Mesothelioma Cancer Online
Diagnosis of mesothelioma is obtained after careful assessment of clinical and radiological findings including confirmation of tissue biopsy. There are several testing medias which are used in the process of a diagnosis.
Computed Tomography also known as CT scans enable the defining of pleural effusion. In addition they can determine and pick up on pleural thickening, pleural calcification and thickening of interlobular fissures or possible chest wall invasion. However a CT scan is incapable of differentiating between changes associated with benign asbestos disease nor can they differentiate between adenocarcinoma of the lung and mesothelioma.
An MRI scan or Magnetic Resonance Imaging, are generally used to determine the extent of the tumour prior to aggressive treatment. They are more accurate than CT scans as they provide images in multiple planes and are much more comprehensive at identifying tumours. They are also more accurate than CT scans in assessing enlargement of the mediastinal lymph nodes which lie between the two lungs, as well as a clear diaphragmatic surface, both of which play an important role in surgical candidacy.
Positron Emission Tomography or PET imaging has become a crucial part of the diagnosis and evaluation procedure of mesothelioma. It is said to be the most diagnostic of tumour sites for determining the stage of mesothelioma. Positron Emission Tomography is a relatively new technique and is not available in most hospitals and clinics.
Fluid Analysis is a testing procedure of the pleural fluid and tests for malignant cells. It is performed as a diagnostic thoracentesis where cells are extracted from the pleural cavity for analysis. The readings are highly inconclusive and in most cases a tissue biopsy is required for a more accurate confirmation and diagnosis.
A Tissue Analysis or biopsy is a needle biopsy of the pleura or an open surgical biopsy and confirms whether or not the patient has mesothelioma. In the case of a pleural biopsy an incision is made in the chest wall and a tube, called a thorascope, is inserted into the chest between two ribs. A sample of tissue is removed for analysis under a microscope by a pathologist. During a peritoneal biopsy a small incision is made I the abdomen and a peritoneoscope is inserted into the abdominal cavity. The tissue removed is then examined under the microscope for confirmation of mesothelioma.
In 2007 government plans made all victims of cancer contracted as a result of exposure to asbestos, eligible for a faster compensation payout. Sufferers no longer have to choose between claiming damages for themselves or waiting until after their death so that their relatives could possibly receive a bigger claim. The change in compensation payout was greatly welcomed by pressure groups and politicians alike after constant campaigning for many years.
Scientists working in the asbestos related cancer field have warned that a further 200,000 people were likely to die in the near future from mesothelioma and lung cancer as a result of contact with asbestos fibres. The greatest risk was said to be for those people born in the 1940?s who worked in the construction industry were asbestos was a common building material. Carpenters, shipyard workers, electricians, metal workers and laggers, although retired today, are all amongst those likely to develop mesothelioma which is highly probable to kill them.
Those people previously not eligible for compensation such as family members of workers exposed to asbestos and people work worked in professions not outlined or listed in the compensation claim category are now also able to go forth and seek a payout of some interest. In addition, anyone who has recently come into contact with asbestos and been unfortunate enough to be diagnosed with mesothelioma is also able to make a claim.
The new legislation now means that everyone with mesothelioma regardless of the staging of the disease is eligible to receive compensation of a substantial payment within six weeks of making a claim.
Mesothelioma is a fatal type of cancer which affects the lining of the lungs, stomach and heart as a result of exposure to asbestos fibres through inhalation. Hospitals are now awaiting instructions on how to best deal with an increase in patients diagnosed with the disease thought to be at a national epidemic level.
The epidemic is said to be due from 2011 to 2015 as those people exposed to asbestos sometime in the 1960?s and 1970?s are now being diagnosed with mesothelioma. Figures produced by the East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust show that on average some 10 and 20 patients are being diagnosed with the disease every year. Patients that meet specific specifications such as age and general health are being referred, providing they are willing and give their consent, to take part in clinical trials and surgical procedures that involve the use of new drugs.
A spokesperson for the Trust said, ?Shortly new guidance is expected, which is likely to recommend that all cases of mesothelioma are discussed in one meeting covering the whole of Hertfordshire and south Bedfordshire - the area of the Mount Vernon Cancer Network.
"This will allow expertise to be developed by a small number of people and ensure that nobody misses out on the right advice.
"The Trust is already engaged with its partners in the local network to make sure that it is ready to implement the new guidance once it is published.
"It is important to remember, however, that until such time as a treatment is found that holds out the possibility of a cure, the aim will be to make sure that patients with mesothelioma have their quality of life enhanced as far as is possible.?
