MESOTHELIOMA TREATMENT OPTIONS

The treatment program for mesothelioma depends on many factors, including: the stage of the cancer, where the cancer is, how far the cancer has spread, how the cancer cells look under the microscope and the patient’s age and desires.

Mesothelioma Risk Considered Extremely Low As Asbestos Found in Australian School Playgrounds

Students in the Australian state of Queensland have been exposed to dangerous levels of asbestos, according to a government report. The asbestos debris has appeared in playgrounds and athletic fields near schools in and around the city of Brisbane. Investigators from the Queensland state government have reported that topsoil that contained asbestos may have been used in as "fill" in some of the playground sites.

In previous years, old school buildings would be demolished and covered with topsoil. Many of those buildings from the early part of the last century contained asbestos as fireproofing and insulation material. As the schools have continued to add playing fields and other improvements, much of that contaminated topsoil has surfaced.

The report, which is due to be published sometime this month, shows that some of the highest concentrations of the toxic material have been found in playgrounds, in sandpits and in many of the oval-shaped fields students use to play Australian Rules Football. Reports continue to surface about children playing with the hazardous material that they find in the fields. In one instance, an elementary school student allegedly took home a sizable piece of asbestos to show to his parents.

State education officials have suspended classes at six elementary schools in the Brisbane area as the investigation progresses. Workers at five of those six sites have verified asbestos findings on the school grounds. Principals at schools in the area state that they have taken steps to insure the children's safety. Two schools have restricted outdoor activities after environmental workers found asbestos on their playgrounds and football ovals, while another school replaced the material in its sandpit when officials learned of asbestos found there.

In Australia, schools are required to keep maintenance logs, including the presence of potentially toxic substances such as asbestos, for every school term. However, officials later found out that these records were either disorganized or not updated at all. At one school, the maintenance record had not been updated in more than ten years.

Queensland Minister of Education Geoff Wilson has stated that he has appointed a special independent investigator, John Gaskin, to look into the prevalence of asbestos on school grounds. Mr. Gaskin is the former president of the Master Builders Association of Australia, the leading business association for the construction industry. Mr. Wilson has said that Mr. Gaskin's experience in the construction field will be invaluable in the course researching this issue.

Another leading expert in the field of asbestos abatement and remediation in Australia is Mark Rentoul. Mr. Rentoul is the manager of Asbestos Auditors, a company that carries out asbestos inspections on private and public structures and creates plans to deal with asbestos removal projects. Mr. Rentoul told the Australian Associated Press that maintenance records at the schools should have been more organized and that independent auditors should have carried out the annual inspections.

William Kwiecien, an asbestos specialist at the Queensland University of Technology, said that children exposed to asbestos in playground settings were at "extremely" low risk to develop mesothelioma, asbestosis, or any other lung diseases associated with long-term exposure to asbestos. Since most of the asbestos found in the playgrounds was still in a solid form, the danger of developing any lung disorders was minimal unless the fibers came loose and became airborne.

Sources: Sydney Morning Herald, News.com.au

Common Questions about mesothelioma

What is Mesothelioma?

Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer in which malignant (cancerous) cells are found in the mesothelium, a protective sac that covers most of the body's internal organs. Most people who develop mesothelioma have worked on jobs where they inhaled asbestos particles.

Mesothelioma (cancer of the mesothelium) is a disease in which cells of the mesothelium become abnormal and divide without control or order. They can invade and damage nearby tissues and organs. Cancer cells can also metastasize (spread) from their original site to other parts of the body. Most cases of mesothelioma begin in the pleura or peritoneum.

pleura (PLOOR-a)

A thin layer of tissue covering the lungs and lining the interior wall of the chest cavity. It protects and cushions the lungs. This tissue secretes a small amount of fluid that acts as a lubricant, allowing the lungs to move smoothly in the chest cavity while breathing.

Pleural Mesothelioma is the cancer of the pleura.

How common is mesothelioma?

Although reported incidence rates have increased in the past 20 years, mesothelioma is still a relatively rare cancer. About 2,000 new cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed in the United States each year. Mesothelioma occurs more often in men than in women and risk increases with age, but this disease can appear in either men or women at any age.

What are the risk factors for mesothelioma?

Working with asbestos is the major risk factor for mesothelioma. A history of asbestos exposure at work is reported in about 70 percent to 80 percent of all cases. However, mesothelioma has been reported in some individuals without any known exposure to asbestos.

The risk of asbestos-related disease increases with heavier exposure to asbestos and longer exposure time. However, some individuals with only brief exposures have developed mesothelioma. On the other hand, not all workers who are heavily exposed develop asbestos-related diseases.

Who is at increased risk for developing mesothelioma?

