its patients. Before choosing the appropriate treatment to avail of, it is vital to determine and consider a lot of factors that may include the type and location of mesothelioma, the extent of the disease, the age of the patient and his medical history, and many more.
Here are some of the most common treatment for the disease:
Radiation Treatment
A popular treatment for mesothelioma, radiation treatment is advantageous in that it treats the affected area without harming the healthy cells and tissues. This kind of treatment is not only commonly used in treating mesothelioma, it is widely used in other cancerous diseases as well. In radiation therapy, what happens is that radioactive sources are placed in the affected area. The radiation that these sources emit kills the abnormal cells. Continually transmitting the whole year through, the tumor is eventually removed. Radiation is commonly used alongside surgeries or on patients who may not be well enough to undergo critical surgeries just yet.
Chemotherapy Treatment
This form of treatment of treatment may be given by injecting the medication or just giving the patient some pills. However, sad to say, this form of treatment has its own downsides. The most dangerous is the fact that since chemotherapy drugs are not situated in the targeted areas, they will most likely affect some tissues and organs that are in no way affected by the disease. Such process may look unappealing to other patients. Another side effect is the fact that the drugs involved in it contain very high toxicity levels that may prove uncomfortable for the patients taking them. Patients may suffer from side effects that include vomiting, weight loss, fatigue, and the unsightly loss of one’s hair. But fortunately post-chemo drugs are now available to alleviate these side effects of the treatment.
Surgery
The surgical procedure called pneumonectomy can be used to treat pleural mesothelioma. This surgical procedure pertains to the process that involves the removal of a diseased lung. Another round of a pneumonectomy may be necessarily conducted depending on how severe the disease has spread in the body. This round may unfortunately mean the removal of other parts such as some chunks of the diaphragm or the lung. High risks are always faced when undergoing surgery. The success of any surgical operation is dependent on a lot of factors that may include the patients overall heath and the extent of his exposure to asbestos. Pleurectomy, on the other hand, is another form of surgical operation that may be conducted where part of the chest, the abdominal lining, and the surrounding tissue of the affected area will be removed.
Palliative Therapies
Palliative therapies can likewise be used on patients suffering from the cancerous mesothelioma. The process involves removing excess fluid from the patient through a needle and a suction machine. Drugs are normally fed through a tube inserted into the patient’s chest following the drainage to prevent fluid accumulation.
In most cases, however, a combination of these treatments may be necessary to tackle the issue. Of course, all factors mentioned earlier should still be considered when it comes to deciding what would be best for the patient. The major factors of which are the patient’s overall health and the extent to which the cancer has spread and affected the patient’s body.
Although listed as treatments for mesothelioma, the enumerated treatments do now always come out effective for all mesothelioma patients. Hence, most patients are normally offered treatments just as part of clinical trials. All these trials are aimed at one thing: to bring hope to mesothelioma patients and to those who may be diagnosed with it in the future that indeed an effective and affordable treatment will be available for them soon.
Here are some of the most common treatment for the disease:
Radiation Treatment
A popular treatment for mesothelioma, radiation treatment is advantageous in that it treats the affected area without harming the healthy cells and tissues. This kind of treatment is not only commonly used in treating mesothelioma, it is widely used in other cancerous diseases as well. In radiation therapy, what happens is that radioactive sources are placed in the affected area. The radiation that these sources emit kills the abnormal cells. Continually transmitting the whole year through, the tumor is eventually removed. Radiation is commonly used alongside surgeries or on patients who may not be well enough to undergo critical surgeries just yet.
Chemotherapy Treatment
This form of treatment of treatment may be given by injecting the medication or just giving the patient some pills. However, sad to say, this form of treatment has its own downsides. The most dangerous is the fact that since chemotherapy drugs are not situated in the targeted areas, they will most likely affect some tissues and organs that are in no way affected by the disease. Such process may look unappealing to other patients. Another side effect is the fact that the drugs involved in it contain very high toxicity levels that may prove uncomfortable for the patients taking them. Patients may suffer from side effects that include vomiting, weight loss, fatigue, and the unsightly loss of one’s hair. But fortunately post-chemo drugs are now available to alleviate these side effects of the treatment.
