Physicians Treating Mesothelioma Patients With Cholesterol Drug
Details of Lovastatin and its Cancer-Killing Potential
Researchers have given little notice to Lovastatin as a treatment for mesothelioma cancer even though a stage-four melanoma patient had received treatments of Lovastatin in 2000 and currently remains cancer-free, nearly nine years later. While researchers are unsure that they can find the same success of the melanoma patient, the use of Lovastatin may potentially reduce or slow the cancerous production of mesothelioma cells, which can kill an individual within as little as one year after symptoms appear.
A study published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine found that the cholesterol drug induces apoptosis on mesothelioma cells. Apoptosis is also described as ìprogrammed cell death, according to the Reproductive and Cardiovascular Disease Research Group. Apoptosis occurs when a stimuli is introduced to a variety of cells in which the cells begin to commit ìcell suicideî. The study looked at the ìmorophologic changes, histologic evidence of nuclear condensation and degeneration, and flow-cytometric analysis of DNA contentî of the mesothelioma cancer cells treated with Lovastatin and determined it a potentially sufficient treatment for mesothelioma.
What is Lovastatin?
Lovastatin is part of a group of drugs known as HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (statins). The drugs decrease the production of bad cholesterol within the body. It is often prescribed to patients as an oral pill that is taken in low-doses — once every four weeks. Lovastatin does have reported side effects, which have not been fully studied on mesothelioma patients, however, according to the National Library of Medicine (NLM) the side effects include:
* hives, rashes and itching
* loss of appetite
* flu-like symptoms
* nausea as well as pain in upper right part of stomach
* extreme tiredness
* yellowing of skin and eyes
* lack of energy
* difficulty breathing and swallowing
* swelling of face, throat, tongue, lips, eyes, hands, feet, ankles and
* lower legs/calf muscles
* muscle pain, tenderness or weakness
* fever
* unusual bleeding or bruising
* hoarseness
* constipation
What to do If Diagnosed With Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma cancer has become increasingly prevalent in the United States and around the world. Individuals who were exposed to a mineral known as vermiculite containing deadly asbestos may have had the condition for 20 or more years without any signs of the cancer within their bodies.
Once researchers began discovering the link between asbestos exposure and mesothelioma, asbestos was banned in the United States and around the world. Unfortunately, asbestos is still used in many industries today and was so prevalent from the 1920s to the 1980s that millions of homes are contaminated with asbestos as well as hospitals, elementary schools and offices.
Those who have suffered from mesothelioma cancer or feel they may have been a victim of asbestos exposure have the ability to consult a legal professional for a potential mesothelioma lawsuit. Developing a mesothelioma lawsuit might assist a victim in paying for medical bills if they receive a monetary return on their damages incurred. Consulting a mesothelioma attorney is often a free legal service and may add peace of mind for mesothelioma victims, their families and friends.
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To better understand what a mesothelioma diagnosis means, visit http://mesothelioma.legalview.com/ . LegalView also offers a variety of other information portals such as that of the Ketek side effects or learning how to develop a truck accident lawsuit after an incident has occurred.
10 Options in Treating Mesothelioma
As with any cancer, treatment for Mesothelioma depends on the location of the cancer, the progression of the disease, the age as well as state of health of the patient.
It is the oncologist who specializes in the disease who will decide on the line of treatment. The disease is difficult to treat and in most cases the prognosis is poor. Treatment options include:
1. If the diagnosis is done in the early stages surgery may be recommended to remove all cancerous tissues. This means thoracoscopy, VATS or video assisted thoracic surgery, mediastinoscopy (used for staging), or laproscopy. Often, doctors will advise palliative procedures like chest tube drainage and pleurodesis, thoracoscopy and pleurodesis, pleuroperitonial shunt, or pleurectomy, which treat the symptoms of mesothelioma rather than the disease.
