June 1997, Paul Kraus was diagnosed with mesothelioma and given only a few months to live. He and his family were stunned by the shocking diagnosis, but they were not ready to give up. They researched different therapies for this cancer and learned about chemotherapy, surgery, radiation and various complementary and alternative treatments. From this knowledge, Mr. Kraus worked with his doctors to create his own regimen to heal his mesothelioma and twelve years later he is alive and enjoys a good quality of life. In his book Surviving Mesothelioma and Other Cancers: A Patient's Guide, Mr. Kraus offers practical advice on what he did to beat the odds so that others can too. Today, "Surviving Mesothelioma" is the best-selling mesothelioma book in the world. Dr. Bernie Siegel said, "Paul Kraus' book has all the information a cancer patient needs to have in order to learn what survival behavior is about." Read more testimonials Free Copies! For a limited time, free copies of "Surviving Mesothelioma" are available to newly diagnosed mesothelioma patients. Get your free copy today before we run out. Click here to receive yours.

Mesothelioma Summary What is mesothelioma? Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer in which cancerous cells are found in the mesothelium, a protective sac that covers most of the body's internal organs. There are two main types of mesothelioma - pleural which involves the sac that covers the pleural cavity around the lungs and peritoneal which involves the tissue that covers the abdominal area. What causes mesothelioma? The only accepted cause is exposure to asbestos. Asbestos was in thousands of different products so many people were exposed at many times in their lives. How does one survive mesothelioma? Treatment options include standard therapies (surgery and/or chemotherapy and/or radiation), clinical trials, and alternative or complimentary therapies. Despite the depressing information on the internet, there are long-term mesothelioma survivors including: Paul Kraus, Stephen Jay Gould, Rhio O'Connor, and others. Paul Kraus's book explains what he did to survive his mesothelioma.

Friday, February 18, 2011

Dear Sam: Mesothelioma is a form of lung cancer. The mesothelium layer of the lungs - a protective layer - can transform into cancerous cells with chronic asbestos exposure. Asbestos is the only known cause of Mesothelioma. It is not known how much asbestos exposure puts you at risk but it is believed prolonged chronic exposure can lead to Mesothelioma as opposed to one time exposure.
Symptoms of mesothelioma may not appear till decades after exposure and include shortness of breath, chest pain wheezing, coughing and weight loss.
Xrays and lung function tests may aid in the diagnosis. If fluid or a mass is discovered, a CT and a biopsy may be done to confirm the diagnosis.
If you have been exposed to asbestos in your occupation, it is important to let your family doctor know and attand routine follow up.