Surgery
The surgical procedure called pneumonectomy can be used to treat pleural mesothelioma. This surgical procedure pertains to the process that involves the removal of a diseased lung. Another round of a pneumonectomy may be necessarily conducted depending on how severe the disease has spread in the body. This round may unfortunately mean the removal of other parts such as some chunks of the diaphragm or the lung. High risks are always faced when undergoing surgery. The success of any surgical operation is dependent on a lot of factors that may include the patients overall heath and the extent of his exposure to asbestos. Pleurectomy, on the other hand, is another form of surgical operation that may be conducted where part of the chest, the abdominal lining, and the surrounding tissue of the affected area will be removed.
Palliative Therapies
Palliative therapies can likewise be used on patients suffering from the cancerous mesothelioma. The process involves removing excess fluid from the patient through a needle and a suction machine. Drugs are normally fed through a tube inserted into the patient’s chest following the drainage to prevent fluid accumulation.
In most cases, however, a combination of these treatments may be necessary to tackle the issue. Of course, all factors mentioned earlier should still be considered when it comes to deciding what would be best for the patient. The major factors of which are the patient’s overall health and the extent to which the cancer has spread and affected the patient’s body.
Although listed as treatments for mesothelioma, the enumerated treatments do now always come out effective for all mesothelioma patients. Hence, most patients are normally offered treatments just as part of clinical trials. All these trials are aimed at one thing: to bring hope to mesothelioma patients and to those who may be diagnosed with it in the future that indeed an effective and affordable treatment will be available for them soon.
Mesothelioma Research
When people talk about mesothelioma or even other asbestos-related problems like asbestosis, there are things they know and they don't know. First, they know that this rare disease cannot be diagnosed right away, that there are still no treatment that can guarantee its cure, and its associated symptoms are hard determine since they are similar to common illnesses. Moreover, they are also knowledgeable of the fact that it takes years before you can actually get malignant mesothelioma. Still, there are some things they practically don't know about, information that may prove to be critical in identifying and, most of all, treating infinitely this cancer. Fortunately, different medical practitioners, researchers, and scientists have come together to conduct a series of researches in order to solve basic questions in relation to mesothelioma.
The National Cancer Institute is one of the leading organizations that strive to provide answers to inquiries about malignant mesothelioma as well as more effective solutions. They are putting all of their efforts for the sake of efficient, credible, and accurate mesothelioma research. After all, the increasing rate of asbestos victims means that it is practically important to learn as much as possible about the real nature of this fatal fibrous material and its short- and long-term effects to its users.
Moreover, this highly acclaimed institution is also carrying its own independent clinical trials for the purpose of experimentation and testing of initial findings from the research. Most often, these experiments are performed to real patients who are suffering from malignant mesothelioma. Hopefully, these trials will lead to discoveries of other possible treatments that can lessen the risk factors involve with the diseases and eventually cure the patient.
The government, on the other hand, is doing its role in protecting its citizens from death because of mesothelioma. With the researches, they are able to pass bills, ordinances, and other regulations that limit the use of asbestos and provide other viable substitutes and suggestions, which are far safer and even more economical.
However, it’s not only the nongovernmental companies and different government agencies that are bent in contributing something to mesothelioma research. Even commercial companies that manufacture and use asbestos are also taking actions, this after learning that people who are exposed to this fatal fibrous material can run after them for compensation.
In conjunction with this, there are already droves of mesothelioma victims who are currently visiting lawyers, seeking legal advice. Lawyers and law firms, as a whole, are also keen to learning about the disease so they can give the best advice as well as come up with the most effective legal courses of action, should these complaints be brought to court. They can only achieve these if they themselves, or perhaps through close coordination with various medical agencies, perform some research.
Most of the researches made thrive to learn about the harmful effects of asbestos on cells, and how these living matters mutate within constant exposure on this material. By knowing how these healthy cells become damaged due to asbestos, everyone can all help to minimize or even prevent the corruption of these cells.
The different mesothelioma trials being conducted are based primarily on treatments that are assumed to be beneficial to patients. But then, they have remained as such—mere trials. They do not carry any guarantees. Because of that, research is highly required to ensure a more effective and conclusive probable treatment. On a lighter note, since these clinical trials are being conducted regularly, together with the latest technologies and other useful significant breakthroughs, discovering more alternative options of healing is just within our reach.
Clinical trials are usually dependent on the extent the disease has spread. Different stages of these experiments also require patients in varying stages of the malignant mesothelioma. That means that treatments intended to erase the disease at the early stages are tested on patients exhibiting early symptoms of the disease, so on and so forth. Sometimes some alternatives are intended to cure a patient in whatever stage he is on the disease, in which case the said treatment is applied to random patients.
