| India is the preferred destination for the Cost effective | | | | asbestos. In rare cases, Malignant mesothelioma has |
| treatment of Malignant mesothelioma of pleura. An | | | | also been associated with irradiation, intrapleural thorium |
| integrated world-class healthcare system, leveraging | | | | dioxide, and inhalation of other fibrous silicates, such |
| best medical practices backed by cutting-edge | | | | as erionite. Some studies suggest that |
| technology, specialized clinics, comprehensive services, | | | | simian virus 40 (SV40) may act as a cofactor in |
| internationally renowned private hospitals offering | | | | the development of Malignant mesothelioma. |
| utmost level of integrated healthcare to international | | | | |
| patients. The medical tourism industry in India is | | | | Treatment of Malignant Mesothelioma: |
| growing at double-digit growth rate, outstripping the 4% | | | | Malignant mesothelioma is usually incurable at |
| to 6% growth in general travel bookings. For many | | | | presentation. Treatment is therefore aimed at |
| medical tourists, though, the real attraction is price. The | | | | controlling symptoms and prolonging survival, rather |
| cost of treatment of Malignant mesothelioma of pleura | | | | than trying to remove the tumor. |
| in India, is not only affordable but the quality of the | | | | |
| treatment is also at par. | | | | Surgery: |
| What isMalignant mesothelioma of Pleura? | | | | It is very rarely possible to surgically remove a |
| Malignant mesothelioma of the pleura is | | | | Malignant mesothelioma, because the tumor spreads |
| a cancer which arises from the mesothelial cells | | | | widely throughout the pleura and invades nearby |
| found within the pleural membranes that cover | | | | organs. Instead, palliative surgery may occasionally |
| the lungs. There are two pleurae: the visceral pleura, | | | | be used to try to control symptoms, particularly pleural |
| which cover the actual lung itself; and the parietal | | | | effusion. |
| pleura, which cover the inside of the chest wall. The | | | | |
| purpose of the pleura is to provide a smooth surface | | | | Radiotherapy: |
| so that, as the chest expands, the lungs expand | | | | It is difficult to treat Malignant mesothelioma with |
| smoothly within the chest cavity. The pleural | | | | radiotherapy because the tumor involves such a large |
| membranes normally secrete a small amount of fluid | | | | area of the chest wall. However, there are two |
| for lubrication. This allows the visceral pleura (lining the | | | | situations in which radiotherapy may be used. |
| lungs) to glide over the parietal pleura (lining the inside | | | | Radiotherapy may be used to treat sites where |
| of the chest cavity). Malignant mesothelioma develops | | | | biopsies have been taken or chest drains inserted. |
| from the mesothelial cells of the pleura. | | | | These areas, where a tube has been passed through |
| | | | | the chest wall into the pleural space, often become |
| Who gets Malignant Mesothelioma of the Pleura? | | | | 'seeded' with the mesothelioma tumor. This then |
| Malignant mesothelioma is relatively uncommon | | | | presents as a growing lump a number of months later. |
| compared to other tumours. Australia has the highest | | | | If radiotherapy to the area is given soon after |
| incidence of mesothelioma in the world, at 40 cases | | | | diagnosis, any tumor cells which have 'seeded' the |
| per million people. Other industrialised countries, which | | | | area can be destroyed. |
| have mined and used asbestos, such as the United | | | | Radiotherapy may also be used to treat pain in the |
| States, England, Canada and South Africa, have similar | | | | chest wall due to spread of the tumor. |
| but slightly lower rates of disease. The incidence of | | | | |
| Malignant mesothelioma increases with age, with most | | | | Chemotherapy: |
| patients presenting between 50 and 80 years of age. | | | | Until recently, chemotherapy was not thought to be |
| This is because there is a latency period of as long as | | | | useful in treating malignant mesothelioma. However, |
| 50 years between exposure to asbestos and | | | | recent studies have shown that treatment with the |
| development of Malignant mesothelioma. Malignant | | | | drugs cisplatin and pemetrexed (Alimta) may reduce |
| mesothelioma is far more common in men than in | | | | tumour size, increase patient survival by several |
| women, at a ratio of 4:1. | | | | months, and improve quality of life. |
| | | | | |
| Symptoms of Malignant Mesothelioma: | | | | Recovery after Treatment of Malignant Mesothelioma: |
| In severe cases, the person may have | | | | Recovery will begin after the very first procedure but |
| many tumor masses. The individual may develop | | | | may be staggered over several cycles since |
| a pneumothorax, or collapse of the lung. The disease | | | | multimodality treatment for mesothelioma is now |
| may metastasize, or spread, to other parts of the | | | | becoming the standard. |
| body. | | | | Since diagnostic procedures for Malignant |
| Tumors that affect the abdominal cavity often do not | | | | mesothelioma tend to be highly invasive, it may also be |
| cause symptoms until they are at a late stage. | | | | necessary to undergo a period of recovery from |
| Symptoms include: | | | | operations like a thoracoscopy or laparoscopy. |
| - Abdominal pain | | | | These procedures involve substantial surgery and a |
| - Ascites, or an abnormal buildup of fluid in the | | | | thoracoscopy may also |
| abdomen | | | | involve palliative interventions like pleurodesis to |
| - A mass in the abdomen | | | | reduce fluid production in the chest, some protocols |
| - Problems with bowel function | | | | involve the administration of chemotherapy before |
| - Weight loss | | | | surgery and some after. Chemotherapy is usually |
| In severe cases of the disease, the following signs and | | | | debilitating to some degree and may include a number |
| symptoms may be present: | | | | of serious side-effects that could require the patient to |
| - Blood clots in the veins, which may | | | | rest and recover before further treatments for |
| cause thrombophlebitis | | | | Malignant mesothelioma are resumed. |
| - Disseminated intravascular coagulation, a disorder | | | | |
| causing severe bleeding in many body organs | | | | Important Links: |
| - Jaundice, or yellowing of the eyes and skin | | | | Visit Website: |
| - Low blood sugar level | | | | 1. Forerunners Health Care |
| - Pleural effusion | | | | 2. Send Queries |
| - Pulmonary emboli, or blood clots in the arteries of the | | | | 3. Watch Internationa Patient Video |
| lungs | | | | |
| - Severe ascites | | | | Why India? |
| | | | | Malignant mesothelioma of pleura treatment is done at |
| Risk factors: | | | | a cost which is much lower than they charge in U.S or |
| Working with asbestos is the major risk factor for | | | | U.K. Research foresees India to emerge as one of the |
| Malignant mesothelioma. In the United States, | | | | fastest growing medical tourism industry, accounting |
| asbestos is the major cause of Malignant | | | | for around 25% of the region's industry by 2012. The |
| mesothelioma. Indeed, the relationship between | | | | medical tourism industry has emerged as the fastest |
| asbestos and mesothelioma is so strong that many | | | | growing segment of the Asian tourism industry despite |
| consider mesothelioma a "signal" or "sentinel" tumor. A | | | | the global economic downturn. High cost of treatments |
| history of asbestos exposure exists in most cases. | | | | in developed countries, particularly in the USA and the |
| However, Malignant mesothelioma has been reported | | | | UK, have been continually attracting patients from such |
| in some individuals without any known exposure to | | | | regions towards alternative cost-effective destinations. |