Treatment options for lung mesothelioma

Let us look at some of the treatment options that are available for a person suffering from lung mesothelioma.

To start with, the examining specialist uses a method called thoracoscopy to ascertain the extent of damage to the lungs and this is done by making a cut in the sternum and introducing the thoracoscope into the ribs.  If he notices growth tissues which are not normal, he removes them and then studies them for any trace of cancer cells.  This is known as biopsy and is a common method to find out the presence of cancer in general.  The patient does not experience any pain as local anesthesia is administered.

If the test is positive, then different treatment options are considered.

The first one involves surgery where the doctor removes the affected part of the lung lining and in specific cases; the entire lung is removed through a process called pneumonectomy.  In some other cases, a portion of the diaphragm may also be removed.

The next line of treatment is through the radiation process in which high energy rays are used to eliminate the cancer stricken cells and these rays can be either internal or external based.  When they are introduced into the lungs through tubes, the radiation is internal and when the body is exposed to such radiation from a machine, it is termed as external.
Any fluid that has got accumulated in the lungs is drained out using suction through a needle introduced into the chest and this process is called thoracentesis.  The removal of such fluid is important as it can interfere with the breathing process and in order to prevent recurrence, certain drugs may be introduced through the tubes.

Nowadays, a novel kind of treatment called intraoperative photodynamic therapy is being used to effectively eliminate the cells affected by cancer.  This treatment is a combination of drugs and special light and prior to this treatment, a chemical is introduced into the body which highlights the cancer stricken cells and makes them sensitive to the special light, enabling their elimination easily.

Stages of Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma, which is the cancer of the mesothelium arising out of the inhalation of asbestos, is one of those diseases that does not get noticed or diagnosed till it is too late.  Many deaths have occurred without the patients being aware that they were suffering from this disease and that is what makes it so dangerous.  One of the main reasons for this is that some of its symptoms are so similar to pneumonia and cancer of the lungs and the patient gets treated for those diseases, losing valuable time in the process.
Becoming aware of the disease is just half the battle won.  You need to know the extent of the cancer and the stage to be able to take the right treatment.  Two systems are used to determine the stage of cancer in Pleural Mesothelioma and are called the TNM system and the Brighan system.  TNM is very commonly used for detecting the stage of cancer for Peritoneal Mesothelioma in the absence of any other system.
Three important parameters play an important role in the TNM system and they are the tumor, lymph nodes and metastasis.   In the first stage of Mesothelioma, the pleura get covered by only one layer of malignant cells, though the pericardium and the diaphragm may also get affected.
The second stage affects the pleura such that they are covered by two layers and the fluid that is normally created by the pleura, which facilitates the expansion and contraction of the lungs starts getting accumulated in the space between the lungs and the chest wall.  In normal circumstances, surplus fluid is taken in by the lymph and blood, leaving only an appropriate quantity necessary for the smooth functioning of the lungs, but in the second stage of this disease, this fluid remains floating causing breathlessness and pain in the chest.
The third stage involves the spreading of the cancer cells into the areas of the esophagus, chest and lymph nodes and the patient starts experiencing extreme pain in these areas. The last stage is when the cells make their way into the bloodstream and other essential organs like liver and the brain.

Mesothelioma – How is it so deadly and How To Avoid it?

It is well known that Mesothelioma is caused due to exposure to asbestos.  However, the manifestations of the disease may not appear for some decades and hence it is not possible to make an early detection of this disease.  If it indeed takes so long to appear, why is it so deadly?
This delay in the disease manifesting itself is a serious concern as you cannot take immediate preventive steps and by the time you actually diagnose the condition, precious time would have been lost.  Very often, individuals exhibiting signs of the disease tend to dismiss it off as bronchitis and hope that the condition would disappear with time.  This leads to a neglect of the symptoms and the patient starts experiencing a lot of breathing problems as the disease progresses.
It is important to catch symptoms of cancer very early to make a definite difference in its treatment and invariably when it is detected at its initial stages, the person makes a quick recovery and is able to lead a healthy life.
The swift manner in which the cancerous cells take root and start spreading within the body is the main reason as to why it is imperative to catch it early and take the necessary medication to nip it in its bud.  The haphazard growth of cancer cells gains momentum especially because they are usually located in proximity to the principal blood supply and other important fluid systems of the body, enabling them to disperse rapidly and form fresh colonies.
That is the reason why mesothelioma can be deadly as the patient is totally unaware of his condition and the fact that there is a deadly disease lurking within his system.  By the time he exhibits symptoms and tries to take corrective action, it is invariably too late as chemotherapy has its limitations and is not able to destroy all the cells.