Mesothelioma is one of the deadliest cancers for a number of reasons. It has a prolonged latency period during which it destroys the mucous-producing membrane that lines the outer surface of a number of organs. This membrane allows the organs to move, which in turn allows them to function. Over a period of decades mesothelioma destroys healthy cells by assaulting them with three main avenues of attack: epithelioid, sarcomatoid, biphasic cells.
Epithelioid mesothelioma cells are the most common and relatively easiest to treat of all types of mesothelioma. This type of cell appears to be a papillary or tubular growth that usually affects the outer membranes and linings of the internal organs and other bodily surfaces. Somewhere between 50 and 70% of all mesothelioma cases belong to this category, and although this cancer is usually extremely difficult to treat, epithelioid mesothelioma is the most likely to respond to treatment.
The second type of mesothelioma is sarcomatoid mesothelioma. This type is the most serious form of the disease, as it is the least likely to respond to treatment. These spindle-shaped pattern of cells that appear to overlap each other are also fortunately the rarest type of the cancer, with approximately 10-20% of all mesothelioma cases falling into this type. Sarcomatoid mesothelioma is so dangerous because it attacks and arises from the support tissues of the body, such as bone, cartilage, fat, and muscle, and cancers in these areas are notoriously difficult and painful to treat. Patients with this form of cancer rarely live longer than six months after diagnosis.
The final condition, biphasic mesothelioma, is not an independent type of mesothelioma, but a combination of sarcomatoid and epithelioid. It is also a mixed bag of conditions in that it can take the good and bad aspects of the other two types, and almost 20-35% of all mesothelioma cases fall into either mixed or biphasic areas.
Without a doubt, mesothelioma is one of the most devastating types of cancer. Most people rarely live beyond a year after their initial diagnosis, and few victims reach five years. Mesothelioma is almost always caused by asbestos exposure, and millions of people have had contact with this deadly substance.
To learn more about Epithelioid Mesothelioma, Sarcomatoid Mesothelioma or Biphasic Mesothelioma please visit our website at www.resource4mesothelioma.com This article may be freely reprinted as long as this resource box is included and all links stay intact as hyperlinks.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Todd_Going
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Introduction to Sarcomatoid Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma is caused by excessive exposure to asbestos. People usually get exposed to asbestos by inhaling tiny fibers of it from atmosphere. Mesothelium is protective lining on internal organs of the body. On lungs it is called "pleura", on heart it is called "pericardium", and on abdominal cavity it is called "peritoneum."
When Mesothelium is exposed with asbestos, it starts dividing in uncontrolled manner and this condition is called Cancer. Since, it caused on Mesothelium tissue the cancer is called "Mesothelioma". Further, Mesothelioma is categorized into three types: Epithelial which is the most common type of all, Sarcomatoid which is the rarest one and last Biphasic which is the combination of both Epithelial and Sarcomatoid.
Introduction to Sarcomatoid Mesothelioma
This type of cancer is rarest as well as most serious form of cancer as it responds at a snail's pace to the treatment. This is called rarest form of cancer as it is found only in 10% to 20% of the patients. In this type of cancer, the cells transform as spindle-shaped pattern that overlap each other and occurs from support tissues of the body such as cartilage, bone, fat and muscle. In advanced stages, it spreads to other parts of the body from these areas such as abdominal organs, lymph nodes, lungs, or chest wall. Cancer in these areas is very painful and difficult to treat and therefore patients suffering with this disease hardly live as long as six months after diagnosis.
Diagnosis and Symptoms of Sarcomatoid Mesothelioma
Diagnosis of this disease is very difficult because its symptoms are similar to those of other respiratory diseases. It is usually diagnosed during biopsy by the extraction of affected tissue. Symptoms of this disease appear after 30 to 40 years after being exposed to asbestos. Therefore, people usually come to know about their disease during advanced stages because of which it responds poorly to the treatment. The common symptoms of Sarcomatoid Mesothelioma are pain because of fluid retention in the pleural area, spinal swelling and cough, accumulation of fluid in abdominal cavity and weight loss. Apart from these symptoms fever, anemia, and blood clotting abnormality are some most common symptoms.
Christen Scott is passionate about writing and love to write over different topics. These days she is writing about Mesothelioma.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Christen_Scott
When Mesothelium is exposed with asbestos, it starts dividing in uncontrolled manner and this condition is called Cancer. Since, it caused on Mesothelium tissue the cancer is called "Mesothelioma". Further, Mesothelioma is categorized into three types: Epithelial which is the most common type of all, Sarcomatoid which is the rarest one and last Biphasic which is the combination of both Epithelial and Sarcomatoid.
