Mesothelioma Cancer, is a cancer caused by asbestos. It most commonly occurs in the linings of the lungs or the abdomen. The average life expectancy is 18 – 31 months after diagnosis, but prognosis may improve with treatment. Symptoms can include chest pain, shortness of breath and general fatigue.

Ingestion of contaminated pork by malnourished youngsters who normally take protein-deficient vegetarian food regimen causes elaboration of beta-enterotoxin.

Symptoms of Mesothelioma Cancers

Mesothelioma symptoms can take 10 – 50 years to emerge after initial exposure to asbestos. Symptoms are often mistaken for less serious illnesses, which can complicate early diagnosis.

Common Symptoms of Mesothelioma Cancer are:

• Chest pain or abdominal pain
• Shortness of breath
• Fluid buildup
• Fatigue
• Fever and night sweats
• Weight loss

Causes of Mesothelioma Cancer

Asbestos is the only definitive cause of mesothelioma cancer. When asbestos fibers are inhaled or ingested, they may become embedded in the lining of the lungs, abdomen or heart. Over time, the fibers cause inflammation and scarring. This irritation can eventually lead to the development of mesothelioma tumors.

Who Is at Risk of Developing Mesothelioma Cancer?

Any amount of asbestos exposure can cause mesothelioma. However, certain occupations may experience higher rates of exposure. Loved ones of these workers also face a higher risk because of secondhand exposure.

At – Risk Occupations:

High-risk occupations include shipyard workers, machinists and mechanics.

Secondhand Exposure

Asbestos may be brought home on workers’ hair, skin and clothing, exposing loved ones to the fibers.

Veterans

Asbestos is widely used throughout the military exposing Navy, Army and Air Force veterans, among others.

Types of Mesothelioma Cancer

There are four main types of mesothelioma based on tumor location. The most common type is malignant pleural mesothelioma. The mesothelioma tumors are made up of different cell types.

The three most common mesothelioma cell types include epithelioid, sarcomatoid and biphasic. Symptoms, prognosis and treatment options vary depending on mesothelioma type and cell type.

1- Pleural Mesothelioma

Pleural mesothelioma is a cancer of the lining of the lungs, known as the pleura. It is caused by inhaling asbestos fibers. Malignant pleural mesothelioma accounts for 80 – 90% of all mesothelioma diagnosis. Symptoms of pleural mesothelioma include shortness of breath, dry cough and chest pain.

Malignant pleural mesothelioma is caused by inhalation of asbestos fibers. The mineral slivers can travel through lung tissue and lodge in the pleura. Over time, asbestos fibers cause inflammation. The fibers can also activate biological pathways that lead to DNA damage. As a result, mesothelioma tumors may develop.

Other factors may contribute to the development of mesothelioma, including:

• Erionite exposure: Erionite is a natural mineral similar to asbestos. It has been linked to mesothelioma and lung cancer.
• Radiation exposure: Radiation treatments for cancer can damage healthy cells, potentially leading to cancer. Prior radiation therapy has been tentatively linked to mesothelioma.

Pleural Mesothelioma Facts

• Pleural malignant mesothelioma is the most common form of mesothelioma cancer.
• Symptoms of pleural mesothelioma include chest pain, dry cough, fatigue and shortness of breath.
• Some pleural mesothelioma patients have achieved long-term survival after aggressive treatment, but it is not considered to be a curable cancer.
• A patient’s prognosis will vary depending on their individual case, with an average life expectancy of about 18 months.
• Each year, about 2,500 people are diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma.
• Diagnosis typically consists of multiple tests, including scans and biopsies.
• Pleural mesothelioma is often treated with chemotherapy, surgery, radiation therapy and immunotherapy.

Prognosis for Pleural Mesothelioma Cancer

As with all types of malignant mesothelioma, prognosis for pleural malignant mesothelioma depends on a number of factors.

For patients who do not receive treatment, the median survival time is six months. However, certain types of treatment can improve life expectancy, such as surgery combined with chemotherapy.

• One year after diagnosis – 73%.
• Three years after diagnosis – 23%.
• Five years after diagnosis – 12%.
• Ten years after diagnosis – 4.7%.

The most important mesothelioma prognosis factors of pleural malignant mesothelioma patients are:

• Cell type (histopathology).
• Stage of mesothelioma.
• Patient’s gender and age.

Most pleural mesothelioma patients are diagnosed with the epithelioid cell type, which is the most common. Epithelioid cells typically form in solid sheets or cord arrangements, meaning they adhere closely together and don’t metastasize as quickly. They are also the most responsive to treatment. Typically, pleural mesothelioma patients with the epithelioid cell type survive 19 months.

