BIPHASIC MESOTHELIOMA
Did You Know?
Biphasic mesothelioma is the second most common type of mesothelioma cancer cell.
Biphasic Mesothelioma is not a condition unto itself, but rather it is a combination of the other two types. It can take on both the good and bad aspects of sarcomatoid mesothelioma and epithelioid mesothelioma and is 20-38% of all mesothelioma cases are biphasic or “mixed”.
There are three categories of mesothelioma cancer cells:
- Biphasic mesothelioma cancer
- Epithelioid mesothelioma cancer
- Sarcomatoid mesothelioma cancer
Biphasic Mesothelioma is the second most common type of mesothelioma cancer cell. Biphasic mesothelioma does not have a unique cellular pattern unto itself; rather, biphasic mesothelioma consists of a mixture of epithelioid and sarcomatoid mesothelioma cells.
Biphasic mesothelioma cancer cases have seen an increase in occurrence over the years. Whereas biphasic cancer was once seen in approximately 25% of all mesothelioma cases, it has recently been seen in approximately 46% to 63% of all cases.
Biphasic Mesothelioma Cancer Treatment
The treatment options available for biphasic mesothelioma are the same as those used to combat Epithelioid and Sarcomatoid mesothelioma. Aside from having differing cellular appearances, the three mesothelioma subtypes also have differing average survival times. The mean survival time of biphasic mesothelioma cancer patients is the lowest of the three at six months.
Although the methods of treating Biphasic Mesothelioma cancer do not differ from those of treating epithelioid mesothelioma cancer or Sarcomatoid Mesothelioma cancer, the shorter average post-diagnostic survival time of biphasic mesothelioma cancer patients makes radical or more experimental treatments a more appealing option than standard treatment modalities.
Biphasic Mesothelioma - Survival Time and Treatment
Of the three mesothelioma cell types, Biphasic Mesothelioma has the shortest mean survival time at six months; because of this, biphasic mesothelioma sufferers might elect to choose a more experimental or radical treatment option.
Mesothelioma Symptoms:
- abdominal pain
- bowel function problems
- chest wall pain
- weight loss
- pleural effusion, or fluid surrounding the lung
- shortness of breath
- fatigue or anemia
- wheezing, hoarseness, or cough
- blood in the sputum (fluid) coughed up (hemoptysis)
Mesothelioma Signs and Symptoms in Severe Cases:
- blood clots in the veins, which may cause thrombophlebitis
- disseminated intravascular coagulation, a disorder causing severe bleeding in many body organs
- jaundice, or yellowing of the eyes and skin
- low blood sugar level
- pleural effusion
- pulmonary emboli, or blood clots in the arteries of the lungs
Mesothelioma Help Center is not designed to provide medical advice or is intended to be for educational use only. The information provided through Mesothelioma Help Center is not a substitute for professional care and should not be used for diagnosing or treating a health problem or a disease. If you have, or suspect you may have, a health problem we can refer you to a mesothelioma doctor or lawyer in your state.
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