Hopefully, the different researches will help save lives, especially of those who might suffer from it in the future. These studies are expensive and is often company sponsored, such as by the government, drug companies, and other well-funded research groups.
The National Cancer Institute is one of the leading organizations that strive to provide answers to inquiries about malignant mesothelioma as well as more effective solutions. They are putting all of their efforts for the sake of efficient, credible, and accurate mesothelioma research. After all, the increasing rate of asbestos victims means that it is practically important to learn as much as possible about the real nature of this fatal fibrous material and its short- and long-term effects to its users.
Moreover, this highly acclaimed institution is also carrying its own independent clinical trials for the purpose of experimentation and testing of initial findings from the research. Most often, these experiments are performed to real patients who are suffering from malignant mesothelioma. Hopefully, these trials will lead to discoveries of other possible treatments that can lessen the risk factors involve with the diseases and eventually cure the patient.
The government, on the other hand, is doing its role in protecting its citizens from death because of mesothelioma. With the researches, they are able to pass bills, ordinances, and other regulations that limit the use of asbestos and provide other viable substitutes and suggestions, which are far safer and even more economical.
However, it’s not only the nongovernmental companies and different government agencies that are bent in contributing something to mesothelioma research. Even commercial companies that manufacture and use asbestos are also taking actions, this after learning that people who are exposed to this fatal fibrous material can run after them for compensation.
In conjunction with this, there are already droves of mesothelioma victims who are currently visiting lawyers, seeking legal advice. Lawyers and law firms, as a whole, are also keen to learning about the disease so they can give the best advice as well as come up with the most effective legal courses of action, should these complaints be brought to court. They can only achieve these if they themselves, or perhaps through close coordination with various medical agencies, perform some research.
Most of the researches made thrive to learn about the harmful effects of asbestos on cells, and how these living matters mutate within constant exposure on this material. By knowing how these healthy cells become damaged due to asbestos, everyone can all help to minimize or even prevent the corruption of these cells.
The different mesothelioma trials being conducted are based primarily on treatments that are assumed to be beneficial to patients. But then, they have remained as such—mere trials. They do not carry any guarantees. Because of that, research is highly required to ensure a more effective and conclusive probable treatment. On a lighter note, since these clinical trials are being conducted regularly, together with the latest technologies and other useful significant breakthroughs, discovering more alternative options of healing is just within our reach.
Clinical trials are usually dependent on the extent the disease has spread. Different stages of these experiments also require patients in varying stages of the malignant mesothelioma. That means that treatments intended to erase the disease at the early stages are tested on patients exhibiting early symptoms of the disease, so on and so forth. Sometimes some alternatives are intended to cure a patient in whatever stage he is on the disease, in which case the said treatment is applied to random patients.
Hopefully, the different researches will help save lives, especially of those who might suffer from it in the future. These studies are expensive and is often company sponsored, such as by the government, drug companies, and other well-funded research groups.
Mesothelioma Tests and Diagnosis
There are several tests that doctors can run to determine if a patient has mesothelioma. These mesothelioma tests may vary in terms of intrusion into the body and on accuracy. A time line for testing a person suspected of having mesothelioma varies as well.
Some of the primary tests that doctors perform on their patients to determine what they are suffering may include a physical exam that usually consists of the doctor listening to the breath sounds of a patient. He does this to ascertain the normality of the sounds coming from within the chest cavity. He may also check for enlarged lymph nodes as well as doing a tapping test on the chest to listen for dull thumping sounds that may indicate fluid build up in the lungs.
Sometimes, when a patient first presents at the doctor’s office complaining about abdominal pain, difficulty breathing, or pneumonia type symptoms, the primary care physician will take an X-ray or CT scan to determine the presence of asbestos in or around the lungs, heart or stomach.
Once the detection of asbestos is noted, the doctor will look for telltale signs of cancer including, but not limited to, tumors in the vital organs. If tumors are seen present, the primary care physician will typically refer the patient to a specialist for various other tests to determine whether or not there is a possibility of a mesothelioma diagnosis.
