Pleural Effusion in Mesothelioma: Comparing Solutions
| | | |

Pleural Effusion in Mesothelioma: Comparing Solutions

ByAlex Strauss

A new study says, when it comes to pleural effusion in mesothelioma, the two main solutions are pretty equal – with one exception.  Pleural effusion is a buildup of fluid in the space around the lungs. Over time, this fluid restricts the lungs and makes it hard to breathe. The problem is common in several types of cancer, including malignant mesothelioma.  In a new report, Taiwanese and Hong Kong researchers compared the two primary ways of dealing with pleural effusion in mesothelioma. They conclude that the two methods work equally well. But one of them usually means a longer hospital stay. Understanding Pleural Effusion in Mesothelioma The pleura are layers of thin membranes that surround the lungs. Pleural mesothelioma tumors…

Pain a Sign of Successful Pleurodesis for Mesothelioma, Study Says
| | | | |

Pain a Sign of Successful Pleurodesis for Mesothelioma, Study Says

ByAlex Strauss

A temporary increase in pain may be a sign of success when undergoing pleurodesis for mesothelioma-related lung fluid. An uncomfortable build-up of lung fluid is one of the most common and life-limiting mesothelioma symptoms.  Chemical pleurodesis is one way doctors treat the problem. About three out of four patients have good luck with pleurodesis for mesothelioma. Now, a new study from the UK suggests that those who have the best results with the procedure also tend to have the most pain afterward.  What is Pleurodesis for Mesothelioma? Pleural mesothelioma is a malignancy that starts in the layers of the pleura. The pleura is a membrane that surrounds the lungs.  When tumors grow in the pleural membrane, they can trigger a…

Talc Pleurodesis for Mesothelioma May Extend Survival
| | |

Talc Pleurodesis for Mesothelioma May Extend Survival

ByAlex Strauss

A UK study suggests that successful talc pleurodesis for mesothelioma improves survival better than other lung fluid treatments.  Researchers in Oxford’s Chest Diseases Department analyzed the outcomes of two groups of pleural mesothelioma patients. Both groups underwent talc pleurodesis for mesothelioma.  The patients whose lung fluid did not come back after treatment experienced longer survival. Mesothelioma patients who had to be retreated did not live as long.  Pleural Effusion in Mesothelioma The pleura is a membrane that surrounds and encases the lungs. It is supposed to be flexible and allow the lungs to move when a person breathes.  But patients with pleural mesothelioma often develop pleural effusion. Pleural effusion is a build-up of excess fluid in the space between the…

Prophylactic Radiation Will Not Prevent Pleural Mesothelioma Metastasis
| | | | |

Prophylactic Radiation Will Not Prevent Pleural Mesothelioma Metastasis

ByAlex Strauss

A UK study says prophylactic radiation of the chest wall is unlikely to prevent pleural mesothelioma metastasis.   Pleural mesothelioma is an aggressive cancer caused by asbestos. Tumors start on the lining around the lungs and can spread to the lungs and other organs. Pleural mesothelioma is the most common type of asbestos cancer. Doctors sometimes use procedures that pierce the chest wall to help diagnose mesothelioma or to deal with mesothelioma side effects. Sometimes, new mesothelioma tumors can form along the instrument tracts or in the spot where the chest wall was pierced. When tumors spread it is known as mesothelioma metastasis. Some evidence suggests that radiating the chest wall after a procedure might prevent mesothelioma metastasis in that…

Can Mesothelioma Be Diagnosed with Lung Fluid Alone?
| | | | |

Can Mesothelioma Be Diagnosed with Lung Fluid Alone?

ByAlex Strauss

The diagnosis of malignant mesothelioma can be a complicated process, but a team of Japanese scientists says it can be greatly simplified by the right kind of test at the right time. In an article in the journal Pathology, the team claims that a definitive diagnosis of mesothelioma can be made from a sample of excess lung fluid. Excess fluid collection around the lungs, called pleural effusion, is common in people with mesothelioma and several other kinds of cancer. Approximately 70 percent of people with mesothelioma develop pleural effusions. Because effusion is often one of the earliest signs of the disease, the Japanese doctors maintain that this fluid could be useful for making an early mesothelioma diagnosis. “Early in the incidence…