PERITONEAL MESOTHELIOMA AND CHARITY

As the number of victims affected by mesothelioma is constantly on the rise, it has become more important than ever to carry out extensive research into this cancer as well as carry out alot of orientation programs so as to increase people's awareness about the disease. As there is currently no long-term theraphy available to mesothelioma sufferers, all that victims can do is hope that some day a breakthrough will be made by researchers and medical experts. However, this research works are both time consuming and at the same time are capital intensive, and without appropriate funding can be very difficult.

This is where mesothelioma foundations come in. These organizations exist to help the victims of mesothelioma as well as work towards eliminating the disease . Government funding for mesothelioma barely scratches the surface – only a few million dollars have been allocated to mesothelioma research over a period of several years.And as such many of these charitable organisations rely heavily upon public donations.

Mesothelioma foundations carry out excellent work, although they clearly have to work within the limitsofbudgetary provisions. They work towards funding trials and research into treatment of this cancer; they help to support and educate patients as well as offering them advice with regards to treatment; and they aim to provide quality information that helps sufferers and their families.

Many breakthroughs have been made thanks to the dedication and hard work of the professionals at mesothelioma foundations. Treatments that offer a life extension of several months have been discovered, blood tests that help to speed up the diagnosis of the cancer have been developed and medication that can help to shrink the tumour is being investigated. With more substantial funding, these foundations could support even more research giving the world a better chance of finding an effective long term treatment or cure for mesothelioma.

. For those interested in helping mesothelioma organizations to reach their goals, there are several ways in which you can help:

The first one is the most obvious, and that’s by making a charitable donation to your local foundation. This can be in the form of a check, in cash, or if you prefer to donate on a regular basis many foundations can set up a direct debit or standing order so that the money goes directly from your account each month.

Perhaps you’d like to do a little fundraising yourself, in which case doing something like a sponsored run – or anything for which people would sponsor you – could prove effective. You could raise a littleamount of money which could ultimately help to change the lives of millions of people.

Another way of helping is by volunteering to assist the foundations in one of a number of ways, which could include anything from helping with research to providing support and friendship to patients.

Mesothelioma foundations will benefit from all the additional support that they can get, whether it is financial or otherwise. If you feel you can assist in any of these ways, you should contact your local mesothelioma foundation and ask about making a contribution of applying for a volunteer’s position.

Whichever way you decide to show your support, you will be helping in the vital quest to eliminate this deadly cancer which exhibit the prospects of wiping off a nation.

CLINICAL TRIALS FOR PERITONEAL MESOTHELIOMA

In order to try and find an effective treatment and cure for mesothelioma, clinical trials have been a vital part of the treatment process. These trials, carried out at institutions and hospitals all over the country, are extensive tests to determine the efficiency and side effects of any drug which has shown marked improvement when tested under lab conditions and in animal tests.

It is not guaranteed that any clinical trial will prove more successful or even as successful as treatment already being used. The purpose of clinical trials is to determine what sort of effect the new treatment or drug may have, and from there a decision can be made as to whether the treatment should be put forward for approval by the FDA (Food and Drugs Administration).

Clinical trials are based around drugs which have shown signs of responding well to cancerous cells, and the purpose of these trials is to monitor the response and effects on human test subjects. The nature of each trial can differ depending on the state and location in which it is being held.

Some recent and current clinical trials from around the country include:

(1)Alimta & Gemcitabine

(2)Neoadjuvant Pemetrexed Disodium and Cisplatin followed by Surgery and Radiation Therapy

(3)Intra pleural BG00001

(4)Erlotinib on Patients with Solid Tumours or Liver/Kidney Dysfunction

(5)PTK787/ZK 222584 for Patients with Unresectable Malignant Mesothelioma

(6)Alanosine

(7)SS1 (dsFv) – PE38 Immunotoxin (for advanced cancer patients)

The above are a sample of some of the recent and current clinical trials on operation. There are new trials and tests coming to light on a regular basis, many of which will undergo clinical trials. And through this continual testing, it is hoped that a breakthrough in mesothelioma treatment will come to light.

