All of a sudden, you are being bombarded with obscure medical information, tests, painful treatments, side effects, and possibly a good deal of questions about your future.
Living with mesothelioma is challenging in many ways, but with the help of loved ones and professionals, you can make it through this painful period in your life. 

In this section you will learn about:
- Mesothelioma resources
- Cancer center, cancer support groups, etc..

For details please download:
Living with Mesothelioma.pdf

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, you will need a clear understanding of the stage of the disease and the implications this has for your healthcare.

In this section you will learn about:
- The four stages of mesothelioma

For details please download:
Stages of Mesothelioma.pdf

Mesothelioma needs to be diagnosed as early as possible in order to maximize the effectiveness of treatment. Unfortunately, many people with this disease face a series of obstacles on the road to diagnosis.

In this section you will learn about:

- Methods of testing for mesothelioma

- Blood test, X-Rays test, etc...

For more details, please download:

Diagnosing Mesothelioma.pdf

The symptoms of mesothelioma will vary depending on its exact location – whether it is affecting the part of the mesothelium that covers the heart, lungs, or abdomen.

In this section you will learn about:

- Pleural Mesothelioma Symptoms

- Peritoneal Mesothelioma Symptoms

- Pericardial Mesothelioma Symptoms

For more details, please download:

Symptoms of Mesothelioma.pdf

In this section you will learn about:

- Type of mesothelioma

- And its treatment

For more details, please download:

4 - Mesothelioma Type And Its Treatments.pdf

In this section you will learn about:
- What Causes Mesothelioma?
-  How does exposure to asbestos cause mesothelioma?
-  Other Contributing Factors
-  What Should I do if I have been diagnosed with Mesothelioma?

For more details, please download:
3 - Mesothelioma Causes.pdf

In this section you will learn about:
-  Exposure to Asbestor
-  Smoking and Mesothelioma
-  Less Common Mesothelioma Risk Factors
For more details, please download:
2 - Mesothelioma Risk Factors.pdf

In this section you will learn about:
- Mesothelioma is an aggressive cancer
- Mesothelioma is diagnosed through a comprehensive combination of biospsy and imaging scan
-  While mesothelioma is typically advanced at diagnosis, treatment options are available
-  Mesothelioma is caused by exposure to asbestos

For more details, please download:: 1 - Mesothelioma Cancer.pdf

Some things related to the organ that is attacked by the disease mesothelioma:

Patients who develop mesothelioma often have been exposed to asbestos at their workplace, such as navy shipyards and construction sites. The repeated exposure to asbestos means that they inhaled millions of tiny asbestos fibers that remained in their bodies. The three organs most often affected by mesothelioma are the lungs, heart and stomach.

Heart: Pericardial Mesothelioma

The tiny asbestos fibers can also become lodged in the lining of the heart, where they can cause cancer. This form of mesothelioma is called pericardial mesothelioma. It is a very rare type of mesothelioma, accounting for about 10 percent of all mesothelioma cases.

Lungs: Pleural Mesothelioma

The most common form of mesothelioma, known as pleural mesothelioma, affects the lungs. The disease results when inhaled asbestos fibers become lodged in the lining that surrounds the lungs and cause the growth of cancerous cells around them. This process causes the lining of the lungs to fill with fluid, which obstructs breathing and causes chest pain. At this point, most pleural mesothelioma patients notice that something is wrong and seek the help of a doctor.

Stomach: Peritoneal Mesothelioma

The asbestos fibers can also become lodged in the lining around the stomach. This type of mesothelioma, which is called peritoneal mesothelioma, occurs when a person eats food covered with microscopic asbestos fibers. The fibrous material remains in the stomach lining for a long time (20-50 years) before it prompts the growth of the cancer cells. Peritoneal mesothelioma is much rarer than pleural mesothelioma, accounting for about 10-20 percent of all mesothelioma cases.

Thus the above matters that need attention.

by Bello Kamorudeen

More specific "targeted therapies" that address the mechanisms that drive disease progression may actually provide a better means of prolonging the average life span of mesothelioma patients. "The term 'targeted therapy' refers to a new generation of anti-cancer drugs designed to interfere with a specific molecular 'target,' most often a protein or a receptor that is believed to have a critical role in tumor growth," says lead study author Katalin Dobra, MD, PhD, a researcher in the Department of Laboratory Medicine at the Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm, Sweden.

"Targeted cancer therapy takes advantage of our recent knowledge of the key mechanism that the malignant [cancerous] cell needs for its survival, and uses the special properties of mesothelioma cells to design novel therapeutic strategies," Dr. Dobra says.

The process starts with molecular screening to identify the characteristics of a tumor and how it behaves, what causes it to grow and spread. Then researchers test various therapies on cells in the laboratory to see if they can interfere with that process. Not until then can a new cure be tested on patients in clinical trials.

So far, Dr. Dobra's team has identified three possible molecular targets, each with its own potential treatment:

* Proteasome-subunits are groups of enzymes that regulate cell progression and death. Potential treatment: Drugs called proteasome inhibitors have been shown to halt the growth of mesothelioma cells.

* The thioredoxin system contains components that are produced differently in cancerous and noncancerous mesothelial cells, and it is thought to contribute to the survival of mesothelioma cells. Potential treatment: In collaboration with other groups, Dr. Dobra has shown that the mineral selenite may trigger mesothelioma cell death while sparing healthy cells.

* Proteoglycans (PGs) are a class of proteins that differ based on the type of mesothelioma cell. They work by affecting the growth factors that help mesothelioma cells grow and divide. Potential treatment: Oligosaccharide sequences, which are made up of chains of sugar molecules, might interfere with the work of PGs.

One of these targeted approaches, proteasome inhibitors, is now being tested in clinical trials. The other two methods are also promising, but more research is needed before they can be tested on patients. Additional tumor targets are also being investigated.

Hopefully the above information useful to yours...

Mesothelioma is very deadly but often difficult to diagnose because of its unusually long latency period (up to several decades). People who have been exposed to asbestos and developed mesothelioma may not feel the effects until 30 to 50 years later, when the cancer has progressed to an advanced stage

Mesothelioma Subcategories

While mesothelioma can spread throughout the body as it progresses, it generally begins in one primary location. The three types of mesothelioma according to its location are:

• Pleural mesothelioma: This disease affects the pleura, a segment of the mesothelium that covers and protects the lungs. It is the most common form of mesothelioma, making up about 75% of all diagnosed cases. Symptoms of this illness include a chronic cough, chest pain and shortness of breath.

• Peritoneal mesothelioma: Up to 20% of mesothelioma cases are peritoneal mesothelioma. This disease attacks the peritoneum, a protective membrane over the abdomen. Symptoms of this form of mesothelioma include abdominal pain, persistent nausea and vomiting, loss of appetite, and digestive problems.

• Pericardial mesothelioma: This is the rarest form of mesothelioma, accounting for only about 5% of cases. This illness affects the pericardium, which is the part of the mesothelium that covers and protects the heart. Symptoms of pericardial mesothelioma include persistent chest pain, irregular heartbeats, shortness of breath, and fatigue.