Hope and Resilience: A Case of Mesothelioma Long-Term Survival
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Hope and Resilience: A Case of Mesothelioma Long-Term Survival

ByHolly Zink

A new study highlights how important early diagnosis and effective treatment are to long-term survival. Malignant peritoneal mesothelioma is a type of cancer caused by asbestos. It develops in the abdominal cavity. This cancer occurs in less than 1,000 people in the United States every year. The Importance of Early Detection Symptoms of mesothelioma may take decades after asbestos exposure to appear in the affected person. Most of the common symptoms occur around the abdomen, like pain and swelling. Other symptoms could be night sweats and fever. To diagnose mesothelioma, doctors will usually use a combination of scans and biopsies. Treatment for mesothelioma can include surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation. A Japanese Case Study on Long-Term Survival In this case, a…

New Surgical Technique May Support Long-Term Peritoneal Mesothelioma Survival
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New Surgical Technique May Support Long-Term Peritoneal Mesothelioma Survival

ByAlex Strauss

One of the nation’s top mesothelioma doctors says long-term peritoneal mesothelioma survival is possible with a far-reaching new surgical technique. Dr. Paul Sugarbaker is a surgeon with the Washington Cancer Institute in Washington, DC. He has studied peritoneal mesothelioma for decades.  In a new report, he outlines a case of long-term peritoneal mesothelioma survival in a female patient. The patient had cytoreductive surgery. The surgery included resection of the colonic mesentery. This is tissue that is not normally part of peritoneal mesothelioma surgery.  The case report shows the patient is still cancer-free four years after surgery with an “excellent” quality of life.  The Challenge of Peritoneal Mesothelioma Every year, about 2,500 Americans receive a diagnosis of mesothelioma. Peritoneal mesothelioma accounts…