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Mesothelioma |
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What is mesothelioma?
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.
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.
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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.
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Radiation therapy, also called
radiotherapy, involves the use of high-energy rays to kill
cancer cells and shrink tumors. Radiation therapy affects the
cancer cells only in the treated area. The radiation may come
from a machine (external radiation) or from putting materials
that produce radiation through thin plastic tubes into the area
where the cancer cells are found (internal radiation therapy).
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Chemotherapy is the use of
anticancer drugs to kill cancer cells throughout the body. Most
drugs used to treat mesothelioma are given by injection into a
vein (intravenous, or IV). Doctors are also studying the
effectiveness of putting chemotherapy directly into the chest or
abdomen (intracavitary chemotherapy).
To relieve symptoms and control
pain, the doctor may use a needle or a thin tube to drain fluid
that has built up in the chest or abdomen. The procedure for
removing fluid from the chest is called thoracentesis. Removal of
fluid from the abdomen is called paracentesis. Drugs may be given
through a tube in the chest to prevent more fluid from
accumulating. Radiation therapy and surgery may also be helpful in
relieving symptoms.
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