The History of Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is a very uncommon form of cancer that has been proven to be almost always caused by the inhalation of asbestos particles. Mesothelioma (pronounced (mez-uh-thee-lee-O-muh), is extremely aggressive and usually spreads throughout a person’s body very quickly once it develops. Therefore, after it is detected in a person’s body, it normally spreads and aggressively invades a person’s vital organs and tissues – and possibly other areas within the body - within several months. Left untreated, mesothelioma patients generally do not face a very positive long-term prognosis.

Mesothelioma shows up inside the body in the form of tumors. The tumors can appear in any place or on any organ that has a mesothelium covering. Sometimes the tumors are detected and then determined to be benign, or non-cancerous. Non-cancerous mesothelioma tumors are usually treated, but not necessarily in the same manner as cancerous ones.

Chances are, if a person with mesothelioma tumors was ever exposed to or inhaled asbestos particles at any time in their life, the tumors will be malignant, or cancerous. The only definitive way to determine if the mesothelioma is benign or malignant is to have a biopsy.

Once a malignant mesothelioma tumor has been detected, tested, and determined to be malignant, other malignant tumors are likely to appear on other internal organs. This type of “spreading” of tumors is referred to as metastasizing. If mesothelioma is discovered in the chest cavity, for example, tumors may begin appearing in places other than the original site. There is no way to determine on which organs the tumors will pop up after the original diagnosis.

There are several types of malignant mesothelioma, but three of them are the most common. The most common out of these three is called “Epithelial.” Luckily, epithelial, is the type of mesothelioma that responds best to treatment. All three types are generally treated the same way in terms of surgery, radiation and chemotherapy.

In most cases, malignant mesothelioma is discovered in a person’s chest cavity. The second most common place for tumors to exist at time of diagnosis is the abdomen. The least common place for tumors to be found upon original discovery is in the heart.

When tumors exist in the chest cavity, they are called “Pleural Mesotheliomas,” when they are found in the abdomen, they are called, “Peritoneal Mesotheliomas,” and when they are discovered in the heart, they are called, “Pericardial Mesotheliomas.

Mesothelioma Research, Clinical Trials and Experimental Treatments

With thousands of new people being diagnosed with mesothelioma each year in the United States alone, there are many doctors and scientists dedicated to ongoing research on this type of cancer. There are several cancer research centers located throughout the United States and the world where mesothelioma is being studied and treatments are being tested. Clinical trials are associated with the research, and many mesothelioma patients have volunteered to participate in them. Abstracts of the research studies are available in many medical journals and also widely available on the Internet.

In addition to cancer centers, there are several large pharmaceutical companies dedicating resources and money to developing ways to treat mesothelioma. There have recently been a few new chemotherapy drugs added to the list of potential options for mesothelioma patients. In particular, a relatively new drug called, “Alimta,” has been proven to prolong the life of several mesothelioma patients. Alimta, used in conjunction with other forms of chemotherapy drugs, has been helpful in treating many patients.

Unfortunately, the treatment of mesothelioma can be extremely expensive and very hard on a person’s body. Some individuals can simply not afford to get the treatment and care that they desperately need. Others have bodies that are too weak or ill to undergo the treatment currently available to them. These individuals have only a few options. Those options are to do nothing – which is a death sentence – or try experimental or alternative medical treatments. The research that is being conduced on mesothelioma allows for certain individuals to partake in clinical trials. However, those chosen to participate must meet very specific criteria and must sometimes be able to endure extreme procedures – with no guarantee of success.

With continued research into mesothelioma and potential treatments, clinical trials are on-going. Cancer centers and pharmaceutical companies in the United States as well as countries all over the world are all participating in research efforts. Along the way, there have been many milestones reached and breakthroughs in chemotherapy drugs and their ability to prolong the lives of mesothelioma patients.

Clinical trials are one of the most hopeful options for mesothelioma patients, and participating in one may provide a will to live to those who feel like their options have ended. Clinical trials are usually different depending on the cancer or research center, and those qualifying for studies must usually live in the vicinity of the center. For some, this means moving to an unfamiliar city for treatments.

Clinical trial studies must undergo three stages before the drugs or treatment being tested will be approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The stages are as follows: Stage 1: The treatments or drugs must first be performed on animals and show some form of success in treating the ailment or cancer. After positive results on animals, the drugs or treatment may be tested on humans. When tested on humans, the results must be monitored very closely as the levels of drugs used are administered and the method of administration is tested. Stage II: After the drugs or treatment is given to the humans, the person is evaluated for results and effects of the treatment. No matter what the result, the findings are recorded and evaluated. Stage III: If an experimental treatment or drug makes it to stage III, it means that the study is ready to enroll large numbers of participants. During stage III, there is a group of people who are given standard treatments and others who are given the new or experimental treatment. The patients do not have knowledge as to whether or not they are in the control or experimental group. When the treatments are complete, the patients are evaluated.

Individuals who do not seem to be responding to traditional malignant mesothelioma treatments may choose to undergo several types of experimental treatments. In some cases, experimental treatments can be used in conjunction with traditional treatments such as radiation and chemotherapy.

Gene Therapy is one of the newest forms of experimental treatments for mesothelioma. In gene therapy, doctors attempt to change a person’s genes which are allowing a tumor to grow. Photodynamic Therapy is an experimental treatment that involves the use of chemicals that were designed to attack and kill cancer cells when exposed to a certain type of light. Immunotherapy is an experimental treatment currently being administered on mesothelioma patients which attempts to change the human body’s ability to fight off cancer cells or prohibit them from spreading to other parts of the body.

Several mesothelioma patients have turned to alternative medicines that are controversial. (It should be noted that any individual who has been diagnosed with mesothelioma should consult with their doctor prior to starting any type of alternative treatment so that the doctor can monitor the results. Some doctors believe that alternative treatments can actually harm a mesothelioma patient more than they can help.)

Acupuncture: people have been utilizing acupuncture treatments for thousands of years to treat both pain and illnesses. While many medical doctors do believe that acupuncture can help reduce a patient’s level of pain, when used in conjunction with other pain medications, most do not believe that acupuncture can assist in the elimination of cancer from a human body.

Meditation: meditation is beneficial for mesothelioma patients in that it can help foster relaxation and a relief from the stress the cancer can put on the body. Some medical doctors have suggested that meditation can actually help boost a person’s immune system. In most cases, doctors have nothing negative to say about meditation.

Hypnosis: in some cases, hypnosis can help mesothelioma patients to reduce their levels of pain. Hypnosis does not work on all people, but can sometimes help those who are able to become hypnotized.