Examining Lung Cancer Survival Rates

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A common question, and a very understandable one from patients with any cancer is what is the prognosis? The prognosis is the medical forecast of the outcome of the disease if left untreated or treated. Usually, the patient is focused on survivability and thereafter, on the quality of life they will have and what undergoing treatment actually will entail.

Cancer is a frightening disease because of its prevalence and because it still holds a reputation for being a killer. What needs to be borne in mind is that not every case is the same and individual case prognosis varies widely depending on a wide number of factors including the type of cancer a patient has contracted, how healthy they are generally and the ability to deliver treatment for the condition.

The prognosis for a patient with lung cancer depends on the type of cancer they have contracted.

Those patients with a diagnosis of SCLC (small cell lung cancer) have a very short life expectancy because it is extremely aggressive and does not lend itself to medical treatment. If left untreated, SCLC patients typically have 2 to 4 months to live after diagnosis. SCLC does lend itself to radiation therapy and chemotherapy, and this can dramatically affect the prognosis and life expectancy can be increased four or five time, however it is a sad fact that SCLC patients are unlikely to survive beyond a year after diagnosis (less than 10% survive beyond 5 years from diagnosis).

Non-SCLC (NSCLC) has a poor record of survivability except where the condition has been diagnosed early and the tumor is small enough to be surgically removed. Where the surgical resection (resection is the medical term for removal of the tumor) has taken place and the lung cancer is diagnosed as Stage 1, then survival rates are over 75% at 5 years post-diagnosis. Radiation therapy can be used to completely cure some NSCLC patients and in others leads to effective control of the symptoms for the majority of patients.

Where lung cancer has reached an advance stage, a course of chemotherapy is the ultimate recourse for a cure, though it is also used as radiation therapy to alleviate the symptoms of the condition.

The honest answer to the survivability question is that survival rates are poor compared to other forms of cancer. Overall, survival rates for patients with lung cancer are 16% after 5 years from initial diagnosis, which compares unfavorably with prostrate cancer (99%), breast cancer (89%) and colonic cancer (65%).

The prevalence of lung cancer as the number one cancer killer combined with the extremely poor survival rates mandates an increase in research and awareness of the condition. Many cancers have historically experienced equally poor survival rates until techniques and methodologies for treatment were discovered by increased research. While lung cancer may be the number one cause of cancer deaths in the world and at home, it is to be expected that as the rates of smoking decline then this disease will also decline with it. A crucial component of treating any medical condition is to focus upon prevention rather than cure, and it is clearly the case that if you smoke you should stop, and even better, if you are contemplating a cigarette, it is better to decline using tobacco altogether.

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What is mesothelioma?

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Pleural Mesothelioma is a cancer that often, most people who found a certain point in their lives has been exposed to asbestos were in a high level. Asbestos is a type of naturally occurring mineral that has been for many years to mix with cement, plaster and paint used in homes. It was as if it is extremely resistant to heat and is used surprisingly strong. Unfortunately, asbestos is made up of thin fibers, which have since been found, made very toxicWhen people are in the body, and that these fibers are inhaled and can have a variety of health problems.

Because of the way in which it acts as asbestos found in the body once it is usually many years after asbestos is pleural mesothelioma. Pleural Mesothelioma is usually diagnosed later, if there is a change in the thin membranes that are in chest. If this pleural thickening or food begins to calcify is known as pleural plaques.These same plates are not always a precursor of cancer specific, but can have a huge impact on the function of the lungs and may signal the beginning of pleural mesothelioma.

pleural mesothelioma may begin in the pleura, but may soon radiate outward to the stomach, the heart and the outer wall of the chest. If this happens, and the diagnosis of pleural mesothelioma, the prognosis is not well done, and many patients have pleural mesotheliomabe expected, not much over 12 months or to live this way. In this context, it is important that all those who had previous exposure to asbestos is tested regularly for any changes in the pleura as it is an early sign, pleural mesothelioma that may lie ahead. is treated in time the patient may be suspected if pleural mesothelioma and can help them a lot of mesothelioma live longer than someone who was full blown with a diagnosis of pleural.