People who work in asbestos mines and mills, producers of asbestos products, workers in the heating and construction industries, and shipyard workers are facing the risks for developing mesothelioma.

Today, the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) sets limits for acceptable levels of asbestos exposure in the workplace. People who work with asbestos must wear personal protective equipment to lower their risk of developing mesothelioma.

What are the symptoms of mesothelioma?

Symptoms of mesothelioma may not appear until 30 to 50 years after exposure to asbestos. Shortness of breath and pain in the chest due to an accumulation of fluid in the pleura are often symptoms of pleural mesothelioma.

Symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma include weight loss and abdominal pain and swelling due to a buildup of fluid in the abdomen.

Other symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma may include bowel obstruction, blood clotting abnormalities, anemia, and fever.

If the cancer has spread beyond the mesothelium to other parts of the body, symptoms may include pain, trouble swallowing, or swelling of the neck or face.

These symptoms may be caused by mesothelioma or by other, less serious conditions. It is important to see a doctor about any of these symptoms. Only a doctor can make a diagnosis.

How is mesothelioma treated?

Treatment for mesothelioma depends on the location of the cancer, the stage of the disease, and the patient's age and general health. Standard treatment options include surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. Sometimes, these treatments are combined.

Surgery is a common treatment for mesothelioma. The doctor may remove part of the lining of the chest or abdomen and some of the tissue around it.

For cancer of the pleura (pleural mesothelioma), a lung may be removed in an operation called a pneumonectomy. Sometimes part of the diaphragm, the muscle below the lungs that helps with breathing, is also removed

New treatment for prostate cancer patients

NEW DELHI: The Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Institute and Research Centre here has officially launched a new “Sonablate HIFU” service for treatment of prostate cancer patients.

“Sonablate HIFU on initial use is very patient-friendly for those suffering from prostate cancer as there is no immediate morbidity which is expected if the patient chooses radical surgery. The long-term side-effects are also not expected since the treatment is done by sound waves,” said Dr. Sudhir Rawal, who claims to have performed more than 15 HIFU procedures using Sonablate HIFU in Delhi

What is Mesotherapy?

Mesotherapy is a technique, invented in 1952 by Dr. Michel Pistor, where medication is injected into the mesoderm, the layer of fat and connective tissue under the skin. Over the past 50+ years, an excess of 15,000 physicians world-wide have used Mesotherapy on a daily basis for a variety of purposes, including overall weight loss, spot weight reduction, cellulite reduction, hair loss, scar revision and wrinkle elimination. Mesotherapy is also used to correct unevenness, lumps, or divots that develop after liposuction. In 1987, the French Academy of Medicine recognized Mesotherapy as an inherent part of traditional medicine. The International Society of Mesotherapy encompasses 14 countries throughout Europe and South America. Using a very tiny needle (0.4 to 0.6 cm or the size of an eyelash), the medication is injected into the mesoderm painlessly. Sometimes the technique of “multi-pricking” is used, where a number of swift, painless injections are concentrated in a specific area. Although “multi-pricking” can be done by hand, we at Mesotherapy Associates offer a mechanical delivery system that delivers the medicine in a more accurate fashion with even less discomfort to the patient. Patients have universally reported that the treatments cause less pain than a momentary, light pinch.

The medications that are used in Mesotherapy melt the fat beneath the skin and shrink the fat cells in the Scarpa’s fascia layer. The fat dissolves and is excreted by the kidneys and the bowel without any changes in your bowel habits.

Cellulite is caused by connective tissue bands that hold down the skin, trapping the fat and thereby causing the “dimpling” effect. The medications used in Mesotherapy destroy the connective tissue bands and melt the trapped fat, creating a smooth, dimple-free appearance. In Mesotherapy, very small doses of different medications are administered in specific areas, depending on the condition being treated. The medicines and plant extracts that we use at Mesotherapy Associates, P.C. are obtained from local pharmaceutical companies in the United States . All medicines used are FDA-approved for their use. In combination, medicines for Mesotherapy are used for off-line purposes. A recent illustration of this distinction is Botox. Although Botox is FDA approved for controlling muscle spasms, the medical community embraced it for its cosmetic propberties of controlling wrinkles. For many years, plastic surgeons and dermatologists have used Botox for off-line purposes…..

