UK Government Takes Action On Mesothelioma

People with a chest cancer related to exposure to asbestos will receive a boost, as a new framework for improving their care is launched by Health Minister Rosie Winterton.
Marking Action Mesothelioma Day, Rosie Winterton will announce the publication of the National Mesothelioma Framework at an event at Gateshead Millennium Bridge.
The new framework provides advice to the NHS on how to organise services for mesothelioma patients in order to improve quality of care, building on the structures already in place for lung cancer patients. It is hoped that the NHS will adopt the recommendations set out in the Framework to ensure better care for mesothelioma patients and their families.
Health Minister Rosie Winterton said:
"Mesothelioma can be a challenging condition for the NHS to diagnose and manage, especially as the number of cases varies around the country so that, in some areas, it is a rare condition.
"It is important that we work to improve quality of care to a uniformly high level across the country. With a potential peak of cases less than ten years away, we have a window of opportunity now to ensure that the NHS has done all it can to provide a high quality service for all mesothelioma patients.

"I am therefore very pleased to be launching the National Mesothelioma Framework today."

Dame Helena Shovelton, Chief Executive of the British Lung Foundation said:

"We welcome this initiative by the Department of Health to improve services for people with the asbestos-caused cancer mesothelioma. The Action Mesothelioma Charter calls for the disease to be made a national priority. This initiative will help to ensure that people with this cruel disease now have a better chance of receiving the best treatment and care."
Chris Knighton of the Mick Knighton Mesothelioma Research Fund said:
"Action Mesothelioma Day gives a much needed opportunity to promote a greater awareness into the dangers of asbestos - past, present and future. The UK faces an epidemic of mesothelioma, yet awareness of the hazard of asbestos is still dangerously low.
"Mesothelioma is a cruel disease with, as yet, no cure and it is vital that people understand that they still have to be vigilant about asbestos. Anyone who comes into contact with it could be at risk."

The Framework is based on advice from the National Lung Cancer and Mesothelioma Advisory Group and takes on board comments from a public consultation.

Notes: The Framework is available on the Department of Health website at http://www.dh.gov.uk

What is mesothelioma?

Mesothelioma is a cancer which principally affects the lining of the lungs (pleura). However it can also affect the peritoneum (a thin lining in the abdomen). Over 90% per cent of mesothelioma affects the lining of the lungs.

What causes mesothelioma?
Symptoms of Mesothelioma has a very strong association with exposure to asbestos. When asbestos fibres are inhaled, malignant change occurs in a proportion of individuals and cancer of the lining of the lungs can follow. It is believed that nearly all deaths caused by mesothelioma are linked to asbestos exposure.

How many mesothelioma cases are there?

There are around 1800 new cases of mesothelioma a year in England and the disease is almost always fatal. Mesothelioma is predicted to become more common over the next five to ten years as the effects of this exposure become apparent.

Where do cases of mesothelioma usually occur?

There are pockets of mesothelioma around the country usually linked to areas that had ship building, heavy engineering (which used significant amounts of asbestos) and asbestos product manufacturing industries.

However, there are also incidences in other areas as people move away from industrial areas and also because mesothelioma can occur in individuals who come into contact with asbestos in the building industry or through working in buildings where asbestos construction materials have been used and become disturbed in some way.

Men are far more likely to develop mesothelioma than women, mainly because they were more likely to have been exposed to asbestos in the course of their work. However, there can also be cases of relatives exposed to asbestos fibres on work clothes.

More information on Action Mesothelioma Day is available on the British Lung Foundation website at http://www.lunguk.org
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Mesothelioma Treatments

Recently researchers have made great steps in finding useful treatments for the disease.
Differnet Available Mesothelioma Treatments are:
* Palliative drainage of fluid from the chest (pleural cavity)
* Surgery
* Chemotherapy
* Radiation
* Gene therapy
* Photodynamic therapy
* Immunotherapy

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Symptoms of Mesothelioma

Common signs and symptoms of Mesothelioma include:
* A cough that does not go away
* Chest pain, often aggravated by deep breathing
* Hoarseness
* Weight loss and loss of appetite
* Bloody or rust-colored sputum (spit or phlegm)
* Shortness of breath
* Fever without a known reason
* Recurring infections such as bronchitis and pneumonia
* New onset of wheezing
* When Mesothelioma spreads to distant organs, it may cause:
* Bone pain
* Neurologic changes (such as weakness or numbness of a limb, dizziness)
* Jaundice (yellow coloring of the skin and eyes)
* Masses near the surface of the body, due to cancer spreading to the skin or to lymph nodes (collection of immune system cells) in the neck or above the collarbone.