ALTERNATIVE MEDICAL OPTIONS FOR THE TREATMENT OF PERITONEAL MESOTHELIOMA

Traditional treatments can be very expensive and can be taxing on the patient's body. Further, many patients are not considered candidates for some of the more extreme procedures. Many patients faced with these obstacles seek alternative medicine to help them in their battle with mesothelioma. Alternative medicine can take many forms which are:

(1)ACUPUNCTURE:-

The ancient art of Acupuncture has been around for thousands of years in the east. This therapy has recently been recognized in the United States as being very effective at alleviating the pains suffered by cancer victims. Many oncologists from around the country are recommending this treatment in conjunction with other more traditional treatments to make for pain alleviation.

(2)MEDICATION:-

Meditation has been very much recommended as an effective alternative treatment plan that allows the cancer patient to reduce both stress and pain. Some doctors also suggest that meditation can also aid the bodies immune function.

(3) Hypnosis is another accepted way for a cancer patient to reduce his or her pain. Hypnosis should always be performed by a licensed and experienced professionals usually referred to as an hypnotist.

It should however be noted that in some cases ,orthodox medical therapy can be combined with alternative medical options for the treatment of peritoneal mesothelioma;as the ultimate aim is the effective management and/or the treatment of peritoneal mesothelioma .Majority of patients would normally go for the alternative therapies as the are less painful,effective and also cheaper as compared to the exorbitant bills charged for the orthodox medical treatments sucn as chemotherapy

TREATMENT FOR PERITONEAL MESOTHELIOMA

Treatment for this can differ in many ways and is dependent upon a number of factors.The doctor, once a diagnosis is made, will make a recommendation based upon details such as: the extent of cancer and how advanced it is; the patient's general condition and health; past medical history of the patient; and the patients age. Treatment however include:

(1) {SURGERY}:

This entails cutting the out part of the linings and tissues from the abdomen in order to remove the tumour. Whether or not surgery will be required and how much tissue is removed will depend on how far the cancer has spread and how big the tumour is. It may sometimes be necessary to remove aline or part of the diaphragm in order for surgery to succeed in the removal Peritoneal Mesothelioma tumour.

(2) {RADIATION THERAPY}:

This is where high energy x-rays are used to shrink tumours and kill cancerous cells in the affected area.There are two way to administer radiation therapy. The first is through external means, where a machine is placed outside the body and emits radiation through the body. The second is by placing a source of radiation directly to the affected areas by way of of plastic tubes. As well as administering the radiation therapy through the tubes; doctors are also able to administer any required drugs this way.

(3) {CHEMOTHERAPY}:

Here,a combination of drugs is used to try and kill off the cancer cells.Drugs can be administered by mouth in tablet form, or you have the administered intravenously via needle into a vein or a muscle. The drug can then enter the blood stream and travel through through the body, hopefully killing off any cancerous cell along the way.

TEST AND DIAGNOSIS OF PERITONEAL MESOTHELIOMA

There are several tests that doctors can run to determine if a patient has a Peritoneal mesothelioma diagnosis. These tests vary in terms of intrusion into the body and accuracy. A time line for testing a person suspected of having Peritoneal mesothelioma is as follows:

When a patient first presents at the doctors office complaining of difficulty breathing, abdominal pain, or pneumonia types symptoms, the primary care physician will take an X-ray or CT scan to determine the presence of asbestos in or around the lungs, heart or stomach.

Once the detection of asbestos is noted, the doctor will look for tell tale signs of cancer including but not limited to the presence of tumors around the vital organs. If tumors or growths are detected, the primary care physician will typically refer the patient to a specialist for various tests to determine whether there is a mesothelioma diagnosis.

Peritoneal mesothelioma diagnosis is generally tested for in one of two ways. Depending on the condition of the patient, the doctor may want to do a minimally intrusive procedure called a needle biopsy. The procedure allows the doctor to abstract cells suspected of cancer infection from the lining affected area. The doctor can run tests on the mesothelial cells to determine the proper diagnosis for the patient. There are several ways in which the doctor can perform a tissue biopsy in order to run tests for mesothelioma. A thoracoscopy or laparoscopy entails making a small incision and using a tiny camera to look at the affected area. At this time a small tissue sample can be taken. The tissue samples will be sent away to a pathologists for further tests. Your doctor may decide to do a needle biopsy, where a hollow needle is inserted through the skin and into the chest cavity. However, needle biopsies can be less than precise.

