Mesothelioma Health Channel

	Feature Article Illustrations for this article Click on an image below to enlarge Respiratory system Mesothelioma (malignant) Definition Malignant mesothelioma is a cancerous tumor of the pleura (lining of the lung and chest cavity) or peritoneum (lining of the abdomen) that is almost always caused by sustained exposure to asbestos. Alternative Names Malignant mesothelioma Causes, incidence, and risk factors Malignant mesothelioma affects men more often than women. Sustained exposure to asbestos is the biggest risk factor. Symptoms may not appear until 20 to 50 years or even longer after exposure to asbestos. The average age of diagnosis is 60. The tumor can spread rapidly to involve other nearby areas. Symptoms Shortness of breath Chest pain Cough Weight loss Signs and tests Chest x-ray showing tumor and possibly showing pleural effusion (which may be bloody) Thoracic CT Cytology from pleural fluid Open lung biopsy Treatment When found early, surgery may cure mesothelioma. Having chemotherapy and radiation before the surgery may help increase your chance for a cure. When the disease is too advanced for surgery, chemotherapy or radiation may be used to reduce symptoms, but a cure is usually not possible. Combining certain chemotherapy drugs may help decrease symptoms and improve survival. Consider participating in a clinical trial (test of new treatments), which may give you additional treatment options. Supportive treatment (such as pain relief and oxygen) may also help to relieve symptoms. Support Groups The stress of illness can often be helped by joining a support group where members share common experiences and problems. See: Cancer - support group Lung disease - support group Expectations (prognosis) The average survival time varies from 4 to 18 months. However, your outlook depends on the stage of the tumor and whether surgery is an option. Continue reading this article

More Articles

Mesothelioma (benign-fibrous) (1 Image) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Benign mesothelioma is a noncancerous tumor of the pleura (lining of the lung and chest cavity. Reviewer: David A. Kaufman, M.D., Assistant Professor, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care & Sleep Medicine, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 03/16/2007
Email  |  Save

Thoracic CT (10 Images) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Thoracic CT is a computed tomography scan of the chest and upper abdomen. Reviewer: Stuart Bentley-Hibbert, M.D., Ph.D., Department of Radiology, Weill Cornell Medical Center, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 07/18/2007
Email  |  Save

Asbestosis (1 Image) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Asbestosis is a respiratory disease caused by inhaling asbestos fibers. Reviewer: David A. Kaufman, M.D., Assistant Professor, Division of Pulmonary Medicine, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 03/01/2007
Email  |  Save

Radiation therapy (1 Video, 1 Image) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Radiation therapy uses high powered x-rays or radioactive seeds to kill cancer cells. Reviewer: Richard J. LoCicero, MD, Medical Oncology, The Longstreet Cancer Center, Gainesville, GA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 09/25/2006
Email  |  Save

Chemotherapy (1 Image) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Chemotherapy is the use of drugs to kill bacteria, viruses, fungi, and cancer cells. Most commonly, the term is used to refer to cancer-killing drugs. This article focuses on cancer chemotherapy. Reviewer: Rita Nanda, M.D., Department of Medicine, Section of Hematology/Oncology, University of Chicago Medical Center, Chicago, IL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 10/31/2006
Email  |  Save

Use Healthline to search the web for more Mesothelioma information.