Health for Veterans

Desmoplastic Mesothelioma is a uncommon type of Mesothelioma where the disease generates thick connective tissue in the lungs and also other areas of the body. The primary difference between more common Mesothelioma and desmoplastic Mesothelioma relates to the characteristics of the tumors caused by the disease. Desmoplastic Mesothelioma tumors are alot more fibrous than common Mesotheliomas; patients diagnosed with desmoplastic Typically Mesothelioma tumors wil show 50% or more fibrous tissue in the tumor(s)/

This particular kind of cancer can be hard to diagnose in the patient, often because metastases can move the tumors into the abdominal area. Because the abdominal area is primarily made up off internal organs and fatty tissue it can make the fibrous tumors hard to identify and diagnose as malignant.

Desmoplastic Mesothelioma patients, in general, were exposed to asbestos in their home or job. The symptoms are very much alike those experienced by people that have other lung related diseases. In Desmoplastic Mesothelioma the outside covering of the lungs (pleura) are affected by the asbestos exposure. The fibrous tumors produced by the disease attach to the pleura and, if diagnosed as malignant, grow and spread to other parts of the body. The nature of this particular form of Mesothelioma can cause serious chest pain in the patients and can cause a build up of fluid in the lungs. Desmoplastic Mesothelioma pain can be very severe and can cause the hospitalization of the patient.

With the high mortality rate of Desmoplastic Mesothelioma, suits against former employers are generally initiated by family members. As mentioned it can be very hard to initially diagnose, making it difficult to determine an exact cause of the disease prior to the patient’s death. Biopsies performed in areas of the body on fibrous tissue often come back benign and can remain untreated.

The only treatments found to be effectively at prolonging the patient’s life for any length of time are chemotherapy, radiation and nutritional therapy. These are standard Mesothelioma treatments dictated by most oncologists.

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Health by Steve D Lobston