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Mesothelioma FAQs |
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Q. What is Mesothelioma?
A. Malignant Mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer, is a disease in which cancer (malignant) cells are found in the sac lining the chest (the pleura), the lining of the abdominal cavity (the peritoneum) or the lining around the heart (the pericardium).
Q. How do you get Mesothelioma?
A. Most people with malignant Mesothelioma have worked on jobs where they breathed asbestos. Others have been exposed to asbestos in a household environment, often without knowing it. To learn more about the different ways in which people have been exposed.
Q. How much exposure does it take to get the disease?
A. An exposure of as little as one or two months can result in Mesothelioma 30 or 40 years later.
Q. How long does it take for the disease to actually show up after the exposure?
A. People exposed in the 1940s, 50s, 60s, and 70s are now being diagnosed with Mesothelioma because of the long latency period of asbestos disease.
Q. What role does Pathology and the Pathologists play in the Diagnostic Process?
A. Pathology or the scientific study of cells, tissue, or fluid taken from the body is an integral part of a Mesothelioma diagnosis. Most hospitals have their own pathology labs staffed by board-certified pathologists and licensed technologists. The importance of pathological diagnosis can not be underestimated, since the course of treatment is dependent upon an accurate diagnosis.
To make a diagnosis, pathologists examine tissue under a microscope, and based on established criteria, make a determination of benign vs. malignant cells. Subsequently, the type of cancer is determined. Although most pathologists have a general expertise of various diseases, a small number acquire training in a subspecialty, such as Mesothelioma. These are physicians who have received world-wide recognition as premier experts, and have achieved high acclaim for their research, published articles and abstracts, and teaching.
Q. What is the prognosis for Mesothelioma?
A. Like most cancers, the prognosis for this disease often depends on how early it is diagnosed and how aggressively it is treated.
There are three traditional kinds of treatment for patients with malignant Mesothelioma:
• Surgery (taking out the cancer)
• Chemotherapy (using drugs to fight the cancer)
• Radiation Therapy (using high-dose x-rays or other high-energy rays to kill cancer cells)
Often two or more of these are combined in the course of treatment.
Q. What Treatment Options Will I Be Offered?
A. Treatment options may vary according to the age and over-all health of the patient, and the extent of the disease. It is important to be informed of all available options for your particular case, so that you can make decision on the option you feel most comfortable with. Surgery, chemotherapy, and clinical trials, as well as new approaches such as photodynamic therapy, immunotherapy, and gene therapy may be offered. Speak openly with your doctor regarding suggested procedures. Questions may include:
• Why is this procedure best for me?
• What does the procedure entail?
• What are the advantages/disadvantages of this treatment (i.e., will this procedure limit my eligibility for other treatments)?
• What are the possible risks or adverse side effects?
• What are the responses, survival, and mortality rates associated with this procedure? |
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