Friday, July 24, 2009

What are the types of Mesothelioma

Pleural Mesothelioma - Mesothelioma of Pleura

Pleural mesothelioma is a type of cancer that affects the pleural sac that surrounds the lungs, and is caused by exposure to asbestos. Pleural mesothelioma is the most common form of mesothelioma with estimated 75% of all mesothelioma cases being of this form.

Description of the Pleura:

The pleura is a sac which contains the lungs and also a thin membrane called the mesothelium which secretes a fluid that enables the lungs to expand and contract during breathing. Inhaling asbestos causes a build-up of fibers inside the lungs, and due to the microscopic size and sharpness of the fibers it is possible for them to penetrate the walls of the lung and enter the pleural cavity. As they migrate from the lung into the pleural cavity, the sharp strands shred and mutilate the mesothelium, destroying it and potentially causing cancer.

Thickening of the Pleural Fluid and Cancerous Tumors.

Once asbestos fibers invade the pleural cavity, cancerous tumors may develop which thicken the pleural fluid and inhibit proper lung movement. Tumors can also constrict the lungs and press on the ribcage or other organs resulting in agonizing pain. Also, because the lungs are responsible for re-oxygenating blood, should the cancer advance directly into the lungs it is possible for the cancerous cells to spread into other parts of the body through the bloodstream.

Pleural mesothelioma is often confused with less serious or deadly diseases such as:
  • Pneumonia
  • Common Cold
  • Whooping cough
  • The Flu
  • Laryngitis
  • Bruised/Broken Ribs due to chest pain
  • Sometimes there are no symptoms at all

Mesothelium Mutatation and Asbestos.

Scientists and doctors are do not know why asbestos fibers cause the mesothelium to mutate into cancer, but as more asbestos cases are reported, doctors are learning more and more about this devastating condition. It is believed that even one single fiber can begin the cascade of events that cause mesothelioma.

Diagnosis of Pleural Mesothelioma.

Although there is no cure for mesothelioma, early diagnosis provides doctors the opportunity to relieve a great deal of suffering, and prolong and improve many patients’ lives. These avenues of treatment depend on the extent of the condition and the progession of the disease.

Development of Pleural Mesothelioma:

Because the time it takes for the asbestos particle to turn cancerous is very great - sometimes between 30 to 40 years - it can be difficult to spot. Most cases of pleural mesothelioma develop in the sac that contains the lungs.

Common treatments for Pleural Mesothelioma include:

  • Surgery: Surgeons can remove all or part of the lung to excise tumors or prevent their spread. In some occasions fluid needs to be drained from the lungs, or in extreme cases the entire lung needs to be removed.
  • Radiation: Cancer is often treated with high doses of radiation. This treatment uses high energy waves to kill cancerous cells, but unfortunately it also kills healthy cells and causes a number of peripheral health problems.
  • Chemotherapy: Strong anti-cancer drugs are pumped directly into the tumors or taken orally can inhibit their growth and spread, but these drugs can also cause severe health problems in other bodily systems.

Affects of Pleural Mesothelioma:

Make sure that if you or someone you love has developed pleural mesothelioma, you owe it to yourself to take action. The asbestos industry allegedly knew of the dangers of their product, but rather than take action to prevent serious harm they hid this information from their workers and the public until the damage had been done. Now, thousands of people hurt by this deception are coming forward to collect compensation for their pain and suffering, and you could be the next person to receive restitution for their condition. Let us help you. Contactus today.

Peritoneal Mesothelioma

Peritoneal mesothelioma is a cancer that affects the thin cell membrane called the peritoneum. This collection of cells surrounds the gastrointestinal tract and provides lubrication for the stomach and intestines to move so that they may function properly. These organs must be able to move properly in order to properly digest and process food, and a failure in the peritoneum can result in severe and debilitating consequences. Unfortunately, the symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma can be so subtle that it can be confused with other, less dangerous diseases, and this aspect of the disease significantly contributes to its already staggering mortality rate.

Common symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma:

  • Stomach pain
  • Lower abdominal pain
  • Difficulty with bowel movements
  • Weight lost
  • Nausea
  • Loss of appetite
  • Weakness
  • Abdominal swelling

When asbestos is ingested, minute fibers enter the stomach and penetrate the stomach lining. As more and more fibers penetrate this delicate organ, the cells on the exterior lining begin to mutate into cancerous mesothelioma cells. These cells accumulate into tumors, and eventually overwhelm the peritoneum, killing off healthy stomach cells in the process. Furthermore, these tumors prevent the peritoneum from making the protective lining that aids the stomach in movement. In less drastic instances, the tumors on the stomach lining grow and exert increasing pressure on surrounding organs causing agonizing pain.

