Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that occurs within the
mesothelium, a thin layer of cells that surrounds the body’s internal
organs. There are three types of mesothelioma. The most common is
malignant pleural mesothelioma, which occurs in the lining around the
lungs, known as the pleura. The next most common variety is malignant
peritoneal mesothelioma, which originates in the lining surrounding the
abdominal cavity. The rarest instance of the disease is malignant
pericardial mesothelioma, which originates in the lining around the
heart. Mesothelioma is an aggressive cancer, for which there is no known
cure.
The only known cause of mesothelioma is exposure to asbestos. While
there have been documented cases in which a patient diagnosed with
mesothelioma has no known asbestos history, these instances are quite
rare and are generally regarded as medical anomalies. There is typically
a lengthy gap between exposure to asbestos and diagnosis of
mesothelioma, often between 20-50 years. This is because mesothelioma is
generally known to be a slowly developing cancer. Asbestos will irritate
soft tissue in the body over a long period of time, causing cycles of
inflammation and scar tissue growth. Eventually enough harmful scar
tissue will lay the necessary foundation for tumor growth. Treatment
options for patients of malignant mesothelioma will be determined by a
number of factors, including stage of the cancer, the patients overall
health, and the desired outcomes. Treatment is generally confined to
palliative measures of chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation therapy.
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