Rare Mesothelioma Disease Combination
Doctors in Italy treated a patient who was diagnosed with both primary gastric Burkitt lymphoma (PGBL) and malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM). This is a rare disease combination. The doctors in this case had a hard time reaching the correct diagnosis because the symptoms of these two cancers are very similar. The patient also did not have the usual risk factors for these cancers. For instance, the patient did not have any exposure to asbestos that might cause MPM. Two Rare Diseases MPM is a rare type of cancer that develops from the thin layer of tissue that covers the lungs and chest wall. Signs and symptoms may include shortness of breath due to fluid around the lung, chest pain, cough, … Continue reading Rare Mesothelioma Disease Combination
Allergic Reaction to Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is one of the treatment options for mesothelioma. The only FDA approved chemotherapy for mesothelioma is a combination of pemetrexed and cisplatin. When patients receive the same chemotherapy treatment multiple times, their body can become allergic to it. This can cause dangerous allergic reactions when they receive the treatment again. However, doctors have developed a method called rapid drug desensitization which slowly introduces the treatment to the patient to avoid an allergic reaction. This method works well, but sometimes patients can still have an allergic reaction during the treatment. Researchers from Turkey looked at patients with lung cancer and mesothelioma who received chemotherapy. They wanted to identify what factors increase the risk of an allergic reaction during the treatment. … Continue reading Allergic Reaction to Chemotherapy
The Future of Mesothelioma Research
Mesothelioma is an aggressive cancer that isn’t researched as often as other types of cancer. A new study from the European Journal of Oncology Nursing explored what questions we still need to answer to provide the best care for mesothelioma patients. Screening and Preventative Tests Malignant mesothelioma is one of the rarest cancers in the US. That is fortunate because the cancer death rates from this malignancy continue to be very high. About 3,000 people receive a mesothelioma diagnosis every year – about 0.02% of all US cancer cases. Most newly diagnosed mesothelioma patients die within 18 months of diagnosis. Since mesothelioma is so rare, there isn’t as much research on this disease compared to more common cancers. This can … Continue reading The Future of Mesothelioma Research
Diagnosing the Rarest Mesothelioma Type
Primary pericardial mesothelioma is the rarest type of mesothelioma. It can be hard to diagnose primary pericardial mesothelioma because it often looks like other diseases. And according to researchers from China, signs of mesothelioma can even be completely hidden by other diseases. In this case, primary pericardial mesothelioma was masked by pericardial calcification. What is Pericardial Mesothelioma? Malignant mesothelioma tumors grow on the linings around internal organs. The most common type is pleural mesothelioma which grows near the lungs. The second most common type is peritoneal mesothelioma which grows on the abdominal lining. Pericardial mesothelioma grows on the lining around the heart. It is a rare type of an already rare cancer. Fewer than one percent of all diagnosed mesothelioma … Continue reading Diagnosing the Rarest Mesothelioma Type
Testing 527 Cancer Drugs on Mesothelioma
A new study from Finland tested over 500 cancer drugs on malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) cells to find new treatments for this aggressive disease. As of this writing, the only FDA approved chemotherapy for MPM is a combination of pemetrexed and cisplatin. Even though this is the most common first-line treatment for MPM, it is not always effective at improving survival. This is why studies that look for new drug treatments are so important. This research can help doctors to find better treatments for MPM in the future. Worldwide Poor Prognosis MPM is a rare cancer caused by asbestos exposure. It affects the membranes around the lungs and can spread to the lungs and elsewhere in the chest. MPM has … Continue reading Testing 527 Cancer Drugs on Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma Confused with Ovarian Cancer in Women
Malignant peritoneal mesothelioma can easily be confused with ovarian carcinoma in women. This was the case for a 55-year-old woman who went to the hospital for help with abdominal pain, fatigue, and nausea. Hard to Diagnosis Mesothelioma is a rare and deadly type of cancer that affects the lining of organs inside the body. When it develops on the lining of the abdominal cavity, it is called malignant peritoneal mesothelioma (MPM). MPM and other types of mesothelioma are caused by exposure to asbestos. Mesothelioma can be hard to diagnose because the symptoms look just like other common diseases. For MPM, the symptoms could include abdominal pain and swelling, night sweats, and fever. Several diagnostic tests may be needed to reach … Continue reading Mesothelioma Confused with Ovarian Cancer in Women
Extremely Rare Case of Multicystic Peritoneal Mesothelioma
A 47-year-old woman was diagnosed with rare multicystic peritoneal mesothelioma at a cancer hospital in China. Malignant mesothelioma is a type of cancer that develops from the thin layer of tissue that covers many of the body’s internal organs. When it develops in the lining of the abdominal cavity, it is called malignant peritoneal mesothelioma (MPM). Most doctors believe MPM is caused from ingestion of asbestos fibers and that microscopic asbestos fibers become embedded in the abdomen. After a few decades, these fibers can cause inflammation and mutations in healthy cells and these mutations ultimately cause these cells to become cancerous. Patients who are diagnosed with MPM may survive several or more years after diagnosis and there are long term … Continue reading Extremely Rare Case of Multicystic Peritoneal Mesothelioma
Is Mesothelioma Still A Big Problem Worldwide?
Even though the number of people getting mesothelioma and dying from it has gone down in recent years, it is still a big problem in many parts of the world. This is the finding of an international team of scientists. The authors of this study are from South Korea, Sweden, Spain, France, Germany, and the United Kingdom. These scientists wanted to find out how many people get mesothelioma and how many people die from it. They also wanted to know how it affects different groups of people based on things like age and where they live. Harmful Use of Asbestos Mesothelioma is a type of cancer caused by asbestos, a harmful material that was used a lot after World War … Continue reading Is Mesothelioma Still A Big Problem Worldwide?
Scientists Find New Way To Treat Mesothelioma
Scientists Find New Way To Treat Mesothelioma Scientists think they can find new ways to treat mesothelioma by looking at its genetic makeup. The genetic changes and interactions between cancer cells and their environment could hold the key to new therapies. This is the hope of a group of scientists from Italy who published their ideas in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences. Mesothelioma Tumor and Cancer Genetics Malignant pleural mesothelioma is a cancer caused by exposure to asbestos. One reason it is hard to treat is because it doesn’t have specific genetic targets like other types of cancer. The area around the mesothelioma tumor also makes it hard to treat. The environment around the tumor affects how the tumor … Continue reading Scientists Find New Way To Treat Mesothelioma
High-Energy Radiotherapy Treatment for Mesothelioma
A new Italian study found that accelerated hypofractionated radiotherapy was an effective and safe treatment for malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM). The patients in this study lived longer and had a lower risk of MPM coming back. Treatment Approaches MPM is a rare cancer that is difficult to treat. It develops from the thin layer of tissue that covers the lungs and chest wall. MPM is caused by exposure to asbestos. Since MPM is a rare disease, the standard therapies are limited. The treatment plan for MPM depends on a few different factors. The stage of cancer, cell type of the cancer, and the health of the patient all affect what treatments will work the best. The most common treatment approach … Continue reading High-Energy Radiotherapy Treatment for Mesothelioma
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