Mesothelioma Symptoms,Treatment Options,mesothelioma treatment options

What is Mesothelioma? Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that can arise in the mesothelial lining of the lungs, heart or abdomen. Some cases have even been reported to develop in the lining of the testicles as well. These four types of mesothelioma are called pleural mesothelioma (lung), pericardial mesothelioma (heart), peritoneal mesothelioma (abdomen) and testicular mesothelioma. Combined, these cancers affect 2,000 to 3,000 people in the United States each year. 

Receiving a diagnosis can be difficult due to the similarity of symptoms to other, more common conditions and doctors may overlook mesothelioma as a diagnosis. Another contributing factor that makes these cancers difficult to diagnose is the severe latency period of symptoms. From the time of someone's initial exposure to asbestos, the primary cause of mesothelioma, signs of development may take as long as 20 to 50 years to arise. In an effort to help patients understand mesothelioma, 

Asbestos.com offers a complimentary packet that contains treatment options and other helpful resources tailored to your specific diagnosis. The packet also covers the nation's top mesothelioma doctors and cancer centers, as well as financial assistance options to help cover medical costs. To receive your packet in the mail, please enter your information below. Asbestos and the Development of Mesothelioma Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that was incorporated into thousands of productsthroughout the majority of the 20th century. Common items that contained the hazardous substance included insulation, roofing materials, drywall, ceiling and flooring tiles, cements, valves, seals and other construction products. Asbestos was primarily used because it was cheap, fire-resistant and had insulating capabilities. Mesothelioma may develop after someone has either inhaled or ingested asbestos fibers. 

This most often occurs when asbestos-containing materials are damaged or disturbed and those in the area fail to wear protective equipment. Once the microscopic fibers that make up asbestos have entered the body, they typically attach to the lining of the lungs and become lodged. Overtime, these fibers create enough irritation and inflammation to cause tumors to develop. Unfortunately, these tumors do not cause symptoms until they have reached an advanced stage of development, leaving a person with limited treatment options and a poor mesothelioma prognosis. Unfortunately, there are no early symptoms of mesothelioma. A patient's best chance of detecting mesothelioma at an early stage of development is through receiving regular checkups for signs of asbestos exposure with a qualified physician. Symptoms of pleural mesothelioma may include shortness of breath, difficulty while swallowing, or having a persistent raspy cough. Pericardial mesothelioma symptoms may include chest pain, coughing, fatigue or having an irregular heartbeat. Peritoneal mesothelioma may carry symptoms involving fatigue, nausea, abdominal pain or swelling and the development of lumps under the skin on the abdomen. Due to the rarity of the cancer, very little information has been reported concerning symptoms of testicular mesothelioma. Although a cure for mesothelioma does not exist, many patients elect to undergo alternative therapies or clinical trials that test experimental treatments. Some of the more common methods of mesothelioma treatment options for patients include surgery, chemotherapy and radiation, which are designed to relieve symptoms and improve their overall quality of life. In some cases, such treatments may cause the cancer to go into remission and will prolong a patient's life. Asbestos.com offers additional information about mesothelioma, asbestos and treatment options through a complimentary packet. Click here to receive your free copy overnight.

The Challenge of Accurately Diagnosing Bipolar Disorde

You’ve read up on bipolar disorder and think it may be causing your intense mood swings and problems with relationships at school or work.

But you aren’t sure. Your symptoms—or those of the spouse, child, or friend you’re worried about—also resemble those of other mental disorders, such as depression, borderline personality disorder, anxiety disorder, schizophrenia, or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Your confusion is understandable. Bipolar disorder can be difficult even for mental health professionals to diagnose, because many of the symptoms overlap with those of other mental illnesses, says S. Nassir Ghaemi, MD, the director of the Mood Disorders Program at Tufts Medical Center in Boston.

Roughly half of people with bipolar disorder see at least three mental health professionals before getting a correct diagnosis, according to a 1994 survey by the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (then known as the National Depressive and Manic-Depressive Association). According to the same survey, about one-third of those with bipolar disorder received their diagnosis more than a decade after they sought treatment.

Here are some of the symptoms and treatments for other disorders that are sometimes mistaken for—or occur alongside—bipolar.

Depression
Bipolar disorder is marked by extreme shifts in mood that can vary between deep depression and mania, an abnormally elevated mood.

About 40% of patients with bipolar disorder are initially diagnosed with major (or unipolar) depression, which does not involve mood swings or mania, Dr. Ghaemi says.

There are several reasons for the confusion. Most people with bipolar disorder experience an episode of depression before an episode of mania. Often it’s the depression that drives people to seek medical treatment. And sometimes the person has never actually experienced a manic episode when he or she seeks treatment for depression.

In addition, studies show that about half of those experiencing mania don’t realize they’re manic. “The patients often don’t have insight into their manic symptoms. They either don’t remember it, or they deny it,” Dr. Ghaemi says. To diagnose bipolar disorder, psychiatrists may enlist the assistance of family members who will share details about suspected mania or hypomania, a milder form of mania that’s much less noticeable.

Symptoms of depression include a loss of interest in normal daily activities, feeling sad or down for an extended period, feeling hopeless or worthless, crying spells for no reason, sleep problems, trouble focusing or concentrating, unexplained weight gain or weight loss, irritability, and fatigue.

People who go on to receive a diagnosis of bipolar disorder are more likely to have postpartum depression, psychosis during their depression, and recurrent episodes of depression, Dr. Ghaemi says.

In addition, about 60% of those who go on to receive a diagnosis of bipolar also have some symptoms that mimic mania during their depressive episodes. This is called a “mixed” episode.

Symptoms of a “mixed” episode may include agitation, irritability, racing thoughts, hyperactivity, and anxiety. Only about 20% of those with major depression have such “mixed” episodes.

Complicating diagnosis even further, more than 40% of those with bipolar disorder experience what’s known as a mixed episode, in which the symptoms of mania and depression occur simultaneously. And studies have shown that about a quarter of those with major depression experience a form of agitation that can resemble a mixed episode.

Depression is treated with prescription talk therapy, antidepressant drugs, or both. Antidepressants may bring on a manic episode, which is why it’s critical to tell your doctor about any unusual “up” periods that might suggest a manic or hypomanic episode.