Asbestos gives its name to the group of naturally occurring minerals that form masses of strong flexible fibres. The fibres are then woven into a material which is used in a variety of industrial products. It was particularly favoured as a building material in the mid 1900 because of its durability, easiness and resistence. However, over the years it has been made clear that asbestos is a potentially life threatening material and when tiny dust particles are inhaled or extensive exposure to asbestos occurs it can lead to some very serious health problems, namely mesothelioma.
Cases of mesothelioma have been directly linked to exposure to asbestos and the greatest risk of contracting the disease is related to working with or around asbestos. However, there are cases where people have developed mesothelioma without having had any direct contact with asbestos.
There are many products that contain asbestos and although in most western countries there is a strict ban of the production and use of asbestos, nevertheless old buildings still have the asbestos contained in their structure. Here is a general guide to typical products that contain asbestos. Moulded or preformed lagging used in thermal insulation of pipes and boilers, sprayed asbestos used as fire protection in ducts, firebreaks, panels, partitions, soffit boards, ceiling panels and around structural work, insulating boards used for fire protection, thermal insulation, partitioning in the ducts, asbestos packing used in firebreaks in ceiling voids, millboard, paper and paper products used for insulation of electrical equipment, asbestos cement products in both flat and corrugated sheets used as roofing or wall cladding, cement used in gutters, rainwater pipes and water tanks, textured coating such as Artex, bitumen roofing material and vinyl or thermoplastic floor tile.
Alimta, a drug used in the treatment of mesothelioma, has now been made available in the UK after previously being refused to UK mesothelioma sufferers. The decision to make the drug available was made by NICE, The national Institute for Clinical Excellence, and now gives the complete UK nation an equal opportunity to undergo treatment with the drug Alimta. Mesothelioma patients in Scotland, the Northwest and Northeast of England already had access to the drug.
Alimta is by no means a miracle drug, in the sense that it can cure mesothelioma, but it has been proved that treatment with its use prolongs life expectancy and lessens somewhat the awful symptoms of the disease. It is said to be the only treatment available.
The whole approval process has taken nearly three years to come to a decision and was ended finally by NICE in a favourable way. Over the course of the years hundreds of mesothelioma sufferers have lost their battles without ever having the chance to be treated with this drug.
As a result of the decision made by NICE, all primary care trusts are now obligated to provide this treatment to their patients diagnosed with mesothelioma. It comes as a great relief not just for the sufferers themselves but also their loved ones, the majority of whom have backed the campaign over the years.
Alimta is also being used to treat patients with advanced stages of malignant pleural mesothelioma and those whose cancer could not be removed surgically in a safe and successful way. Despite the many that have lost their lives due to exposure to asbestos during their working lives, the decision to make the Alimta drug available across the UK should help those still battling the awful disease of mesothelioma.
As with any cancer there are different stages to which the disease develops or advances to. These stages are classified in stages 1 to 4. In the case of mesothelioma, the system used is the TNM International Staging System for Diffuse Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma. It is also referred to as the International Mesothelioma Interest Group System. Before any treatment plan can be formulated it is necessary to determine the stage the disease has reached in order to carry out the most effective form of treatment.
The TNM system also takes into account any Primary Tumour, T, Lymph Nodes, N, and Metastases, M. For peritoneal mesothelioma, cancer of the abdomen, there is no established staging system; however patients are staged using the general TNM system for cancer. The TNM system is very complex and can be difficult to understand by someone who is not involved in the medical profession. The most important thing to known is that stage 1 refers to the disease at its earliest stage while stage 4 signifies cancer at its most advanced level.
Stage 1 mesothelioma involves the left or right pleura with possible spreading of the cancer to the lung, pericardium or even diaphragm on the same side. The lymph nodes at this stage remain uninvolved.
Stage 2 mesothelioma results in the disease spreading from the pleura on one side to nearby lymph nodes next to the lung on the same side. It is also possible for the pleura to have actually spread into the lung, pericardium, or diaphragm on the same side.
Stage 3 mesothelioma involves the chest wall being invaded, surrounding muscle tissue, ribs, heart, oesophagus or other nearby organs in the chest on the same side with or without signs of spreading to lymph nodes on the same side as the primary tumour.
Stage 4 mesothelioma has reached an advanced level and has effectively spread into the lymph nodes in the chest on the side opposite the primary tumour or has extended to the pleura or lung on the opposite side or directly into organs in the abdominal cavity or neck. Metastases in distant areas are included in this stage.
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Diagnosis of Mesothelioma
Diagnosis of mesothelioma is obtained after careful assessment of clinical and radiological findings including confirmation of tissue biopsy. There are several testing medias which are used in the process of a diagnosis.
