Types of Symptoms and Treatment of Asbestos Cancer

Types of Symptoms and Treatment of Asbestos Cancer rt.com

Types of Symptoms and Treatment of Asbestos Cancer

MESOTHELIOMA SYMPTOMS

Mesothelioma is a cancer that can affect the thin membrane that protects some of the most important organs, including the lungs, stomach and heart. Treatments for this disease include surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

Most symptoms of mesothelioma take decades to appear after asbestos exposure occurs. The symptoms of mesothelioma can also be found in many other more common diseases, making mesothelioma difficult to diagnose. The symptoms of mesothelioma vary with each stage and location (chest, abdomen, heart) disease.

Mesothelioma is very unique because it has a long latent period, namely the amount of time between the initial exposure to asbestos and the appearance of visible symptoms. The latency period for most symptoms caused by mesothelioma ranges from approximately 10 to 50 years.

Symptoms by Location

Pleural mesothelioma: Symptoms of pleural mesothelioma originating from the chest area. Pleural effusion (buildup of fluid in the chest around the lungs) causes more difficulty breathing and causes chronic chest pain.

Peritoneal mesothelioma: Symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma namely from the stomach. Ascites (fluid buildup in the stomach) causes pain and fatigue which is often misinterpreted as gas or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

Pericardial mesothelioma: This type of mesothelioma, originating from the heart, also causes pain in the chest. Liquid builds up in a protective bag that lines the heart, causing the heart to work harder.

Some groups of people are at higher risk of mesothelioma than others because of routine daily exposure to asbestos. Higher risk groups include factory workers, miners, construction workers or military veterans.

If you are one of these high-risk groups or have been exposed to asbestos in the past, learn more about mesothelioma symptoms and also how they developed by getting our free Help Guide today.

Pleural mesothelioma forms in the pleura, the protective tissues that surround the lungs. This accounts for about 75 percent of all cases of mesothelioma.

Most pleural symptoms affect the airways, lungs, and respiratory muscles, organs that collectively form the respiratory system. Patients with pleural mesothelioma usually experience:

- Pleural effusion, accumulation of excess fluid around the lungs

-  Hard to breathe

-  Chest pain

-  Dry cough

-  Weight loss

Some patients also report reduced chest expansion and unusual breathing sounds.

Symptoms of Early Stage Pleural Mesothelioma (Stages 1 and 2)

In the early stages of mesothelioma in the chest cavity, the cancer is localized in the protective layer of the lungs (pleura). At this point, most patients have no symptoms at all, although some may feel chest pain, fatigue, or shortness of breath.

Pleural mesothelioma can also cause pleural thickening, a condition that reduces the ability of the lung to expand and contract. Pleural thickening is characterized by shortness of breath or chest pain.

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Advanced Pleural Mesothelioma Symptoms (Steps 3 and 4)

In stage 3 and also 4, the cancer has spread to other parts of the body, perhaps, to the lymph nodes. Advanced patients will continue to experience symptoms from the previous stage in addition to some new symptoms, including:

- Abdominal pain (if the cancer has spread to that area)

- Loss of appetite

- Difficulty swallowing

- Anemia

- Fever and night sweats

Symptoms experienced by most patients with advanced mesothelioma show more clearly in pleural mesothelioma.

Symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma

The mesothelioma peritoneum starts in the peritoneum, the protective layer of the abdominal cavity. This accounts for approximately 20 to 25 percent of all diagnoses of mesothelioma.

Mesothelioma peritoneum patients usually experience:

- Stomach fluid buildup (ascites)

-  Weight loss

- Loss of appetite

- Seizures

- Diarrhea or constipation

Many patients also report abdominal pain or tenderness or hernia. Some also experience intestinal obstruction, which usually occurs when the cancer is further. Fluid accumulation is usually a symptom that the disease is more severe.

Symptoms of pericardial mesothelioma

Pericardial mesothelioma is the rarest form of mesothelioma. It starts in the pericardium, the lining of the heart.

Common symptoms for pericardial mesothelioma patients include:

-  Chest pain

- Irregular heartbeat

- Pericardial thickening

- Pericardial effusion (fluid buildup)

Pericardial mesothelioma is sometimes misdiagnosed as a simple inflammation of the heart (myocarditis) or pericardium (pericarditis). Misdiagnosis usually occurs because doctors diagnose less than 1 percent of cases of pericardial mesothelioma per year and the symptoms look like other diseases.

Symptoms of Metastatic Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma that has spread from its origin to the lining of the lungs, stomach or heart or to other parts of the body is called metastatic mesothelioma. Certain symptoms indicate that the cancer has become metastatic and usually affects the location outside the place of origin of mesothelioma. These symptoms generally include:

- Coughing or spitting blood (hemoptysis)

- Injury to one or both nerves attached to the voice box (laryngeal nerve palsy)

- Nerve damage to the arm

- Neurological syndrome

- Get treatment

If you are in a high-risk group, such as a veteran or as a construction worker, or suspect you have been exposed to mesothelioma in the past, do not wait for symptoms to appear before you see a specialist.

Because mesothelioma symptoms have a long latent period, signs of mesothelioma usually appear after the disease has reached an advanced stage. Early detection, therefore, is very important.

Our Patient Assistance Team can review your diagnosis and also connect you to a mesothelioma specialist. Talk to our team members and get the care you need for a better prognosis.

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Mesothelioma treatment

A very common treatment for mesothelioma involves a combination of surgery, chemotherapy as well as radiation therapy. Supportive care can help alleviate symptoms and improve quality of life for many mesothelioma patients.

This treatment can help people live longer with malignant mesothelioma. While the results of curative treatment are rare, a treatment approach called multimodal therapy can help certain patients live for years with cancer.

Multimodal therapy combines treatments to kill cancer cells in various ways. Specialists consider it the best treatment for mesothelioma.

Patients diagnosed at an early stage often qualify for a combination of surgery, chemotherapy or radiation therapy. Multimodal therapy for end-stage patients may involve chemotherapy and immunotherapy.

The most common treatment options for mesothelioma include:

- operation

- Chemotherapy

- Radiation therapy

New or experimental therapy is available through clinical trials. Some of these therapies include targeted therapy, immunotherapy and photodynamic therapy.

Different types of mesothelioma require special care. Various operations and also chemotherapy drugs are used in the treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma compared to the treatment of peritoneal mesothelioma.

Mesothelioma life expectancy without treatment is around four to six months for the average patient diagnosed in stage 3 or stage 4. Choosing treatment at this stage often helps patients live at least one year.

Those diagnosed in stage 1 or stage 2 who undergo aggressive treatment can live for years with mesothelioma.

Mesothelioma Treatment By Cancer Levels

The stage (extent) of mesothelioma is an important factor in determining treatment options. But other factors, such as whether the doctor feels the cancer can be resected (all cancers that appear to be removed by surgery), as well as one's general health and preferences, also play a role.

Mesothelioma tends to be difficult to treat, whether the cancer can be resected or not. The best is to be treated by a team of doctors who have a lot of experience with mesothelioma. It is also important for you to understand the goals of treatment before starting - whether it is to cure cancer or help alleviate symptoms - as well as possible benefits and risks. This can help you make informed decisions when looking at your treatment options.