The other cell types, sarcomatoid and biphasic, are less common and indicate a worse prognosis than epithelioid. Sarcomatoid mesothelioma doesn’t respond well to treatment and often metastasizes, leaving patients a prognosis of about eight months.

Patients with biphasic pleural mesothelioma experience an intermediate life expectancy, depending on whether epithelioid or sarcomatoid cells are more dominant.

According to recent data, within the last decade, malignant pleural mesothelioma patients have been surviving longer overall as available treatments and diagnostic methods improve. Some patients are now becoming long-term survivors. Heather Von St. James was diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma in 2005 with an initial prognosis of 15 months. Following her treatment, she is now a survivor of more than a decade and a half.

Symptoms of Pleural Mesothelioma Cancer

After asbestos exposure, it can take 10 to 50 years for pleural mesothelioma symptoms to present. Symptoms typically first present in the chest cavity and respiratory system.

Pleural Mesothelioma Cancer Symptoms

Chest pain

Coughing up blood

Difficulty swallowing

Dry cough

Fatigue

Fever

Fluid in the lung (pleural effusion)

Night sweats

Shortness of breath (dyspnea)

Weight loss

As the disease becomes more advanced, new and worsening symptoms may arise. For instance, stage 4 pleural mesothelioma symptoms may include coughing up blood and difficulty swallowing.

Pleural malignant mesothelioma patients may be diagnosed with a co-occurring asbestos-related condition, which can impact symptom onset.

Pleural Effusion

Pleural effusion occurs when an abnormal amount of fluid collects in between the two layers of the pleura. This fluid can compress the lungs, making it difficult to breathe. Pleural effusion and associated breathing problems are common symptoms in pleural mesothelioma.

Pleural Plaques

Pleural plaques are areas of thickened tissue on the surface of the pleura. Pleural plaques often do not cause symptoms. This condition is one of the most common side effects of asbestos exposure. Asbestos-exposed individuals with pleural plaques may have an elevated risk of developing mesothelioma.

Pleural Thickening

Pleural thickening is a condition in which scar tissue thickens the pleura. Pleural thickening can be benign or malignant. It is caused by asbestos exposure and other conditions that cause inflammation. According to one study, the majority of pleural mesothelioma patients experience pleural thickening.

Asbestosis

Asbestosis is a benign, chronic lung disease caused by inhaling asbestos fibers. It is a form of pulmonary fibrosis. Patients with asbestosis develop scar tissue within their lungs. This makes the lungs less flexible and breathing more difficult. Patients with asbestosis may have an increased risk of developing pleural mesothelioma.

These asbestos-related conditions may also develop independently of pleural mesothelioma.

Pleural Mesothelioma Cancer Diagnosis

Diagnosing pleural mesothelioma cancer often consists of multiple tests. One or more imaging scans, such as an X-ray or CT scan, may be performed first to identify tumors or metastasis (spreading of disease). If a tumor is detected, blood tests may be performed to look for certain biomarkers (high levels of specific substances in the blood), which can help differentiate mesothelioma from other conditions.

Currently, a biopsy is the only way to verify a malignant pleural mesothelioma diagnosis. Tests like a thoracentesis or thoracoscopy may be performed to take a tissue or fluid sample for analysis. For a thoracentesis, a doctor will insert a fine needle to remove fluid buildup in the chest.

A thoracoscopy is more invasive. Doctors insert a viewing tube called a thoracoscope into the chest to inspect the lungs and surrounding pleura. They can then remove a tissue sample or draw fluid for analysis. After the biopsy, a pathologist will study the cells to make a definitive diagnosis, including cell type and how the disease is expected to progress.

Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma Cancer Stages

As part of the diagnostic process, a mesothelioma specialist will also determine the stage of the disease, or how far it has spread. A patient’s stage is an important indicator of prognosis, and also helps determine available treatment options.

The most common system used to determine pleural mesothelioma cancer stage is the Tumor, Node, Metastasis or TNM staging system.

Doctors will use the system to score a specific area of the body based on the size of the tumor, if the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes and if the cancer has spread to distant organs.

Stage 1 and stage 2 pleural mesothelioma cancer indicate little to no metastasis, while advanced stages may have distant spreading to lymph nodes and other organs.

After the stage is determined, the medical team can develop an effective treatment plan for an individual’s case.

Pleural Mesothelioma Cancer Treatment Allopathic Options

Allopathically, pleural mesothelioma cancer is treated with a multimodal approach, combining standard treatments like surgery, chemotherapy and radiation.

A pleural mesothelioma treatment plan will largely depend on the cell type and stage of disease.

