Showing posts with label cancer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cancer. Show all posts

Monday, May 9, 2011

Lung Cancer



The main reason behind Mesothelioma lung cancer is smoking and exposure to asbestos. Since these factors have key roles in developing this disease, it is assumed that people live in an environment which supports the prevalence of this disease. This cancer affects the cell walls of lung and causes inflammation there. These cell walls are generally known as Mesothelioma. The asbestos material contains natural microscopic fibers and they enter in to the body while inhaling. This is how lung cancer is affected on people who don’t have the habit of smoking. Asbestos are widely used in aluminum plants, oil refineries and chemical plants. Thus people working in these sectors often get exposed to asbestos and easily become prone to Mesothelioma lung cancer.
The symptoms of these diseases are very much similar to the symptoms of some other diseases. Hence proper detection of Mesothelioma lung cancer is really a task. Since it takes a long duration for emerging the symptoms of this disease, in most cases the primary stage of the disease would have passed when it is confirmed. X-ray, pathology, biopsy and surgery are the options commonly employed to confirm this disease. X-ray result is the primary indication of this disease. The general symptoms of this disease are chest pain and difficulty in breathing. If Mesothelioma lung cancer is detected in their early stages such patients can uphold their life by following the treatments advising by the concerned doctors.
Mesothelioma lung cancer patients can seek treatments from the respective cancer clinics and thereby they can extend the duration of life. Radiation treatment, chemotherapy and surgical resection are the common treatment options following by the doctors. Surgical resections are advised in the early stages of Mesothelioma lung cancer to remove cancerous growths. Since lungs are very important internal organs, surgical resections are referred in very rare occasions. The highly prevalent treatments regarding lung cancer are chemotherapy and radiation treatment. Patients have to undergo these treatments alternately as advised by the cancer specialists. These treatments are also advised to patients who have undergone surgical resections. By combining these treatments patients can expect considerable relief from Mesothelioma lung cancer.

Mesothelioma Genes



Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that can really affect any human being. Cancer is the most feared of all diseases in the modern world. So people are more alert of cancer and the causes. The way which it can be affected, and the most effective treatment which can be given is gene therapy. Gene therapy can be made use of in the case of many other diseases. Anyone with genetic problem or change may undergo the treatment of gene therapy.
There are different types of cancers and many of these can be treated through gene therapy. Hence in the case of the mesothelima gene therapy is brought about by changing or altering the structure of the gene. The mesothelioma gene therapy is used for not only changing the gene structure but also the entire function of the gene.
Cancer cell genes are replaced by a new gene in order to deactivate the effected gene and renders them useless. Genes also help to deactivate the growth of blood cells, which is spread all over the body of the patient. To defend the growth of tumor, new genes are replaced instead of bad gene in the patient’s body. Through this, the number of new gene cells in the body increases and they totally replace the bad genes.
There are different studies going on for better treatment for mesothelioma. In future we can get better medical reports and can reduce the death rate due to mesothelioma. The new study in this direction, which was tested in mice, has shown a fantastic result. There are many medical journals that give valuable articles about the suicide therapy. That is most commonly practiced in the medical world in order to treat this kind of medical condition called mesothelioma.
Hence people worldwide and also the patients who are suffering from such a condition need not worry any more about the mesothelioma and its harmful affects that it causes. This has been one of the greatest breakthroughs that the modern medicine has given mankind in fighting the most treacherous of all diseases. No doubt, it is an important chapter in the treatment of cancer.


