| Mesothelioma is a form of cancer. It caused | | | | behaviour of the malignancy is affected by |
| by previous exposure to asbestos. An exposure | | | | several factors including the continuous |
| of as little as one or two months can result | | | | mesothelial surface of the pleural cavity |
| in mesothelioma 30 or 40 years later. Simian | | | | |
| virus 40 (SV40) may act as a cofactor in the | | | | Mesothelioma Cancer Treatment and Prevention |
| development of mesothelioma. Malignant | | | | Tips |
| mesothelioma is the most serious of all | | | | |
| asbestos-related diseases. The two major | | | | 1. Health-care workers who specialize in part |
| types of malignant mesothelioma are pleural | | | | control are employing state-of-the art |
| mesothelioma, which concerns the mesothelium | | | | techniques to successfully fight pain. |
| membrane that surrounds the lungs, and | | | | |
| peritoneal mesothelioma which concerns the | | | | 2. During the initial stages of mesothelioma, |
| mesothelium layer that covers the organs in | | | | pain can be relieved with over-the-counter |
| the abdominal cavity. The people most at risk | | | | analgesics, such as aspirin, Tylenol or |
| from being carriers of this cancer are those | | | | ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin). |
| have worked with asbestos over the past | | | | |
| thirty to fifty years. Because of this, the | | | | 3. Drug therapy is the primary method for |
| disease is most common in men between the | | | | treating mesothelioma pain. |
| ages of sixty and seventy as this is the | | | | |
| group that commonly worked with asbestos | | | | 4. Non-Opoids are pain-relieving medicines |
| during those years. Because of the lack of | | | | such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) and NSAIDs, |
| protection and regulations in those days, | | | | such as ibuprofin, which can be purchases |
| these workers were constantly exposed to the | | | | over-the-counter and taken orally. |
| dust and fibres from the asbestos, which | | | | |
| caused the cells of the mesothelium to become | | | | 5. Opoids are the strongest medicines |
| abnormal. Many building materials used in | | | | available to treat pain. Opoids, such as |
| both public and domestic premises prior to | | | | codeine, morphine, oxcodone, fentany, and |
| the banning of asbestos may contain asbestos. | | | | hydromorphone, are very effective in |
| Those performing renovation works or diy | | | | relieving mesothelioma pain. |
| activities may expose themselves to asbestos | | | | |
| dust. | | | | 6. Adjuvant analgesics are medicines intended |
| | | | for purposes other than pain relief. A number |
| Mesothelium helps protect the organs by | | | | of these are used to alleviate pain |
| producing a special lubricating fluid that | | | | associated with mesothelioma, such as |
| allows organs to move around. Mesothelioma is | | | | antidepressants, anticonvulsants, and |
| an extremely malignant and incurable cancer | | | | steroids. |
| that infects the membrane that surrounds most | | | | |
| of the internal organs. Symptoms of | | | | 7. Emotional Support to Help Relieve Pain.As |
| mesothelioma may not appear until 20 to 50 | | | | with all aspects of mesothelioma, emotional |
| years after exposure to asbestos. Shortness | | | | support from family or professional |
| of breath, cough, and pain in the chest due | | | | counseling can play a key role in pain |
| to an accumulation of fluid in the pleural | | | | management |
| space are often symptoms of pleural | | | | |
| mesothelioma. Affecting the mesothelial cells | | | | 8. For patients with localized disease, and |
| that make up the mesothelium - the outer | | | | who can tolerate a radical surgery, radiation |
| lining that protects the body's major organs | | | | is often given post-operatively as a |
| such as the heart, stomach and lungs. Pleural | | | | consolidative treatment. |
| mesothelioma represents 75% of mesothelioma | | | | |
| cases - but it is far from the only type of | | | | 9. Chrysotile has been used more frequently, |
| this deadly cancer. Peritoneal mesothelioma | | | | hence many mesotheliomas are caused by |
| affects the lining around the stomach and | | | | chrysotile. |
| intestines, and is just as dangerous and | | | | |
| deadly. Treatment of MM using conventional | | | | 10. Removal is taking place in schools and |
| therapies has not proved successful and | | | | other public buildings throughout the U.S. |
| patients have a median survival time of 6 - | | | | The hope is that these measures will greatly |
| 12 months after presentation. The clinical | | | | reduce the occurrence of this cancer. |