Generally, treatment plans are not intended to cure the disease.

Mesothelioma cancer surgery is common for pleural mesothelioma patients. The surgery may be aggressive with the goal of extending life expectancy, or less aggressive with the goal of palliating symptoms (relieving discomfort).

Surgery may be an option for early-stage malignant pleural mesothelioma patients. Pleurectomy/decortication (P/D) is one common surgical option that involves removal of the lining of the lung and chest wall, as well as other impacted tissues and organs.

Another option is an extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP). The more aggressive procedure includes removing the affected lung, part of the diaphragm and the linings of the heart and lungs. Recent clinical trials have found these surgeries can extend life expectancy to around three years, especially when applied multimodally with chemotherapy and/or radiation.

Doctors often recommend chemotherapy as an additional treatment before or after surgery, or as a first-line therapy for patients with more advanced disease.

Radiation therapy may also be recommended for select patients to shrink tumors, which may also help relieve symptoms.

Emerging and Experimental Treatments

Because malignant pleural mesothelioma comprises the majority of mesothelioma cases, most experimental treatment options focus on this specific type. Promising treatments like immunotherapy, gene therapy and photo dynamic

therapy have shown early success in extending life expectancy in various clinical trials.

Research is also advancing the efficacy of standard treatments. One study tested pleurectomy/decortication or extrapleural pneumonectomy followed by a heated chemotherapy wash.

Results showed:

• A median survival of 35.3 months.
• A median progression-free survival of 27.1 months.

This approach improved overall survival and progression-free survival versus earlier studies.

Researchers continue to investigate mesothelioma treatment options to decrease recurrence rates and limit disease progression for patients.

2- Peritoneal Mesothelioma

Peritoneal mesothelioma cancer is a type of malignant cancer that is caused by ingested asbestos fibers. It develops in the peritoneum, the thin layer of tissue lining the abdomen. Symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma include abdominal pain, nausea and swelling in the abdomen (ascites).

Peritoneal mesothelioma is a rare and aggressive cancer that forms in the abdomen. The only proven cause of peritoneal mesothelioma cancer is asbestos exposure.

Peritoneal mesothelioma cancer is also known as abdominal mesothelioma or mesothelioma of the stomach.

An even rarer form of this cancer develops in a layer of the abdominal membrane, the omentum, that covers the stomach and other organs.

QUICK FACTS:

• Early symptoms include abdominal swelling and fluid buildup (known as ascites).
• Peritoneal mesothelioma accounts for less than 20% of all mesothelioma cases.
• Surgery with heated chemotherapy is the most effective treatment, helping some patients survive for more than five years.

Symptoms of Peritoneal Mesothelioma Cancer

Early symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma cancer include :

• Abdominal pain
• Abdominal swelling (ascites)
• Night sweats
• Nausea
• Fever
• Unexplained weight loss
• Fatigue
• Diarrhea
• Constipation
• Loss of appetite

These symptoms tend to mimic many other abdominal disorders. An accurate diagnosis often requires a mesothelioma specialist and a biopsy sample.

Causes of Peritoneal Mesothelioma Cancer

The main cause of malignant peritoneal mesothelioma is ingesting asbestos fibers.

Current research suggests that asbestos fibers travel from the digestive tract and remain trapped in the abdomen, causing cancer after years of inflammation.

Process of Peritoneal Mesothelioma Development

Like other asbestos-related diseases, peritoneal mesothelioma develops over a long period of time. The trapped asbestos fibers cause inflammation and irritation, damaging and degrading DNA.

Damaged DNA can lead to abnormal and unregulated cell growth. These errors cause tumors to form, and the tumors can grow uncontrollably and spread to other areas of the body.

HOW PERITONEAL MESOTHELIOMA DEVELOPS

• Swallowed asbestos fibers pass through the stomach and digestive system.
• Ingested asbestos fibers reach the lymphatic system and travel to the peritoneum.
• Fibers become stuck in the peritoneum, irritating cells and damaging DNA for years.
• The irritated cells become inflamed, form scar tissue and thicken the peritoneal lining.
• Years of inflammation and scar tissue formation cause excess abdominal fluid buildup.
• After prolonged damage, malignant tumors begin to form on the diseased peritoneum.
• As tumors grow, they put pressure on vital organs and can spread to form new tumors.

Research on peritoneal mesothelioma is still ongoing. Other sources of this disease may include abdominal radiation and fibrous minerals besides asbestos, such as erionite.

Peritoneal Mesothelioma Diagnosis

Imaging scans, blood tests and biopsies are used to make an abdominal mesothelioma diagnosis.

