Stage 4 Mesothelioma
Patients with an advanced case of Stage 4 Mesothelioma generally have a poor prognosis due to the cancer spreading to other parts of the body, Mesothelioma Stage 4. Described as "distant metastasis" in staging systems, mesothelioma typically will spread throughout the abdomen and sometimes into the heart sac. Because of the poor prognosis, patients with Stage 4 Mesothelioma have an average life span of six and a half months.
Stage 4 Mesothelioma
Late Stage 4 Mesothelioma patients usually experience abdominal pain as the result of the cancer spreading to the diaphragmatic muscle and lower abdomen. The tumors will also extend through the chest wall, sometimes causing visible difference in the body. At this Stage 4 Mesothelioma, the tumor has invaded the lymphatic system and progressed to the lymph nodes throughout the body.
Symptoms of Stage 4 Mesothelioma
Due to Stage 4 Mesothelioma typically metastasizing to other parts of the body, patients will experience a number of different symptoms. In some cases, the tumors will spread to the pericardium and cause a buildup of fluid in the sac surrounding the heart, called a cardiac tamponade. Patients will usually have severe chest pain and difficulty breathing as a result.
Mesothelioma Stage 4
In some patients, tumors will spread to the esophagus and stomach, leading to a loss in appetite and difficulty swallowing. The difficulty swallowing, called dysphagia, prevents patients from easily passing liquids or solids, Mesothelioma Stage 4. The spread of tumors can also lead to a hoarseness of voice, due to the pressure that tumors cause on the lungs and other mediastinal structures.
Treating Stage 4 Mesothelioma
Because of the advanced nature of late-Stage 4 Mesothelioma, treatment tends to be of the palliative nature rather than curative, Mesothelioma Stage 4. Treatments to drain fluid from the pleural cavity such as thoracentesis or paracentesis are used to relieve symptoms. Typically, patients are not eligible to undergo curative surgery, as their body is not physically able to withstand the strain of surgery and removal of all the tumors is not feasible.
In pleural mesothelioma cases, some doctors will utilize a mix of palliative radiation therapy and surgical resection to relieve pressure on the lungs, Mesothelioma Stage 4. Chemotherapy can also be used in conjunction with radiation therapy to shrink tumors and provide relief to breathing functions.
Mesothelioma Stage 4
Doctors will typically prescribe a number of pain medications as a form of palliative care. Opioid medications can be used to relieve pressure and pain in the chest as a result of fluid buildup. Bronchodilators are sometimes prescribed when patients have breathlessness or dyspnea in order to promote better airflow to the lungs, Stage 4 Mesothelioma. Medications for breakthrough pain will also be prescribed by physicians. This may be in the form of opioids such as morphine or oxycodone.
Mesothelioma End Stage
Approximately 30 percent of patients who are diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma have Stage 4 Mesothelioma cancer. Because there is no known cure, patients and their families are typically faced with difficult decisions.
There are a variety of support groups and health care professionals available to not only patients, but their family members who are assisting in their treatment as well, Stage 4 Mesothelioma. In-person and online support groups are available through the local medical center where the patient is receiving treatment, Mesothelioma Stage 4. The potential side effects from many treatments can be debilitating and pain management is an essential part of late Stage 4 Mesothelioma care.
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