Some ofSymptoms of pleural mesothelioma are back pain, shortness of breath and pain in the side of the chest. Some people have difficulty swallowing a cough that will not go away, and in some cases, the cough of a patient can also bloody. Some people find they lose weight fairly quickly once the disease is set to start

As the prospects of a person with mesothelioma is not good, because the treatment can be limited, asaggressive nature of the disease. If the disease is caught quickly enough operation can help to remove the mesothelioma of the pleura are worried that patients will live longer than someone with pleural "Advanced." Chemotherapy and radiotherapy are also options, which some doctors to prolong the life of their patients, but must be carefully considered. Analgesics are used for the patient as comfortable as possible and other treatments are always freebe used.

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The most common mesothelioma treatment options

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Mesothelioma treatment options are improving the care of research and the program will depend on factors such as cancer, stage of cancer, how far it has spread to patients, such as age, needs and how the cancer cells appear microscope.

There are three main types of traditional treatment for people with lung cancer mesothelioma, or surgery to remove the tumor, chemotherapy drugs, the use ofto eliminate cancer cells and radiation therapy uses X-rays at high doses, or other high-energy rays to kill cancer cells. Typically these treatments are combined.

The prognosis of mesothelioma cancer is usually eight to twelve months. However, the time factor in the treatment of this disease and the first is the diagnosis, the better.

In the case of the operation, diagnostic intervention is sometimes necessary, as a very necessary step, such as the diagnosis of mesothelioma from fluidsometimes it is not clear. Sometimes a thoracoscopy (as an open biopsy, but less invasive) is carrying out various tissue biopsies and for the evaluation of pleural cavity. A final diagnosis was reached up to 98% of cases. Fluid can be drained from the intrapleural space at the same time and to assess the extent of the tumor to determine the possibility of resection.

An alternative to thoracoscopic thoracic surgery video is supported (VATS), which is more invasive butDoctor is able to see the pleural space with a camera, while the collection of samples for examination of the tumor by a pathologist. Your doctor can also determine the degree of invasion of the tumor, for example, in the chest wall or pleural involvement.

One or mediastinoscopy laproscopy sometimes used as a probe the size of the disease.

Palliative procedures are used to treat the symptoms of mesothelioma, but not to cure the disease. These methods are chest tubeDrainage and pleurodesis is the most common treatments are palliative. Thoracoscopy and pleurodesis with VATS done. Pleuroperitoneal shunt is sometimes used, but on a limited capacity for tumor seeding. Finally, a pleurectomy is sometimes where major surgery is not possible.

In addition to diagnostic and palliative treatment is surgery with potentially curative intent if the aim of eliminating all diseases, the knowledge is madethat some microscopic elements will probably remain.

malignant pleural mesothelioma two surgical treatments that are available for a pleurectomy / decortication what is performed at the beginning stage tumors (Stage I and Stage II at times) and, extrapleural pneumonectomy, the operation is performed only the most surgeon with experience and before that failed to cure or prolong life.

peritoneal mesothelioma, surgery is intended to eliminate all cytoreductivethe visible or gross tumor in the abdominal cavity. Cancer cells are treated with chemotherapy and left concentrated in the abdominal cavity.

Chemotherapy is the treatment of cancer with anticancer drugs or chemicals that destroy their control division of cancer cells. It is not a cure, but aims to ensure the circulation, tumor shrinkage to relieve symptoms such as pain and microscopic cells remaining after surgery (adjuvant control destroyChemotherapy).

radiotherapy or radiotherapy is contained in the field of mesothelioma treatment options, and treat cancer using radiation energy penetrating radiation, and palliative and can be used in combination with surgery.

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Mesothelioma Treatment Option: Why Is The Removal Of The Lung And Other Organs Necessary?

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One of the most successful Mesothelioma treatment options involves the removal of the lung and other organs via surgery. However many patients and their loved ones do not quite understand why this is necessary.

This Mesothelioma treatment option is necessary and is one of the most successful because the disease usually starts in the lining of the inner chest wall and the lining that covers the diaphragm. This is called the parietal pleura. The disease then grows into the lining that covers the lung (visceral pleura).

Because it is impossible to separate the visceral pleura from the lung so as to remove the Mesothelioma cancer, there is no option but treatment through the removal of the lung. Secondly it is also important to note that Mesothelioma often attacks the lung tissue so the only way to completely remove the tumor is by removing the lung.

