What is The Prognosis for Mesothelioma?

Like most cancers, the prognosis for this disease often depends on how early it is diagnosed and how aggressively it is treated. Unfortunately, mesothelioma is often found at a stage in which a cure is unobtainable. Many will succumb to the disease within one year of diagnosis.

Mesothelioma treatment options (traditional and new treatments being studied)
Treatment options are determined by the stage of mesothelioma (the extent to which the tumor has spread in the body). There are three staging systems currently in use, and each one measures somewhat different variables.
The oldest staging system and the one most often used is the Butchart system, which is based mainly on the extent of primary tumor mass and divides mesotheliomas into four stages.

Butchart system extent of primary tumor mass

• Stage I: Mesothelioma is present in the right or left pleura and may also involve the diaphragm on the same side.
• Stage II: Mesothelioma invades the chest wall or involves the esophagus, heart, or pleura on both sides. Lymph nodes in the chest may also be involved.
• Stage III: Mesothelioma has penetrated through the diaphragm into the lining of the abdominal cavity or peritoneum. Lymph nodes beyond those in the chest may also be involved.
• Stage IV: There is evidence of metastasis or spread through the bloodstream to other organs.

The more recent TNM system considers variables of tumor in mass and spread, lymph node involvement, and metastasis.

TNM system: variables of T (tumor), N (lymph nodes), and M (metastasis)

• Stage I: Mesothelioma involves right or left pleura and may also have spread to the lung, pericardium, or diaphragm on the same side. Lymph nodes are not involved.
• Stage II: Mesothelioma has spread from the pleura on one side to nearby lymph nodes next to the lung on the same side. It may also have spread into the lung, pericardium, or diaphragm on the same side.
• Stage III: Mesothelioma is now in the chest wall, muscle, ribs, heart, esophagus, or other organs in the chest on the same side with or without spread to lymph nodes on the same side as the primary tumor.
• Stage IV: Mesothelioma has spread into the lymph nodes in the chest on the side opposite the primary tumor, extended to the pleura or lung on the opposite side, or directly extended into organs in the abdominal cavity or neck. Any distant metastases is included in this stage.

The Brigham system is the latest system and stages mesothelioma according to resectability (the ability to surgically remove the tumor) and lymph node involvement.

Brigham system: variables of tumor resectability and nodal status

• Stage I: resectable mesothelioma and no lymph node involvement
• Stage II: resectable mesothelioma but with lymph node involvement
• Stage III: unresectable mesothelioma extending into chest wall, heart, or through diaphragm, peritoneum; with or without extrathoracic lymph-node involvement
• Stage IV: distant metastatic disease

Source : www.medicinenet.com

WHO: 30 Percent of Cancer Due to Obesity

World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 30 percent risk of cancer caused by factors of overweight (obesity) and physical inactivity among others because of too much sitting.
"As a member of the UICC (the International Union for Cancer Control), Indonesia Cancer Foundation felt compelled to give information about cancer, in this case related to skin cancer can be detected as early as possible in order to be healed," said Adiati Siregar, Chairman of Indonesia Cancer Foundation in a press release here on Monday.
As with other cancer cases, the lack of knowledge causes many symptoms of premature skin cancers are not reported, let it alone until then cause disability and even death.
Among the various types of cancer cases in Indonesia, was known to show the incidence of skin cancer is increasing and is associated with ultraviolet rays from the sun.
Indonesia Human exposure to ultraviolet light much every day in a long time, but lucky Indonesia has a pigment (skin causes brown-black) which is to protect the body from ultraviolet exposure.
To teach children and teenagers to avoid ultraviolet exposure by being smart and familiar "Sun Smart" sun exposure is by using a hat, umbrella, sunscreen and clothing that covers arms.
This will impact very significant in subsequent years. Sunlight in sufficient quantities, known as the main source of vitamin D.
Exposure to sunlight will stimulate the skin to produce vitamin D is important for bone health, immune system, and various other body processes.
Too little vitamin D in children, associated with the softening of the bones, increased risk of heart disease, high blood pressure and low good cholesterol (HDL) in the future.
However, exposure to sunlight, especially ultraviolet light between the hours of 10:00 to 16:00 may be a risk factor for skin cancer.