Mesothelioma Cancer

Mesothelioma is a rare, aggressive form of cancer that primarily develops in the lining of the lungs (pleural mesothelioma) or the abdomen (peritoneal mesothelioma). Caused by asbestos, mesothelioma has no known cure and has a poor prognosis.

Learn more about various topics related to mesothelioma below, and follow the links for additional information on each subject.

Prognosis and Survival of Mesothelioma Patients

When diagnosed with mesothelioma, the prognosis is usually poor, as there is no cure for the disease, and typically it is discovered at a late stage of development. Generally, the earlier mesothelioma is diagnosed, the better prognosis a patient has.

Defining Important Mesothelioma Terms

Prognosis

How a disease will progress. A prognosis can be good or bad, and may include a life expectancy estimate.

Life Expectancy

How long a patient can expect to survive. This may change with treatment and other developments.

Survival Rate

A statistic (percentage or ratio) indicating how many people live a certain amount of time after diagnosis.

The following additional factors can have a significant impact on the prognosis of mesothelioma. A good doctor should be able to give you an honest assessment when all have been identified and considered.

• The cell type and location of the tumor(s)
• Whether the disease has spread (metastasized)

• Overall health of the individual
• Age of the individual at diagnosis

Surviving Mesothelioma

While prognosis is generally poor, there is still hope of survival. For example, Heather Von St. James is a 10-year mesothelioma survivor who has become an advocate for mesothelioma awareness and an outspoken proponent of banning asbestos. Other mesothelioma survivors have shared their stories, which can inspire those who have mesothelioma.

Types of Mesothelioma

There are two ways to categorize the type of mesothelioma a person has. The first is by where the tumors are found in the body. (Pleural mesothelioma is found in the lungs, peritoneal mesothelioma is found in the abdomen, and percardial mesothelioma is found in the heart. The second way to categorize mesothelioma is by the three types of possible cell structure the cancer may have: (epithelioid, sarcomatoid, or biphasic).

Mesothelioma is most commonly classified by the location in the body where it develops. Specifically, the cancer forms in the lining of certain organs or spaces within the body, known as the mesothelium. Mesothelioma typically develops in one of three specific areas.

• 

  Pleural Mesothelioma

  LUNGS
  The most common type, pleural mesothelioma is caused by the inhalation of asbestos fibers.
• 

  Peritoneal Mesothelioma

  ABDOMEN
  Inhaled or swallowed asbestos fibers can become trapped in lining of the abdomen (the peritoneum).
• 

  Pericardial Mesothelioma

  HEART
  In rare cases, asbestos fibers can get lodged in the pericardium, the lining around the heart cavity.

Mesothelioma most commonly forms (between 80 to 90 percent of the time) in the pleura of the lungs as shown below:

Mesothelioma Diagnosis

As a rare form of cancer, diagnosing mesothelioma can be a long, complex, and often frustrating process, and the disease is often misdiagnosed. Doctors rely on the symptoms of the patient as well as various types of tests to diagnose mesothelioma.

Symptoms

The symptoms associated with mesothelioma can often look like conditions related to other diseases, which makes it very difficult to diagnose. Some common symptoms of mesothelioma include:

• Trouble breathing or chest pain
• Effusion (fluid buildup) in the lungs or abdomen
• Anemia (especially in women)

• Nausea / vomiting
• Loss of weight

Diagnostic Tests

Typically, doctors will try to diagnose the disease by eliminating other potential or related diseases and conditions first. This often involves a variety of tests that provide differing levels of information from which to make a determination about the disease.

Imaging Tests

Blood Tests

Biopsies

Imaging Tests

Imaging tests can include x-rays, CT scans, PET scans, and MRIs, each of which provide a different level of sight into the body without using surgical methods. Because they are non-invasive, these types of imaging tests are often the first forms of diagnostic tool used in detecting mesothelioma.

Mesothelioma Staging

Upon a diagnosis of mesothelioma, the doctor will categorize the disease into one of four stages. While there are several staging systems, the TNM System — which stands for tumor, lymph nodes, and metastasis — is the most commonly used.

Four Stages of Mesothelioma

• STAGE1
  The mesothelioma tumor is located in only one area and has not spread to other parts of the body.
• STAGE2
  A large tumor may have progressed to nearby areas and/or the lymph nodes, but has not gone on any further.
• STAGE3
  Tumors have typically spread beyond the local area to several nearby locations and the lymph nodes.
• STAGE4
  The tumors have spread into multiple areas and throughout the lymphatic system, invading other organs throughout the body.

Typically, Stage 1 and Stage 2 mesothelioma can be treated effectively with surgery and other forms of therapy. However, Stage 3 and Stage 4 mesothelioma are often treated palliatively (i.e., to relieve pain rather than in an attempt to cure the disease).

Mesothelioma Treatment

Once an individual has been diagnosed by a qualified mesothelioma doctor and the disease has been appropriately staged, the next step is to discuss mesothelioma treatment options and to develop a treatment plan. Although no cure for mesothelioma exists, several standard therapies are available. In some cases, these treatments can improve the patient’s prognosis, extending their lives significantly.

For late-stage mesothelioma patients, these treatments may be used palliatively to reduce pain and discomfort caused by the symptoms of mesothelioma.

• 

  Surgery

  For patients with an early-stage mesothelioma diagnosis, surgery can be used to remove all or most of the tumor(s). Depending on the tumor location, surgery may include removing the mesothelial lining, one or more lymph nodes, or part or all of a lung or other organ.
• 

  Chemotherapy

  Chemotherapy drugs work by attacking fast-growing cells, such as cancer cells. Often used in conjunction with surgery, chemotherapy can kill any remaining mesothelioma cells that the surgeon was unable to remove physically.
• 

  Radiation Therapy

  Through the use of targeted radiation, mesothelioma tumors can often be shrunk, making them easier to be removed through surgery. Depending on the tumor location, the radiation can be delivered using an external or an internal source.

Many treatment plans use an approach known as multimodal therapy, which employs two or more of these treatment methods in combination.

Clinical Trials and Emerging Treatments

Depending on various factors such as the patient’s age, tumor location, cell type, staging, and other considerations, some patients may be eligible to participate in a clinical trial. These trials test new and emerging treatments that could ultimately lead to much better therapy options – and potentially even a cure.