A mesothelioma diagnosis is generally tested for in one of two ways. Depending on the patient’s condition, the doctor would decide to proceed with an intrusive procedure called a needle biopsy. Often performed under local anesthesia, the said procedure allows the doctor to abstract cells suspected of cancer infection from the lining affected area. This procedure, however, only provides very little tissue for testing. The doctor can run a few tests on the mesothelial cells obtained in this manner to determine the proper diagnosis for the patient. There are other ways in which the doctor can perform a tissue biopsy in order to run more tests to look for the possibility of mesothelioma. A laparoscopy or thoracoscopy involves making a minutes incision and using a tiny camera to look at the affected area. At this time a small tissue sample can be taken. The tissue samples will be sent away to a pathologists for further tests. Your doctor may decide to do a needle biopsy, where a hollow needle is inserted through the skin and inside the chest cavity. However, needle biopsies such as these have proven to be less than precise.
The second, more common and probably more accurate way that doctors test for mesothelioma is to surgically enter the patients body. This is when they cut a small piece of infected tissue for biopsy purposes. This test is known as an "open biopsy". Often done under general anesthesia, this procedure is usually performed in the sterile and safer environment of a hospital operating room. The extracted tissue fro this type of a biopsy is then sent out for testing by a specialist. The testing process generally takes several days. If the tests reveal the presence of mesothelioma, the doctor will then determine whether the diagnosed mesothelioma is benign or malignant.
If the doctor diagnosis that the mesothelioma diagnosis is malignant, they will have to refer the patient to an oncologist or a cancer doctor for additional tests and treatment.
The oncologist will most likely test the patient to determine the progression of the cancer or how far along the mesothelioma is and the prognosis for the future. At this time the oncologist will likely decide on what treatment option is best for the patient and make recommendations to that effect.
Generally, the oncologist will start the patient on a series of chemotherapy treatments to slow the growth of the mesothelioma. If the doctor determines, after running tests, that the patient is not a candidate for chemotherapy, the oncologists may prescribe medication to help the patient with pain management.
Some of the primary tests that doctors perform on their patients to determine what they are suffering may include a physical exam that usually consists of the doctor listening to the breath sounds of a patient. He does this to ascertain the normality of the sounds coming from within the chest cavity. He may also check for enlarged lymph nodes as well as doing a tapping test on the chest to listen for dull thumping sounds that may indicate fluid build up in the lungs.
Sometimes, when a patient first presents at the doctor’s office complaining about abdominal pain, difficulty breathing, or pneumonia type symptoms, the primary care physician will take an X-ray or CT scan to determine the presence of asbestos in or around the lungs, heart or stomach.
Once the detection of asbestos is noted, the doctor will look for telltale signs of cancer including, but not limited to, tumors in the vital organs. If tumors are seen present, the primary care physician will typically refer the patient to a specialist for various other tests to determine whether or not there is a possibility of a mesothelioma diagnosis.
A mesothelioma diagnosis is generally tested for in one of two ways. Depending on the patient’s condition, the doctor would decide to proceed with an intrusive procedure called a needle biopsy. Often performed under local anesthesia, the said procedure allows the doctor to abstract cells suspected of cancer infection from the lining affected area. This procedure, however, only provides very little tissue for testing. The doctor can run a few tests on the mesothelial cells obtained in this manner to determine the proper diagnosis for the patient. There are other ways in which the doctor can perform a tissue biopsy in order to run more tests to look for the possibility of mesothelioma. A laparoscopy or thoracoscopy involves making a minutes incision and using a tiny camera to look at the affected area. At this time a small tissue sample can be taken. The tissue samples will be sent away to a pathologists for further tests. Your doctor may decide to do a needle biopsy, where a hollow needle is inserted through the skin and inside the chest cavity. However, needle biopsies such as these have proven to be less than precise.
The second, more common and probably more accurate way that doctors test for mesothelioma is to surgically enter the patients body. This is when they cut a small piece of infected tissue for biopsy purposes. This test is known as an "open biopsy". Often done under general anesthesia, this procedure is usually performed in the sterile and safer environment of a hospital operating room. The extracted tissue fro this type of a biopsy is then sent out for testing by a specialist. The testing process generally takes several days. If the tests reveal the presence of mesothelioma, the doctor will then determine whether the diagnosed mesothelioma is benign or malignant.
If the doctor diagnosis that the mesothelioma diagnosis is malignant, they will have to refer the patient to an oncologist or a cancer doctor for additional tests and treatment.
The oncologist will most likely test the patient to determine the progression of the cancer or how far along the mesothelioma is and the prognosis for the future. At this time the oncologist will likely decide on what treatment option is best for the patient and make recommendations to that effect.
