Mesothelioma Treatment

Archive for February, 2012

Researchers at the University of Hawaii have identified a protein that induced by the action of asbestos or asbestos on cells, is responsible for an inflammatory reaction that promotes tumor growth. Experts say this discovery could be applied in the prevention and treatment of mesothelioma.

HMGB1 Protein
The study, published in the journal PNAS, explains the mechanism by which asbestos causes mesothelioma, cancer of the pleura, resistant to current therapies.

Over 20 million people in the U.S., and many more worldwide have been exposed to asbestos and are at risk of developing mesothelioma.

They questioned how the asbestos fibers that kill cells, can cause cancer, because dead cells would not be able to grow and form a tumor. They found that when asbestos kills cells, it does so by inducing a process called “programmed cell necrosis,” which leads to the release of a molecule called Protein HMGB1 (high-mobility group box 1 protein).

Prevention and treatment of mesothelioma

This protein initiates a particular type of inflammatory reaction that causes the release of mutagens and factors that promote tumor growth. The researchers found that patients exposed to asbestos have elevated levels of HMGB1 in the serum. So say it would be possible to act on protein HMGB1 to prevent or treat mesothelioma and identify populations exposed to asbestos by a simple serological test for HMGB1.

The researchers propose that by interfering with the inflammatory reaction caused by asbestos and HMGB1, it is possible to decrease the incidence of cancer in populations exposed to asbestos and decrease the rate of tumor growth among those already affected by mesothelioma.

Brand name Alimta is the first and only chemotherapy drug approved by the FDA specifically for treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM). In combination with cisplatin is often the first line therapy for patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma.

The most common side effects of Alimta are upset stomach, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, decreased white blood cells, increasing the risk of infection, a decrease in red blood cells (anemia), shortness of breath, sores in mouth, throat, lips, or loss of appetite, fatigue and rash.

Cisplatin
It is a commonly used chemotherapy for testicular cancer, bladder, ovary, lung, stomach and mesothelioma. Cisplatin is in a group of drugs known as platinum-containing compounds or alkylating agents. It is administered intravenously and is often given in combination with other chemotherapy drugs.

Cisplatin acts by interfering with the growth of cancer cells, destroying them. Cisplatin can also affect normal cells and thus cause side effects. Side effects can range from mild to severe, depending on each patient. May include: Nausea, vomiting, kidney damage, hearing problems, fatigue, decreased blood cell production (increases the chances of infection and decreases the capacity. Clot).

To reduce damage to the kidneys, it is very important to drink plenty of fluids and stay well hydrated. Doctors often recommend 8 to 12 glasses of liquid the day of treatment and the next two days. Often other drugs are administered intravenously to counteract the side effects of chemotherapy.

Before starting treatment with cisplatin is recommended to discuss their effects on fertility. Do not receive cisplatin if allergic to platinum status or have renal (kidney) upon or hearing problems. Women should not breastfeed while receiving treatment receive vaccines should be avoided during chemotherapy, because chemotherapy weakens the immune system.

Carboplatin
Trade name Paraplatin, is used to treat ovarian cancer, head and neck cancer, or mesothelioma. Carboplatin is a group of drugs known as platinum-containing compounds or alkylating agents. It is administered intravenously and acts by interfering with the growth of cancer cells, which eventually die.
Growth of normal cells may also be affected by carboplatin and therefore, has several side effects. Side effects can range from mild to severe, depending on each patient. These include decreased production of blood cells (increases the chances of infection and decreases the clotting ability), nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite and fatigue. Read the rest of this entry »

Mesothelioma, even after decades of medical research, is one of the most aggressive and least treatable of all cancers.

However, a very small percentage of patients go into remission of mesothelioma and I can report two cases, one anecdotal (but I’ve seen the movies) and one of the medical literature.

Dr. Demetrio Sodi Pallares, who lived from 1913 to 2003,was once considered the main electrocardiologist the world. Professor at Baylor school of Medicine, UCLA and Michigan, was the author of twelve books and over 300 articles in medical journals.

In the 1960 Dr. Sodi, as he prefers to be called, was at Baylor Medical College School pioneered bypass surgery, Dr. Michael DeBakey. Competitive with DeBakey, Sodi perfected an alternative procedure, a “referral to bypass” that require minimal surgery or medication.

While bypass surgery is something everyone knows everyone, procedure Dr. Sodi infusion of glucose insulin potassium (GIK) only recognized as valid by the American Heart Association developed 53 years later, but today is used in 11 countries. Dr. Sodi, of course, are encouraged to return to his hometown of Mexico at the age of 65. Dr. DeBakey is still in School and will turn 100 September 7, 2008.

