What You Need to Know About Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is one of the rarest forms of cancer with only about 2,000 cases reported in the United States. Still, it is perhaps the most deadly. Those unfortunate enough to have been diagnosed with the disease generally live 4 to 9 months after diagnosis. There is, at this time, no cure for the disease—only treatment options that may extend the life and comfort of the victims of mesothelioma by a few short months.

If you've been diagnosed with mesothelioma, it is important that you seek out immediate medical and legal help. You may very well have a case against the industry that caused the illness.

Those workers most at risk of developing this deadly disease include, asbestos and talc miners, auto mechanics (working with breaks), those working with asbestos cement, demolition workers, shipyard and power plant workers. The only cause of mesothelioma is the inhalation of asbestos dust, so if you believe you're working around asbestos, it is important you take the proper precautions now!

If you have not yet developed mesothelioma, there are precautions you can take to greatly reduce your chances of developing this terminal disease.

Fortunately, with the advent of the worldwide web, there is an abundance of information available on this subject. I encourage the reader to seek out more information on this deadly disease

Understanding Mesothelioma and mesothelioma cause

We decided to create this article for all the people out there, spending all day searching “what is mesothelioma and what problems does mesothelioma cause”. Many of us still do not know what is mesothelioma cancer or disease? Well this article will tell you more or less some of the information about Mesothelioma cancer or disease.

Mesothelium covers the external surfaces of the heart and lung. It also covers the inner surface of the chest wall and the inner surface of the sac that surrounds the heart called pericardium. In the lungs the mesothelium is called pleura, in the heart it is called pericardium, and in the abdominal cavity it takes the name of peritoneum.

Its primary role is to protect these organs by producing a lubricating fluid that allows for movement. While mesothelioma can affect any of the mesothelial tissue in the body, it is most commonly seen in the pleural or peritoneal mesothelium. Sadly, many patients are not diagnosed with mesothelioma until symptoms are present, and symptoms are not usually present until the cancer is in its advanced stages.

To understand this a little better, let’s clarify that the mesothelium is a membrane that covers and protects most of the internal organs of the body. It is composed of two layers of cells: One layer immediately surrounds the organ; the other forms a sac around it. It (cancer of the mesothelium) is a disease in the cells of the mesothelium, which become abnormal and divide without any control and order. They can invade and damage nearby tissues and organs. Mesothelioma (cancer of the mesothelium) occurs when the cells of the mesothelium become abnormal and divide without control or order.

Nearby tissues and organ can be affected and the cancer cells can also metastasize (spread) from their original site to other parts of the body.
So what is Asbestos? Well, asbestos fibers cause lesions and scarring on the mesothelium, ultimately leading to the formation of tumors.

The damaged cells secrete large amounts of a clear fluid that presses on the lungs and other organs, causing severe discomfort. The tissue formed by these cells is called mesothelium.There are three main types of malignant mesothelioma: epithelial, sarcomatoid and mixed. The epithelial type is the most common. Mesothelioma is a horrific disease where a particular type of cell (the mesothelium) divides without control.This division of cells can lead to mesothelioma.

Now, not everything is bad news. Benign mesothelioma may occur wherever there is mesothelium. It is localized and does not spread to nearby tissues. Cancer that occurs in the mesothelium tissue is called mesothelioma . Malignant cells develop in the mesothelium, a protective lining that covers most of the body’s internal organs. The most common site is the pleura (outer lining of the lungs and chest cavity), but mesothelioma may also occur in the peritoneum or the pericardium .

One of the ongoing problems, however, with this remedy is the fact that mesothelium cancer can take years before it starts to show. In some cases, this period has been over 40 years. The mesothelium makes fluid between the two layers that lubricates the movement of the organs it protects. It actually develops in the mesothelium; a thin, double-layered protective sheath that surrounds vital organs and body cavities. The mesothelium that protects the chest and lungs is called the pleura and the mesothelium that surrounds the abdomen is called the peritoneum.

The Inflammation of the Peritoneum (PERITONITIS)

Peritonitis is the inflammation of the peritoneum or peritoneal membrane. The peritoneum is a semi-permeable membrane two layered sac filled about 1500ml of fluid. This sac covers all the organs in the abdominal cavity. Because it is well supplied with the somatic nerves, stimulation of the parietal peritoneum that lines the abdominal and pelvic cavities causes sharp & localized pain. The visceral peritoneum is relatively insensitive. Etiology/ Risk factors/ causative factors:

• Major sources of inflammation are from GI tract, external environment and through blood stream.
• Normal flora of the intestine becomes a source of infection when they enter the sterile peritoneal cavity.
• Most common causative organisms are,
  • E. coli
  • Streptococci
  • Staphylococci
  • Pneumococci
  • Gonococci

• Ruptured or gangrenous gall bladder.
• Perforated peptic ulcer, perforated stomach or intestine secondary to cancer or inflammatory bowel disorders, bowel obstruction, penetrating wounds.
• Other conditions- Acute pancreatitis & mesenteric thrombosis.
• Caused by chemical response to irritating substances such as might occur following rupture of fallopian tube, in an ectopic pregnancy, perforation of a Gastric ulcer or traumatic rupture of the spleen or liver.

