Ascites Treatment

Encouraging news was just published about results of a clinical trial for a new treatment protocol for malignant pleural mesothelioma. Researchers were experimenting with creating a vaccination-type of treatment using special types of cells that trigger the immune system. The cells are treated with two additional immune system boosters: KLH and autologous tumor lysate.

Together, this combination is known as "dendritic cell-based immunotherapy." It activates T cells (white blood cells that are key to the immune system) and encourages the growth of B cells, another type of white blood cell that can produce antibodies. Dendritic simply refers to the shape of the cells:tree-like with branches.

The bottom line is that this new trial has established that this type of vaccination has the ability to fight tumor growth, which can help reduce the lung cancer effects that mesothelioma patients must endure. Such effects can include cachexia (muscle wasting, fatigue), pleurisy symptoms, and abdominal fluid retention (ascites). Treatments can help some, but researchers are constantly looking for better ways to fight. We try to bring you news of every promising development in mesothelioma treatment.

Call us if you have questions about your legal right to pursue compensation by filing mesothelioma litigation. 800.443.6353.

Ascites is the medical term for when abnormal amounts of fluid accumulate in the abdomen. It often occurs with liver disease such as cirrhosis and other chronic conditions. The main cause is inflammation brought on by some substance irritating or inflaming the smooth lining of the abdomen (peritoneum).

Ascites treatment must take into account underlying factors. It's a condition that can come on quite quickly with traumatic injury, perforated ulcer, appendicitis, or when other nearby organs become inflamed. The fluid itself may be from intestinal fluid, bile, or pancreatic juices. But long-lasting, chronic diseases are the most frequent causes.

Removing fluid from the abdomen (paracentesis) and/or an abdominal ultrasound may be needed to accurately diagnose ascites. Treatment then depends on the source of the abdominal fluid retention. Cancers that spread to (or begin in) the abdomen are frequent causes of ascites.

Ascites may also be one of the symptoms of mesothelioma, the lung cancer known to be associated with asbestos exposure. If you are receiving ascites treatment, be sure to mention any possibility of previous exposure, either through working or living around asbestos. And question your doctor closely to make certain s/he understands the connection. It's critical to get an accurate diagnosis as soon as possible so that you can receive the most appropriate help for relieving symptoms and extending your survival time.

Malignant pleural mesothelioma is a deadly, fast-moving type of lung cancer. As more and more cases of this pleural mesothelioma are occurring, doctors are constantly searching for more effective ways of dealing with it. A new protocol called cold plasma coagulation (CPC) was recently pilot tested with a small sample of patients. The technique consists of removing a part of the pleura (pleurectomy/decoritcation) and then flooding the pleura (lining of the lung), the diaphragm, and the pericardium with heated chemotherapy agents.

The hope in treating these three areas is to minimize unwanted side effects on the heart and prevent malignant cancer cells from spreading into the abdomen (pericardium) or other areas of the body. After one year of followup, results were encouraging enough so that researchers recommend additional larger studies.

Chemotherapy (often carboplatin) side effects and the risks of procedures such as pleurodesis surgery (to prevent fluid buildup in the pleural space) and ascites treatment (for fluid in the abdomen)are real. Yet many patients are willing to undergo testing that offers hope of improving treatment options. Too many cases are not diagnosed until later stages of the disease when treatment tends to be less successful. Patients can be encouraged to know that doctors are dedicating so much energy to finding ways to diagnose the disease earlier and extend patients' lives.

Mesothelioma is a rare but aggressive form of lung cancer that develops in people who've been exposed to asbestos at some time in their lives. The symptoms are not always the same and may be very much like symptoms of other conditions. Thrombophlebitis, which refers to a blod clot forming somewhere in your blood vessels, is one example.

When you have thrombophlebitis in a vein close to your skin, you may notice your skin becomes hardened and/or turns red and gets warm. If the clot is deeper in your body, you may experience swelling, tenderness and pain on standing or walking.

Thrombophlebitis can be due to a number of conditions including injury or inherited blood clotting disorder and, sometimes, prolonged sitting, inactivity, or bed rest may increase your risk. Because many mesothelioma cancer patients have trouble breathing they tend to be less active. Also many patients must undergo various types of procedures such as pleurodesis surgery (to prevent fluid buildup) or ascites treatment (to prevent fluid accumulation in the abdomen). Many types of surgeries require long periods of forced bed rest that can contribute to the risk of thrombophlebitis, especially if the patient has other risk factors such as inherited disease, a history of smoking, or a pacemaker.

If you have a red, swollen or tender vein, see a doctor. If this is severe or happens along with a high fever or shortness of breath, get to an emergency room. These symptoms could be signs of deep vein thrombosis--a condition that can lead to a clot coming loose and traveling to your lungs.

 And if you have mesothelioma, consider contacting a mesothelioma asbestos law firm for help deciding if you may be able to recover compensation for your suffering. Call us--at no charge--for information and advice. 800.443.6353. We are here to help.

Pemetrexed, a drug that's become common as part of chemotherapy treatments for mesothelioma and other forms of lung cancer, has been shown to help slow the progress of the disease. Mesothelioma is a ravaging form of lung cancer that's connected with asbestos exposure, may take decades to develop, and is often not diagnosed until late stages.

The drug--trade name Alimta(R)--is occasionally spelled as "pemextred." Either way, even though it's hard to spell and pronounce, it is one useful weapon--usually in combination with another drug such as cisplatin--against the relentless pace of mesothelioma. It is sometimes used also with carboplatin. Side effects are not uncommon with chemotherapy of all types, so get some reassurance from your doctor if you experience anything unusual while taking these drugs.

If you or someone you know think you may have been exposed to asbestos--on the job, living with someone who worked with the material, or living in a region where it has been mined--watch your health carefully. If you begin suffering from pleurisy-like symptoms such as sharp chest pain on breathing or persistent coughing, or you've been referred for pleurodesis surgery or ascites treatment or other lung or abdominal fluid retention, make absolutely certain that your doctor is familiar with the connection between asbestos and mesothelioma. It's not easy to tell the difference between many different diseases--it takes an expert to diagnose mesothelioma. And time is of the essence. Survival times can be extended with proper treatment, which may include pemetrexed.