Mesothelioma and Life Expectancy By Joseph Devine

Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer, usually caused by exposure to asbestos. When an individual is diagnosed with the disease, there are many questions which will invariably go through their mind. Perhaps the most important one involves the patient's prognosis. That is, what is the life expectancy for someone diagnosed with mesothelioma?

As with any form of cancer, the survival rate for this condition is heavily dependent on how early it is diagnosed. If the disease is already in an advanced state when it is first detected, it will require far more aggressive treatment, with a reduced chance of success.

Unfortunately, the survival rate for mesothelioma has historically been rather low. Many patients do not survive longer than one year after diagnosis. The disease has often spread significantly before it is diagnosed, making it that much more difficult to treat. This is due to the fact that an individual exposed to asbestos can live for decades before any noticeable symptoms present themselves.

In addition, patients diagnosed with mesothelioma are often 55 years of age or older, and may have other medical conditions which complicate their treatment.

The good news is that there are many long-term survivors of mesothelioma, some of whom have lived a decade or more following diagnosis. Some doctors believe these patients survive longer not because of their particular treatment method, but because of other health characteristics specific to the individual. In general, healthier patients with no other existing medical conditions are more likely to survive longer than those with additional diseases and afflictions.

In terms of raw numbers, statistics show that about 10 percent of individuals with mesothelioma live for at least five years after being diagnosed. About 40 percent of those diagnosed survive for at least one year. These numbers are significantly higher than they were just 20 years ago, giving hope to doctors and patients alike.

A few of the other factors that affect survival rates include the specific type of mesothelioma with which an individual is diagnosed, the size and location of their tumor, and whether or not the patient is a smoker. These factors are in addition to the patient's age, any existing medical conditions they may have, and severity of the cancer itself.

For more information on life expectancy and treatment options, visit the mesothelioma attorneys at http://mesolawsuit.com/

Joseph Devine

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Asbestos and the Risk of Peritoneal Mesothelioma By Ally J Smith

Asbestos is a natural mineral that was once used in the construction and home improvement industries. It was put on ceilings when it was mixed with aertex, it was used to make surfaces semi flame resistant and it was also mixed with cement as it is very strong. At one point asbestos was seen as a revolution for these industries as it was just so versatile - it was also deadly. No one realised at the time that every time they were exposed to asbestos that they were taking their life in their hands and putting themselves in grave danger. Asbestos is now banned but its legacy lives on in the thousands of people who are feeling the after effects of being exposed to it over the years.

Exposure to asbestos is directly related to certain types of cancer, including peritoneal mesothelioma which is cancer of the membranes in the abdominal cavity. Peritoneal mesothelioma is the second rarest form of mesothelioma and each year it is responsible for around 20% of the cases of diagnosed mesothelioma. As exposure to asbestos is the only known cause of peritoneal mesothelioma there are two main ways that doctors believe that it can actually reach the abdominal wall. One way is through the digestion of asbestos fibres which is actually easy than most might think. Once in the digestive system the asbestos fibres get stuck in the peritoneum and over time this can result in peritoneal mesothelioma. The second way that asbestos gets to the abdomen is through the lymph nodes and lungs when asbestos is inhaled. In some cases pleural mesothelioma will result in peritoneal mesothelioma ad the asbestos moves through the lungs and into the abdominal cavity if left untreated and undiagnosed for some months.

Suspicion of peritoneal mesothelioma is usually made when a patient exhibits signs such as pain in the abdomen, chest or stomach and many suspect hernias are actually created by a tumour caused by peritoneal mesothelioma. Often a misdiagnosis that does not include peritoneal mesothelioma can be made and this can have severe repercussions on the life expectancy of a patient. It is usual for someone who is thought to have peritoneal mesothelioma to have to undergo many tests to get a correct diagnosis and these tests are imaging scans and tissue biopsies.

Patients who are found to have peritoneal mesothelioma do not have a good prognosis. However if a diagnosis of peritoneal mesothelioma is made early enough they could have surgery to remove the disease and some cases it can extend a patient's life span for a few more years. If surgery is not an option then chemotherapy or radiotherapy can help although there is no guarantee that this will make much of a difference. It is essential that a person with peritoneal mesothelioma gets the right kind of treatment for any pain that they experience so that they are as comfortable as they can be. Peritoneal mesothelioma, like the other forms of mesothelioma is highly unpleasant and hard to live with.

Looking for information about Mesothelioma? Our website provides many useful information including mesothelioma symptoms, mesothelioma treatments and mesothelioma stages. The site also provided details information about different type of mesothelioma: Malignant Mesothelioma, Pleural Mesothelioma, Pericardial mesothelioma and Peritoneal mesothelioma.

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Mesothelioma is Almost Always Caused by Exposure to Asbestos By Wayne Wilkinson

Every organ in our body has a thin lining around it. This lining is made up of cells called mesothelial cells. The mesothelium (lining) that is made up of mesothelial cells lines the thoracic cavity, heart and abdominal cavity. Due to some factors, the mesothelial cells divide uncontrollably, become abnormal and cannot be stopped. When this happens in the lungs, then you will be diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma.

In the United States, there are 3000 cases of pleural mesothelioma yearly. Of these 3000 cases more than half of them are men. Depending on the time of diagnosis and its metastasis, the prognosis is usually poor. If it has spread to many parts then you will probably have 1 year to live.

This fatal illness is mainly caused by asbestos exposure. Asbestos is a mineral that occurs naturally and is is mined from rocks found in different countries. It is composed of small fibers as strong as the metal steel. These fibers can be woven and are resistant to chemicals or heat. Back in the days, asbestos was used for construction, insulation, ship building and in many household appliances.

When this asbestos is damaged or destroyed in anyway, tiny fibers are released into the air. When you inhale them, they go into the smallest spaces in the lungs where you cannot cough them out. When the body realizes there is a foreign object, it tries to get rid of it by breaking it down into pieces. By breaking it down, this causes injury to the body and inflammation happens. In 10-30 years you will develop pleural mesothelioma. If you are a construction worker, electrician, ship builder, lumber, demolition worker or a boiler maker then you have a high chance of getting exposed to this deadly mineral.

If you work in these places and have a family or live with friends, there is a high chance you are bringing this fibers home and this can cause the same disease to other people. Therefore when someone has pleural mesothelioma it many not necessarily be caused by first hand exposure to asbestos, it may be the person you live with who comes home with the fibers on this cloths or even hair. This is not a contagious illness therefore do not be cautious if living with a sick person.

The other cause of pleural mesothelioma is exposure to radiation. If you happen to work in a radiation department or you are exposed to ultraviolet rays, this can cause over growth of cells in any organ causing cancer. You are expected to wear protective gear when in a radiation room. Patients that have also had X-rays done with the use of thorium dioxide were later diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma. During a study, they suspected that a simian virus which was a component of the polio vaccine used in the early 1960s caused mesothelioma but this was not definite. In the meantime a study is being conducted in the U.K to find more causes of this disease.

For help locating a mesothelioma cancer lawyer please visit:http://www.MesotheliomaLawsuitExperts.com

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