2. Radiation is prescribed aggressively for mesothelioma patients and is often given in combination with surgery or in order to control symptoms, palliatively. Research on using radiation therapy using implants or UV light therapy is in progress as traditional radiation therapy damages surrounding healthy tissue.
3. Chemotherapy is an option and around 12-20% of patients respond to the drugs. Anti-cancer drugs destroy cancer cells and prevent their spread. In mesothelioma, chemotherapy is not considered to be curative. The aim is to prevent spread of the disease; shrink the tumor prior to surgery, known as neoadjuvant therapy; to annihilate any remains of the tumor in the body post surgery; and to relieve pain and other discomfort, palliative chemotherapy. Experts recommend prescribing premetrexed along with cisplastin. These drugs have shown positive results and this is now standard care for Mesothelioma not treatable by surgery.
4. Biological therapy using interleukin 2.
5. Immunotherapy where the body’s own immune system is stimulated to fight the disease. Biological response modifiers, BRMs, are used in treatment. These enhance the functions of the immune system; regulate metabolic reactions that promote growth of cancers; alter cancer cell division; block or reverse processes that lead to formation of cancers; and prevent spread of cancer.
6. Gene therapy, where attempts are made to correct the gene sequence that causes the cancer. This is of two kinds, replacement gene therapy and knockout gene therapy.
7. Administration of lovastatin, a cholesterol lowering drug.
8. Photodynamic treatment where a photosensitive medication is activated using a laser. This is done during the surgical removal of cancerous tissues.
9. Draining of fluid in the chest or abdominal cavity followed by introduction of medications into the cavity to prevent fluid accumulation is done for patients who have uncontrolled fluid accumulation and intense discomfort stemming from it.
10. Combination therapy or Trimodal therapy which means surgery accompanied by radiation and chemotherapy.
Often, complementary medicines are also used. Termed to be holistic this kind of treatment focuses on a patient’s physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well being.
In the case of Mesothelioma which is untreatable one can opt for clinical trials of new treatments that are in progress in several research laboratories and centers. The best advice on the line of treatment would be that recommended by the oncologist or physician.
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Treating Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma is a cancerous disease that affects the serous linings of various internal organs in the human body. Among them, the lungs, heart and the stomach are widely affected.
It is estimated that each year 2,000 new cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed. The patients suffering from this cancerous disease have prior exposure to asbestos, which is considered to be the only known cause of mesothelioma. Mesotheliomic patients are often told of their short survival duration of 6 – 12 months, but doctors specialized in treating malignant mesothelioma at leading cancer centers expect more. Though mesothelioma causes immense pain and suffering to the victim, along with short life expectancy, certain treatments have resulted in the successful reduction and removal of the cancerous tumors of mesothelioma.
In this article, we will elaborate on the significant treatments available to patients suffering from the asbestos- related cancer (mesothelioma). Please be advised that only a professional doctor specializing in cancer can diagnose mesothelioma. It is recommended for patients suffering from the symptoms of mesothelioma, to consult a cancer specialist for a possible treatment. After examining medical reports and asbestos-exposure history, the doctor can announce the preliminary diagnosis. The doctor can also conduct a needle biopsy to finalize the diagnosis of malignant mesothelioma. For more relevant and latest Mesothelioma Information and diagnosing mesothelioma, check out www.mesoblog.org. Additionally, it is noteworthy that the treatment of mesothelioma depends on many factors, including the stage of the cancer, the circulation of the malignant cells, pathology reports determining the nature of the cancer cells and patient’s age and health.
Following are the mesothelioma treatment options available to the patients for treating the cancer:
•Surgery
•Chemotherapy
•Radiation or Radiotherapy
•Immunotherapy
•Clinical Trails
•Complementary Therapy
*Nutrition
*Fitness and Exercise
*Meditation and Stress Reduction
Treating mesothelioma is not an easy task. It requires immense pain endurance and patience. Nonetheless, with proper treatment and medications, along with the love and support from the family members and friends, mesothelioma can be controlled.
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