Quality of life for patients after this Mesothelioma treatment option is difficult to predict. Many people may suffer a degree of shortness of breath, which incidentally is also, one of the symptoms of the disease before surgery. Also because the surgery involves a large incision and sometimes portions of the rib are also taken out, many patients suffer a lot of pain after the surgery, however this is usually quickly controlled by pain medication.

However many times this Mesothelioma treatment option results in a big improvement, especially if surgeons are able to properly remove the tumor. In fact many patients are able to breath a lot better with one lung. The reason is because of the relief of tumor compression on the lung and the related restriction of chest wall movement.

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The Most Common Mesothelioma Treatment Options

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Mesothelioma treatment options are improving with research and the program of treatment depends on factors such as where the cancer is situated, the stage of the cancer, how far it has spread, the patients age and needs and how the cancer cells appear under a microscope.

There are three main types of traditional treatment for people with mesothelioma lung cancer, namely, surgery to remove the cancer, chemotherapy which is the use of drugs to eradicate cancer cells and radiation therapy which uses x-rays in high dose or other energy rays to destroy cancer cells. Usually, these therapies are combined.

The mesothelioma cancer prognosis is usually only eight to twelve months. However, time is of the essence when treating this disease and the earlier it is diagnosed, the better.

In the case of surgery, sometimes diagnostic surgery is needed as a very necessary step, as mesothelioma diagnosis through fluid is sometimes inconclusive. Sometimes a thoracoscopy (like an open biopsy but less invasive) is done to carry out multiple tissue biopsies and for assessment of the pleural cavity. A conclusive diagnosis is obtained in up to 98% of cases. Fluid can be drained from the intrapleural space at the same time and the extent of the tumor assessed to determine the possibilities of resection.

An alternative to thoracoscopy is video assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) which is more invasive but the physician is able to see the pleural space using a camera while collecting tumor samples for examination by a pathologist. The physician can also determine the extent of tumor invasion for example in the chest wall or pleural involvement.

A laproscopy or mediastinoscopy are also sometimes used as other ways of gaging the extent of disease.

Palliative procedures are used to treat symptoms of mesothelioma but do not treat the disease itself. Such procedures include chest tube drainage and pleurodesis which are the most common palliative treatments. Thoracoscopy and pleurodesis are done with VATS. A pleuroperitoneal shunt is sometimes used, but in limited capacity due to tumor seeding concerns. Lastly a pleurectomy is sometimes carried out in cases where more extensive surgery is not possible.

Along with diagnostic and palliative treatments, surgery with potentially curative intent is carried out where the aim is to remove all of the disease with the awareness that some microscopic elements will probably remain.

For malignant pleural mesothelioma two surgical treatments are available namely, a pleurectomy/decortication which is carried out on early stage tumors (Stage I and sometimes Stage II) and secondly, an extrapleural pneumonectomy which is only executed by surgeons with much expertise and where previous surgery has failed to cure or prolong life.

For peritoneal mesothelioma, cytoreductive surgery aims at removing all of the visible or gross tumor within the peritoneal cavity. Cancer cells left are treated with chemotherapy and focused in the abdominal cavity.

Chemotherapy is the treatment of cancer with anticancer chemical substances to control the division of cancerous cells by destroying them. It is not considered curative but seeks to control the spread, shrink tumors, to relieve symptoms like pain and to destroy microscopic cells remaining post surgery (adjuvant chemotherapy).

Radiation therapy or radiotherapy is included in the range of mesothelioma treatment options and treats the tumor with the use of penetrative beams of high energy radiation and can be used in conjunction with surgery and palliatively.

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New treatments for cancer mesothelioma

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Other new treatments for mesothelioma is currently being tested and tested every day. Scientists are also trying conventional treatments such as radiation, chemotherapy and surgery in combination, to try to tackle the more accurate and faster treatment of mesothelioma. Here are some of the new treatments are tested on this.

Immunotherapy is a new treatment to try at this time. Immunotherapy uses the patients own immune systemControl system of mesothelioma. Immunotherapy is the use of substances found in the immune system to fight tumor growth.

Some substances that have been used in laboratory studies are interferon and interleukin-2. These substances have been found in laboratory studies, effective, but in those with malignant mesothelioma and non-clinical studies of immunotherapy was effective.