• Imaging scans show the size and location of tumors.
• Blood tests reveal certain biomarkers associated with cancer.
• Biopsies show what kind of cancerous cells are present.

Patients will also receive a thorough examination of their medical history, occupational history and overall physical condition.

While every test serves a contributing purpose to the diagnostic process, the only way to confirm a peritoneal mesothelioma diagnosis is with a biopsy.

Diagnosing Cell Types of Peritoneal Mesothelioma Cancer

The pathology report contains information about which cellular subtype of peritoneal mesothelioma patient have.

Common Cell Types

Epithelioid cells: are the most common, making up 75% of cases.

• Biphasic Cells:Second-most common type, making up 25% of cases. A mix of epithelioid and sarcomatoid cells.
• Epithelioid peritoneal mesothelioma cancer can grow in four different patterns:

Papillary, tubular, diffuse and deciduous.

• Papillary is the most common and often appears alongside the others.
• Pure sarcomatoid tumors are uncommon in peritoneal mesothelioma cancer.

Specialists have only diagnosed about 30 cases of this variant since 2006. Sarcomatoid cells usually occur alongside epithelioid cells to form the biphasic sub type.

Rare Cell Types

• Well-Differentiated Papillary Mesothelioma: This variant is uncommon with less potential for malignancy and typically presents in younger women.
• Multicystic Mesothelioma: This sub type often recurs after surgery and does not have a definitive link with asbestos exposure.
• Desmoplastic Mesothelioma:This tumor type can present as nodules or a mass-like peritoneal thickening, ascites or lymph node disease.
• Lymphohistiocytoid Mesothelioma:A dense lymphatic infiltrate characterizes this variant.
• Pure Sarcomatoid Mesothelioma:The rarest and most lethal form of peritoneal mesothelioma, this sub type is associated with aggressive metastasis.

Additionally, omental mesothelioma is a rare variant in the omentum, a part of the peritoneum surrounding the stomach and other abdominal organs. The omentum is a layer of fatty tissue that plays a role in immune function and metabolism.

Misdiagnosis

Because this cancer is rare, doctors lacking experience with the disease often misdiagnosis abdominal mesothelioma cancer patients with more common illnesses that share similar symptoms.

Peritoneal mesothelioma cancer misdiagnosis can delay proper treatment.

Stages of Peritoneal Mesothelioma Cancer

There is no official staging system for peritoneal mesothelioma cancer instead, peritoneal mesothelioma experts spent decades adapting other staging systems for their use.

Historically, the TNM staging system used in other cancers has not been a good fit for peritoneal mesothelioma due to its diffuse growth pattern. However, a research report in 2020 suggested that oncologists adapt the TNM system for peritoneal mesothelioma into three stages.

Three Stages of Peritoneal Mesothelioma

• Stage 1:Cancerous tissue is minimal, tumors are only within the abdominal lining and lymph nodes are free of cancer.
• Stage 2:Cancerous tissue is moderate and tumors have not spread outside the lining or into lymph nodes.
• Stage 3:Cancerous tissue is more extensive and tumors may have spread outside the peritoneal lining or into lymph nodes.

There is no precise fourth stage in the adapted TNM system for peritoneal mesothelioma. Many doctors consider stage 4 to involve extensive tumors that have spread to distant sites throughout the body.

Peritoneal Cancer Index

The Peritoneal Cancer Index is a diagnostic tool that doctors use to assess tumor location and spread in the abdomen. It helps them determine the approximate mesothelioma stage and appropriate treatments.

This index divides the abdomen into 13 parts. Doctors assign a number (one to three) to each area based upon the most sizable tumor in that area.

The Peritoneal Cancer Index score is the sum of the individual scores from the 13 regions. A patient’s maximum score is 39 (13 times three).

Lower index scores mean the patient may qualify for surgery. Index scores above 20 indicate cancer has spread too far and the patient likely won’t respond well to surgery.

Peritoneal Mesothelioma Cancer Treatment Options

The most effective peritoneal mesothelioma treatment option is surgery with heated chemotherapy, known as hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy, or HIPEC. However, chemotherapy alone is the treatment most used for peritoneal mesothelioma.

More than 60% of patients are ineligible for surgery with heated chemotherapy because of the procedure’s intensity.

Cytoreductive surgery can take several hours and may involve removing large portions of the intestines or whole organs.

HIPEC treatment process

Chemotherapy

Patients who don’t qualify for surgery with heated chemotherapy can receive systemic chemotherapy alone. Chemotherapy drugs can shrink peritoneal mesothelioma tumors and slow the growth and spread of cancer. Chemotherapy drugs that are effective against peritoneal mesothelioma include pemetrexed, cisplatin, carboplatin and gemcitabine.

