Mesothelioma
Saturday, March 31st, 2007.
Hawaii Medical Journal. 2007 Feb;66(2):48-50. [Link]
Carbone M, Strianese O, Theos K, Yang H.
Thoracic Oncology Program, Cancer Research Center of Hawai’i, USA.
Abstract
Mesothelioma is one of the most aggressive human malignancies. In this article the research team of Dr. Michele Carbone reviewed the most significant scientific and medical advances in understanding the pathogenesis of mesothelioma and some novel preventive and therapeutic approaches that are being developed. The public health and litigation issues, together with the economics surrounding mesothelioma research and therapy are also discussed.
Glossary
- therapy
- any of the measures taken to treat a disease. Unproven therapy is any therapy that has not been scientifically tested and approved. Use of an unproven therapy instead of standard (proven) therapy is called alternative therapy. Some alternative therapies have dangerous or even life-threatening side effects. For others, the main danger is that a patient may lose the opportunity to benefit from standard therapy. Complementary therapy, on the other hand, refers to therapies used in addition to standard therapy. Some complementary therapies may help relieve certain symptoms of cancer, relieve side effects of standard cancer therapy, or improve a patient's sense of well-being. The ACS recommends that patients considering use of any alternative or complementary therapy discuss this with their health care team.
- oncology
- (on-call-o-jee) the branch of medicine concerned with the diagnosis and treatment of cancer.
- cancer
- malignancy; a group of diseases typified by abnormal, generally out-of-control, cell growth.
- mesothelioma
- a tumor derived from mesothelial tissue, such as the peritoneum (lining the abdomen) or pleura (lining the lungs). More on mesothelioma.
