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.

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.

History of Mesothelioma

The onset of the 20^th century saw hectic building activity at construction sites, ship yards, rail yards. Asbestos fibers were used as a major component and its production was also stepped up to meet the ever increasing demand. Mankind got exposed to asbestos in its early years of development and very soon, incidents of lung cancer also came to be reported. However, the condition of mesothelioma is believed to have its origins at places where wastes from mine extraction containing a lot of asbestos fibers were used as dumping material to envelop playgrounds and other open spaces. It was around this time that people who had practically no chance of getting exposed to asbestos fibers started developing symptoms of this disease. Though many officials were aware of the potential dangerous effects of asbestos mining much earlier, the activity continued and was formally brought to a close only in 1966.

During those times, mines were permitted to operate without basic safeguards and the concept of hygienic and safe work practices were relatively unknown. Due to this lack of adequate safety nets, many workmen began experiencing symptoms of mesothelioma on a yearly basis. What was more worrying was the fact that many cases that were diagnosed were of people who got it through the secondary route, having not been exposed to asbestos directly.

Mesothelioma saw its first case at an Australian mine and that worker had been working in that mine for about three years. Things then began to deteriorate rapidly as people inhabiting the town where asbestos mining was being carried out started exhibiting symptoms and this continued well into the 1970s, when the Australian Government took a long pending decision to shut it down. Unfortunately, the damage had been done and many people had fallen prey to this dangerous disease.

The tragedy just highlights the fact that if proper safeguards in the working environment had been implemented at that time, history would have had a different story to tell.