Mesothelioma-The facts

Defining Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma (pronounced mez-uh-thee-lee-oh-muh) is a form of cancer affecting the mesothelium, the membrane that lines plus protects various organs of the body. Made up of one cell layers, the mesothelium surrounds organs with an outer membrane plus also with a protective sac. This tissue allows the organs to move, helping them perform their essential functions.

The mesothelium protects several organs including the lungs, stomach plus heart. Tumors can exist in any of these organs plus may be not be cancerous. The information covered in the following text is in reference to tumors that are cancerous. The most common types of mesothelioma come in six different forms - pleural mesothelioma, peritonial mesothelioma plus pericardial mesothelioma.

Pleural mesothelioma is the most common type plus is associated with the lining of the lungs. Peritonial mesothelioma, affecting the lining of the stomach has the second most reported cases. The rarest type of mesothelioma is pericardial mesothelioma which is associated with the tissue surrounding the heart.

Symptoms Of Mesothelioma

The majority of people who are diagnosed with mesothelioma are over 65 years of age. Men are also more likely to get this form of cancer. Symptoms are different for the six main types of mesothelioma. These six types are defined by the location of the mesothelioma within the body.
Below is a brief summary of possible symptoms for each of the six types beginning with the most common type of mesothelioma plus ending with the rarest form of the cancer. The symptoms listed are not intended to be used for diagnosis of mesothelioma. If you have been in contact with asbestos or suspect you may have mesothelioma, you should contact your doctor.

Pleural Mesothelioma (lining of the lungs) Symptoms


Peritoneal Mesothelioma (lining of the stomach) Symptoms

* cough
* shortness of breath
* lower back or side chest pain
* fatigue
* difficulty swallowing
* fever


Pericaridal Mesothelioma (lining of the heart) Symptoms

* vomiting
* weight loss
* abdominal pain
* liquid or a noticeable lump in the abdomen


How Mesothelioma Can Be Detected

* irregular heartbeat
* chest pain
* shortness of breath

Mesothelioma is detected plus diagnosed using various methods. CT scans, chest x-rays, tissue scans, MRI scans plus PET scans can be used to detect mesothelioma. Chest x-rays are typically the least useful in early detection, while CT scans are generally the most popular form of detection.
All of these tests are helpful in giving your doctor a clearer picture of your lungs (or the organ in query.) It can be difficult to identify mesothelioma, so your doctor may order several different kinds of tests before a diagnosis is made.

How Mesothelioma Is Treated
While specific treatments should always be discussed with your doctor, treatment for types of mesothelioma generally follows the same rules for treating other types of cancer. Radiation, chemotherapy plus surgery are all ways in which mesothelioma is treated.

Causes Of Mesothelioma
Though mesothelioma is rare, around 2,000 to 3,000 new cases are reported each year in the United States.
While there's studies looking into other causes of mesothelioma (like infection with simian virus 40), exposure to asbestos is the main factor associated with developing mesothelioma. Currently close to 80% of the reported cases are related to asbestos exposure.

Used as insulation in homes, in manufactured products plus found naturally in rocks plus dust, asbestos becomes risky when the fibers are breathed in or swallowed. The fibers may travel to the lining of the lungs or stomach, resulting in damage to the mesothelium.

Because of where asbestos is found (in building products like roofing plus insulation or in mineral deposits), a quantity of those at the highest risk for exposure are construction workers, factory workers plus miners. Mesothelioma does not create quickly plus the risk of developing it depend on the level of asbestos exposure.