There are three types of mesothelioma cancer, pleural mesothelioma, peritoneal mesothelioma and pericardial mesothelioma. The most common type of mesothelioma is pleural mesothelioma, which affects your lungs. In fact approximately 75% of all patients who are diagnosed with mesothelioma are diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma.

What is pleural mesothelioma?

Pleural mesothelioma refers to a cancerous tumor which forms in the tissue which lines individuals' lungs. Common symptoms include chest pain, a shortness of breath and frequent coughing. Unfortunately whilst sufferers of plueral mesothelioma can undergo a wide array of treatments, in order to control their symptoms, such as chest pain, pleural mesothelioma is an incurable disease.

How do other types of mesothelioma affect your organs?

1. Pericardial mesothelioma

Pericardial mesothelioma is an extremely rare condition which affects the heart. In fact only 1-2% of mesothelioma suffers are diagnosed with pericardial mesothelioma. Which develops in the lining of the heart.

Common symptoms include chest pain, arrhythmia, heart murmurs and pulse variance. In most cases it can only be diagnosed as a result of an autopsy.

The most common treatment option is to undergo surgery in order to remove the lining of the heart. Although some patients choose to undergo either radiation or chemotherapy. However, like pleural mesothelioma, there is no cure for pericardial mesothelioma.

2. Peritoneal mesothelioma

Peritoneal mesothelioma forms in the lining of the abdomen and can only be developed as a result of accidentally ingesting of asbestos fibers.

Common symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma include significant weight loss, severe loss of appetite, seizures, a build up of gas and seizures. As well as a build up of fluid in the abdomen.

As I post this, the annual conference of the American Society of Clinical Oncologists (ASCO) is drawing to a close. Each year, over 30,000 cancer care specialists converge upon Chicago to learn about the latest advances in cancer treatment. It's the largest conference of its kind in the world, and with such a large audience, many researchers take the opportunity to unveil the results of their clinical trials and other research.

Dr. West and other GRACE faculty members are in attendance, and in a few weeks we will have presentations on the most important information presented at ASCO. If you tend to come straight to these forums rather than the GRACE home page, you may have missed Dr. West's list of his "Top 10 ASCO 2017 Lung Cancer Presentations" which provides an idea of what we'll be discussing soon.

JimC
Forum moderator

Hi All, I just want to ask if anyone ever tried using medical cannabis as an alternative meds? I have read many articles about medical marijuana and how it can help you in terms of chronic pain, glaucoma, eating disorder/anorexia, anxiety disorders and panic attacks, inflammation, even cancer and a lot more. Like this article about a marijuana strain SFV OG. Cbd and thc are also new to me and I don't even smoke. If this is true I cant find any solid conclusive evidence that speaks to its efficacy. Any personal experience or testimonial would be highly appreciated. Thanks

My mother was diagnosed with stage 4 NSCLC in September 2014. She is EFGR positive and T790M positive. She was first on Tarceva, then carboplatin/alimta plus tarceva, then tagrisso. Progression on tagrisso started in December 2016. She then tried one round of Keytruda because her PD-L1 expression was 60%. Due to extreme coughing and to rule out pneumonitis, a CT scan was done right before her second round of Keytruda. Scans show very large growth on existing tumors and new growths. The oncologist thought it would be better to switch to chemo to try to control the growth as soon as possible because immunotherapy tends to take weeks to months to be effective. By then, the cancer could have grown too much. So she had 2 rounds of docetaxol, which did nothing and the cancer continued to progress. Now she had 2 rounds on navelbine and CT scans show mixed results. Some tumors are slightly smaller but others have remained the same or grew a tiny bit. She will continue on navelbine until much clearer progression shows.

But what options does my mom have after? The oncologist thought it would be worth a shot to retry tagrisso because she is still T790M positive. The oncologist thinks there is a higher chance of tagrisso working than to retry any type of immunotherapy? She said that most EGFR positive patients do not have good results on immunotherapy and that my mother was a rare case who was EGFR positive and had a high PD-L1 expression.

My mom had a concerning spot on her left lung about 3 years ago. The location was possibly bordering both lobes and very close to the aortic valve, This made getting a biopsy difficult. They first tried to sweep for cells. That came back negative for cancer, but the doctor wasn't able to get close enough. Then they tried a biopsy and again weren't able to get enough tissue and that came back atypical suspicious.
Assuming it was cancer she was treated with SBRT. She recently had a follow up (its been just over 2.5 yrs from treatment) and the finding was that it had grown. Her radiation oncologist didn't necessarily agree with the findings, but sent her for a PET scan to be safe. It showed borderline activity (doctors words)
Well now they want to do a GPS guided bronchoscopy to biopsy. She went in today for her consultation and was given another more in depth CT scan. The doctor said it looked smaller from the last scan less than a month ago. (I know the whole slicing of an orange analogy), but he didn't mention that. He just said it looked smaller. As with before, the biopsy would be difficult and potentially dangerous due to location. Her doctor wants to bring her case to the tumor board, so we are waiting on that.
I know they are the doctors and they are highly trained, but is this all necessary? Would it be foolish do the wait and watch approach?

3 years ago I came to this site for answers. She was on track to have her lung removed(on an assumption) Dr West suggested SBRT which we hadn't heard about. Well, it saved my mom from getting her lung removed and I as her daughter am most grateful. Thank you!
Nicole

My father (age-67 years) was Diagnosed with Sigmoid Colon Cancer (Adenocarcinoma) in November 2016. He undergwent an operation in December 2016 for Resection of affected area, as pre-operative CT scan showed it to be a T2 N1 M0 (5cm x 5cm approx size- copy attached). CT scan did not show any other related issues/ spread in the body.
His post- operative Histopath report of the removed mass concludes it as " Moderately Differentiated Adenocarcinoma with Mucinous Component - PT2 PN0 PMX" (copy of histopath report is attached).
However, in his post operative CT Scan (done in Jan 2017), there are 2x 7mm sized pulmonary nodules, which the report concludes as "likely metastatic" (copy of report attached).. (just for information- at the time of his post operative CT Scan, he had a viral infection (flu and cough) with 101 F temperature).
The oncologist has suggested Chemotherapy, however, he has given us not very high hopes..
My family is very much worried.. what are your views and opinions about this? What do you suggest?
Regards

A reporter with the Kaiser Family Foundation is interested in doing a story on new lung cancer drugs and is reaching out to patients taking Opdivo or Keytruda. The reporter has enough Opdivo patients to speak with. If you are a Keytruda patient and are willing to speak with her, please send an email to Carlea Bauman, GRACE's Executive Director, at cbauman@cancerGRACE.org by end of business day today (1/6/17).

Thank you!
Janine
forum moderator

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Good day to all

Two weeks back my mom was diagnosed by Bronchogenic adenocarcinoma .. they thought in the beginning that it is mesothelioma as there was a malignant pleural effusion with thickening of the pleura, but the immunophenotyping showed that it is not.
She started Alimta 950 mg last week and the doctor asked for EGFR and PET scan.

My First question is is there is any problem to do PET scan while taking Alimta, as we heard from the radiologist that it should be 4 weeks away from the chemotherapy while she is receiving Alimta every 21 days..
Is this right or we can do the PET scan ??

Second Question : i attached all the reports we have till now so i want your opinion if we are moving in the right direction or no or if anything more can be done or any other drug can be added.
the doctors said that they will give 3 doses of Alimta then they will do re evaluation..

Thanks and pray for us... h e

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