Computed Tomography also known as CT scans enable the defining of pleural effusion. In addition they can determine and pick up on pleural thickening, pleural calcification and thickening of interlobular fissures or possible chest wall invasion. However a CT scan is incapable of differentiating between changes associated with benign asbestos disease nor can they differentiate between adenocarcinoma of the lung and mesothelioma.
An MRI scan or Magnetic Resonance Imaging, are generally used to determine the extent of the tumour prior to aggressive treatment. They are more accurate than CT scans as they provide images in multiple planes and are much more comprehensive at identifying tumours. They are also more accurate than CT scans in assessing enlargement of the mediastinal lymph nodes which lie between the two lungs, as well as a clear diaphragmatic surface, both of which play an important role in surgical candidacy.
Positron Emission Tomography or PET imaging has become a crucial part of the diagnosis and evaluation procedure of mesothelioma. It is said to be the most diagnostic of tumour sites for determining the stage of mesothelioma. Positron Emission Tomography is a relatively new technique and is not available in most hospitals and clinics.
Fluid Analysis is a testing procedure of the pleural fluid and tests for malignant cells. It is performed as a diagnostic thoracentesis where cells are extracted from the pleural cavity for analysis. The readings are highly inconclusive and in most cases a tissue biopsy is required for a more accurate confirmation and diagnosis.
A Tissue Analysis or biopsy is a needle biopsy of the pleura or an open surgical biopsy and confirms whether or not the patient has mesothelioma. In the case of a pleural biopsy an incision is made in the chest wall and a tube, called a thorascope, is inserted into the chest between two ribs. A sample of tissue is removed for analysis under a microscope by a pathologist. During a peritoneal biopsy a small incision is made I the abdomen and a peritoneoscope is inserted into the abdominal cavity. The tissue removed is then examined under the microscope for confirmation of mesothelioma.
Faster Compensation Payouts for Asbestos Victims
In 2007 government plans made all victims of cancer contracted as a result of exposure to asbestos, eligible for a faster compensation payout. Sufferers no longer have to choose between claiming damages for themselves or waiting until after their death so that their relatives could possibly receive a bigger claim. The change in compensation payout was greatly welcomed by pressure groups and politicians alike after constant campaigning for many years.
Scientists working in the asbestos related cancer field have warned that a further 200,000 people were likely to die in the near future from mesothelioma and lung cancer as a result of contact with asbestos fibres. The greatest risk was said to be for those people born in the 1940?s who worked in the construction industry were asbestos was a common building material. Carpenters, shipyard workers, electricians, metal workers and laggers, although retired today, are all amongst those likely to develop mesothelioma which is highly probable to kill them.
Those people previously not eligible for compensation such as family members of workers exposed to asbestos and people work worked in professions not outlined or listed in the compensation claim category are now also able to go forth and seek a payout of some interest. In addition, anyone who has recently come into contact with asbestos and been unfortunate enough to be diagnosed with mesothelioma is also able to make a claim.
The new legislation now means that everyone with mesothelioma regardless of the staging of the disease is eligible to receive compensation of a substantial payment within six weeks of making a claim.
Mesothelioma Epidemic at National Level on Horizon
Mesothelioma is a fatal type of cancer which affects the lining of the lungs, stomach and heart as a result of exposure to asbestos fibres through inhalation. Hospitals are now awaiting instructions on how to best deal with an increase in patients diagnosed with the disease thought to be at a national epidemic level.
The epidemic is said to be due from 2011 to 2015 as those people exposed to asbestos sometime in the 1960?s and 1970?s are now being diagnosed with mesothelioma. Figures produced by the East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust show that on average some 10 and 20 patients are being diagnosed with the disease every year. Patients that meet specific specifications such as age and general health are being referred, providing they are willing and give their consent, to take part in clinical trials and surgical procedures that involve the use of new drugs.
A spokesperson for the Trust said, ?Shortly new guidance is expected, which is likely to recommend that all cases of mesothelioma are discussed in one meeting covering the whole of Hertfordshire and south Bedfordshire - the area of the Mount Vernon Cancer Network.
"This will allow expertise to be developed by a small number of people and ensure that nobody misses out on the right advice.
"The Trust is already engaged with its partners in the local network to make sure that it is ready to implement the new guidance once it is published.
"It is important to remember, however, that until such time as a treatment is found that holds out the possibility of a cure, the aim will be to make sure that patients with mesothelioma have their quality of life enhanced as far as is possible.?