Another treatment is called mesotheliomaHeat treatment. Heat treatment works, so that chemotherapy drugs heated before being injected. If these substances are heated before injection, it seems more to kill cancer cells. This new mesothelioma treatment is also known as hyperthermia and chemotherapy has shown good results in patients with malignant mesothelioma.

Gene therapy is a new treatment for Mesothelioma Mesothelioma that some believe that a big key in future studies.In gene therapy, genes are involved in the manipulation of the tumor into a virus like a cold, and then with antiviral drugs, or your immune system to destroy cells.

Studies have not yet done before this therapy. So far, this treatment was effective in the early stages of cancer and other types of malignant mesothelioma.

Another type of new mesothelioma treatment will be tested in several studies is called photodynamic therapy.Photodynamic therapy consists of photosensitive molecules injected into the pleural space before the operation. When the operation is done soon to put directly on the molecules in order to kill cancer cells. This study has demonstrated that the treatment improves survival, but studies are ongoing to try.

Other new studies will try every day, many patients, conducted clinical trials. Clinical trials are studies that are made to information for new drugs or devices are collected. ClinicalStudies may be in some cases the best treatment. Clinical studies have made several tests by doctors, advanced knowledge. A clinical study could be very easy to continue the healing of mesothelioma.

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An Overview of Mesothelioma Treatment Options

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Mesothelioma treatment options depend on many internal factors such as: stage, location, and the patient's age and desires. Important external factors to consider include the experience level of the oncologist with mesothelioma cases and whether or not a rural dweller would have to be transferred to a larger city for aggressive treatment or palliative care.

Patient survival rate is determined to be up to a year; while some leading cancer centers have reported life expectancy after diagnosis to be as much as five more years.

Screening

Imaging tests allow doctors to see a picture of the cancer site. These tests could include x-rays, CT scans (computed tomography), or MRI (magnetic resonance imaging).

New Screening Instrument: The Mesomark Test

The Food and Drug administration has just approved (January 2007) the world's first in-vitro test for mesothelioma. The Mesomark assay test, developed by Fujirebio Diagnostics is administered to patients diagnosed with biphasic or epithelioid mesothelioma by a simple blood test. The test measures proteins within the blood that reflect changes in the patient's tumor volume, a key factor for monitoring patient status and response to therapies.

Traditional Treatment Types

Surgery, removal of the entire lung and a part of the chest lining, the diaphragm and part of the sac surrounding the heart.

Thoracoscopy is the insertion of an endoscope which is a small narrow tube, containing a tiny cameria into the pleural cavity to look directly at the tumor. Pathologist's perform a biopsy to collect a tissue. Often, chemical pleurodesis (draining fluid in the intrapleural space), can be accomplished during the same procedure.

Mediastinoscopy, another type of surgical incision is sometimes used to stage the extent of disease when enlarged nodes are seen using imaging techniques.

Laproscopy is used in mesothelioma patients when imaging techniques suggest that the tumor has penetrated through the diaphragm. This information is important in evaluating a patient for potential pleurectomy or extrapleural pneumonectomy.

Radiation Therapy (using high-dose x-rays or other high-energy rays to kill cancer cells.

Radiation - Although mesothelioma tumors are highly resistant to radiotherapy, these treatments are sometimes used to relieve symptoms arising from tumor growth, such as obstruction of a major blood vessel.

Radiotherapy is commonly applied to the sites of chest drain insertion, in order to prevent the growth of the tumor along the track in the chest wall.

Chemotherapy - is used to stop the cancer cells from growing and dividing.

Immunotherapy: Heated Intraoperative Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy requires the removal as much of the tumor as possible followed by the direct administration of a heated between (40 and 48°C) chemotherapy agent, into the abdomen for 60 to 120 minutes and then drained.

Palliative Procedures

Pleuroperitoneal Shunt is a procedure where a catheter is placed under the skin from the pleural to the peritoneal cavity. This procedure raising concerns as the catheter can cause damage by embedding itself into the abdomen.

Pleurectomy, a palliative procedure, may be performed when more extensive surgery is not an option. The procedure does not effectively remove all tumors. It is considered the most effective means of controlling pleural effusion (fluid buildup) in cases where the lung's expansion is restricted by the mesothelioma.

Potentially Curative Procedures

These procedures are performed with "curative intent".