Mesothelioma Diagnosis



Mesothelioma Diagnosis
Mesothelioma Diagnosis can be confusing since symptoms are same to any other common illnesses. Actually it is this difficulty in diagnosis which makes the disease once more fearful, totally different from other diseases. Mesothelioma cancer is affecting chest, abdominal cavity and lungs. And it has been connected to elevated levels of place of work and contacts with asbestos. It may not be easy for physicians to ascertain the symptoms in initial stages. The imaging studies of illness give rise to different types of questions, if or not they are actually Mesothelioma or any other type of carcinoma related growth. Diagnostic tests like CT scans, MRIs and X-rays are helpful to obtain information related cancer and show the progress. Each type gives various information to doctors to help to make a total diagnosis. The use of chest x-ray is to recognize abnormalities in lungs containing abnormal thickening, fluid and mineral fixed in the area of chest. CT scans are able to provide the images of the similar part from different angles. Magnetic fields are used in MRI technology and this provides additional information more than x-rays.
Biopsy is another major diagnostic course of action optional through doctor, for patients telling symptoms for Mesothelioma and having asbestos exposure history. Needle biopsies give the result of enveloping surgical biopsies. Needle biopsies are not choice for medical reasons.
Medical Imaging Tools like x-rays, Computed Tomography (CT) Scan, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Positron Emission Tomography (PET) are very useful and hence popular.
X-rays of abdomen or chest can make know masses, fluid make up or symptoms of non- cancerous pleural disease. In some times radio imaging does not raise up evidence for the growth of mesothelium, but it may create a shadow to give some hints about the disease.
Computed Tomography (CT) Scan is actually a test that gives some description on the abnormalities in human body. The results, whether it is positive or negative is very much helpful in diagnosing Mesothelioma. It will also help the physicians to take decision regarding the method of treatment to be followed.

esothelioma Symptoms



and symptoms of the disease can be quite different in different cases. Symptoms are normally dismissed by people who usually attribute them to ordinary every day ailments or disorders. Sometimes patients live with symptoms for up to six months before getting the real disease diagnosed. Regularly the symptoms may be present for two three months prior to a mesothelioma diagnosis. 60% of patients diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma experience lower back pain or side chest pain and there are normal complaints of breath smallness. Some people face problems like difficulty in swallowing, repeated cough, fever, loosing of weight, general weakness, etc. Some other symptoms that a few patients experience are muscle weakness, failure of sensory ability, coughing up blood, swelling of arm and croakiness.
Peritoneal mesothelioma is originating in the stomach. It shows symptoms like repeated pain in abdomen, weight loss, nausea, vomiting and the like. If anyone previously exposed to asbestos is displaying any of these symptoms they should seek medical attention from mesothelioma.
One who is suffering from mesothelioma will be anemic in many of the cases. Hemoglobin level in their blood will be much lesser and leads to fatigue. It is to be taken care of and if not treated may lead to the problem of bone marrow loosing.
Another cause is blood clotting disorder and it is a serious complication. It, if kept not treated, will lead mesothelioma patients to anemia. Other symptom is bowel obstruction which is a very painful situation. Chest pain may develop when tumor grows and it will create stress on heart and lungs. Since the growth affects the lungs, in the later stage of the disease, the patient faces problems in swallowing food. Repeated coughing at the time of swallowing food may lead to the problem of food particles entering the lungs. This of course may lead to the situation of getting infection in the lungs.
Nausea is a common problem for patients. It develops on undergoing chemotherapy. But in the case of peritoneal mesothelioma, out of abdominal pressure also nausea may occur.

Mesothelioma Stages



Mesothelioma staging is an imaging studies based up on MRI scans, x-rays and CT scan. In each stage of cancer the disease is increasing it will more effect in life expectancy and Mesothelioma treatment. While pleural Mesothelioma occurs in large number commonly and hence being studied more. Mesothelioma has only staging classification. Mesothelioma Staging System has three primary staging; it is used to evaluate the condition of spread of Mesothelioma cancer and also to explain four stages to explain the development of disease. The important Mesothelioma staging systems are Butchart Staging System, TNM Staging System and Brigham Stating System.
Butchart Staging System is used for finding out Mesothelioma cancer and concentrates on major part of primary tumor. It shows the level of disease in each stage. The system cannot show the amount of cancer cells present in body or the level of cancer all over the body.
TNM Staging System is created by American Joint Committee on cancer (AJCC); this is another type of staging system helpful in various cancers. It shows about the uniqueness of tumor (T), the lymph node is not mixed up (N), in the other parts of body Cancer is metastasized (M). Brigham Staging System is similar to TNM system. It has four progressive stages. The main differences between these two are that they find out the major location of tumor, show the attachment of lymph nodes and show the involvement of metastatic disease. It also helps to show effectiveness and possibility of surgical intervention in every stage. Stages of Mesothelioma are four in number. They are mentioned above, being different to some extent in each system. But it is commonly characterized as shown below. If anyone wants common information about a particular stage and its definition, please look out the following details. Stage 1 Mesothelioma, in this stage tumor part is found out. Stage 2 says of the large amount of tumor effect in diaphragm or lung and also lymph nodes. Stage 3 is effect in chest wall and such like areas. Stage 4 shows effects in several places; they are diaphragm, chest wall lymph nodes and pericaridium. It also tells whether cancer has pervaded in other organs.