Patho-physiology for Peritonitis:

Peritonitis produces severe systemic effects. Circulatory alterations, fluid shifts & respiratory problems can cause critical fluid and electrolyte imbalance. Inflammatory response shunts (diverts) extra blood to the inflamed area ot the bowel to combat infection. Peristaltic activity of the bowel stops (ceases). Fluid and air are retained in its lumen raising pressure & increasing fluid secretion into the bowel. Circulatory blood volume diminishes. Inflammatory process  increases oxygen requirement at a time when the client has difficulty ventilating (co’z of abd. pain abd. pressure, w! elevates the diaphragm).

Clinical Manifestations:
Varies according to the causes:

• Pain – sudden diffuse, severe abdominal pain that tends to intensify & localize in the area of the underlying cause or disorder with associated rebound tenderness.
• Weakness and pallor.
• Excessive sweating (diaphoresis)
• Cold skin
• Decreased intestinal motility & paralytic ileuses (Assessment reveals)
• Hypotension
• Fever (low grade)
• Abdominal distention
• Nausea/ vomiting
• Shallow respiration
• Hypovolemia & finally shock

Diagnostic Findings for Peritonitis:

• History taking
• Physical examination reveals; Absence of bowel sounds & shallow respiration
  Laboratory investigations
• Blood – WBC # 20,000/mm3 (leucocytosis)
  – Neutrophils #
• Abdominal x-ray – reveals dilation & edema of the intestine or free air or fluid in the abdominal cavity or in the case of visceral organ perforation, air lying under the diaphragm.
• Manifestations of imbalanced fluid and electrolyte balance may present.
• Chest x-ray may show elevation of the diaphragm.
• Paracentesis reveals bacteria, exudates, blood, pus or urine.

Management for Peritonitis:

Aim

•   To combat infection
• Restore intestinal motility
• Supply lost.

i) Medical management:

•   Maintain fluid and electrolyte balance.
• Oral fluids are prohibited
• IV fluids are necessary for the replacement of electrolyte and protein losses.
• NG tube is inserted to reduce pressure within the bowel.

Control infection

• Once the infection has been walled off and the clients condition improves, surgical drainage repair can be attempted.
• Massive doses of antibiotics are administered parenterally. (i.e. Potent broad spectrum agents)

ii) Surgical management:

• Exp.(explorative) ‘laparatomy’

iii) Nursing management:Pre-operative:

• Obtain a thorough history, including specific information about the clients pain. Assess the abdomen, nothing the presence of bowel sound or its absence. Palpate the abd. for firm, distended or rigid. Note the areas of tenderness.
• Massive doses of antibiotics are administered parentarally. (because clients of peritonitis are acutely ill)
• Intestinal & gastric incubation is usually ordered at once, the tubes are attached to suction (decompression of the stomach)
• NPO
• I/V therapy
• Narcotics & sedatives are given for severe pain & apprehension as soon as the diagnosis is confirmed and there is no danger of making symptoms.
• Patient placed in semi-fowler’s position (gravity may help localize pus in the lower abdomen or the pelvis.
• Patient prepared for emergency surgery.
• The perforated organs are usually repaired as soon as the client is stable enough to withstand the stress of surgery.
• During surgery any leakage can be sampled for culture so that specific antibiotic therapy can be implemented.

Post-operative:

• Carefully monitor clients for the development of post-operative complications such as ARDS, sepsis and shock.
• Closely monitor the vital signs and record it.
• Closely monitor the client’s fluid balance by assessing vital signs, bowel sounds, urine output, skin turgor, mucus membrane, weight.
• Immediately report any manifestations of sepsis, such as drop in B.P. rise in temperature, clean sterile dressings.
• I/v fluids replacement & parentally antibiotics as prescribed.
• On discharge provide the client i.e., oral or written instructions regarding wound care medication actively restrictions and follow up visits.

This Is Our First Post

If a person is suffering from hoarseness, difficulty in breathing, loss in weight, coughing, blood in sputum, chest pain, weak muscles, reduced tactile sensitivity, he may be suffering from Pleural mesothelioma or the cancer of lining of the lungs.

This is the most common type of mesothelioma and almost two-thirds of the mesothelioma patients suffer from pleural mesothelioma.

The Peritoneal mesothelioma or cancer of the lining of the abdomen causes impaired bowel motion, bloating, swelling in feet, and nausea. This is less common among mesothelioma patients and it affects one-third of the mesothelioma patients.

 Pericardial mesothelioma is of the cancer of lining of the heart. It is also caused because of asbestos exposure. However, its prevalence is rare. Pericardial mesothelioma manifests in the form of chest pain, palpitations, cough and dyspnea.