New treatment methods for the treatment of mesothelioma
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Mesothelioma-
a cancer caused by asbestos
Mesothelioma-
cancer diet
There's a silent killer out there. It creeps up on its victims, attacks
them quietly and unsuspectingly, and initiates a wound that develops over
many years before it eventually causes pain. This unstoppable murderer is
known as mesothelioma.
Mesothelioma is a malignant tumor that develops on the mesothelial cells of
either the lungs, heart or abdominal organs, and plagues those who have been
exposed to asbestos for a prolonged period of time. Many who fall victim to
this disease are people who have worked in specific trades or fields prior
to the 1970s, such as blacksmiths, electricians, millwrights, and oil refinery
workers.
Since it can take up to forty years for symptoms to surface, mesothelioma-related
deaths are higher than ever in the 21st century. The Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention state that 1,493 people died from asbestos in 2000, compared
to 77 people in 1968.
Mesothelioma treatment methods differ depending on the stage of the cancer
upon detection, as well as the patient's age and personal choice of treatment.
The four distinct stages of the disease are a factor in determining the type
of mesothelioma treatment that can be carried out. The first stage is when
the tumor has had limited growth on the pleural lining (the lining of the
lungs). At this stage, an attempt can be made to surgically remove the entire
tumor. However, if the tumor is detected at a later stage when it has invaded
surrounding areas, it is considered incurable.
Traditionally, the later stages of mesothelioma have been treated with either
chemotherapy or radiation therapy. Chemotherapy uses drugs to kill cancer
cells while radiation therapy uses high-energy x-rays to kill cancer cells
and shrink tumors.
Although mesothelioma treatment methods have been proven to prolong patients'
lives, they cannot cure the disease. Ongoing clinical trials are dedicated
to overcoming this debilitating illness. Current experimental treatments include
the following:
Drug Therapy: A drug called Alimta, developed by Eli Lilly,
has been shown to significantly increase the life expectancy of patients and
decrease symptoms of the disease. It is the only chemotherapy drug to be approved
by the Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of patients with malignant
pleural mesothelioma.
Gene Therapy: This mesothelioma treatment is currently in
the experimental stages. The process involves inserting a "suicide gene" directly
into the tumor. This gene makes the cells sensitive to a normally ineffective
drug called glanciclovir which destroys all the cancer cells and leaves the
healthy cells unharmed.
Photodynamic Therapy: Still in its experimental stage, photodynamic
therapy uses light to kill cancerous cells. The patient first receives a photosensitizer
that only collects in cancerous cells. Fiberoptic cables are then placed in
the body in order to focus the right frequency of light on the tumor. The
photosensitizer is then caused to produce a toxic oxygen molecule that kills
the cancer cell.
Immunotherapy: Also referred to as biological therapy, this
mesothelioma treatment uses the body's personal immune system to defend itself
against mesothelioma. It has been discovered that the immune system is capable
of deciphering healthy cells from cancerous cells, and can thus eradicate
those cells that cause cancer.
While treatment methods are still in the developmental or experimental stages,
there is hope that one day all mesothelioma victims will be freed from the
murderous hands of this fearsome disease.
About the Author: Maggie Kay is a freelance writer from Montreal and is the head researcher and content manager of Mesothelioma Attorney Advice Center (www.maacenter.org).
