MESOTHELIOMA OVERVIEW
Mesothelioma is a rare cancer that attacks the mesothelial cells,
which are found in the internal linings of human organs and body
cavities. Roughly 2,000 to 3,000 cases of this cancer are diagnosed each
year and approximately 10,000 die annually from mesothelioma. All forms
of mesothelioma are extremely aggressive, and chances of surviving once
diagnosed with this disease are very slim.
CAUSES
Nine out of 10 cases of mesothelioma are caused by exposure to
asbestos. On extremely rare occasion, mesothelioma has developed in
individuals who have not been knowingly exposed to asbestos. Other
potential causes of mesothelioma are not known, but some research has
shown a link to radiation exposure.
Once asbestos fibers are inhaled, they attach to the internal lining
of the lungs, heart, and abdomen. Since the body cannot expel or break
down asbestos, the microscopic fibers lay silent in the body and slowly
wreak havoc at a cellular level. Exactly how asbestos causes
mesothelioma is still being researched, but medical professionals do
know that asbestos irritates and inflames mesothelial cells, causing
cellular damage, permanent scarring, and disrupts cellular division in a
way that causes them to produce cancerous cells.
TYPES
There are five known types of mesothelioma; four of which are
malignant, and one is benign:
-
Pleural Mesothelioma: Developing in the lining
of the lungs, this type of mesothelioma is the most common
(approximately 70 percent of all cases).
-
Peritoneal Mesothelioma: Comprising roughly 25
percent of mesothelioma cases, this form develops in the lining of
the abdominal cavity.
-
Pericardial Mesothelioma: This type of
mesothelioma forms in the pericardium, which is the lining of the
heart. Roughly 5 percent of mesothelioma cases fall under this
category.
- Testicular Mesothelioma: The rarest form of
malignant mesothelioma, this cancer develops in the tunica vaginalis
of the testicles. To date, less than 100 cases of testicular
mesothelioma have been recorded.
- Benign Mesothelioma: This type of mesothelioma
typically develops in the pleura, and though this form holds the
highest chances of recovery, it also may be a precursor for other
asbestos-related conditions.
SYMPTOMS
One of the most unfortunate issues surrounding mesothelioma is the
non-specificity of symptoms. Particularly during early developmental
stages, symptoms of mesothelioma are deceptively indicative of other
diseases
Pleural mesothelioma symptoms include:
- Persistent dry or raspy cough
- Coughing up blood
- Difficulty swallowing
- Pain in the chest or rib area, or pain from breathing
- Shortness of breath
- Fatigue
- Night sweats or fever
- Unusual weight loss of 10 percent or more
- Appearance of lumps under the skin on the chest
Pericardial mesothelioma symptoms include:
- Heart palpitations or irregular heartbeat
- Chest pain
- Fever or night sweats
- Difficulty breathing
Peritoneal mesothelioma symptoms include:
- Swelling or pain in the abdomen
- Diarrhea or constipation
- Nausea or vomiting
- Anemia
- Fatigue
- Unexplained weight loss
- Night sweats or fever
- Appearance of lumps under the skin on the abdomen
Testicular mesothelioma symptoms include:
- Appearance of testicular lumps
TREATMENT
Treatment of mesothelioma cancer includes curative methods and
palliative methods. Curative treatments are those which attempt to omit
cancerous cells and cure the disease. Palliative treatments are designed
to alleviate pain and make the patient more comfortable, and are
typically employed in the later stages of diagnosis.
Conventional curative treatments for mesothelioma include surgery,
chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. Experimental treatments such as
gene therapy and immunotherapy are used as well. In most cases, a
patient will receive more than one type of treatment to combat the
disease from multiple angles.
For more information on For more information on the variety
of asbestos uses and
mesothelioma,
please visit
www.asbestos.com.
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