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