The second more common way that doctors test for Peritoneal mesothelioma is to surgically enter the patients body, at which time they cut a small piece of infected tissue for biopsy purposes. This test is known as an "open biopsy". The abstracted tissue is then sent out for testing by a specialist. This process generally takes several days. If this test reveals the presence of mesothelioma the doctor will determine whether the diagnosed mesothelioma is benign or malignant.

If the doctor determines that the mesothelioma diagnosis is malignant, they will likely refer the patient to an oncologist (cancer doctor) for further tests and treatment.

The oncologist will test the patient to determine the progression of the mesothelioma and the prognosis for the future. At this time the oncologist will decide what treatment option is best for the patient.

Generally, the oncologist will start the patient on a series of chemotherapy treatments to slow the growth of the mesothelioma. If the doctor determines, after running tests, that the patient is not a candidate for chemotherapy, the oncologists may prescribe medication to help the patient with pain management

SYMPTOMS OF PERITONEAL MESOTHELIOMA

The long latency period attached to peritoneal mesothelioma means that the symptoms of this disease can take many years to manifest,making both diagnosis and effective treatment very difficult. Even when the symptoms becomes evident which can take several decades,the symptoms are so generalized and so non specific that the may be mistaken for a number of more common diseases. This makes it hard for even experienced doctors to make a quick and conclusive diagnosis with peritoneal mesothelioma patients.The symptoms of this disease can be confused with pneumonia during its early stages.The symptoms for patients who suffer Peritoneal Mesothelioma are:

(1) Abdominal pain and swelling.

(2) Weakness.

(3) Loss of appetite and weight loss.

(4) Nausea and vomitting.

(5) Breathing problems and severe chest pain in some cases.

(6) Fever, anaemia and problems with blood clotting may also affect Peritoneal Mesothelioma patients.

As the Peritoneal Mesothelioma progresses into the later stages, the symptoms for Peritoneal Mesotheloima more acute and obvious. Although the can still often be mistaken for another illness. It is therefore essential for patients to inform their doctors if they have been exposed to asbestos at any point or even if they suspect that they have been exposed to asbestos. This will enable the doctor to make a more informed diagnosis rather than basing his diagnosis on guesswork. It is also important not to ignore any of the symptoms especially if the patient have been exposed over a long time. Many people can be exposed to asbestos inadvertently (e.g through the clothe of someone who have come in contact with asbestos) so it is important to visit your doctor should any of this symptoms show up. Most people who have worked with asbestos in the past do not begin to show the symptoms of Peritoneal Mesothelioma until thirty to forty years later. By this time the disease is already spreading and with the delay in diagnosis,treatment is difficult and in most cases impossible. However the cause, effect and symptoms of Peritoneal mesothelioma are now becoming more widely known by professionals and lay people. This awareness, coupled with the current clinical trials that are being carried out by a variety of organizations gives patients the hope that an effective treatment will one day be available for all the stages of Peritoneal Masothelioma by the special grace of God.

WHAT IS PERITONEAL MESOTHELIOMA ?

Peritoneal Mesothelioma is the name given to the cancer that attacks the lining of the abdomen.This type of cancer is caused by ABESTOS exposure and it affects the linings that protects the contents of the abdomen and which also provides a lubrication to enable the organs to move and work effectively. This disease is sometimes referred to as DIFFUSE PERITONEAL MESOTHELIOMA and this is where the cancer has spread out.Accountable for around 10% of mesothelioma cases, this type of abestos related cancer is the second most common(after PLEURAL MESOTHELIOMA).

There are a number of symptoms for these disease. However like all other types of MESOTHELIOMA, there is a very long latency period and symptom may not become evident for decades after exposure. This means that by the time the symptoms have begun,it is often already too late to offer any real constructive treatment. Further delay may be caused due to the fact that the symptoms are generally non specific and could therefore be attributed to a number of more common ailments.Unless your doctor is aware of the fact that you have been exposed to abestos in the past,he or she is likely to consider other options before even contemplating mesothelioma.It is therefore important to let your doctor know of any exposure to abestos as the case may be.

The symptoms of this disease include pain and weakness,weight loss, nausea, loss of appetite abdominal swelling, bowel obstruction. However depending on the location of the tumor, additional problems can be experienced such as breathing problems and severe pains.