Mesothelioma Treatments
|
Mesothelioma
MesotheliomaMesothelioma Information to find symptoms, treatments, news, and legal direction on asbestos related injuries and treatments for patients, families and loved ones. It is the aim of MIRG to provide information about mesothelioma, its causes, its treatment and its personal and legal impact. Mesothelioma, an agressive form of lung cancer resulting from exposure to asbestos consists of two general types, pleural mesothelioma and peritoneal mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is closely linked to exposure to asbestos. Around 2,000 to 3,000 people are diagnosed with mesothelioma in the United States every year. Malignant mesothelioma is more common in older male adults; even though a mesothelioma diagnosis can come at any age, most people with mesothelioma cancer are 65 and older. This web site has focused on mesothelioma. Not every asbestos-related lung cancer, however, is a mesothelioma. Other thoracic carcinomas, such as adenocarcinoma, are also known to be caused by exposure to asbestos. Click following link for Asbestos Related Lung Cancer. You will find the Mesothelioma News section current and covering a full range of topics. A mesothelioma diagnosis is overwhelming, and we are here to help you find the options that are best suited to your individual needs. Treatment for mesothelioma depends on the location of the cancer, the stage of the disease, and the patient's age and general health. Standard mesothelioma treatment options include surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. Sometimes, treatment options are combined. About Asbestos Asbestos is the name given to a category of minerals that occur naturally as bundles of fibers which can be separated into thin threads. These fibers are not affected by heat or chemicals and do not conduct electricity. For these reasons, asbestos has been widely used in many industries. Four types of asbestos have been used commercially:
Chrysotile asbestos, with its curly fibers, is in the serpentine family of minerals. The other types of asbestos, which all have rod-like fibers, are known as amphiboles. Asbestos fiber masses tend to break easily into a dust composed of tiny particles that can float in the air and stick to clothes. The fibers may be easily inhaled or swallowed and can cause serious health problems. Asbestos Related Lung Cancer This web site has focused on mesothelioma. Not every asbestos-related lung cancer, however, is a mesothelioma. Other thoracic carcinomas, such as adenocarcinoma, are also known to be caused by exposure to asbestos. The connection between asbestos exposure and lung cancer was noted as early as 1925, and confirmed over the next 70 years by many epidemiologic studies of asbestos-exposed workers. The four main types of commercially used asbestos, chrysotile, amosite, anthophyllite, and mixtures containing crocidolite, have all been associated with an increased risk of lung cancer. About one in seven people who suffer from asbestosis, a lung disease resulting from exposure to asbestos, eventually develop lung cancer. There is a relationship between cigarette smoking and asbestos exposure in causing lung cancer. Individuals occupationally exposed to asbestos who smoke face a much higher risk than those who do not smoke. According to the National Cancer Institute, evidence suggests that asbestos-exposed workers who quit smoking can reduce their risk of developing lung cancer by 50% within five years of quitting. |