Back in Mexico, Dr. Sodi (to the dismay of his wife) built a medical clinic in the pool and flower gardens and opened its doors to patients without hope that they had no money. One of his patients had mesothelioma.

Dr. Sodi had learned more or less by accident that successfully treat heart disease often brings about a remission of cancer. In the 1980s, a construction worker with mesothelioma who were not getting any relief at the public hospital treatment came after ordering lab and x-rays, Dr. Sodi put him in a three levels:

Avoid adding salt and canned foods with salt.

Eat 10 servings of fruits and vegetables a day.

And be sure to take a nap for 3 hours 5 days a week,

The bread which is produced in a pulsed magnetic mattress regular rate available for the treatment of back pain today.

That’s not the kind of regime that is going to get a medical school to keep you in college, after reaching age 65. It was just that simple. Do the fees of Dr. Sodi? Zero.

I was a guest of the house of Dr. Sodi about 15 years later. He showed me the films of the reduction and then disappearing malignant pleural effusions and then introduced me to this and several other patients. What is striking about this man was, but he could run in the polluted environment of Mexico City was unusually optimistic that had skin. That may or may not have anything to do with the referral, but it was memorable.

What I can expect anyone reading this post to get away from my story?

Well, is not the only story out there for reference. Others are scientifically documented.

While he had great confidence in the integrity of Dr. Sodi and still do, a case study conducted in a free clinic built on an abandoned swimming pool in the front yard of the doctor really does not reach the level of scientific proof.

But is consistent with a finding on the prevention of mesothelioma’ll be writing about in a later post. If 10 servings of fruits and vegetables a day is good, of course, that does not mean 20 would be better. Apparently there is an upper limit to the usefulness of diet in preventing and possibly supporting mesothelioma, as I will explain in a later post.

If the test for referral to meet, do not let him. But the fact is that a carefully documented remission of mesothelioma has been documented in the literature.

Dr. Roger KA Allen of Wesley Medical Center in Brisbane, Australia has documented the case of a woman aged 61 with mesothelioma went into remission within months and has remained in remission for years. (You can find the full text of the publication, “Apparent spontaneous complete regression of a multifocal malignant mesothelioma of the pleura, here.)

Dr. Allen says he has treated over 600 patients with mesothelioma and that there were multiple executions of the biopsy to ensure that women (1) had mesothelioma and IT (2) went into remission without any treatment at all.

For any treatment, Dr. Allen writes that there was also no alternative medicine, no changes in diet and no prayer-but it seems unlikely that these variables could really explain. The Australian patient had been in remission for five years when the book was published in 2007.

And there are people who have had mesothelioma who did not remain in remission, but have lived a long time. The Royal Brompton Hospital in London reports removed, a mesothelioma patient was in remission for six years and then have to have a single tumor and lived another six years, twelve total, and was still living at the time of publication the book. (You can read a summary of that report here).

As with any cancer, treatment for mesothelioma depends on the location of cancer, disease progression, age and health status of the patient.

It is the oncologist who specializes in the disease, which will decide on the course of treatment. The disease is difficult to treat and in most cases the prognosis is poor. Treatment options include:

1. If the diagnosis is made in the early stages of surgery may be recommended to remove all cancerous tissues. This means thoracoscopy, vats or video-assisted thoracic surgery, mediastinoscopy (used for staging), or laparoscopy. Often, doctors advise palliative procedures like chest tube drainage and pleurodesis, thoracoscopy and pleurodesis, or pleurectomy pleuroperitonial derivation, which treat the symptoms of mesothelioma rather than the disease.

2. Radiation is prescribed aggressively for mesothelioma patients and is often given in combination with surgery or to control symptoms, palliative. Research on the use of radiation therapy using implants or UV light therapy is in progress as traditional radiation therapy damages surrounding healthy tissue.

3. Chemotherapy is an option and around 12-20% of patients respond to drugs. The cancer drugs kill cancer cells and prevent its spread. In mesothelioma, chemotherapy is not considered curative. The aim is to prevent the spread of the disease, reduce the tumor before surgery, called neoadjuvant therapy, to annihilate the remnants of the tumor in the body after surgery, and to relieve pain and other discomfort, palliative chemotherapy . Experts recommend prescribing with cisplastin premetrexed. These drugs have shown positive results and this is now standard care for Mesothelioma not treatable by surgery.

4. Biological therapy with interleukin 2.

5. Immunotherapy in the body’s own immune system is stimulated to fight the disease. biological response modifiers, BRM, are used in treatment. These enhance the functions of the immune system regulate metabolic reactions that promote cancer growth, alter the division of cancer cells, block or reverse the processes leading to the formation of cancers, and prevent the spread of cancer.