Generally, the oncologist will start the patient on a series of chemotherapy treatments to slow the growth of the mesothelioma. If the doctor determines, after running tests, that the patient is not a candidate for chemotherapy, the oncologists may prescribe medication to help the patient with pain management.
Pleural Mesothelioma
Pleural Mesothelioma is the most common form of mesothelioma that exists, and in its malignant form is the direct result of exposure to asbestos fibers. You can sometimes get benign tumors with mesothelioma, but more often than not , the malignant form is the most common one that emerges. Breathing in loose asbestos fibers is the cause of this cancer which is found among those who work or have worked with asbestos without any protection. As with other respiratory diseases, the risks is often heightened if the patient smokes.
This variant of mesothelioma attacks the lungs and respiratory areas of the body. The cancer attacks the cells and the lining of the lungs, also known as the pleura, and the ribs. Just like other forms of mesothelioma, the symptoms of pleural mesotheliioma may take twenty or thirty years, sometimes even longer, to present themselves following exposure to asbestos. This can make it impossible for people to sometimes realize that they have already been infected until it is too late.
There are several manifestations to look out for when it comes to detecting pleural mesothelioma, and like peritoneal mesothelioma, they can be nonspecific and be listed under a number of other common diseases or illnesses. The long latency period associated with mesothelioma can already cause some delay in diagnosis and the type of symptoms associated with this disease can also further delay its discovery, sometimes even until onset begins.
Without prior knowledge that a person has worked with asbestos and is in effect a high risk patient where mesothelioma is concerned, the doctor could end up testing for a wide range of other diseases, such as pneumonia, that may not point to what is really bothering the patient. This can waste a lot of time and in an illness where time of discovery can be a deciding factor, it is therefore vital that you not only keep your eyes open for any of the associated symptoms, but also inform your doctor of your past history of working with asbestos. Armed with this information, the doctor can then start running appropriate tests should the symptoms begin to manifest themselves.
Some of the symptoms normally associated with pleural mesothelioma include the common severe coughing, difficulty swallowing, facial swelling, weight loss, fever, rasping, and serious coughing up of blood. Some patients may also experience shortness of breath, regardless of whether they were active or at rest. This may be caused by the thickening of the pleura due to the spread of the cancerous cells. The thicker the pleura gets, the less space the lungs have to function properly, thus affecting breathing.
Some patients may also experience severe pain in the chest area or ribs. This is mostly caused by the spread of the cancerous cells and the tumor. Should the tumor begin to spread, it may affect the chest area, which may include the lungs.
Factors to consider before treatment include the patient’s age, medical history, general well being, and even weight. Other factors that have to be considered may include the extent of damage the cancer has wrought to the body.
The treatments for the different types of mesothelioma are more or less the same in most cases, but obviously they are targeted toward the area that has been affected by the cancer.
These treatments include surgery, which may entail moving part or all of a lung and some of the surrounding tissue in order to remove the tumor and cancerous cells. It may also be necessary to drain the lungs of fluid, simply to make the patient more comfortable. The extent of the surgery will depend largely upon the extent as to which the cancer has spread.
Chemotherapy is another procedure. Drugs are used to fight the cancerous cells and kill them as well as to shrink the tumor. These drugs can be administered orally or may be introduced to the body intravenously. The medication is then able to travel through the body via the blood stream to kill off any cancer cells that they might come across.
Another treatment is Radiation therapy. This is where high energy x-rays are used either outside the body, called external radiation or directed to the source internally , called internal radiation.
This variant of mesothelioma attacks the lungs and respiratory areas of the body. The cancer attacks the cells and the lining of the lungs, also known as the pleura, and the ribs. Just like other forms of mesothelioma, the symptoms of pleural mesotheliioma may take twenty or thirty years, sometimes even longer, to present themselves following exposure to asbestos. This can make it impossible for people to sometimes realize that they have already been infected until it is too late.
There are several manifestations to look out for when it comes to detecting pleural mesothelioma, and like peritoneal mesothelioma, they can be nonspecific and be listed under a number of other common diseases or illnesses. The long latency period associated with mesothelioma can already cause some delay in diagnosis and the type of symptoms associated with this disease can also further delay its discovery, sometimes even until onset begins.