Cytoreductive Surgery with Heated Chemotherapy

Cytoreductive surgery, also known as a peritonectomy, attempts to remove as much cancer as possible. Then, heated chemotherapy is applied locally to the abdomen before the surgery ends. Doctors only perform this procedure on a case-by-case basis.

A 2019 study reported that more than 65% of the patients who underwent this procedure lived five years or longer.

Palliative Treatment Options

In addition to anti-cancer treatments, many peritoneal patients receive palliative care to control symptoms and improve quality of life. For example, a paracentesis procedure may be recommended to certain peritoneal patients to drain excess fluid from the abdomen.

A palliative care specialist prescribes medications to control pain and side effects. They may refer patients to physical or occupational therapy or recommend complementary therapies.

The prognosis for peritoneal mesothelioma is generally poor for patients who don’t qualify for surgery. Peritoneal mesothelioma life expectancy is approximately 12 months for patients who receive chemotherapy alone.

The median survival of untreated peritoneal mesothelioma patients is six months.

About half of peritoneal patients who undergo a combination of cytoreductive surgery with heated chemotherapy have a life expectancy of more than five years.

3- Pericardial Mesothelioma Cancer

Pericardial mesothelioma cancer is a very rare cancer that affects the lining of the heart, known as the pericardium. Only 150 cases of pericardial mesothelioma have been diagnosed.

Symptoms of pericardial mesothelioma include difficulty breathing, chest pain and irregular heartbeat.

Almost all mesotheliomas can be traced to asbestos exposure, but medical researchers continue to study the link between asbestos and cancer of the pericardium.

About 25 percent of people with this disease have a history of asbestos exposure. Studies are clear on how inhaled microscopic fibers reach the lungs but less clear on how the fibers may reach the heart.

This form of cancer is most often diagnosed in people between the ages of 50 and 70, with the median age being 55. According to a 2017 study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, approximately 60 percent of cases occur in men.

Like the other types of mesothelioma cancers, the disease is typically discovered at a later stage. Symptoms include chest pain, fatigue and shortness of breath. Diagnosis is difficult because symptoms mimic those of other heart disorders.

Pericardial treatment options include surgery, chemotherapy, palliative treatments to control symptoms and rarely radiation therapy. Surgery is the most common treatment with about 46 percent of patients electing surgery.

About 37 percent receive chemotherapy and only 8 percent receive radiation therapy because it is risky to apply near the heart. Nearly 25 percent of patients elect no treatment.

A 2021 research study reported that patients with primary pericardial mesothelioma have a median survival of about two months. However, some people have lived for years with this cancer after undergoing surgery or chemotherapy.

To date, less than 150 cases of pericardial mesothelioma are described in medical literature — that’s 1 percent of all known diagnosed mesotheliomas.

What Are the Symptoms of Pericardial Mesothelioma Cancer?

Most pericardial mesothelioma patients experience no symptoms when the cancer initially develops, a fact that contributes to a late-stage diagnosis. The symptoms also resemble those of other heart conditions, making the cancer difficult to accurately diagnose. Most symptoms are caused by fluid buildup around the heart and thickening of the pericardial layers.

Most symptoms are caused by the buildup of fluid and the thickening of pericardial layers. The presence of any of these symptoms should be followed by a visit to the doctor with recommended screenings such as an X-ray, CT scan or echocardiogram (ultrasound of the heart).

THE FOLLOWING SYMPTOMS MAY INDICATE PERICARDIAL MESOTHELIOMA:

• Difficulty breathing, even when at rest (dyspnea)
• Heart palpitations or irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia)]
• Murmurs
• Cough
• Shortness of breath when lying flat
• Chest pain
• Fatigue
• Fever
• Night sweats

What Causes Pericardial Mesothelioma?

The primary cause of pericardial mesothelioma remains a mystery. The causal relationship between asbestos exposure and this type of mesothelioma is not fully understood. Researchers confirm the pleural and peritoneal types are primarily caused by exposure to asbestos, yet the causes of the pericardial type are less definitive.

A 2017 review of medical literature on pericardial mesothelioma reported asbestos exposure in 25 percent of cases. Another 2017 study published in the Annals of Epidemiology reported the majority of patients with pericardial mesothelioma have no history of asbestos exposure!

How Is Pericardial Mesothelioma Diagnosed?

To diagnose pericardial mesothelioma, doctors make an overall assessment of patient’s symptoms, medical history and current medical condition. Next, patient will receive a physical examination, imaging tests and biopsy to determine the location of tumors and confirm whether or not they are cancerous.

