> Surgery as Treatment Option for Lung Cancer - Risks of Lung Cancer Surgery, Questions to Ask your Doctor, Surgery Pictures
(October 9th, 2009)

> Researchers Seek Clinical Trial Patients for New Mesothelioma Drug: Gefitinib
(September 25th, 2009)

> Secondary Cancer in the Lymph Nodes - Role of Lymph Nodes in the Body & the Lymphatic System
(September 18th, 2009)

> Talcum Powder Slows Down Growth of Lung Cancer Tumors
(September 15th, 2009)

> Carbon Nanotubes that Look and Behave like Asbestos could cause Pleural Mesothelioma
(September 11th, 2009)

> Chest X-Rays Can Detect Early Lung Cancer, but also Alert many False-Positive Results
(September 7th, 2009)

> Peritoneal Mesothelioma – Cancer of the Peritoneum or Linings of the Abdomen - Symptoms of Peritoneal Lung Cancer, Role of Asbestos & Treatment Options
(August 31st, 2009)

> History and Advent of Cancer Treating Chemotherapy – Nitrogen Mustard as Anti-Cancer drug, Invention of Red Clover to treat Respiratory & Malignant Lung Cancers
(August 30th, 2009)

> Intra-peritoneal Therapy – Delivery of Chemotherapy Drugs in to Abdominal Cavity, Port and Catheter
(August 30th, 2009)

> Chemical Pleurodesis for Malignant Pleural Effusions or Fluids in Lungs
(August 26th, 2009)

> Evaluation of Pleural Thickening and its Effects on Development of Malignant Lung Cancer
(August 23rd, 2009)

> Chest X-Ray – Uses of Chest X-Rays, How to Prepare for X-Ray Session, Performance, Risks & Results, and Normal versus Abnormal Results
(August 15th, 2009)

> Multi-cystic Mesothelioma of the Peritoneum - Examinaton of the Pelvis, Abdominal Mass using Ultrasound, Process of Hysterectomy by a Gynecologist
(August 5th, 2009)

* > Mesothelioma Lung Cancer & Effects on Army, Navy & Marine Veterans - Asbestos Exposure in Battleships, Aircraft Carriers, Submarines and Navy Ships
(May 18th, 2009)

* Ruth Phillips - 10 Year Mesothelioma Survivor Living Large - Discussion of Immuno-Augmentive Therapy & Other Cancer Treatments
(May 5th, 2009)

* Prevention of Lung Cancer when You are at Risk, or when You Already Have Lung Cancer
(April 27th, 2009)

* Research Suggests Vitamin D Plays a Large Role in Preventing and Fighting Lung Cancer
(April 21st, 2009)

* What Types of Lung Cancer Exist? Differences between Small Cell & Non Small-Cell Lung Cancer
(April 15th, 2009)

* Steve Lee, 63, from Reading UK, Completes Half Marathon with Asbestos Lung Cancer
(April 8th, 2009)

* Basic & Advanced Symptoms of Mesothelioma & Common Misconceptions
(March 28th, 2009)

* Choosing Your Mesothelioma Doctor - Medical & Radiation Oncologists, Laparoscopic Surgeons
(February 4th, 2009)

* Study Suggests Computed Tomography (CT) Scans Increase Risk for Cancer Development - Mesothelioma News
(November 30th, 2008)

* Diagnosing Mesothelioma & Pathological Testing
(February 6th, 2009)

* Eat Fruits & Vegetables - Prevent Cancer and Stay Healthy
(January 12th, 2009)

* Gardening & Good Diet Leads to Less Lung Cancer Risk
(January 7th, 2008)

* PhotoDynamic Therapy - Types of Mesothelioma Treatments
(March 18th, 2008)

* Surviving Lung Cancer - Thoracic Surgeons Roll Out New Tumor Removal Procedure
(January 20th, 2009)

* Timing of Mesothelioma Cancer Treatment Options - Surgery, Chemotherapy & Radiation Therapy
(February 5th, 2008)

-> Mesothelioma is rarely developed by young people, and it has no relation with smoking, despite of rumours about this. Infact, Mesothelioma can take over 40 years to develop, before full diagnosis is realized!

