Saturday, September 4, 2010

Mesothelioma Causes

Mesothelioma causes are limited to the exposure to asbestos. These asbestos exposure is known to be involved for many of health issues, such as: malignant mesothelioma, asbestosis, fibrosis; mentioning some.

Asbestos as a one of  mesothelioma causes was discovered in connection with occupational exposure to the mineral. Employers working in this field of minery (shipyard and factory workers) were the first victims of this cancer. Another thing to consider is that the victims of this disease say they have been in contact with asbestos, this mean, asbestos is the main cause of the cancer.

The average age of mesothelioma victims are from 30-42 years.

There are antoher mesothelioma causes, they are less important, but it's worth to mention them.

Some victims say they were in touch with a virus called SV40, this virus was found in some parts of the former USSR.
Researchers have discovered a mineral called Zeolite found in Turkey, that could be another cause.



As you see, some mesothelioma causes are related to minery.

Saturday, August 28, 2010

Mesothelioma (pt1)

Medical professionals currently using three different classification systems to diagnose and treat pleural mesothelioma. Each system takes into account different variables including the extent of the cancer, the involvement of the lymph nodes, the metastases, and more.

1. The Butchart System is the oldest and most system used and is based mainly on the extent of the tumor mass. The Butchart system divides mesothelioma into four stages:

    * Stage I - Mesothelioma is seen on the left or right side of the chest or pleural cavity, and can also be found in the diaphragm.
    * Stage II - Mesothelioma has invaded the lining of the chest and reaches the esophagus, heart, or pleura on both sides. Lymph nodes may also be affected.
    * Stage III - Mesothelioma has passed the diaphragm and into the abdominal cavity or peritoneum. Lymph nodes that are beyond the breast may also be affected.
    * Stage IV - Mesothelioma has spread through the bloodstream to other organs

2. The TNM system (for its initials in English) is a system used to classify most recent stages of mesothelioma considering variables such as size and extent of tumor, involvement of lymph nodes, and metastasis. In the TNM system, the disease is divided into four stages:

    * Stage I - Mesothelioma is on the right or left cavity of the chest and may have spread to the pericardium, diaphragm, or lung on the same side. Lymph nodes are not affected.
    * Stage II - Mesothelioma has spread from one breast to a lymph node near the lung on the same side. The disease also may have spread to the lungs, diaphragm, or pericardium on the same side.
    * Stage III - Mesothelioma has spread to the chest wall, muscle, heart, esophagus, ribs and vital organs in the pleural cavity on the same side. Lymph nodes may or may not be affected in the side of the tumor.
    * Stage IV - Mesothelioma has spread to the lymph nodes in the chest area across the tumor, or has spread to the pleural cavity or lung on the other side, or has reached organs in the abdominal area or neck. Any metastasis is involved in the fourth stage.

    * Stage I - Mesothelioma is seen on the left or right side of the chest or pleural cavity, and can also be found in the diaphragm.
    * Stage II - Mesothelioma has invaded the lining of the chest and reaches the esophagus, heart, or pleura on both sides. Lymph nodes may also be affected.
    * Stage III - Mesothelioma has passed the diaphragm and into the abdominal cavity or peritoneum. Lymph nodes that are beyond the breast may also be affected.
    * Stage IV - Mesothelioma has spread through the bloodstream to other organs

2. The TNM system (for its initials in English) is a system used to classify most recent stages of mesothelioma considering variables such as size and extent of tumor, involvement of lymph nodes, and metastasis. In the TNM system, the disease is divided into four stages:

    * Stage I - Mesothelioma is on the right or left cavity of the chest and may have spread to the pericardium, diaphragm, or lung on the same side. Lymph nodes are not affected.
    * Stage II - Mesothelioma has spread from one breast to a lymph node near the lung on the same side. The disease also may have spread to the lungs, diaphragm, or pericardium on the same side.
    * Stage III - Mesothelioma has spread to the chest wall, muscle, heart, esophagus, ribs and vital organs in the pleural cavity on the same side. Lymph nodes may or may not be affected in the side of the tumor.
    * Stage IV - Mesothelioma has spread to the lymph nodes in the chest area across the tumor, or has spread to the pleural cavity or lung on the other side, or has reached organs in the abdominal area or neck. Any metastasis is involved in the fourth stage.