Pericardial mesothelioma is thought to occur when asbestos lodges itself around the heart.

An echocardiogram can reveal fluid buildup around the heart and help guide a pericardiocentesis, which is the procedure doctors perform to drain the fluid, other imaging scans are needed to determine if potential tumors are present.

If doctors spot abnormal growths, they need to take a fluid or tissue sample and perform a biopsy, which can confirm a mesothelioma cancer diagnosis.

These tumors generally are not localized, and they tend to cover most of the heart. Furthermore, this cancer type accounts for approximately half of all pericardial tumors.

Physical Examination

Unfortunately most cases of pericardial mesothelioma are only found at autopsy. Nonetheless, about 10-20 percent of these cases are diagnosed before a patient dies. Some of the challenges with early and accurate diagnosis of the pericardial type include the small number of people with the disease and the late presentation of symptoms.

Mesothelioma Cancer Diagnosis

Imaging Tests

Computed tomography (CT) scans are effective for detecting pericardial tumors, making them a preferred diagnostic tool. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can also yield successful results in identifying the cancer.

Radionuclide imaging is a detection method involving the injection of gallium, a radioactive material, to identify cancerous cells. It was reportedly used to detect at least one case of this type of cancer. Patterns of radioactivity show possible tumor sites in the human body.

Biopsy

A biopsy is a crucial diagnostic procedure that can be more suitable in determining the cancer’s point of origin.

According to a 2016 study in the Journal of Cardiac Failure, fluid biopsies often turn up cancer free even when pericardial tumors are present. A tissue sample of the tumor itself is usually required to confirm pericardial mesothelioma cancer.

Seek a Second Opinion to Avoid Misdiagnosis

Because pericardial mesothelioma cancer symptoms such as chest pain, cough and difficulty breathing are shared with various other diseases, it’s crucial to meet with a specialist to confirm your diagnosis.

PERICARDIAL MESOTHELIOMA CANCER IS OFTEN MISTAKEN FOR MORE COMMON HEART ILLNESSES, INCLUDING:

• Heart failure
• Coronary heart disease
• Tuberculosis pericarditis
• Constrictive pericarditis
• Cardiac tamponade
• Intra-atrial myxoma
• Cardiomyopathy

What Treatments Are Available?

Mesothelioma cancer treatment options are limited because the heart lining rests so closely to the heart itself that most therapies can easily damage this delicate organ.

Slightly more than half of patients with pericardial mesothelioma cancer are not ideal candidates for surgery, which is often the most effective treatment for this cancer. However, there are rare cases where the cancer is diagnosed early and surgery can be carried out to remove small, localized tumors.

The primary treatment options for pericardial mesothelioma are pericardiectomy or tumor removal, chemotherapy and palliative treatment such as fine needle aspiration. Radiation therapy is considered minimally effective for this rare cancer and is risky to administer without harming the heart.

Pericardiectomy or Tumor Removal

A pericardiectomy is the surgical process of removing part or all of the pericardium. A pericardiectomy can relieve pressure and minimize fluid buildup, allowing the heart to continue functioning properly.

Tumor removal, also called tumor resection, can involve removal of the cancer without removing the pericardium.

A 2017 review reported longer survival in patients who underwent tumor removal than patients who had a pericardiectomy.

Chemotherapy

The benefits of chemotherapy are minimal for most patients with pericardial mesothelioma. A handful of cases have responded well to chemotherapy.

Palliative Treatment

Palliative treatment options aim to minimize pain and reduce symptoms caused by the buildup of fluid in the pericardium. Essentially, palliative care can improve quality of life and make patients more comfortable.

Palliative treatments can include therapies that relieve pain and pressure around the heart such as a pericardiocentesis or pain medication. A pericardiocentesis removes excess fluid from the pericardium to relieve pressure around the heart.

Prognosis

The common prognosis for the pericardial type is poor, compared to that of peritoneal or pleural mesothelioma.

Nearly 50 to 60 percent of pericardial patients pass away within six months of receiving a diagnosis.

Hope exists for patients because researchers of Homeopathic field have good enough news in the treatment of many type of Cancers.

A 1995 case report of a 27-year-old woman who underwent surgery and radiation therapy for pericardial mesothelioma states that she had no evidence of recurrence during 28 years of follow-up.

A 1992 case report of a 12-year old boy with pericardial mesothelioma who underwent surgery and chemotherapy says that he remained free of symptoms and showed no sign of disease one year later.

Surgery to remove part of the heart’s lining combined with radiation therapy improved survival in two patients in the late 1960s and early 1970s. One patient lived a year after treatment, and another was alive five years after treatment.

