Mesothelioma is a rare cancer of the tissue that lines your lungs, heart and other organs. This tissue is known as mesothelium. Mesothelioma usually begins in the lungs but it has been known to develop in the abdomen or other organs. The majority of people that get Mesothelioma have worked in an environment where they inhaled asbestos particles or have been exposed to asbestos dust or fibers. Mesothelioma can take as many as 20-50 years from the time of asbestos exposure to the time that you actually get the disease.
Types of Mesothelioma
There are 3 types of Mesothelioma; Pleural Mesothelioma, Peritoneal Mesothelioma and Pericardial Mesothelioma. Pleural Mesothelioma is the most common form of this disease. Pleural Mesothelioma develops in the lining of the lungs called the pleura. Peritoneal Mesothelioma develops in the lining of the abdomen, which is the peritoneum. Pericardial Mesothelioma affects the lining of the heart, known as the Pericardium.
Diagnosing Mesothelioma can be difficult because it has symptoms, similar to other illnesses. To test for Mesothelioma, many times the person will need a physical exam, a chest x-ray and in most cases, lung function tests. Once diagnosed with Mesolthelioma, there are many treatments available. Some newer Mesothelioma treatments include chemotherapy medications such as Alimta and Cisplatin. Both Alimta and Cisplatin are used when patients that have been diagnosed with Mesothelioma are unable to have surgery. However, the more conservative Mesothelioma treatments including chemotherapy, radiation and surgery are still very good options. In many cases, some people have chosen alternative therapies such as massage, acupuncture, medication and Yoga. Many people like these alternative methods because they are able to find peace and comfort while enduring this difficult disease. These alternative methods also provide a heightened sense of relaxation and they notice that their bodies release natural pain relievers, known as endorphins.
There are many Mesothelioma symptoms and symptoms differ depending on which type of Mesothelioma you have.
Pleural Mesothelioma symptoms include:
- Shortness of breath
- Chest pain
- Persistent cough
- Fever
- Night sweats
- Weight loss
Peritoneal Mesothelioma symptoms include:
- Abdominal pain
- Abnormal buildup of fluid in the abdomen
- A mass in the abdomen
- Complications with bowel function
- Nausea
- Weight loss
- Anemia
Pericardial Mesothelioma symptoms include:
- Irregular heartbeats
- Chest pain cough
- Breathing difficulty
- Fatigue
- Fever
- Night sweats
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with Mesothelioma, FreeMedPrograms.com may be able to help. Pharmaceutical companies have developed patient assistance programs for those people that are unable to afford the rising cost of prescription medication. FreeMedPrograms.com has compiled these patient assistance programs in an easy to use, free website. At FreeMedPrograms.com, you will find an extensive list of medications including free Alimta. Alimta is the most commonly used FDA approved Mesothelioma medication. FreeMedPrograms.com allows you to easily locate the patient assistance program that offers free Alimta, download an application, plus FreeMedPrograms.com gives you complete contact information to these patient assistance programs should you need more information about how you can start receiving free Alimta or over 1000 other prescription medications.
For more mesothelioma information, you may want to visit www.mesotheliomamission.com. For information on how to apply to receive free mesothelioma medication, please visit www.freemedprograms.com.