There is no cure for any type of mesothelioma, but certain conditions can aid in treatment. Age, type of cell affected, size and stage of the tumor, and whether or not the tumor responds to treatment greatly affect what course of action doctors can take.

Common treatments for peritoneal mesothelioma:

  • Chemotherapy: Strong drugs are used to shrink the size and kill tumors, but these drugs are extremely potent and often cause significant damage to other healthy cells. These drugs can be taken orally, or in some cases the drugs are directly introduced into the tumors if they are resistant to other treatment
  • Radiation therapy: Radiation is one of the ways to treat peritoneal mesothelioma. Powerful X-rays can kill diseased cells, but they also can kill healthy cells, and many people undergoing radiation treatment for peritoneal mesothelioma often suffer hair loss and other side effects.
  • Surgery: This most drastic option often involves the removal of the tumor or cancerous tissue in the abdomen or gastrointestinal tract. The necessity of surgery is generally based on the extent and progression of the cancer.

Vigorous treatment and early diagnosis are often the keys to long term survival. Unfortunately, mesothelioma lies dormant for years, so most victims do not experience any side effects until the cancer is extremely advanced. After the cancer has overwhelmed the stomach, it is rare for patients to survive longer than five years.

Victims of peritoneal mesothelioma

Many victims of mesothelioma take comfort in knowing that the asbestos industry will no longer injure innocent people through deception and blatant lies. Another source of comfort many victims discover is through the law. Thousands of people are taking action against the asbestos industry in order to recover financial restitution for their pain and suffering, and you could be next. Let our dedicated and experienced peritoneal mesothelioma attorneys help you get the compensation you may deserve. Contact us today.

Pericardial Mesothelioma

Pericardial mesothelioma is the rarest type of the three main malignant forms of the disease. The heart, as with any organ that requires constant movement to work properly, requires constant lubrication. Lubrication comes in the form of a thin layer of mucous, and in normal systems the heart beats on as normal.

Effects on the Pericardium

Pericardial mesothelioma affects the pericardium, the protective sac that covers the heart and provides lubrication so that it can beat properly. Asbestos exposure is the most common culprit of this debilitating form of cancer, a type that usually comprises 5% of all mesothelioma cases.

Pericardium Mutations

Inhaled asbestos fibers can pierce and shred the pericardium and cause mutations that can result in mesothelioma. Once the cancer begins to spread, it can cause chronic coughing, chest pain, shortness of breath, and heart palpitations. Like the other forms of the cancer, decades pass without incident as pericardial mesothelioma slowly destroys the tissues around the heart. Unfortunately, by the time symptoms appear it is usually far too late to treat pericardial mesothelioma with conventional drugs or therapies.

Common symptoms of pericardial mesothelioma include:

  • Shortness of breath
  • Different degrees of chest pain
  • Heart palpitations
  • Irregular heart beat
  • Coughing

Treatments for pericardial mesothelioma.

There are a few marginally effective treatments for victims of pericardial mesothelioma. Radiation treatments are usually the preferred course of action to help slow the spread of the cancer, and chemotherapy can provide help in bolstering the effects of the radiation. Another type of treatment involves “fine needle aspiration” to draw out excess fluid that collects in the pericardium, which can help relieve some symptoms. In rare cases, doctors perform surgery to remove the pericardium, although this is usually a treatment of last resort. This course of action usually only slows the growth of pericardial mesothelioma, for no amount of surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation will fully eliminate the cancer.

If you or a loved one developed pericardial mesothelioma as a consequence of asbestos exposure, you deserve a voice and you may have the right to seek financial compensation for your pain and suffering. Let a dedicated and compassionate mesothelioma lawyer help you get the restitution you deserve. You must act quickly, for the statute of limitations in your state could end your case before it has a chance to begin. Don’t wait - contact someone who understands your fear and frustration today.


Mesothelioma Cancer Cell Types

To understand mesothelioma is to understand cancer. Cancer is essentially uncontrolled cellular growth. Under normal circumstances, body cells in the hair, bone, organs, or blood grow to a certain point, die off, and are replaced by newer, healthier cells. Unfortunately, most cancer cells are damaged to some degree, and as the body reproduces them they begin to take over for healthy cells, leading to eventual system failure.

