In the town of Wittenoom, asbestos-containing mine waste was used to cover schoolyards and playgrounds. In 1965 an article in the British Journal of Industrial Medicine established that people who lived in the neighbourhoods of asbestos factories and mines, but did not work in them, had contracted mesothelioma.
Mesothelioma is generally resistant to radiation and chemotherapy treatment. Long-term survival and cures are exceedingly rare. Treatment of malignant mesothelioma at earlier stages has a better prognosis. Clinical behavior of the malignancy is affected by several factors including the continuous mesothelial surface of the pleural cavity which favors local metastasis via exfoliated cells, invasion to underlying tissue and other organs within the pleural cavity, and the extremely long latency period between asbestos exposure and development of the disease. The histological subtype and the patient's age and health status also help predict prognosis. The epithelioid histology responds better to treatment and has a survival advantage over sarcomatoid histology.
The first lawsuits against asbestos manufacturers were in 1929. Since then, many lawsuits have been filed against asbestos manufacturers and employers, for neglecting to implement safety measures after the links between asbestos, asbestosis, and mesothelioma became known (some reports seem to place this as early as 1898). The liability resulting from the sheer number of lawsuits and people affected has reached billions of dollars. The amounts and method of allocating compensation have been the source of many court cases, reaching up to the United States Supreme Court, and government attempts at resolution of existing and future cases. However, to date, the US Congress has not stepped in and there are no federal laws governing asbestos compensation. In 2013, the "Furthering Asbestos Claim Transparency (FACT) Act of 2013" passed the US House of representatives and was sent to the US Senate, where it was referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee. As the Senate did not vote on it before the end of the 113th Congress, it died in committee. It was revived in the 114th Congress, where it has not yet been brought before the House for a vote.
Directness/Simplicity We are a community dedicated to those that have been impacted by Mesothelioma. Our support group strives to improve your prognosis and raise mesothelioma awareness. Mesothelioma is a complex disease, but getting the best possible care should not be. Quality We research to provide top-notch medical materials and community support for those impacted by Mesothelioma. Our team is dedicated to providing personalized information, resources, and support for caregivers, patients and their loved ones. Advocacy We believe in building awareness for mesothelioma as well as educating mesothelioma patients and their loved ones. Our team will provide resources for treatment and the latest mesothelioma news to help guide your decisions related to your specific needs. Hope We understand the outlook with a mesothelioma diagnosis, but do not believe it is the end of the story with advancements in medical treatments, information accessibility, and support from within our community. You are not alone with your prognosis.
In addition to more conventional therapies, researchers are constantly looking for new treatments for mesothelioma. Some extremely promising emerging treatments have come out of clinical trials, in some cases extending the lives of mesothelioma patients by months or years.
Some people experience loss of appetite with weight loss, loss of muscle bulk, loss of energy, a persistent cough or a change in coughing pattern. Some people also experience night sweats.
Currently, there are three primary treatments used to fight cancer: surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. These forms of treatment, used individually or in combination, are considered the most effective therapies to employ in treating malignant mesothelioma.
Viral diseases modify the DNA of the body’s cells, forcing host cells to stop their normal function and instead produce more copies of the virus. Though natural viruses can cause a variety of dangerous illnesses, some researchers are now trying to engineer viruses to cure cancer. In theory, a virus could be specially designed to do one of the following:
Immunotherapy Your immune system is designed to identify and attack dangerous cells and illnesses that invade your body.Unfortunately, mesothelioma cancer cells tend to go undetected by the immune system, allowing them time to grow and spread.Immunotherapy, sometimes referred to as biologic therapy or biotherapy, helps your own immune system fight the cancer. This can be done by either stimulating the immune system to attack the cancer cells or by blocking the cancer cells’ signals that allow them to hide from the immune system.Read more Clinical Trials Before new mesothelioma treatments make it to market, they are tested in clinical trials.You should talk to your doctor about what clinical trials may be right for you, and try to talk to other patients who have participated in trials.They can explain the process and give you an idea of what to expect.Read more
In some cases, even patients with end-stage mesothelioma can be good candidates for surgical procedures. However, the treatment goals and expected outcomes may be different.
Sometimes the cancer causes fluid to collect in the chest or in the abdomen. Signs and symptoms may be caused by the fluid, malignant mesothelioma, or other conditions. Check with your doctor if you have any of the following:
If you are diagnosed with mesothelioma, your doctor will determine the stage of the disease. Staging is a way of classifying cancer by how much disease is in the body and where it has spread when it is diagnosed. Staging helps the doctor plan the best way to treat the cancer. Surgery often is needed to stage mesothelioma. Once the staging classification is determined, it stays the same even if treatment works or the cancer spreads.
It is likely that if you are diagnosed with mesothelioma, you will be referred by your personal physician to a larger scale comprehensive cancer center. Most malignant mesothelioma treatments are provided in cancer centers that provide care specifically for cancer patients – some of which are even designed specifically to treat mesothelioma. Cancer centers are available throughout the country, and many are linked to top medical universities.