Chitika

måndag 25 januari 2010

Lung Mesothelioma Survival Rate

By Heidi Wingrain

Cancer mesothelioma is a malicious disease which is life threatening. It is developed in people who come in direct contact with asbestos. Inhalation of asbestos for a prolonged duration affects the mesothelium, which is the protective lining of our internal organs. The disease has destroyed the lives of many families by killing their dear and near ones. Since the disease is developed many years after the exposure to asbestos, even a ban on it has not helped much.

All the three forms of mesothelioma, that is, the pleural, peritoneal and pericardial are highly potent threats to human life. In many cases, the cancer is detected only after thirty years, making it difficult to either claim for damages from the offending employer or taking effective treatment.

Apart from banning the use of asbestos in work places by the government, the law gives the victim the right to claim strict compensation measures. This comes as a boon for the families of the victims which would be facing great financial crunches. Researches are going on to find better treatment methods to tackle cancer mesothelioma.

The early symptoms of the disease are fatigue, fever, wheezing etc. The patient is made to go through a long series of medications including chemotherapy once diagnosed with the disease. Chemotherapy is extremely painful with many side effects like nausea, fever, rashes, sores, fatigue, diarrhea or constipation etc. This can make the life of the patients extremely miserable. Surgery and radiotherapy are also employed as part of the treatment.

Newer technologies are increasingly employed for early detection and some modern treatment measures like angiogenesis, immunotherapy, photodynamic therapy, gene therapy, complementary and alternative medicine etc are providing that proverbial 'light at the end of the tunnel' to disheartened patients. In addition, palliative care, which endeavors to alleviate pain, is also gaining wide acceptance.

Long term clinical care is required for cancer mesothelioma. Joined efforts of social workers, medical experts, nutritionists and psychologists can work wonders for the hopeless patients. They can provide comfort and a motivation for the patients assailing in despair. Ultimately this will provide them the will to live and respond positively to the treatment process.

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