4- Testicular Mesothelioma

Testicular mesothelioma is an extremely rare cancer caused by exposure to asbestos. Malignant tumors develop in the sac surrounding the testes, known as the tunica vaginalis. Testicular mesothelioma accounts for less than 1% of all mesothelioma cases.

Symptoms can include a buildup of fluid and painful swelling.

Testicular Mesothelioma Causes

Unlike pleural or peritoneal mesothelioma cancers, which can easily be traced to asbestos exposure, doctors do not yet understand how asbestos exposure can cause a primary tumor to develop on the tunica vaginalis, the pouch of serous membrane that covers the testes.

It appears as firm, white-yellow nodules on the surface of the tunica vaginalis. The nodules can eventually encase the contents of the scrotum and cause the membrane to thicken.

Testicular mesothelioma is a clinically aggressive type of cancer, which means it can spread rapidly. The testicular type tends to recur within a few years, even in cases where tumors are surgically removed.

Local trauma and inflammation also may play a role in its development. Some cases present without any identifiable risk factors.

Prognosis and Survival Rate for Testicular Mesothelioma Cancer

Men with this cancer have a significantly better prognosis than most people with other types of mesothelioma.

Nearly 49% of patients survive five years after diagnosis, and 33% survive 10 years, according to a 2019 study published in the journal Urology.

Patients with the biphasic cell type of the cancer were associated with worse overall survival compared to other mesotheliomas and the epithelioid subtypes.

Of the 113 testicular mesothelioma patients in the study, 75% of cases had the epithelioid cell type. Older patients and those with tumors greater than or equal to 4 centimeters in size were associated with a worse survival.

Testicular Mesothelioma Cancer Symptoms and Diagnosis

There is no set of symptoms unique to testicular mesothelioma cancer. Many people with this cancer initially receive the wrong diagnosis because doctors mistake it for a more common condition such as a hernia.

The most common testicular mesothelioma symptom is a hydrocele, a buildup of fluid in the scrotum.

More than half of the patients in the 2019 Urology study had a hydrocele. About one-third of patients had a painless scrotal mass.

Because it is so rare and doesn’t present unique symptoms, testicular mesothelioma is often diagnosed during or after surgery.

The definitive way of confirming a cancer diagnosis is to perform a biopsy. This involves removing a tissue sample from the tumor and sending it to the lab for testing.

Evaluating the sample with a technique called immunohistochemical staining helps doctors determine if the patient has testicular mesothelioma or another disease.

Treatment for Testicular Mesothelioma Cancer

The most common treatment for testicular mesothelioma is surgery. Nearly all of the 113 testicular mesothelioma patients (98.2%) in the 2019 study underwent surgical resection of the tumor.

This procedure removes the affected testicle and the entire spermatic cord. If the cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes, doctors will remove them as well with a surgery called lymphadenectomy.

A 2021 research study noted that testicular mesothelioma requires extensive resection including metastatic surgery if complete resection is possible. The study suggested a multimodality treatment plan for the malignancy, similar to a multimodal approach to pleural mesothelioma, offers the best patient outcomes.

Surgery may be followed by chemotherapy with cisplatin and pemetrexed, the longstanding standard-of-care treatment for mesothelioma. Doctors may offer radiation therapy next to kill any remaining cancer cells and prevent the cancer from returning.

Only 5.3% of patients received radiation therapy in the 2019 study. Researchers could not determine if adjuvant therapy has an impact on overall survival, given such a small cohort.

In some cases, testicular mesothelioma is a secondary tumor, with the primary tumor located within the peritoneum (the membrane that lines the abdominal cavity). For situations like this, doctors have to treat the patient for peritoneal mesothelioma as well.

Homeopathic medicine for Mesothelioma Cancer:

Phosphorus, Calcarea carb, Sulphur, and Arsenicum Album are top grade Homeopathic remedies for Mesothelioma. They help in particular during the chronic stage of the disease.

Thirst for cold water especially indicates Phosphorus. In fact, profuse sweat in head and all over the body suggest Homeopathic medicine Calcarea Carb for Mesothelioma. Exhausted easily on exertion is an important key point in the case of Calcarea carb.

Bryonia, China, Hepar Sulphuricum and Mercurius Solubulis, and Pulsatilla are Homeopathic medicines especially useful in the acute stage of Mesothelioma.

• Thirst for large quantities of water with severe body pains on the motion – Bryonia 200c – 2 pills
• Extreme weakness and lack of appetite – Cinchona 200c – 2 pills,
• Chills and fever, cold air aggravation – Hepar Sulphuricum 200c – 2 pills
• Throat pain with bleeding gums – Mercurius solubulis 200c – 2 pills,
• Thirstlessness with lack of self-confidence, weeping mood – Pulsatilla 200c – 2 pills.