Mesothelioma Questions and Answers

As all of us know that Mesothelioma is the serios form of the cance. so here are some question aked by the ordinary peoples..
1:- What is the mesothelium?
2:-What is mesothelioma?
3:-How common is mesothelioma?
4:-What are the risk factors for mesothelioma?
5:-Who is at increased risk for developing mesothelioma?
6:-What are the symptoms of mesothelioma?
7:-How is mesothelioma diagnosed?
8:-How is mesothelioma treated?
9:-Are new treatments for mesothelioma being studied?

If all Of you want the answers of these question please click here Mesothelioma Questions and Answers

What is mesothelioma ?

Mesothelioma is also a form of cancer(serious and rare form of lung cancer). that is almost always caused by previous exposure to "asbestos". In this disease, malignant cells develop in the mesothelium, a protective lining that covers most of the body's internal organs. Its most common site is the pleura (outer lining of the lungs and chest cavity), but it may also occur in the peritoneum (the lining of the abdominal cavity) or the pericardium (a sac that surrounds the heart).In the US, between 2000 and 3000 cases are diagnosed each year. ... more info on mesothelioma
most common symptoms of mesothelioma
1 : Pleural Effusion

One of the most common symptoms of mesothelioma is a pleural effusion, or an accumulation of fluid between the parietal pleura (the pleura covering the chest wall and diaphragm) and the visceral pleura (the pleura covering the lungs). Both of these membranes are covered with mesothelial cells which, under normal conditions, produce a small amount of fluid that acts as a lubricant between the chest wall and the lung. Any excess fluid is absorbed by blood and lymph vessels maintaining a balance. When too much fluid forms, the result is an effusion.
Pleural Mesothelioma / Peritoneal Mesothelioma
he most common place for mesothelioma to develop is in the mesothelial membrane, also called the pleural lining, surrounding the lungs. About two thirds of all mesothelima cases develop in the pleural mesothelium or lung lining. Pleural mesothelioma is also known as cancer of the lung lining.


remaining cases, about one third, develop in the peritoneal mesothelium in the abdomen (peritoneal mesothelioma). Rarely, mesothlioma occurs in other mesothelial tissue, such as around the heart or in the reproductive organs (pericardial mesothelioma).


There are two types of the "Pleural Effusion"
1: - transudates
2: - exudates
Transudates : -A transudate is a clear fluid that forms not because the pleural surfaces are diseased, but because of an imbalance between the normal production and removal of the fluid. The most common cause of transudative fluid is congestive heart failure.
Exudates : - n exudate, which is often cloudy and contains many cells and proteins, results from disease of the pleura itself, and is common to mesothelioma. To determine whether a fluid is a transudate or exudate, a diagnostic thoracentesis, in which a needle or catheter is used to obtain a fluid sample, may be conducted.
Some more syptoms of the Symptoms Mesothelioma
* Coughing
* Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
* Difficulty Sleeping
* Weight Loss
* Pain in chest and abdomen
* Fluid in the chest
TWO Types of the mesothelioma
1 )Peritoneal 2 )pleural
1 )Peritoneal In this type of mesothelioma Peritoneal disease has an effect on the intestines, liver and other structures in the abdominal cavity. As fluid builds up, the abdomen can become very expanded.
2 )pleural pleural form of mesothelioma can also cause damage to the upper airway. Swallowing can become difficult, and voice changes can occur if the larynx is affected.
symptoms of Peritoneal mesothelioma:
* Weight loss
* Abdominal pain
* Buildup of fluid in the abdomen
* Bowel obstruction
* Abnormal blood clotting
* Abdominal mass
* Fever
symptoms of Pleural Mesothelioma:
* Pain in the lower back
* Pain in the side of chest
* A persistent cough
* Shortness of breath
* Husky voice
* Difficulty swallowing
* Fever

To more about the mesothelioma syptoms