Without prior knowledge that a person has worked with asbestos and is in effect a high risk patient where mesothelioma is concerned, the doctor could end up testing for a wide range of other diseases, such as pneumonia, that may not point to what is really bothering the patient. This can waste a lot of time and in an illness where time of discovery can be a deciding factor, it is therefore vital that you not only keep your eyes open for any of the associated symptoms, but also inform your doctor of your past history of working with asbestos. Armed with this information, the doctor can then start running appropriate tests should the symptoms begin to manifest themselves.
Some of the symptoms normally associated with pleural mesothelioma include the common severe coughing, difficulty swallowing, facial swelling, weight loss, fever, rasping, and serious coughing up of blood. Some patients may also experience shortness of breath, regardless of whether they were active or at rest. This may be caused by the thickening of the pleura due to the spread of the cancerous cells. The thicker the pleura gets, the less space the lungs have to function properly, thus affecting breathing.
Some patients may also experience severe pain in the chest area or ribs. This is mostly caused by the spread of the cancerous cells and the tumor. Should the tumor begin to spread, it may affect the chest area, which may include the lungs.
Factors to consider before treatment include the patient’s age, medical history, general well being, and even weight. Other factors that have to be considered may include the extent of damage the cancer has wrought to the body.
The treatments for the different types of mesothelioma are more or less the same in most cases, but obviously they are targeted toward the area that has been affected by the cancer.
These treatments include surgery, which may entail moving part or all of a lung and some of the surrounding tissue in order to remove the tumor and cancerous cells. It may also be necessary to drain the lungs of fluid, simply to make the patient more comfortable. The extent of the surgery will depend largely upon the extent as to which the cancer has spread.
Chemotherapy is another procedure. Drugs are used to fight the cancerous cells and kill them as well as to shrink the tumor. These drugs can be administered orally or may be introduced to the body intravenously. The medication is then able to travel through the body via the blood stream to kill off any cancer cells that they might come across.
Another treatment is Radiation therapy. This is where high energy x-rays are used either outside the body, called external radiation or directed to the source internally , called internal radiation.
Peritoneal Mesothelioma
Peritoneal Mesothelioma is the name given to the cancer that attacks the lining of the abdomen. The second most prevalent type of mesothelomia, this cancer, like others in its family, is caused by asbestos exposure and affects the lining that protects the contents of the abdomen. This lining, also called the peritoneum, also provides a lubricating fluid to enable the abdomen to glide against the tissue surrounding it and is also supposed to protect the abdomen from damage.
There are a number of symptoms associated with this disease. Like all other types of mesothelioma, however, the disease lies dormant for a rather lengthy period of time. Since symptoms may not become evident for decades after exposure, this may mean that by the time a diagnosis is given, it is often already too late to offer any real constructive treatment. Another cause for the delay in discovering the illness may also be due to the fact that most of these symptoms are generally non-specific and can therefore be attributed to a number of other more common ailments. Unless the doctor is made aware of a person's exposure to asbestos in the past, he or she is likely to look at other options before even contemplating mesothelioma. It is therefore important to let your doctor know of any exposure to this substance.
The symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma may include abdominal pains and weakness, weight loss, nausea, loss of appetite, some abdominal swelling and bowel obstruction. Depending on the location of the cancerous cells, additional problems may also be experienced, such as breathing problems and severe pain.
The treatments available to peritoneal mesothelioma patients can also vary, and may be dependent upon a number of factors. The doctor, once a diagnosis has been made, will often make a recommendation based upon details such as how far along the cancer is and the patient’s general condition and health. Other factors that come into play when a doctor decides on a treatment is the past medical history of the patient and the patient’s age.
Treatments that may be considered include surgery. This entails cutting out part of the abdominal lining and tissue from the abdomen in order to remove the cancer cells there. The decision as to whether or not surgery needs to be performed and if it is, the subsequent question of how much tissue is to be removed, may depend on how far the cancer has spread. Sometimes, it may be necessary for the doctor to remove a lung or a part of the diaphragm for the surgery to succeed.
Radiation Therapy is another option for the treatment of the cancer. High energy x-rays are used to shrink the tumor or tumors, as the case may be, and kill off the cancerous cells in the affected area. There are two ways to administer radiation therapy. The first is through external means. This uses a machine placed outside the body and emits radiation through the body to the affected areas. The second is by placing a source of radiation directly on or into the affected area by way of plastic tubes. Administering the radiation treatment through the tubes can also enable doctors to administer any required drugs this way.
