Epithelioid mesothelioma survival rate

Epithelioid mesothelioma is a mesothelioma malignant cell type. It is very common and contributes to more than 75% of the mesothelioma cases. There is a distinct characteristic of these cells like they are similar in structure and have a rare tubular shape. On observation under a high power microscope the nucleus appears different from the normal cells.  There are other cancer cells like adenocarcinomas. But the defining difference between epithelioid and adenocarcinomas is that the epithelioid is formed in the mesothelium itself whereas the adenocarcinomas start forming in the internal tissue. After substantial development they tend to show up in the mesothelium.

Mesothelioma is a cancer of the mesothelium caused due to exposure to asbestos at some point of time. The asbestos particles tend to act like needles and stick to the mesothelium around organs forming an inflammation and causing cancerous tumors. The cancer is very rare but probably incurable; due to the fact that its latency is too high which means it takes twenty to sixty years to start showing the symptoms. When the cells of the tumor are the epithelioid cells then the cancer is called epithelioid mesothelioma.

The conventional treatment methodologies for mesothelioma include the surgical procedures and other clinical therapies. But there are other treatment approaches as well which are popular among the cancer patients. These are called alternative treatment methods. Plant extracts, vitamins, natural minerals, peptides and also amino acids are put to use. When these elements and methods of alternate treatment are used along with conventional approaches then it’s called Complimentary treatment methods. Some major elements used in alternative therapies for mesothelioma are

• Ukrain:

Celadine is a sea weed and ukrain which is semi synthetic is derived from it. Thiotepa is a very common conventional drug used in chemo. Now a composition of three celadine molecules and a thiotepa molecule is called ukrain.

• Iscador:

Iscador is an extract from mistletoe, which is symbiotic plant. Mistletoe is semi parasitic and found in tree species like apple, oak, etc.  Iscador has high medicinal values, and is said to boost immunity. Practitioners of alternative medicine who use iscador claim that it helps in modifying the cancer cells to some other form in which it could be handled and thus improves the general well being of the patient.

Mesothelioma diagnosis might be a routine thing for the oncologists, but an unfortunate once in a lifetime procedure for the few not so blessed people. Emotions apart, what are the questions and doubts that the patient should get clarified during the consultation, about the diagnosis and treatment plans with the oncologists.

• Was a secondary opinion taken?

It’s absolutely important before the patient gets subjected to such an aggressive treatment s that the oncologists who diagnosed cancer take a second opinion from another expert oncologist or pathologist from the same field.

• Is there a chance I am subjected to a research?

As this is a field in which there are no much insights there is a possibility that sometimes patients are tested with the new found methodologies? This is illegal if done without the patient’s consent.

• The number of similar cases the oncologist has handled and the treatment methodologies he/she has used :

It’s important to know how much hands on experience the oncologist has in the area. If he has treated patients with similar ailment then there is an advantage in knowing the survivors and talking to them which would help the patient choose the treatment methodology with more assurance boosting the overall confidence.

Mesothelioma cancer and its research is been going on for quite some time for now. But the unanswered question is that are we anywhere close to the feat of telling that we have a curative treatment methodology for the disease? The answer is definitely a ‘no’. But we have achieved a lot of things and have kept refining the treatment methodologies making it possible for the mesothelioma patient to lead a healthy and close to normal life.

• Surgical removal is not the much considered for mesothelioma unless the diagnosis is pretty early. In most cases to have an improved relief oncologists prefer removal of the lungs partly or entirely in surgical methods. This approach is called pneumonectomy. This happens only when the metastasis has not begun. If metastasis has begun then surgery is of no use and only then we resort to extreme techniques like chemo and radiation therapy.

• A new method called tri-modal mesothelioma is gaining popularity as the treatment methodology. This treatment is very extreme and is totally aimed towards eradicating the cancer cells from the affected areas completely.  This is called as extra pleural pneumonectonomy. The treatment involves surgical removal of the lungs, peritoneum, pericardium and the diaphragm. After the scrapping these regions are subjected to contact chemotherapy completely killing the cancer cells, after which the diaphragm is developed with the use of prosthetic substances.

Research for mesothelioma treatment options have not yet started enjoying a higher funding or efforts till date. The reasons being

• The disease is rare compared to the other forms of cancer
• The prognosis is generally negative which reduces the number of patients taking treatment very scarce.
• But recently a lot of effort is put into the research on treatment methodologies which have resulted in a lot of interesting improvements
• Chemo is synonymous to the most popular cancer treatment available. Though being a palliative treatment it is highly undertaken due to the comfort and standard it brings in the life of the survivor. The newly identified Alimta combined with the conventional chemotherapy drug Cisplatin is the only approved agent to fight epithelial mesothelioma especially pleural mesothelioma. Onconase is also a high potent drug that is yet to be approved.
• Anti-Angiogenesis drugs like Avastin is widely used in mesothelioma treatment which actually prevents synthesis of blood cells subsequently checking the spreading of tumor.
• Intensity modulated Radiation Therapy is a breakthrough method of radiation therapy where the intensity of radiation is reduced so that the healthy cells are not damaged.
• Gene therapy for mesothelioma is a technique where the mutated viruses are administered in the epithelial space. On incidence with the mesothelioma cells the virus simulates the synthesis of cytokine that helps the immune system nail the mesothelioma cells.