6. Gene therapy, where attempts are made to correct the sequence of the gene that causes cancer. This is of two kinds, gene therapy and gene replacement therapy knock-out.

7. The administration of lovastatin, a cholesterol lowering drug.

8. Photodynamic treatment of a photosensitive drug which is activated by a laser. This is done during the surgical removal of cancerous tissues.

9. Drainage of fluid in the chest or abdominal cavity followed by the introduction of drugs into the cavity to prevent fluid accumulation is performed on patients who have uncontrolled fluid accumulation and intense discomfort stemming from it.

10. Combination therapy or trimodality therapy which means surgery accompanied by radiation and chemotherapy.

Often, additional drugs are also used. Called to be integrated this type of treatment focuses on physical, mental, emotional, and patient comfort.

In the case of mesothelioma, an untreatable can opt for clinical trials of new treatments that are underway in several research laboratories and centers. The best advice in the line of treatment would be recommended by the oncologist or physician.

Mesothelioma – cancer disease. Mesothelioma is a cancerous disease that affects various organs in the body including the lungs, heart and abdominal cavity. This is mainly caused due to inhalation or ingestion of asbestos particles, which in turn passes through the air channel affecting the mesothelial tissue layers above these organs.

The mesothelioma is a cancerous disease that affects various organs in the body such as lungs, heart and abdominal cavity. But the crucial point is that after the first exposure to asbestos that affects the body for decades and by the time they are diagnosed with the disease would have reached the extreme stage of which is left without treatment option.

Ways to avoid the mesothelioma
People who work in asbestos industries, construction and other areas where they are exposed to asbestos should wear protective equipment to prevent contact with asbestos fibers.

It is only when an individual is exposed to asbestos over a period of time than run the risk of contracting this disease. Therefore exposure for a period longer be avoided at all costs.

People in general should be aware of the risk posed by exposure to asbestos fibers so innocent family members of these workers are not affected.

Make sure the people working in such hazardous areas make it a point not to carry asbestos particles in their country.

Watch for signs of Mesothelioma before for treatment at the time that the fear of exposure to asbestos in order to avoid the increased aggressiveness of the disease.

Asbestos is a mineral material used as insulation against corrosive substances. Asbestos particles are invisible to the naked eye and are carcinogenic. Once inhaled, are introduced into the lungs causing health problems ranging from a condition known as asbestosis fibrosis is a lung to cancer in the pleura or peritoneum.

Due to their special characteristics, asbestos has been used for a wide variety of manufactured products, mainly in materials construction (roof covering shingles, tiles and tile products, paper products and cement asbestos), friction products ( clutch of cars, brakes , transmission components), heat-resistant textiles, packaging, packaging and coatings.

Malignant mesothelioma associated with exposure to asbestos at work (recognized as an occupational disease) or residence. After exposure to asbestos, you can spend a long time (more than 20 years) until the tumor appears.

Mesothelioma is usually diagnosed in the fifth decade of life with a clear predominance in males, the latter due to its relationship with occupational exposure to asbestos. Its incidence is increasing in Europe, expecting the same peak in 2018, affecting the cohort of men born between 1945 and 1950, although the incidence varies considerably in different geographic areas, reflecting the possibility of environmental exposure and occupational asbestos. Also be noted that the incidence increases linearly in relation to the intensity of exposure, but exponentially with respect to time elapsed since first exposure.

The incidence of mesothelioma varies in different areas of the world, depending on when asbestos was widely used in that area. Incidence rates are highest in the UK, where about 1,800 diagnosed cases per year. Australia was one of the world’s largest producers of asbestos, leading the country that had the highest incidence rates worldwide (based on population size). The incidence of mesothelioma in the U.S. is beginning to decline (about 2,000 diagnosed cases per year), while in Europe and Australia are expected to plateau in the next 10-15 years. Currently, in Spain the incidence rate stands at around 0.35 cases per 100,000 population per year and is responsible for the death of 5 people per million population.

For people working in industry and construction sector or closely related to asbestos, here are some ways to prevent cancer mesothelioma.
In the following way:

1. Use protective equipment when working properly. Such as footwear, headgear, gloves and most importantly is the mask (covers nose and mouth). It protects the body from direct contact with asbestos particles and to prevent inhalation.

2. Wash hands with soap before eating when your break at work. You can clean the hands of the particles of asbestos or other substances that stick in your hand so that is not swallowed and enters the body.

3 shower and change clothes when leaving the workplace. This is to reduce the risk of entrainment of asbestos fibers into the atmosphere.

4. Wash clothes that used to work in the washer or washing is to avoid direct contact with asbestos fibers that cling to clothes.