Chemotherapy is a treatment where a combination of drugs is used to try and kill off cancer cells. Drugs may be administered by mouth in tablet form or they may be administered intravenously via a needle into a vein or a muscle. The drug will then enter the blood stream and travel through the body, hopefully killing off any cancer cells along the way.
Peritoneal Mesothelioma is responsible for a number of deaths each year. Although it may not be the most common form of this cancer, many new cases still come to light every year. With continued research and clinical trials, however, doctors and other medical professionals will eventually make it possible to one day find a cure for this disease and give hope to the people who suffer from this cancer.
There are a number of symptoms associated with this disease. Like all other types of mesothelioma, however, the disease lies dormant for a rather lengthy period of time. Since symptoms may not become evident for decades after exposure, this may mean that by the time a diagnosis is given, it is often already too late to offer any real constructive treatment. Another cause for the delay in discovering the illness may also be due to the fact that most of these symptoms are generally non-specific and can therefore be attributed to a number of other more common ailments. Unless the doctor is made aware of a person's exposure to asbestos in the past, he or she is likely to look at other options before even contemplating mesothelioma. It is therefore important to let your doctor know of any exposure to this substance.
The symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma may include abdominal pains and weakness, weight loss, nausea, loss of appetite, some abdominal swelling and bowel obstruction. Depending on the location of the cancerous cells, additional problems may also be experienced, such as breathing problems and severe pain.
The treatments available to peritoneal mesothelioma patients can also vary, and may be dependent upon a number of factors. The doctor, once a diagnosis has been made, will often make a recommendation based upon details such as how far along the cancer is and the patient’s general condition and health. Other factors that come into play when a doctor decides on a treatment is the past medical history of the patient and the patient’s age.
Treatments that may be considered include surgery. This entails cutting out part of the abdominal lining and tissue from the abdomen in order to remove the cancer cells there. The decision as to whether or not surgery needs to be performed and if it is, the subsequent question of how much tissue is to be removed, may depend on how far the cancer has spread. Sometimes, it may be necessary for the doctor to remove a lung or a part of the diaphragm for the surgery to succeed.
Radiation Therapy is another option for the treatment of the cancer. High energy x-rays are used to shrink the tumor or tumors, as the case may be, and kill off the cancerous cells in the affected area. There are two ways to administer radiation therapy. The first is through external means. This uses a machine placed outside the body and emits radiation through the body to the affected areas. The second is by placing a source of radiation directly on or into the affected area by way of plastic tubes. Administering the radiation treatment through the tubes can also enable doctors to administer any required drugs this way.
Chemotherapy is a treatment where a combination of drugs is used to try and kill off cancer cells. Drugs may be administered by mouth in tablet form or they may be administered intravenously via a needle into a vein or a muscle. The drug will then enter the blood stream and travel through the body, hopefully killing off any cancer cells along the way.
Peritoneal Mesothelioma is responsible for a number of deaths each year. Although it may not be the most common form of this cancer, many new cases still come to light every year. With continued research and clinical trials, however, doctors and other medical professionals will eventually make it possible to one day find a cure for this disease and give hope to the people who suffer from this cancer.
Pericardial Mesothelioma
Pericardial mesothelioma, the rarest form of the family of asbestos-related cancers, is a disease that affects the lining that surrounds the heart. It affects the pericardium and is often referred to medically as mesothelioma of the pericardium. Although some people mistakenly assume that all cases affect only the lungs, mesothelioma in actuality is a cancer of the serous membranes, which encloses quite a number of midsection organs, including the heart.
The symptoms of pericardial mesothelioma, as with other types of mesothelioma, can sometimes take decades to manifest. Usually, if a person worked with asbestos some twenty or thirty years ago, they may not show symptoms of the illness for the same period of time. That does not mean, however, that they are out of the woods, so to speak. This type of cancer may take the same number of years to even show itself in its victim. In some cases, it can even take longer for the patient to notice anything is wrong.
Some of the several main symptoms to look out for when dealing with pericardial mesothelioma are persistent coughing, shortness of breath, chest pain and palpitations. Should a person that has worked with asbestos, or have been exposed to the same, experience any or all of these symptoms, they should then seek medical advice to ascertain the possibility of their having contracted the disease. Mesothelioma can be mistaken for some other illnesses that share the same symptoms, however. These illnesses, which include asbestosis and lung cancer, have been known to masquerade as one or the other, so the World Health Organization has stressed that care should be taken in determining which disease is affecting the inflicted.
