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this pagePleural Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer caused by asbestos exposure. In mesothelioma patients, cancer cells grow without control or order and spread along the surface of internal organs. The most frequently targeted areas are: the pleura or membranes surrounding the lungs and chest, the lining of the peritoneum or abdominal cavity, and the membranes surrounding the pericardium or heart.
When the pleura is infected by cancer cells, it is called pleural mesothelioma. This is the most common type of mesothelioma. This disease causes severe respiratory problems and is almost always fatal. However, various treatments for pleural mesothelioma may improve longevity and the quality of life.
Diagnosis of Pleural Mesothelioma
An asbestos victim generally does not develop pleural mesothelioma until decades after the first asbestos exposure. The initial symptoms are difficulty in breathing and chest pain. Other signs of pleural mesothelioma include hoarseness, difficulty swallowing (dysphagia), and coughing up blood (hemoptysis). Over half of the patients with pleural mesothelioma have pain in the lower back or at the side of the chest.
A physician may use x–rays, computed tomography or CT scans, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans, or positron emission tomography (PET) scans to diagnose pleural mesothelioma. Tissue and fluid sampling is also helpful in determining the presence of this disease.
Pleural Mesothelioma Treatment
Choosing a mesothelioma treatment depends upon how advanced the disease is, and the patient’s preferences. If you have been diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma, you should consult a cancer specialists with expertise in mesothelioma. Ask about treatment side-effects, clinical trials, the stage of pleural mesothelioma you are in and how to handle the physical aspects of everyday living. Make sure your concerns and questions are addressed, including pain management.
Surgery may be used in some cases of pleural mesothelioma. If surgery is “palliative,” it provides relief, but not a cure. This might involve draining accumulated fluid from the chest, or lungs, for example. A “pleurectomy” is a more radical surgery in which the chest is opened and the tumor is removed from the surface of the lung. An “extrapleural pneumonectomy” involves the removal of diseased portions of the lung.
The Food and Drug Administration has approved the use of the chemotherapy drug pemetrexed (Alimta®), combined with a standard chemotherapy compound, cisplatin, to treat pleural mesothlioma. Although it cannot cure pleural mesothelioma, pemetrexed or Alimta® may prolong survival and reduce pain.
Other techniques, which may be used with or without surgery and chemotherapy to help pleural mesothelioma patients, are radiation, photodynamic therapy, and immunotherapy. Photodynamic therapy (PDT), which uses light to kill cancer cells, is an experimental treatment. Cancer cells readily absorb chemicals that are injected into the blood at a much faster rate than normal cells. Therefore, a laser light activates the chemical in the cancer cells, destroying them and not the normal cells.
Clinical Trials
A clinical trial is a research study to answer specific questions about new treatments, including their safety and effectiveness. Some pleural mesothelioma patients choose to participate in clinical trials in order to have a greater sense of control over their health, and renewed hope for an improved quality of life. The helpful chemotherapy drug, pemetrexed, was originally tested in clinical trials.
On the other hand, medicines given in clinical trials may involve serious side–effects or not be effective. You will need to ask critical questions before participating in any clinical trial, and talk with your physician about whether this is the right course for you to take. To learn more about how clinical trials are conducted, see the National Institute of Health web site under Resource Information. You can also search their list of clinical trials (type “mesothelioma” or “pleural mesothelioma” in the Search Box).