5. Avoid smoking, as studies show smoking can cause lung cancer mesothelioma 1000 by 1,000,000 while only 70-30 per 1,000,000 people. But if they are smokers and work in an environment that is closely related to asbestos. Avoid smoking while working, as it can cause asbestos particles into the body by sucking cigarettes.

6. Immediately go to the doctor if you have any health problems or symptoms of mesothelioma. It is best to frequently check your health regularly with physicians, for example, once every 6 months.
All kinds of diseases can be prevented, but not all types of diseases can be treated.Remember …! Is easier to prevent than cure.
. For more information about the visit of mesothelioma http://mesothelioma-lifeexpectancy99.blogspot.com

MESOTHELIOMA DIAKNOSIS
Mesothelima when diagnosed early can increase the life expectancy of a person, but the disease is usually very difficult, but diaknosis by cytology or by the pathologist though. This is because mesothelioma has the characteristic symptoms are similar to other diseases. Most cases of the disease is diagnosed at later stages (severe).

* Mesotheloma diaknosis usually begins with a look at the patient’s history, the closeness of the relationship of a patient with a substance asbestos.
* In addition to physical examination followed by chest X-ray to to see if the function lung continues to operate normally.
* If after the test there was a thickening of the walls of the pleura (the lung wall), there is the possibility that the patient has been exposed to asbestos and are at risk for mesothelioma .
* If there is excess fluid in the mesothelium lining the cytology do an MRI or CT are taking fluids by using a syringe, to be investigated. CT is usually performed on lung, kidney, aorta and liver. CT was performed in order to detect abnormal cells.
* In the pleural fluid is usually done with thoracostomy (chest tube). As pericardial effusion with pericardiocentis done.

If after the test did not detect any disease that are not necessarily free from the threat of mesothelioma. Because this disease can be detected after the cancer cells. While if the test results produced by patients infected with other illnesses such as strep throat, tuberculosis, heart failure, etc, there is the possibility that the patient has been exposed. Mesothelioma diaknosis conclusion in the early stages can not be certain whether patients exposed diaknosis can take care of the patients presented.

Breast cancer is an increasingly common disease. Everyone has a case in our environment, and this frightens us. Fear because we think it’s a lottery, we can not do anything about it.

But the truth is that it is no longer true. There are people who barely know the breast cancer, such as China and Japan. But that’s only when they follow the traditional diet. When they move to the West, or adopt the Western diet, after two generations the breast cancer rates are equal to those of Westerners. This rules out, for now, the genetic variable.

This has been one of the most important clues that have followed many research teams to try to detect which are the environmental, dietary, lifestyle, creating fertile ground for the development of breast cancer. Fortunately for us, to know more about them gives us the opportunity to do something, or much, to reduce this risk.

A constellation of causes for breast cancer development
It’s a great temptation to attribute the reason for what happens to a single cause. But no one but a “constellation” of them. Some are beyond our control: genetic susceptibility, environmental pollution, food contamination by pesticides and fertilizers, etc.. There will even causes as yet unknown.

But here we will try is promoting factors of breast cancer already identified and that we can avoid. It is important to understand that no final causes is in itself, is the synergy between them and in relation to our constitution and heredity that determines our level of risk.

Create a “field” is conducive to development of breast cancer.

Estrogens and breast cancer
Are hormones secreted by the ovaries and adrenal glands whose purpose is the maturation of sex organs, including breasts. Its function is to stimulate cells to multiply. At appropriate levels, its effect is healthy, and affects not only state of the reproductive organs, but in the general tissue, skin, mucous membranes, bones, brain, etc..

Cells to multiply is necessary because cells are constantly being replaced in all tissues. A faster, as is the case of the intestinal mucosa, which makes every two days. Other renewing slowly, as in the case of bone, it takes several years. The problem is when the “cruising speed” of this work is accelerated. Cells not only grow but also increase the chances of a “mistake” genetic.

The breast tissue is very sensitive to estrogen. That is why excessive levels of this hormone is associated with an increased odds ratio of developing breast cancer.

It is a fact that today the exposure of women to the effect of estrogen is higher than any other past time, because:

We have fewer children. During the first half of the menstrual cycle increases the secretion of estrogens until ovulation occurs, at which decreases for increasing progesterone. If pregnancy occurs, estrogen secretion decreases in favor of other hormones of pregnancy. That is, there is some “rest estrogen.”

Until the middle of last century, women were easily 6 to 8 children, which meant many fewer ovulations. They were also nursed many months, so the rule could take about two years in return for each child. That meant that women had during their reproductive life dozens of menstrual cycles less, and with them, less exposure to estrogen that women today.