Once properly diagnosed, it is then important to assess the extent as to which the disease has spread and to what degree it has advanced to. This is usually determined by imaging or via A CT Scan or MRI Scan. These methods can normally reveal at what stage the disease is at and this will most likely help to determine what sort of treatment should be considered. Other things taken into consideration also include the patient’s age, present medical condition and past medical history. These are important facts that will be taken into account when deciding upon a course of treatment for the patient.
Occasionally, pericardial mesothelioma can be treated through surgery, but then, at this stage, the cancer is more likely diagnosed in is advanced stages. Surgery, therefore, can be just as useless and must be simply foregone. After all, there is that minute possibility that the cancer cells can be killed if one undergoes a surgery.
One of the most common treatments for pericardial mesothelioma is radiation therapy. This is most commonly used for this type of mesothelioma since this treatment has been proven to be most successful with these patients to date. Another possible treatment option is chemotherapy. While both treatments can be successful in treating this disease, these must also be carefully monitored due to certain risks they pose to healthy cells as well as affected ones.
A rather low risk procedure known as ‘fine needle aspiration’ has also been utilized to help alleviate some of the afflicted patient's symptoms. It involves inserting a needle into the cavity of a person’s chest in order to take away some of the excess fluid building up in the cavity. This can sometimes relieve some of the symptoms of the mesothelioma.
Clinical trials into all types of mesothelioma are still being continued all over the world. Many patients find that it helps to be a part of these clinical trials since it gives them a chance to try new forms of treatment that could be effective. It also gives them hope and gives them a positive perspective of the advances being made to help treat their sickness. Through the positive attitudes being displayed by these patients along with the hard work of the professionals that are helping them, the hope that, one day, a cure for all types of mesothelioma at all stages could be discovered lives on.
The symptoms of pericardial mesothelioma, as with other types of mesothelioma, can sometimes take decades to manifest. Usually, if a person worked with asbestos some twenty or thirty years ago, they may not show symptoms of the illness for the same period of time. That does not mean, however, that they are out of the woods, so to speak. This type of cancer may take the same number of years to even show itself in its victim. In some cases, it can even take longer for the patient to notice anything is wrong.
Some of the several main symptoms to look out for when dealing with pericardial mesothelioma are persistent coughing, shortness of breath, chest pain and palpitations. Should a person that has worked with asbestos, or have been exposed to the same, experience any or all of these symptoms, they should then seek medical advice to ascertain the possibility of their having contracted the disease. Mesothelioma can be mistaken for some other illnesses that share the same symptoms, however. These illnesses, which include asbestosis and lung cancer, have been known to masquerade as one or the other, so the World Health Organization has stressed that care should be taken in determining which disease is affecting the inflicted.
Once properly diagnosed, it is then important to assess the extent as to which the disease has spread and to what degree it has advanced to. This is usually determined by imaging or via A CT Scan or MRI Scan. These methods can normally reveal at what stage the disease is at and this will most likely help to determine what sort of treatment should be considered. Other things taken into consideration also include the patient’s age, present medical condition and past medical history. These are important facts that will be taken into account when deciding upon a course of treatment for the patient.
Occasionally, pericardial mesothelioma can be treated through surgery, but then, at this stage, the cancer is more likely diagnosed in is advanced stages. Surgery, therefore, can be just as useless and must be simply foregone. After all, there is that minute possibility that the cancer cells can be killed if one undergoes a surgery.
One of the most common treatments for pericardial mesothelioma is radiation therapy. This is most commonly used for this type of mesothelioma since this treatment has been proven to be most successful with these patients to date. Another possible treatment option is chemotherapy. While both treatments can be successful in treating this disease, these must also be carefully monitored due to certain risks they pose to healthy cells as well as affected ones.
A rather low risk procedure known as ‘fine needle aspiration’ has also been utilized to help alleviate some of the afflicted patient's symptoms. It involves inserting a needle into the cavity of a person’s chest in order to take away some of the excess fluid building up in the cavity. This can sometimes relieve some of the symptoms of the mesothelioma.
Clinical trials into all types of mesothelioma are still being continued all over the world. Many patients find that it helps to be a part of these clinical trials since it gives them a chance to try new forms of treatment that could be effective. It also gives them hope and gives them a positive perspective of the advances being made to help treat their sickness. Through the positive attitudes being displayed by these patients along with the hard work of the professionals that are helping them, the hope that, one day, a cure for all types of mesothelioma at all stages could be discovered lives on.
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