Pleurectomy/Decortication is usually performed on patients with early stage pleural mesothelioma disease (Stage I and selected Stage II), and attempts to remove all gross tumor.

Extrapleural Pneumonectomy is surgery to remove a diseased lung, part of the pericardium, part of the diaphragm and part of the parietal pleura. This type of surgery is used most often to treat malignant mesothelioma and is combined with traditional chemotherapy and/or radiation, gene therapy, immunotherapy or photodynamic therapy.

Cytoreductive Surgery removes visible tumors in the peritoneal cavity. The remaining cancer cells are treated by Intra-Peritoneal Hyperthermic (heated) Chemotherapy (IPHC) and then delivered to the abdominal cavity.

New or Experimental Therapies

Gene Therapy: The best known tumor suppressor gene is called p53. If this gene is damaged or non existent oncogenes or cancer genes multiply at an abnormal rate. The main focus of gene therapy for mesothelioma involves injecting a virus that has been modified in the laboratory. The virus is injected into the pleural space in the chest, where mesothelioma develops as an attempt to kill the cancer cells.

Drug or Vaccine Therapy

Patients with mesothelioma have much higher levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) a chemical controlling blood vessel than people with any other type of cancer. Trials are being conducted to see if VEGF can be blocked, thus stopping the growth of blood vessels feeding the mesothelioma tumors.

Bevacizumab is a drug vaccine currently in use. One trial recently reported that this drug may increase survival for patients with lung cancer. An American phase 2 trial tested bevacizumab for mesothelioma, in combination with chemotherapy drugs. Bevacizumab is still in the experimental phase and much larger trials are needed before we will know how effective it will be in treating mesothelioma and other types of cancers.

Photodynamic Therapy (PDT)

In Photodynamic therapy a drug called a photosensitizing agent is injected into the bloodstream and absorbed by the body's cells rendering the cells sensitive to light. When the area to be treated is exposed to laser light, the cells are killed. PDT has to be combined with surgery to treat patients in the early stages of mesothelioma. PDT is still in the trial stages and very experimental.

Clinical Trials and Eligibility

Clinical Trials provide research by using a sampling of people affected by the cancer. The National Cancer Institute states that the purpose of most listed clinical trials is to test new cancer treatments or new methods of diagnosing, screening for or preventing cancer.

Eligibility requirements for clinical trials are not the same; each study has specific guidelines for participation. Some trials allow participation after other treatments have failed, while others require that the patient did not have prior treatment. Choosing a clinical test should only be done after a medical consultation.

Prevention trials - study ways to reduce the risk, or chance, of developing cancer. Most prevention trials are conducted with healthy people who have not had cancer. These trials use drugs, vitamins or diet to reduce risk of cancer. Some trials are conducted with people who have had cancer and want to prevent the return of cancer (recurrence), or reduce the chance of developing a new type of cancer.

Screening Trials - study ways to detect cancer. They are often conducted to determine whether finding cancer before it causes symptoms decreases the chance of dying from the disease. These trials involve people who do not have any symptoms of cancer.

Diagnostic Cancer Trials - develops new tests or scans

Treatment Trials - studies new drugs or combinations of drugs; new ways of giving treatment, and new types of treatment

Quality of life trials explore ways to improve the comfort and quality of life of cancer patients and cancer survivors. These trials may study ways to help people who are experiencing nausea, vomiting, sleep disorders, depression, or other effects from cancer or its treatment.

Genetics Study Trials - are sometimes part of another cancer clinical trial. The genetics component of the trial may focus on how genetic makeup can affect detection, diagnosis, or response to cancer treatment.

Clinical trials are conducted in 4 phases:

Phase 1 trials look at whether a trial treatment drug is safe or has any harmful effects and attempts to establish the right dosage required.

Phase 2 trials look at the effectiveness of the treatment.

Phase 3 trials test a new treatment against the existing standard treatment. If it yields better results, it may become the new standard treatment.

Phase 4 trials are carried out after a drug has been licensed. They collect information about side effects, safety and the long term risks and benefits of a drug.

Ongoing research attempts to improve mesothelioma treatment options but clinical trials will not all result in new and better treatment. After testing, it may be discovered that the treatment being tested does not work, or that it has worse side affects than existing treatments. But, to researchers and doctors, and in the end for patients, it is crucial to keep this research going.

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