Mesothelioma cells are divided into three main categories: epithelioid, sarcomatoid cells, and a mix of the two types called biphasic mesothelioma.

Cancers like mesothelioma can affect virtually any type of cells in the body, often radically affecting the prognosis and treatment options for patients. The tragedy of mesothelioma is that it takes decades before most symptoms appear, and by the time the cancer is discovered it is too entrenched in the system to treat.

Epithelioid Mesothelioma

The most common and relatively treatable form of the cancer is Epithelioid mesothelioma. Under a microscope this type of the disease is seen as a papillary or tubular growth and generally affects membranes and tissues that cover organs and other internal bodily surfaces. Between 50-70% of mesothelioma cases fall into this category, and this type is most likely to respond to treatment

Sarcomatoid Mesothelioma

Sarcomatoid mesothelioma is the most serious form of the disease, as it rarely responds to any treatment whatsoever. Fortunately it is also the rarest, as it only strikes 10-20% of patients with mesothelioma. It appears as spindle-shaped pattern of cells that overlap one another, and generally arises from support tissues such as bone, cartilage, muscle, and fat. Death usually occurs within six months of diagnosis of sarcomatoid mesothelioma.

Biphasic Mesothelioma

Biphasic mesothelioma is not a condition unto itself, but rather it is a combination of the other two types. It can take on both the good and bad aspects of sarcomatoid and epithelioid mesotheliomas and 20-35% of all mesothelioma cases are mixed or biphasic.

Mesothelioma is truly the deadly scourge of the 21st century. Because it takes decades before the first symptoms appear, many health professionals believe that there will be a mesothelioma epidemic in the decades to come. If you or someone you love was the victim of this deadly disease, you must consult one of our dedicated and experienced mesothelioma attorneys today. You may be entitled to compensation for your pain and suffering. Don’t delay. Call now.


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Peoples Views About Heart Lung Machine

heart-lung machine effects?

by Mariette Geest, Oct 16, 1999 12:00AM
Dear Doctors

I would like to know if there are any side effectts on the use of a heart-lung machine during a heart surgery. I read somewhere that there is an increased risk for cancer. Is this true? Are there any other side effects?

Thanks very much for your reply

Mariette


by CCF CARDIO MD - DLB, Oct 16, 1999 12:00AM


There is no increased risk of cancer. The major risk appears to be neurological problems, especially subtle changes in cognitive function.

Questions for your doctor

Questions for your doctor

Preparing questions in advance can help patients to have more meaningful discussions with their physicians regarding their treatment options. The following questions related to the heart-lung machine may be helpful:

  1. Will a heart-lung machine be used during my surgery?

  2. How common is the use of a heart-lung machine with my type of surgery?

  3. What are my risks with the heart-lung machine?

  4. How long will I be on the heart-lung machine?

  5. What will happen if my heart does not function when they remove me from the bypass machine?

  6. What specialists will be used during my surgery?

  7. Are there any other alternatives available to me?

  8. Will by recovery be any more or less difficult if a heart-lung machine is used?

  9. Do I need any special preparations for surgery using a heart-lung machine?

  10. Will I need to change my medications prior to my surgery?

  11. How long will it take me to recover from the surgery?

  12. Could a heart-lung machine affect my pregnancy in any way?

What are the Risks of Using Heart Lung Machine

Potential risks of heart-lung machines

Since its first use in humans in 1955, the heart-lung machine has been used in millions of open-heart surgeries. Nevertheless, there are risks associated with use of the machine. The complication rate is between 1 and 4 percent, depending on the kind of surgery.

The major risks associated with the heart-lung machine include:

  • Blood clots. These may form as the machine processes blood and in extreme cases may cause stroke, heart attack or kidney failure upon return to the body’s bloodstream.

  • Postpericardiotomy syndrome. A severe inflammatory response that may damage many of the body’s systems and organs.

  • The reintroduction of fat and debris from the surgical field through the use of suction.

  • Cardiac arrest.

Problems with temporary confusion or memory loss have also been reported in some cases. To avoid these risks, new surgical techniques called beating heart (or off-pump) surgeries have been developed, in which the heart beats throughout the operation and the heart-lung machine is not used. Some types of beating heart surgery are minimally invasive, requiring only small incisions. Other versions involve opening the chest. Today, about 25 percent of coronary artery bypass surgeries are performed without use of the heart-lung machine.