-> There are about 200 - 500 cases of peritoneal mesothelioma each year, making it a very rare disease. Furthermore, peritoneal mesothelioma measures at about 20 - 30% of all mesothelioma cases in any given year. Approximately 54.7% of all the diagnoses are males and the rest are females. The median age when peritoneal mesothelioma develops is 65 - 69 years.

-> Fluid accumulated in the abdomen (also known as Ascites) is detected and removed through Paracentesis (a procedure that drains fluid from the abdomen of the body by the use of needles).

(View Archives)
 

Choosing Your Mesothelioma Doctor - Medical & Radiation Oncologists, Laparoscopic Surgeons

(February 4th, 2009)

Finding a good mesothelioma doctor who specializes in various treatments available (chemotherapy, surgery or radiation therapy) is a tough task itself. Your local hospital may offer 'standard' care options, but if your mesothelioma tumor is high and you are looking into surgical options, it is crucial to find the right doctor who specializes in that particular type of surgery. It is important to find a doctor who has the right tools, surgical knowledge and is up to date on latest industry protocols, tools & developments. To summmarize this point, you have to find a specialized mesothelioma physician who can do complex lung cancer surgeries.

Your family doctor may be able to refer you to a specialized physician. It is necessary for you to seek second opinions, meaning going to a specialized physician after hearing treatment options available from your primary (family doctor). Since you are the one that will receive the surgery, you have to make sure you use every option available to seek the best advice, the best doctors and the best tools available for surgery. A surgical specialist is a doctor who specializes in conducting complex surgeries on the body. The specialist is has the right to practice medicine, has a high level of education, and has passed an examination doctored by a specialty board.

For example, here are the types of doctors that specialize in surgical mesothelioma treatments.

i) General surgeons perform specialized surgeries on any area of the body. Relating to mesothelioma treatments, an example of a general surgeon is a thoracic surgeon. A thoracic surgeon specializes in doing surgeries around the chest/lungs of the body.

ii) Medical Oncologists specialize in internal medicine. They design chemotherapy plans for their patients and treat cancer in many unique ways.

iii) Radiation Oncologists specialize in radiology or Radiation therapy (Radiation Therapy (radiotherapy) uses a high-dose of radiation signals (ionizing radiation) to kill or destroy cancerous tumors within the lungs. Radiotherapy injures the tumors in such a way that they will not be able to grow and divide, as well as not be able to enter the bloodstream and flow to other parts of the body.)

iv) Laparoscopic Surgeons specialize in doing surgeries around the abdomen of the body. Under this procedure, the doctor will insert his way into the abdominal cavity of the body and obtain some body tissues for examination. If this procedure does not extract enough tissues, a more comprehensive and complicated diagnostic surgery may need to be performed.

Here are some guidelines & tips to follow when choosing your mesothelioma doctor.

i) Does the doctor have the training & education to meet my surgical or treatment needs? Does he/she have the necessary experience to treat my mesothelioma tumor? What are the past operations that the doctor has done, and success rates?

ii) How many cases of mesothelioma lung cancer has the doctor treated in the past several years? In their careers?

iii) Has the doctor explained to you all your treatment options including radiotherapy, chemotherapy or surgery?

iv) Does the doctor really care about you and shows you respect? Does he/she answer all your questions?

v) Does the doctor encourage you to ask questions and is eager to answer them? Or does he/she shun you away?

If you will be having a mesothelioma surgery, ask the following questions about your Surgeon.

i) Is the surgeon board certified?

ii) Does the surgeon belong to a medical specialty board such as the American College of Surgeons?

iii) How many cases of surgeries has the surgeon performed in the past year? In his/her career?

iv) Has the surgeon explained to you all the surgical procedures including risk factors, side effects, success rates, removal of fluids in the lungs, etc?

 

 

 

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