Typical Products That Contain Asbestos
Asbestos gives its name to the group of naturally occurring minerals that form masses of strong flexible fibres. The fibres are then woven into a material which is used in a variety of industrial products. It was particularly favoured as a building material in the mid 1900 because of its durability, easiness and resistence. However, over the years it has been made clear that asbestos is a potentially life threatening material and when tiny dust particles are inhaled or extensive exposure to asbestos occurs it can lead to some very serious health problems, namely mesothelioma.
Cases of mesothelioma have been directly linked to exposure to asbestos and the greatest risk of contracting the disease is related to working with or around asbestos. However, there are cases where people have developed mesothelioma without having had any direct contact with asbestos.
There are many products that contain asbestos and although in most western countries there is a strict ban of the production and use of asbestos, nevertheless old buildings still have the asbestos contained in their structure. Here is a general guide to typical products that contain asbestos. Moulded or preformed lagging used in thermal insulation of pipes and boilers, sprayed asbestos used as fire protection in ducts, firebreaks, panels, partitions, soffit boards, ceiling panels and around structural work, insulating boards used for fire protection, thermal insulation, partitioning in the ducts, asbestos packing used in firebreaks in ceiling voids, millboard, paper and paper products used for insulation of electrical equipment, asbestos cement products in both flat and corrugated sheets used as roofing or wall cladding, cement used in gutters, rainwater pipes and water tanks, textured coating such as Artex, bitumen roofing material and vinyl or thermoplastic floor tile.
Alimta Drug Approved to Treat Mesothelioma Sufferers
Alimta, a drug used in the treatment of mesothelioma, has now been made available in the UK after previously being refused to UK mesothelioma sufferers. The decision to make the drug available was made by NICE, The national Institute for Clinical Excellence, and now gives the complete UK nation an equal opportunity to undergo treatment with the drug Alimta. Mesothelioma patients in Scotland, the Northwest and Northeast of England already had access to the drug.
Alimta is by no means a miracle drug, in the sense that it can cure mesothelioma, but it has been proved that treatment with its use prolongs life expectancy and lessens somewhat the awful symptoms of the disease. It is said to be the only treatment available.
The whole approval process has taken nearly three years to come to a decision and was ended finally by NICE in a favourable way. Over the course of the years hundreds of mesothelioma sufferers have lost their battles without ever having the chance to be treated with this drug.
As a result of the decision made by NICE, all primary care trusts are now obligated to provide this treatment to their patients diagnosed with mesothelioma. It comes as a great relief not just for the sufferers themselves but also their loved ones, the majority of whom have backed the campaign over the years.
Alimta is also being used to treat patients with advanced stages of malignant pleural mesothelioma and those whose cancer could not be removed surgically in a safe and successful way. Despite the many that have lost their lives due to exposure to asbestos during their working lives, the decision to make the Alimta drug available across the UK should help those still battling the awful disease of mesothelioma.
Stages of Mesothelioma
As with any cancer there are different stages to which the disease develops or advances to. These stages are classified in stages 1 to 4. In the case of mesothelioma, the system used is the TNM International Staging System for Diffuse Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma. It is also referred to as the International Mesothelioma Interest Group System. Before any treatment plan can be formulated it is necessary to determine the stage the disease has reached in order to carry out the most effective form of treatment.
The TNM system also takes into account any Primary Tumour, T, Lymph Nodes, N, and Metastases, M. For peritoneal mesothelioma, cancer of the abdomen, there is no established staging system; however patients are staged using the general TNM system for cancer. The TNM system is very complex and can be difficult to understand by someone who is not involved in the medical profession. The most important thing to known is that stage 1 refers to the disease at its earliest stage while stage 4 signifies cancer at its most advanced level.
Stage 1 mesothelioma involves the left or right pleura with possible spreading of the cancer to the lung, pericardium or even diaphragm on the same side. The lymph nodes at this stage remain uninvolved.
Stage 2 mesothelioma results in the disease spreading from the pleura on one side to nearby lymph nodes next to the lung on the same side. It is also possible for the pleura to have actually spread into the lung, pericardium, or diaphragm on the same side.
Stage 3 mesothelioma involves the chest wall being invaded, surrounding muscle tissue, ribs, heart, oesophagus or other nearby organs in the chest on the same side with or without signs of spreading to lymph nodes on the same side as the primary tumour.
Stage 4 mesothelioma has reached an advanced level and has effectively spread into the lymph nodes in the chest on the side opposite the primary tumour or has extended to the pleura or lung on the opposite side or directly into organs in the abdominal cavity or neck. Metastases in distant areas are included in this stage.
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