Mesothelioma

Introduction: Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is a relatively rare cancer, that is usually associated with asbestos. Exposure to asbestos fibers can cause mesothelioma even years later.

Currently, mesothelioma is an active area of lawsuits and litigation. The area of law is not usually medical malpractice, because mesothelioma liability is usually related to the asbestos exposure, involving legal areas such as product liability, wrongful death, or other liability. However, medical malpractice for mesothelioma can occur due to failure to diagnose mesothelioma in its early stages. Such delayed diagnosis of mesothelioma worsens its prognosis. Always seek qualified legal advice about malpractice or other law, as the area is very complex.

Symptoms of Mesothelioma

• No early symptoms
• Breathlessness on exercise
• Chest pain
• Persistent cough
• Bronchitis

See full list of 7 symptoms of Mesothelioma

Medical Textbooks Online about Mesothelioma

Book excerpts: Copyright © 2008 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. All rights reserved.

Wrongly Diagnosed with Mesothelioma?

• Misdiagnosis of Mesothelioma
• Underlying causes of Mesothelioma (possibly wrongly diagnosed)

Misdiagnosis and Mesothelioma

Chronic lung diseases hard to diagnose: Some of the chronic lung diseases are difficult to diagnose. Even the well-knowns conditions such as asthma or lung cancer often fail to be diagnosed early. Some of the chronic lung diseases with diagnostic difficulties include asthma (perhaps surprisingly), COPD, emphysema, chronic bronchitis, cystic fibrosis, mesothelioma, smoker's cough, AIDS-related respiratory conditions (see AIDS), chronic pneumonia, and other respiratory diseases. Rare possibilities include diseases like psittacosis (bird-related lung infection). See other types of chronic lung diseases....read more »

Read more about Misdiagnosis and Mesothelioma

Causes of Mesothelioma

• Asbestosis

Read more about causes of Mesothelioma

More information about causes of Mesothelioma:

• Underlying causes of Mesothelioma
• Mesothelioma as a complication caused by other conditions
• Medical news summaries relating to Causes of Mesothelioma

Treatments for Mesothelioma

• Chemotherapy
• Radiotherapy
• Surgery
• Surgical tumor removal

Read more about treatments for Mesothelioma

Videos for Mesothelioma

Patient Surveys for Mesothelioma

• Patient Profile Survey
  Take Survey  View Results
• Survey about the symptoms of your Mesothelioma
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Prognosis for Mesothelioma

Prognosis for Mesothelioma: Usually poor because mesothelioma is rarely diagnosed early.

More about prognosis of Mesothelioma

Reseach about Mesothelioma

Visit our research pages for current research about Mesothelioma treatments.

Clinical Trials for Mesothelioma

The US based website ClinicalTrials.gov lists information on both federally and privately supported clinical trials using human volunteers.

Some of the clinical trials listed on ClinicalTrials.gov for Mesothelioma include:

• Capecitabine in Treating Patients With Malignant Mesothelioma - This study is no longer recruiting patients (Current: 23 Nov 2006) - capecitabine
• SU5416 in Treating Patients With Malignant Mesothelioma - This study is no longer recruiting patients (Current: 23 Nov 2006) - SU5416
• ZD 1839 in Treating Patients With Malignant Mesothelioma - This study has been completed (Current: 23 Nov 2006) - ZD 1839
• Gemcitabine Plus Cisplatin in Treating Patients With Malignant Mesothelioma of the Pleura That Cannot Be Removed by Surgery - This study is no longer recruiting patients (Current: 23 Nov 2006) - cisplatin,gemcitabine
• Phase II Clinical Study of a Liposomal-Cisplatin Analogue (L-NDDP) Administered Intrapleurally in Patients With Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma - This study is no longer recruiting patients (Current: 23 Nov 2006) - liposomal-cisplatin analogue

See full list of 89 Clinical Trials for Mesothelioma

Prevention of Mesothelioma

Prevention information for Mesothelioma has been compiled from various data sources and may be inaccurate or incomplete. None of these methods guarantee prevention of Mesothelioma.

• Avoid asbestos exposure, protective work clothing

Read more about prevention of Mesothelioma

Statistics for Mesothelioma

• Medical statistics for Mesothelioma
• Prevalence and incidence statistics for Mesothelioma
• Death and Mortality statistics for Mesothelioma
• Society statistics for Mesothelioma

Types of Mesothelioma

• Pleural mesothelioma
• Peritoneal mesothelioma
• Perineal mesothelioma
• Malignant mesothelioma
• Benign mesothelioma

Read more about Types of Mesothelioma

Stories from Users Related to Mesothelioma

• I was exposed to asbestos!!!
• diagnosed with mesothelioma

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User Interactive Forums

Read about other experiences, ask a question about Mesothelioma, or answer someone else's question, on our message boards:

• I can not get a diagnosis. Please help.
• Tell us your medical story.
• Share your misdiagnosis story.
• What is the best treatment for this?
• See all the forums.

Definitions of Mesothelioma:

A usually malignant and aggressive neoplasm of the mesothelium which is often associated with exposure to asbestos. - (Source - Diseases Database)

A rare form of carcinoma of the mesothelium lining lungs or abdomen or heart; usually associated with exposure to asbestos dust - (Source - WordNet 2.1)

Ophanet, a consortium of European partners, currently defines a condition rare when it affects 1 person per 2,000. They list Mesothelioma as a "rare disease".
Source - Orphanet