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Informative Articles

WSIB: The importance of knowing your rights if you have an asbestos-related disease
Asbestos-related diseases are increasing in the United States and in some other countries, because asbestos workers were exposed to this mineral, which is the main risk factor for developing the disease. The Workplace Safety and Insurance...

Asbestos Related Lung Cancer: Cause, Symptoms And Treatment
Asbestos related lung cancer, as the name itself indicates, is a type of lung cancer that is caused by the exposure to asbestos particles suspended in the air. In addition, smoking is also a cause of lung cancer. Mesothelioma is the most dangerous...

How Your Decision Can Help Cure Mesothelioma Cancer Forever
It doesn't require much to get involved in the fight against one of our health's biggest enemies: mesothelioma cancer. In fact: it only takes your decision to take action to help mesothelioma cancer victims create and fund a $30 million per year...

Mesothelioma: Your Basic Information
Mesothelioma is a form of cancer that is becoming more and more common. The most common cause of this cancer is exposure to asbestos. When constantly exposed with insufficient protection, asbestos dust and fibres affect the mesothelial cells which...

Mesothelioma - Catch It Early To Avoid Big Trouble
Many people have never heard of Mesothelioma and are unaware of its symptoms. Although considered a rare form of cancer, each year the number of cases grows. With the prevalence of this disease on the rise, it is critical to understand why and how...

 
How is Mesothelioma Treated?

Treatment for mesothelioma depends on the location of the cancer, the stage of the disease, and the patient's age and general health. Standard treatment options include surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. Sometimes, these treatments are combined.

Surgery is a common treatment for mesothelioma. The doctor may remove part of the lining of the chest or abdomen and some of the tissue around it. For cancer of the pleura (pleural mesothelioma), a lung may be removed in an operation called a pneumonectomy. Sometimes part of the diaphragm, the muscle below the lungs that helps with breathing, is also removed.

Radiation therapy, also called radiotherapy, involves the use of high-energy rays to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. Radiation therapy affects the cancer cells only in the treated area. The radiation may come from a machine (external radiation) or from putting materials that produce radiation through thin plastic tubes into the area where the cancer cells are


found (internal radiation therapy).

Chemotherapy is the use of anti-cancer drugs to kill cancer cells throughout the body. Most drugs used to treat mesothelioma are given by injection into a vein (intravenous, or IV). Doctors are also studying the effectiveness of putting chemotherapy directly into the chest or abdomen (intracavitary chemotherapy).

To relieve symptoms and control pain, the doctor may use a needle or a thin tube to drain fluid that has built up in the chest or abdomen. The procedure for removing fluid from the chest is called thoracentesis. Removal of fluid from the abdomen is called paracentesis. Drugs may be given through a tube in the chest to prevent more fluid from accumulating. Radiation therapy and surgery may also be helpful in relieving symptoms.

About the Author

Alan Allport is Webmaster of http://www.asbestos-cancer.best-gen.com a site that specialises in giving the very best information on asbestos cancer, asbestosis and mesothelioma