Introduction to Sarcomatoid Mesothelioma
This type of cancer is rarest as well as most serious form of cancer as it responds at a snail's pace to the treatment. This is called rarest form of cancer as it is found only in 10% to 20% of the patients. In this type of cancer, the cells transform as spindle-shaped pattern that overlap each other and occurs from support tissues of the body such as cartilage, bone, fat and muscle. In advanced stages, it spreads to other parts of the body from these areas such as abdominal organs, lymph nodes, lungs, or chest wall. Cancer in these areas is very painful and difficult to treat and therefore patients suffering with this disease hardly live as long as six months after diagnosis.
Diagnosis and Symptoms of Sarcomatoid Mesothelioma
Diagnosis of this disease is very difficult because its symptoms are similar to those of other respiratory diseases. It is usually diagnosed during biopsy by the extraction of affected tissue. Symptoms of this disease appear after 30 to 40 years after being exposed to asbestos. Therefore, people usually come to know about their disease during advanced stages because of which it responds poorly to the treatment. The common symptoms of Sarcomatoid Mesothelioma are pain because of fluid retention in the pleural area, spinal swelling and cough, accumulation of fluid in abdominal cavity and weight loss. Apart from these symptoms fever, anemia, and blood clotting abnormality are some most common symptoms.
Christen Scott is passionate about writing and love to write over different topics. These days she is writing about Mesothelioma.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Christen_Scott
About Sarcomatoid Mesothelioma - The Rarest Cancer
Mesothelioma is a form of cancer caused predominantly by excessive exposure to asbestos, the other causes as yet unknown . Mesothelium is a protective lining on the internal organs on which malignant cells form. In most cases, pleura, the outer lining of lungs and chest cavity are affected. Mesothelioma on the peritoneum (the lining of the abdominal cavity) or the pericardium (the sac surrounding the heart) is also common.
Mesothelioma is categorized broadly as: epithelial, sarcomatoid and biphasic (i.e. combination of epithelial and sarcomatoid)
Sarcomatoid mesothelioma:
Sarcomatoid mesothelioma is the rarest form of mesothelioma cancer, affecting only 10-20% of patients. In this, cells transform as spindle-shaped pattern that overlap each other and occurs from support tissues such as cartilage, muscle, bone and fat. Localized mesothelioma is when the cancer is only on the membrane surface. In advanced stages, it spreads beyond the original membrane surface to other parts of the body, such as the lymph nodes, lungs, chest wall, or abdominal organs.
Diagnosis of Sarcomatoid mesothelioma:
Sarcomatoid mesothelioma, usually diagnosed by extraction of affected tissue during biopsy, can be difficult because symptoms of mesothelioma are similar to those of other diseases. It also responds poorly to treatment, resulting in fatality within a year of diagnosis.
Symptoms of sarcomatoid mesothelioma:
Symptoms of mesothelioma can appear several decades after exposure to asbestos. The most common are pain due to fluid retention in the pleural area, cough and spinal swelling, weight loss and accumulation of fluid in abdominal cavity. Apart from these, blood clotting abnormality, anemia, and fever are common.
http://www.mesoblog.org/
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Adia_O'Hara
Mesothelioma is categorized broadly as: epithelial, sarcomatoid and biphasic (i.e. combination of epithelial and sarcomatoid)
Sarcomatoid mesothelioma:
Sarcomatoid mesothelioma is the rarest form of mesothelioma cancer, affecting only 10-20% of patients. In this, cells transform as spindle-shaped pattern that overlap each other and occurs from support tissues such as cartilage, muscle, bone and fat. Localized mesothelioma is when the cancer is only on the membrane surface. In advanced stages, it spreads beyond the original membrane surface to other parts of the body, such as the lymph nodes, lungs, chest wall, or abdominal organs.
Diagnosis of Sarcomatoid mesothelioma:
Sarcomatoid mesothelioma, usually diagnosed by extraction of affected tissue during biopsy, can be difficult because symptoms of mesothelioma are similar to those of other diseases. It also responds poorly to treatment, resulting in fatality within a year of diagnosis.
Symptoms of sarcomatoid mesothelioma:
Symptoms of mesothelioma can appear several decades after exposure to asbestos. The most common are pain due to fluid retention in the pleural area, cough and spinal swelling, weight loss and accumulation of fluid in abdominal cavity. Apart from these, blood clotting abnormality, anemia, and fever are common.
http://www.mesoblog.org/
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Adia_O'Hara
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