Catching a Killer - New Steps in the treatment of mesothelioma

It is a silent killer out there. It crawls on its victims, it does 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, mesothelial cells of either the lungs, heart or abdominal organs developed, and pests are those that have been exposed to asbestos over a long period of time. Many people who suffer from this disease are people who have worked in certain professions or fields for the year 1970, such as blacksmiths, electricians, mill and oil refinery workers Wright.

Since it can take up to 40 years for symptoms to surface mesothelioma deaths is higher than ever in the 21st Century. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that 1493 people died from asbestos in 2000, compared with 77 persons in 1968.

Mesothelioma Treatment methods vary depending on the stage of the cancer detection and the patient's age and personal choice of treatment depends. The four stages of the disease are a factor in determining the type of mesothelioma treatment, which can be carried out. The first stage is when the tumor is limited growth on the pleural lining (the lining of the lungs) had. In this phase, attempts to surgically remove the entire tumor be. However, if the tumor was discovered at a later stage than the surrounding areas, is considered incurable.

Traditionally, the later stages of mesothelioma treated with either chemotherapy or radiation therapy. Chemotherapy drugs kill cancer cells during radiation therapy uses high energy X-rays to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors.

Although mesothelioma treatment methods have been to extend the life of the patients, they can not cure the disease. Ongoing clinical trials are to overcome this debilitating disease. Current experimental therapies include:

Drug therapy: a drug called Alimta, Eli Lilly has been developed has been found that significantly increase the life expectancy of patients and the symptoms of the disease. It is the only chemotherapy drug approved by the Food and Drug Administration approved for treatment of patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma.

Gene therapy: The mesothelioma treatment is currently in the testing phase. The procedure involves inserting a "suicide gene" directly into the tumor. This gene makes the cells susceptible to normally ineffective drug called glanciclovir destroyed all the cancer cells and leave healthy cells unaffected.

Photodynamic therapy: still in the experimental stage, uses the photodynamic therapy light to kill cancer cells. The patient first receives a photosensitizer that only collects in cancerous cells. Fiber optic cables are then placed into the body to the right frequency of light target the tumor. The photosensitizer is then to a toxic oxygen molecule that kills cancer cells produce that result.

Immunotherapy: Also called biological therapy, this mesothelioma treatment in defending the body's own immune system against mesothelioma. It is found that the immune system is able to decipher healthy cells from cancer cells and can thus eradicate those cells causing the cancer.

While treatment methods are still in development or pilot phase, there is hope that one day all mesothelioma victims from the murderous hands of this terrible disease free.

Posted in: mesothelioma