Staging differs at stage 4, where mesothelioma continues to progress in local tissues, with the occasional spreading to the other lung or bones, while lung cancer progresses and spreads to many other parts of the body. Mesothelioma is typically a result of asbestos exposure. Asbestos is the name for minerals that occur naturally in the environment as bundles of fibers.
These fibers can be separated into thin, durable threads and are resistant to heat, fire, and chemicals, and do not conduct electricity. Asbestos has been used in many different products, such as insulation. Genetics can often play a role in how susceptible our body is to developing mesothelioma after asbestos exposure.
In lung cancer, asbestos can be a risk factor if fibers become lodged in the lung tissue itself but often can come from a variety of different risk factors including smoking, pesticide exposure, pollutants, and radon. Additionally, smoking has no effect on mesothelioma, whereas smoking and smoking cessation can directly affect the risk of developing lung cancer.
In both conditions, the time between exposure and development can be as many as 40 years! Diagnostic tests for mesothelioma and lung cancer are similar, with X-rays, as well as PET and CT scans leading the way. The main diagnostic difference lies in the results of tissue biopsies, where mesothelioma resembles adenocarcinomas, and lung cancer presents differently. Additionally, lung cancer can be detected by testing the sputum phlegm from an individual.
Treatment measures are similar in both cases but vary in success rates. Surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy are often the first lines of treatment in both cases, but due to the lack of distinct boundaries in mesothelioma, their success is often limited for these individuals. Although they both can come from similar causes, and can present the same, there are definitive differences that you can be tested for to ensure that you have received an accurate diagnosis, and are getting the appropriate interventions.
The most commonly used chemotherapy drugs for treating pleural mesothelioma include pemetrexed with cisplatin or carboplatin. Chemotherapy for pleural mesothelioma aims to prolong life and shrink the cancer as well as improving quality of life. Chemotherapy is sometimes used for peritoneal mesothelioma either on its own or before or after surgery.
Chemotherapy is given directly into the abdomen for people with peritoneal mesothelioma. Radiation therapy also known as radiotherapy , the use of x-rays to kill or damage cancer cells, can be used at different stages of pleural mesothelioma and in different ways.
For example, it can relieve symptoms such as pain caused by tumours, and it can be given after chemotherapy or surgery, to help kill remaining cancer cells.
There are two main types of operations considered for actively treating pleural mesothelioma: extrapleural pneumonectomy EPP , which removes the tumour and the pleura, the affectedlung, the diaphragm and a portion of the lining of the heart; or a pleurectomy with pulmonary decortication PD , which removes the pleura and as much disease as possible.
Surgery for peritoneal mesothelioma may be possible if the cancer has not spread. In this operation, called a peritonectomy, the surgeon removes parts of the peritoneum where the mesothelioma is growing. Trimodality therapy uses a combination of chemotherapy, radiotherapy and major surgery. It is used to treat some people with mesothelioma. When mesothelioma is diagnosed at an advanced stage, the main goal of treatment is to manage the symptoms and keep them under control as long as possible.
Treatments can include surgery to improve breathlessness caused by fluid build-up. VATS video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery involves removing some of the lining of the chest wall and lung. During the procedure, sterile talcum powder is injected into the pleural cavity, causing inflammation that closes the pleural cavity and helps prevent fluid from building up again. More extensive open surgery can also be undertaken to drain fluid build-up in the lungs, or to relieve pain in the chest.
For people not suitable for VATS or open surgery, an indwelling pleural drain may be used, which allows fluid to be drained times a week, depending on how quickly the fluid builds up again.
The treatment team will discuss with the person, suitable treatment options to assist with other symptoms such as sleeplessness, pain, fatigue, loss of appetite and weight loss. In some cases of mesothelioma, your medical team may talk to you about palliative care. Palliative care aims to improve your quality of life by alleviating symptoms of cancer. As well as slowing the spread of mesothelioma, palliative treatment can relieve pain and help manage other symptoms.
Treatment may include radiotherapy, chemotherapy or other drug therapies. Reducing your exposure to asbestos is the most likely way to lower your risk of mesothelioma, whether at work or in the home. Australia has a code of practice on managing and controlling asbestos: www. It is not possible for a doctor to predict the exact course of a disease, as it will depend on each person's individual circumstances.
However, your doctor may give you a prognosis, the likely outcome of the disease, based on the type of mesothelioma you have, the test results, the rate of tumour growth, as well as your age, fitness and medical history. In general, the earlier cancer is diagnosed, the better the outcome. However, mesothelioma is often diagnosed once it has advanced, as often the early symptoms can go unnoticed.
Although it is more difficult to treat advanced cancer successfully, it may be possible to keep the disease under control for months or years, and quality of life can be improved by relieving the symptoms. Shop Online. Contact Us. Cancer information What is cancer? Common cancer symptoms Facts and figures Explore What is cancer? Jump to:. Jump to section. Error Include a valid email address. To provide you with the most relevant and helpful information, and understand which information is beneficial, we may combine your email and website usage information with other information we have about you.
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You will also receive emails from Mayo Clinic on the latest about cancer news, research, and care. In general, cancer begins when a series of changes mutations happens in a cell's DNA. The DNA contains the instructions that tell a cell what to do. The mutations tell the cell to grow and multiply out of control. The abnormal cells accumulate and form a tumor.
It isn't clear what causes the initial genetic mutations that lead to mesothelioma, though researchers have identified factors that may increase the risk. It's likely that cancers form because of an interaction between many factors, such as inherited conditions, your environment, your health conditions and your lifestyle choices. Most mesotheliomas are thought to be related to asbestos exposure. Asbestos is a mineral that's found naturally in the environment.
Asbestos fibers are strong and resistant to heat, making them useful in a wide variety of applications, such as in insulation, brakes, shingles, flooring and many other products. When asbestos is broken up, such as during the mining process or when removing asbestos insulation, dust may be created. If the dust is inhaled or swallowed, the asbestos fibers will settle in the lungs or in the stomach, where they can cause irritation that may lead to mesothelioma. Exactly how this happens isn't understood.
It can take 20 to 60 years or more for mesothelioma to develop after asbestos exposure. Most people with asbestos exposure never develop mesothelioma.
This indicates that other factors may be involved in determining whether someone gets mesothelioma. For instance, you could inherit a predisposition to cancer or some other condition could increase your risk. As pleural mesothelioma spreads in the chest, it puts pressure on the structures in that area. This can cause complications, such as:. Most people with mesothelioma were exposed to the asbestos fibers at work. Workers who may encounter asbestos fibers include:.
Follow all safety precautions in your workplace, such as wearing protective equipment. You may also be required to shower and change out of your work clothes before taking a lunch break or going home. Talk to your doctor about other precautions you can take to protect yourself from asbestos exposure.
Older homes and buildings may contain asbestos. In many cases, it's more dangerous to remove the asbestos than it is to leave it intact. Breaking up asbestos may cause fibers to become airborne, where they can be inhaled. Consult experts trained to detect asbestos in your home. These experts may test the air in your home to determine whether the asbestos is a risk to your health.
Don't attempt to remove asbestos from your home — hire a qualified expert. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products.
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