 Mistletoe extract

Mistletoe is a type of “semi parasitic plant” that grows on a variety of trees, including apple, oak, elm and pine.  The chemical composition of the mistletoe products varies depending on multiple factors including the type of host tree, the species of mistletoe, the time of year the plant is harvested, the technique used to prepare the extract and the company making the product.

While certain mistletoe extract has been shown in laboratory studies to have effects on the immune system, kill human cancer cells, and protect the DNA in white blood cells exposed to chemotherapy agents.

In Europe, products made from European mistletoe are among the most prescribed therapies for cancer patients.

The aim of homeopathy is not only to treat many types of cancer symptoms but to address its underlying cause and individual susceptibility.

As far as therapeutic medication is concerned, several well-proved remedies are available for treatment of different types of cancers that can be selected on the basis of cause, condition, sensation, extension, location and modalities of the complaints.

That’s why for individualized remedy selection and treatment, the patient should consult a qualified homeopathic doctor in person.

The list of commonly used homeopathic remedies:

Asenicum Album. Arsenicum Iodatum, Acalypha Indica, Alumina, Ammonium Carbonicum, Andrographis or Andrographolide, Anthemis Nobilis, Apis Mellifistida, Aranea Diadema, Argentum Metallicum, Argentum Nitricum, Artmesia Vulgaris, Astragalus, Aurum Arsenicum, Aurum Iodatum, Aurum Metallicum, Aurum Muriaticum, Natronatum.

Baryta Carbonica, Bromium, Bryonia Alba.

Caladium Senguinum, Carbo Animalis, Cadmium Metallicum, Carsinosinum (in high), Carbo Vagitablis, Calcarea Fluorata, Causticum, Cistus Canadensis, Cobaltum Metallicum, Cobaltum Nitricum, Collinsonia Canadensis, Condurango, Conium Maculatum, Crotalus Horridus, Cobaltum Muriaticum.

Elaps Corallinus, Euphrobium.

Folliculinum.

Graphites, Ginseng.

Hippozaeninum (in high.), Hydrastis.

Iodum, Ionised Radiation.

Kreosotum, Kali Carbonicum, Kali Iodatum.

Lachesis Mutus, Lapis Albus, Lilium Tigrinum, Lycopodium Clavatum.

Methylenum Coeruleum.

Natrum Muriaticum, Nitricum Acidum.

Phosphorus, Platinum Metallicum, Phytolacca.

Sabina Officinalis, Scirrh.(100), Sepia Succu, Silicea (100), Silica Terra, Staphysagria
Sulphur, Sulphuric Acid, Symphytum Officinale.

Terebinthinate Oleum, Tetramethylpyrazin, Teucrium Marum Verum, Theridion Curassavicum, Tuberculinum Bovinum.

Viscum Album.

In case if urinary tract is involved try to select from following medicines:

Ionized Radiation
Anilinium
Arsenicum Album
Asparagus Officinalis
Barosma Crenulatum
Atropa Belladonna
Benzoicum Acidum
Berberis Vulgaris
Cannabis Sativa
Cantharis Vesicatoria, Meloe Vesicatorius
Chimaphila Umbellata
Erythroxylum Coca
Crotalus Horridus
Curare Woorari
Epigaea Repens
Formica Rufa
Helonias Dioica
Hepar Sulphuris Calcareum
Kali Iodatum, Kali Hydriodicum
Kali Phosphoricum
Mercurius Solubilis Hahnemanni
Moschus Moschiferous
Nitricum Acidum
Phosphorus
Populus Tremuloides
Sarsaparilla Officinalis
Solidago Virga Aurea
Veratrum Viride

This article is only for doctors having good knowledge about homeopathy and Materia Medica. Do not try self medication.

None of above mentioned medicine(s) is/are not the full/complete treatment but just hints for treatment; every patient has his own constitutional medicine mentioned above.

For consultation, visit our clinic.

To order medicine by courier, please send your details at Whats App –  +92319884588

  Dr. Sayyad Qaisar Ahmed (MD {Ukraine}, DHMS) ;  senior research officer Dnepropetrovsk state medical academy Ukraine; is a leading Homeopathic physician practicing in Al-Haytham clinic, Umer Farooq Chowk Risalpur Sadder (0923631023, 03119884588), K.P.K, Pakistan.

Find more about Dr. Sayyad Qaisar Ahmed at :

https://www.youtube.com/Dr Qaisar Ahmed

https://www.facebook.com/dr.qaisar.dixecosmetics

https://www.dixecosmetics.com