Bloglines - Mesothelioma and Asbestos Awareness Cyclists Receive Support on 1,200 Mile Journey

Mesothelioma and Asbestos Awareness Cyclists Receive Support on 1,200 Mile Journey By JBream on Malignant Mesothelioma Three cyclists riding 1,200 miles to raise awareness about asbestos-related diseases are receiving support from those impacted by asbestos illnesses along the way. Katrina London, Paul Glanville and Jason Addy departed June 20, 2009 from Glasgow, England and will conclude their journey July 4 in Southampton. The three activists are riding to raise money to be donated to the search for a cure for asbestos-related cancers. During their journey, the cyclists will deliver a petition to the Canadian consulate in Birmingham, calling for an end to the mining of asbestos in Quebec. They will also stop in London to meet Members of Parliament who are campaigning for increased asbestos awareness. The cyclists have already stopped in Derby, England and received a warm welcome from those affected by asbestos-related illnesses such as mesothelioma, a rare cancer caused almost exclusively by asbestos exposure. Valerie Pepper, whose husband passed away from malignant mesothelioma two years ago, greeted the group upon their arrival in Derby. Pepper noted the importance of raising money for mesothelioma research, stating, "There's lots of money spent on research into other cancers, but very little on mesothelioma. If you don't do research, you won't know if there's a cure." Cyclist London said the group has met "amazing women who have lost their husbands and then channeled their energy into campaigning and fund-raising." One such woman is Carol Anthony who lost her husband to mesothelioma four years ago and now serves on the committee of a mesothelioma research group at a Leicester, England hospital. Prior to departing on the 1,200-mile ride cyclist Addy said, "It will be tough going as we will be cycling up to 100 miles a day, but it is for a very important cause and promises to be a breathtaking journey to raise awareness of the legacy caused by asbestos." Additional information about mesothelioma and asbestos-related diseases may be found through the Mesothelioma Center.

Peritoneal Mesothelioma

Peritoneal Mesothelioma is the second-most prevalent form of asbestos-related cancer, rarer than the pleural variety, and accounting for about 10% - 15% of all diagnosed Mesothelioma cases. This form of cancer affects the lining of the abdomen, known as the peritoneum.

Doctors and researchers offer two theories as to how asbestos fibers are able to enter the peritoneum. Some believe that the fibers are caught and held by the mucus in the trachea or bronchi and ultimately swallowed. The second explanation notes that fibers lodged in the lungs may move into the lymphatic system and be transferred to the peritoneum.

Regardless of which explanation is correct, peritoneal Mesothelioma can be quite difficult to detect, as the cancer may lay dormant for many years. Like all types of asbestos-related cancers, documented incidences show that this type has, at times, been dormant for up to four decades. That, of course, makes it all the more difficult to treat this disease because, by the time it’s detected, it has reached its advanced stages.

The symptoms of peritoneal Mesothelioma are non-specific and can often be mistaken as indicators of a much less serious disease. Therefore, it’s important to let medical professionals know that the patient has been exposed to asbestos in the past. Symptoms of this type of Mesothelioma might include:

• Abdominal pain
• Abdominal swelling due to fluid accumulation
• Weight loss
• Loss of appetite
• Weakness
• Nausea
• Bowel obstruction
• Breathing difficulties

Location of the tumor will determine which symptoms are present and/or most severe and symptoms may be different according to the patient’s general health and age.

Often, the diagnosis of peritoneal Mesothelioma is accidental, perhaps discovered during an x-ray for another ailment. Additional x-rays, CT scans, or MRIs may be ordered but, ultimately, a tissue biopsy will be the most conclusive test.

Once this type of Mesothelioma is diagnosed, treatment options will be discussed. While there is currently no cure for this disease, the patient can be treated in a variety of ways to help ease symptoms, reduce pain, and prolong life. Options include:

• Surgery – the surgery performed for peritoneal Mesothelioma may involve cutting out part of the lining and tissue from the abdominal area in order to remove the tumor. If the tumor is particularly large, a lung or a section of the diaphragm may need to be removed as well. Because this type of cancer is so often diagnosed in its late stages, surgery may not be an option as the cancer has already spread too much by this point.
• Chemotherapy – the use of intra-peritoneal chemotherapy is often recommended to patients with peritoneal Mesothelioma. This involves the infusion of chemotherapy drugs directly into the abdominal cavity. It can be used after surgery or on its own.
• Radiation therapy – radiation may be targeted directly at cancer cells or can be used for palliative reasons such as to reduce pain or shortness of breath or to control the spread of the tumor.
• Clinical trials – some patients choose to participate in clinical trials or employ the use of therapies that have not yet been deemed successful in treating the disease, such as gene therapy or immunotherapy.

Although peritoneal Mesothelioma is not the most prevalent form of asbestos-related cancer, it is indeed a serious problem and many people die each year from the disease. If you, a friend, or a loved one has been diagnosed with this or any other type of asbestos-related cancer, learn about your options and rights by ordering our free Mesothelioma Resource Kit, full of information on the disease, its treatments, and the legal options of an asbestos-related cancer victim.