Tumor - Mesothelioma[/caption]Samantha Greenbaum---Mesothelioma has been in the news a lot recently. Though it's often talked about in relation to asbestos, mesothelioma can sometimes develop as the result of other factors. The following discusses the basics of mesothelioma, its causes, and treatment.
What is mesothelioma?
According to the American Cancer Society, mesothelioma is more properly called malignant mesothelioma. It is a type of cancer that starts in the cells that line certain parts of the body. The most common types of mesothelioma are pleural mesothelioma (which begins in the chest) and peritoneal mesothelioma (which begins in the abdomen). Mesothelioma may also begin in other areas, such as the heart, but these cases are rare.
What kinds of symptoms does it cause?
The symptoms of mesothelioma, per the Mayo Clinic, are determined by the cancer's location. Patients affected by pleural mesothelioma often experience pain in the chest or the rib cage, painful coughing, shortness of breath, lumps of tissue under the chest skin, and unexplained weight loss. People affected by peritoneal mesothelioma often experience pain and swelling in the abdomen, lumps under the abdominal skin, and unexplained weight loss. Other types of mesothelioma can cause different symptoms. For example, mesothelioma that begins in the heart can cause breathing difficulty and chest pains.
What causes mesothelioma?
The American Cancer Society states that asbestos exposure is the main cause of mesothelioma. However, most people exposed to asbestos don't get mesothelioma, even when they are exposed to large amounts. This may be because a person's DNA (or genetic makeup) dictates whether asbestos can cause uncontrolled cell growth or whether or person's body can simply fight off the exposure.
Aside from asbestos, other factors that may play a role in the development of mesothelioma include radiation treatment for other types of cancer and exposure to the SV40 virus (a virus found in humans and apes that was used in early polio vaccines).
Men are much more likely to be affected by mesothelioma, probably because they are more likely to work in industries where asbestos exposure is common (such as mining, manufacturing, and construction). Mesothelioma is also more likely to develop as one ages, due to the long latency period from the time of the exposure to the cancer's development.
What are the treatments?
According to the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, the treatments for mesothelioma include surgery to remove the tumors (either entirely or in part), radiation therapy, chemotherapy, targeted therapies (therapies that focus on the cancer's genetic profile), and clinical trials.
What is the prognosis?
The prognosis for people with mesothelioma is largely dependent on what stage the cancer is in when discovered. The National Cancer Institute reports that Stage 1 (localized cancer) offers the best chance of survival, whereas Stage IV (cancer that has spread throughout the body) offers the bleakest odds. Survival, or even complete recovery, can only be determined on an individual basis, taking into consideration the stage of the cancer, the size of the tumor, if surgery can remove the tumor completely, the amount of fluid present in the chest and abdominal cavities, a person's age and general health, the type of mesothelioma, and if the cancer is newly diagnosed or recurring.
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This article was contributed by Samantha Greenbaum, health-conscious mother and weekend hiker.