How Heart Lung Machine works

Summary

During an open-heart surgery (such as valve or bypass surgery), the heart-lung machine is used to take over the functions of the heart and lungs. Also known as a cardiopulmonary bypass machine, it allows the surgeon to carefully stop the heart while the vital organs continue to receive blood and oxygen. When patients are on the heart-lung machine, very delicate work can be performed by surgeons without interference from bleeding or the heart’s pumping motion.

When first used successfully in humans in 1955, the machine was a revolutionary piece of equipment. Today, the heart-lung machine is used in about 1 million cardiac surgeries every year, including surgeries to the coronary arteries, heart valves and other structures of the heart. The heart-lung machine has a very low complication rate, approaching 1 percent for certain surgeries.

Newer medical technology is being developed that may someday replace the heart-lung machine in some circumstances. These technologies include systems that allow surgeons to operate on a beating heart, without use of the heart-lung machine. Known as off-pump surgery, this is used when surgeons are operating on the coronary arteries.


About heart-lung machines

During an open-heart surgery (such as valve or bypass surgery), the heart-lung machine takes over the functions of the heart and lungs. Also known as a cardiopulmonary bypass machine, it allows the heart to can be carefully stopped and drained of blood. Surgeons can then operate in a blood-free, quiet surgical field. The heart-lung machine allows surgeons to perform complicated surgeries without the interference of a beating heart.

The heart-lung machine basically consists of a pump (to replace the heart) and a bubble oxygenator (to replace the lungs). Acting as a mechanical heart and lungs, it keeps oxygen-rich blood flowing throughout the body after the patient’s heart has been carefully stopped. In a process called perfusion, the machine receives the patient’s blood, removes the carbon dioxide and other waste products, adds oxygen, warms (or cools) the blood and pumps it back through the body. Cooling the blood lowers body temperature. This helps protect the body's organs while the heart-lung machine is in use. After the surgery is completed, the heart is restarted, the heart-lung machine is stopped and the machine is disconnected from the patient.

The heart-lung machine can perform other tasks. For example, it can directly deliver medications into the recirculated blood. It can also minimize blood loss by vacuuming up and recirculating any blood that may get into the surgical field.

The first step in using a heart-lung machine during open-heart surgery is to give the patient a drug called heparin, which is a powerful anticoagulant. Heparin reduces the blood’s ability to clot, reducing the risk of clots forming in the heart-lung machine and within the tubes placed in the heart. Once the medication has taken effect, a tube (cannula) from the heart-lung machine is placed in the upper-right chamber of the heart (the right atrium), which receives oxygen-poor blood from the body. Another cannula is placed in the aorta, a large artery that carries oxygen-rich blood from the heart to the rest of the body. By setting up the machine in this way, oxygen-poor blood drains into the machine, receives fresh oxygen and is returned to the aorta to be carried to the rest of the body.




Once the machine is functioning, the surgeon can carefully stop the heart with medications in order to perform the necessary surgery. A patient may remain on the heart-lung machine for several hours, though surgeons typically try to limit the amount of time patients are on bypass. When the surgery is complete, the surgeon will restart the heart. Once the surgical team is satisfied that the heart is beating strongly again, the tubes are removed from the right atrium and the aorta. To reverse the effects of the heparin given at the beginning of the process, the patient will be administered another medication called protamine.

Throughout this process, the heart-lung machine is operated by a perfusionist, one of several medical specialists on hand in the operating room during open-heart surgery. While the heart is stopped and the machine is working, the perfusionist continually monitors
blood pressure, blood oxygen levels, carbon dioxide levels, blood temperature and breathing.

What is Heart Lung Machine

  1. a pump to maintain circulation during heart surgery; diverts blood from the heart and oxygenates it and then pumps it through the body
  2. Cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) is a technique that temporarily takes over the function of the heart and lungs during surgery, maintaining the circulation of blood and the oxygen content of the body. The CPB pump itself is often referred to as a Heart-Lung Machine or the Pump.
  3. a machine that pumps blood during open heart surgery.
  4. Another term for machine which provides extracorporeal circulation (ECC)

Thursday, July 23, 2009

References

The first version of this article was adapted from a public domain U.S. National Cancer Institute fact sheet at http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Sites-Types/mesothelioma