From Dr. Cameron

- Malignant Mesothelioma -

 

   
What is mesothelioma?

Malignant mesothelioma is a disease in which malignant (cancer) cells are found in the pleura (the thin layer of tissue that lines the chest cavity and covers the lungs) or the peritoneum (the thin layer of tissue that lines the abdomen and covers most of the organs in the abdomen). This summary is about malignant mesothelioma of the pleura.

 
   
Dr. Cameron discusses "what to do" after being diagnosed with mesothelioma. Click here
Dr. Cameron discusses the different types of mesothelioma? Click here.
   
What are the
symptoms?

Common symptoms of mesothelioma include fluid collecting around the lung or in the abdomen, shortness of breath, labored breathing (dyspnea), chest pain, and reduced lung capacity. These symptoms are seen in 90% of cases of mesothelioma. Other symptoms include cough, fever, fatigue and weight loss.

 
   
Dr. Cameron discusses what type of doctor you should contact to discuss surgical options for the treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma? Click here.
Dr. Cameron discusses what makes mesothelioma so different from other cancers? Click here.
   

 

Surgery

When trying to decide whether or not to undergo a surgical procedure, it is important to know the staging of the tumor. However, other factors in addition to the tumor’s stage can provide prognostic information about the outcome of the surgery. And although tumor staging can be a significant prognostic factor for surgery, it is a much less important predictive factor for nonsurgical treatments.
   
Dr. Cameron discusses surgical approaches to surgery. Click here.
Dr. Cameron discusses the goal of mesothelioma surgery. Click here.
Dr. Cameron discusses why mesothelioma should be treated as a chronic disease. Click here

 
Pleurectomy/ Decortication:

A pleurectomy / decortication is a procedure that removes the involved pleura and frees the underlying lung so that it can expand and fill the pleural cavity.

 
Extra-pleural Pneumonectomy:

An extra-pleural pneumonectomy is a surgical procedure that involves the removal of the lung along with its coverings and the associated coverings of the heart, diaphragm and pericardium.

 
   

Dr. Cameron describes the benefit of Pleurectomy/Decortication (PD) surgery over Extra-Pleural

Pneumonectomy (EPP) surgery. Click here.

From Dr. Cameron - Are you a candidate for surgery? Click here.

 
 

 

 

 

Additional Videos

I’ve been diagnosed with malignant pleural mesothelioma.  What should I do first?


What is  “multi-modality” treatment?

 

What type of Doctor should I contact to discuss surgical options for the treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma?

 

Am I a candidate for mesothelioma surgery?

 

What makes mesothelioma so different from other cancers?

 

What is the goal of mesothelioma surgery?

 

Surgical approaches to mesothelioma

 

The different types of mesothelioma

 

Treating mesothelioma as a chronic disease