| Mesothelioma Pleural is a lethal cancer that initially | | | | have to be applied. This, not only kill the cancerous |
| affects the thin membrane enveloping the lungs. This | | | | cells but also the good ones. To overcome the |
| affliction is mostly caused by exposure to asbestos. | | | | difficulty, many doctors who treat mesothelioma |
| Currently about 3000 cases are reported in the | | | | pleural patients are employing a century old |
| United States every year. But according to reliable | | | | procedure known as Brachytherapy, which was |
| estimates, nearly 8 million people have been exposed | | | | being, and still is, used for treatment of certain other |
| to asbestos during the past fifty years and about .3 | | | | cancers. |
| million new cases would turn up by 2030. Higher rate | | | | Brachytherapy today is a high-tech and precise form |
| of incidence is noted in the Pacific and Mid-Atlantic | | | | of radiation. It is a process applied internally instead |
| States. | | | | of through a gadget outside the body. Radioactive |
| The disease is almost always fatal. If it is detected | | | | sources (sealed in needles, catheters, seeds or wires) |
| early, surgery could be helpful. But the problem is that | | | | are planted on the tumor or very close to it. By this |
| Mesothelioma Pleural has a long latent period of 20 to | | | | process the radiation is focused on the bad cells and |
| 40 years or more and by the time it is diagnosed the | | | | therefore spares the good ones. This has been found |
| cancer would be usually in an advanced stage. There | | | | to be effective. |
| is no universally accepted line of treatment as of | | | | Like all radiation, Brachytherapy also has side effects. |
| now. Chemotherapy is not considered effective. | | | | But they are minor ones like short duration soreness |
| Several combination therapies are tried. | | | | in the area where the procedure is done. There is |
| Radiation may be of use, particularly as a palliative | | | | nothing to worry about if the patient follows the |
| measure. Here the problem is that since | | | | doctor's instructions. |
| mesothelioma is resistant to radiation, high doses | | | | |