Easing the Painful Symptoms of Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma
| | |

Easing the Painful Symptoms of Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma

ByHolly Zink

Malignant pleural mesothelioma is an aggressive and rare cancer. There is new hope for reducing the painful symptoms of malignant pleural mesothelioma. A new study in BMC Cancer looked at treatments and the symptom burden of malignant pleural mesothelioma in Europe. The symptoms of malignant pleural mesothelioma are very hard. But there are treatments available to improve quality of life. New data proves that chemotherapy eases mesothelioma symptoms. And it is most likely to improve and maintain health-related quality of life. The Long Journey of Mesothelioma Mesothelioma is the asbestos-caused cancer. Malignant pleural mesothelioma is the most common form of mesothelioma. It accounts for over 90,000 deaths per year globally. It takes a very long time to diagnose mesothelioma. Usually,…

New Study Suggests Music May Offer Relief from Mesothelioma Pain
| | | | |

New Study Suggests Music May Offer Relief from Mesothelioma Pain

ByAlex Strauss

There is new evidence that listening to music might offer some relief from mesothelioma pain and fatigue. A new study in the European Journal of Cancer Care details a 6-month experiment on the effects of music on cancer pain, anxiety, and fatigue.  Cancer patients listened to music at home five times a week. The results show that many of them started to feel better after just six weeks. Finding Relief from Mesothelioma Pain Pain is a common symptom of malignant mesothelioma, especially as the disease progresses. Patients with pleural mesothelioma have cancer on the lining around their lungs. These patients may experience symptoms such as shortness of breath, coughing, and chest pain. Patients with peritoneal mesothelioma have cancer on the…

Evidence Supports Radiotherapy for Mesothelioma Pain Relief
| | | | |

Evidence Supports Radiotherapy for Mesothelioma Pain Relief

ByAlex Strauss

European researchers have a bit of good news for patients coping with the pain that often accompanies late stage malignant pleural mesothelioma. They have found evidence that radiotherapy, which is sometimes prescribed to treat this pain, really can make a difference. The authors, including cancer researchers from both Scotland and Norway, note that, although radiation is often used to treat mesothelioma pain, there has been little research to support the practice. As part of a multi-center phase II clinical trial on the use of radiotherapy for mesothelioma pain, patients were assessed for baseline pain and other symptoms and then treated with 20 Gy of radiation in 5 daily fractions. Mesothelioma pain was evaluated at 5 weeks and again at 12 weeks…

Spinal Procedure for Mesothelioma Pain Relief
| |

Spinal Procedure for Mesothelioma Pain Relief

ByAlex Strauss

Pleural mesothelioma patients with severe pain may benefit from a surgical procedure to disable certain pain-conductors in the spinal cord. The procedure, called cordotomy, is the subject of a newly-published report in BMJ Supportive and Palliative Care. Cordotomy is typically performed on patients in severe pain due to cancer or other incurable diseases. It is usually done with a needle under fluoroscopic guidance. Most mesothelioma patients who undergo cordotomies have only local anesthesia. Although the procedure is sometimes offered for patients with advanced mesothelioma, evidence of its effectiveness is still limited. To get a better sense of the value of cordotomy in mesothelioma, British Researchers from the North Wales Centre for Primary Care Research at Bangor University conducted a systematic…

Does Radiotherapy Reduce Mesothelioma Pain?
| |

Does Radiotherapy Reduce Mesothelioma Pain?

ByAlex Strauss

A new study says there is not enough evidence to support the use of radiotherapy for the treatment of pain associated with malignant pleural mesothelioma. Researchers at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland reviewed a range of past studies on mesothelioma pain and radiotherapy by searching databases that date back as far as 1974. To be eligible to be included in their review, the study had to focus on malignant pleural mesothelioma and radiotherapy given “with the intent of improving pain”. The study also had to report doses and fractionation of the radiotherapy and how the pain responded. In all, the researchers found eight studies on mesothelioma pain and radiotherapy that met the criteria. Two of the studies were prospective…