Mesothelioma Causes

Mesothelioma Causes



Cancer is regarded as one of the deadliest of all diseases and it results in the deaths of most of the people who suffer from this disease worldwide. The exact cause of cancer is not yet known and it has been several decades ever since this deadly disease has ravaged across the various civilizations of the earth.
It has been a very common thing in this world and it has been reported that the number of the cancer patients on this earth is steadily increasing day by day.
Much can be very well attributed to the mode style of living and also the use of many synthetic types of products that has been the main reason for the cause of this deadly disease.
It has been reported that the mesothelioma is one such category that falls under the cancer and it has also been very much under the scanner. Though the exact causes of this deadly disease is yet to be unraveled even then people believe as per the reports that emanate from the scientific as well as the medical community that the mesothelioma is caused due to the over exposure to asbestos and also due to the inhalation of the asbestos particles and its subsequent deposition in the lung tissues.
This is probably the most common reason that has been attributed to the cause of mesothelioma. But today’s research has very well proved that this kind of medical condition called mesothelioma can very well be cured because of the developments that have taken place in the medicinal field.
Thus people as well as the patients all over the world can very much feel confident regarding the cure of mesothelioma and can henceforth feel that they can be fully cured out of this dreaded disease that has taken the lives of many people across the globe.
Hence the time has come when people can very say that the medical community has done great things by finding the exact medicine and as well as the exact therapeutic ways by which the mesothelioma can be successfully controlled and also eradicated form the face of earth.

Mesothelioma Drugs

Many mesothelioma cancer patients are treated with drugs either as a primary or adjunct therapy. The drugs most commonly used in mesothelioma patients are chemotherapy drugs, which are administered orally or via injection to destroy cancer cells. If you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma cancer, your physician will explain to you your best mesothelioma treatment options. If drug therapy is deemed appropriate, you may be treated with one or more of the following:

Mesothelioma Treatment with Alimta/Cisplatin

The Food and Drug Administration in 2004  approved Alimta (pemetrexed) to be admisistered  in patients diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma. To treat mesothelioma patients, Alimta is often used in conjuncted with another cancer drug, Platinol (cisplatin), Though Cisplatin has been used as a cancer treatment since 1979 after it was was approved by the FDA.  But as a fact, clinical trials suggest that the drug combination extends patient life expectancies when compared with cisplatin alone.

Mesothelioma Treatment with Vinorelbine

After the Success of  Altima/Cisplatin in 1979 New demands for better treatment drugs arose and new medical trails came up with a drug Vinorelbine This drug was approved by the FDA in 1994 for use in patients with breast cancer and small cell lung cancer. However, Vinorelbine may also be used as part of a drug treatment regimenfor mesothelioma cancer patients.

Mesothelioma Treatment with Onconase

Onconase (P-30 protein /Ranpirnase) is currently under tested in clinical trials and so far has shown promise for extending the rate of mesothelioma survival cancer patients. More research is being conducted to determine whether or not Onconase is an appropriate drug therapy for mesothelioma patients.

Additional Options for Mesothelioma Drug Therapy

New drugs are always being tested for their effectiveness in mesothelioma treatment and other types of cancers. Tarceva (erlotinib hydrochloride) and Velcade (bortezomib) are two such effective drugs.

Mesothelioma Drug Therapy Side Effects

Although mesothelioma drug therapy has benefits, it also often causes a number of unwanted side effects such as hair loss, nausea and fatigue. Side effects will usually remedy themselves once the course of mesothelioma treatment is terminated, but patients should always discuss potential risks with their physician before undergoing treatment.
Mesothelioma cancer patients also have various other treatment options, including surgery, radiation therapy and alternative treatments. If you have mesothelioma cancer, talk to your doctor about the mesothelioma treatment options that are right for you since treatment plans vary according to patient.