Epithelioid Mesothelioma

Causes and Treatment Options for Epithelioid Mesothelioma

A person can be diagnosed with one of three types of mesothelioma cancer such as epithelioid, sarcomatoid, and mixed biphasic. Of the three, epithelioid mesothelioma is the most common cell type, and accounts for 50 to 70 percent of all cases. Epithelioid affects the covering that surrounds internal organs and internal surfaces in the body, so people diagnosed with this form of cancer also have the best possibility of survival. The overall survival rate for mesothelioma is relatively low, despite the progress that has been made with various treatment options. The average survival rate after diagnosis is approximately one year, but with aggressive treatment the survival rate can increase by two years. Unfortunately, more than 95 percent of diagnosed mesothelioma cases are the result of exposure to asbestos.

There are various causes of epithelioid mesothelioma, and the most common is asbestos exposure, which results in the membrane lining of the chest cavity, lungs, heart and abdominal cavity being exposed to carcinogens. A person may experience a number of symptoms including chest pain, fluid buildup, and difficulty breathing. Patients may also have a cough, experience weakness, and weight loss, but it can take 40 to 50 years after the initial exposure to asbestos before any of these symptoms occur.

Before treatment can begin, an accurate diagnosis must occur but early diagnosis is difficult because of the latency of the symptoms. Sometimes, epithelioid is misdiagnosed as another type of cancer because the cells are similar to other cancers, so it is important for the doctors to inspect the cancer cells under high powered microscopes. These high powered instruments can help to identify the unique characteristics of the chemical properties found in these cells. The sooner an accurate diagnosis is made, the sooner treatment can begin and hopefully extend a person’s survival period.

Previous treatment options for epithelioid mesothelioma have been surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy, but these treatments are usually unsuccessful in limiting the spread of the cancer. However, these traditional treatments are often used in combination with one another to provide the most thorough and effective care for this horrible disease. Researchers are optimistic that newer treatments will be successful where the traditional methods have failed. These treatments include immunotherapy, gene therapy, intensity modulated radiation therapy or IMRT, as well as, the development of new chemotherapy agents.