Mesothelioma

Malignant mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer in which the cancer (malignant) cells are found in the sac lining of the chest (the pleura), the lining of the abdominal cavity (the peritoneum) or the lining around the heart (the pericardium). It can also be single handedly pointed to the exposure of asbestos as the cause. Mesothelioma is a cancer that is particularly difficult for doctors to diagnose and one that usually does not respond well to therapy.
Mesothelioma’s Cause - Asbestos Exposure

At some point in our lives, nearly all of us are exposed to asbestos via the air we breathe and the water that we drink. This can be from natural deposits in the earth and from the deterioration of asbestos products around us. Most of us, however, will not become ill as a result of the exposure. Most people who develop mesothelioma have worked on jobs where they inhaled asbestos particles, or they have been exposed to asbestos dust and fiber in various ways. Washing the clothes of a family member who worked with asbestos can also put a person at risk for developing mesothelioma. Unlike lung cancer, there is no association between mesothelioma and smoking, but smoking greatly increases the risk of other asbestos induced cancer.

As early as the late 1800’s asbestos was used commercially in North America, but it’s use increased dramatically during the World War II era when shipyards produced massive numbers of ships for the war effort. Since then asbestos containing products were used by the construction, building, automotive and manufacturing industries. For more than 50 years, products containing asbestos remained unregulated, and the manufacturer of those products continued to produce, knowing full well that many of the millions of workers who came into contact with their products would ultimately suffer from it’s exposure. Finally, in the late 1970s, the Consumer Products Safety Commission banned the use of asbestos in wallboard patching compounds and artificial ash for gas fireplaces because the fiber could easily be released during it’s use. Then in 1989, the Environmental Protection Agency banned all new use of asbestos, but uses established prior to that time were still allowed. Although awareness of the dangers of asbestos and public concern over the issue have led to a decline in domestic consumption over the years, a total ban on asbestos has not come to completion. Asbestos are still being imported, used and are still dangerous to the very people that are exposed to it.
Types of Mesothelioma

Pleural Mesothelioma
Pleural disease is often seen in people who have been exposed to high levels of asbestos while on the job. It usually takes 10 years or more for changes to appear that are indicative of pleural disease which affects the thin membrane layer in the chest. These differences can include a thickening or calcification of the pleural lining and is usually diagnosed as pleural plaques, pleural thickening and pleural calcification.In most cases, pleural disease is not considered fatal but it does have the ability to impair the lung function and the individual could be at a higher risk of developing more severe asbestos cancer.

Pericardial Mesothelioma
Malignant pericardial mesothelioma is a type of cancer that originates in the mesothelium, a thin wall of cells that surround the body’s organs and internal body structures. Pericardial mesothelioma originates in the lining of the heart. Pericardial mesothelioma is known to be caused by exposure to asbestos. While the precise route by which microscopic asbestos fibers reaches the pericardial lining is not known, physicians surmise that inhaled asbestos fibers are absorbed into the bloodstream and become entangled in the heart’s lining as the blood processes through the heart. Mesothelioma occurring in other parts of the body, such as in the pleura or peritoneum, can also metastasize to the pericardial lining. Pericardial mesothelioma is the rarest of these malignancies and accounts for only an estimated 10% of all mesothelioma incidences annually.

Peritoneal Mesothelioma
Malignant peritoneal mesothelioma is a rare type of cancer that occurs in the thin cell walls which surround the abdominal cavity, known as the peritoneum. Peritoneal mesothelioma is the second rarest form of the disease and accounts for approximately 20% of all mesothelioma cases each year. Peritoneal mesothelioma is known only to be caused by exposure to asbestos said to reach the abdominal wall by one of two methods. The first is through ingested asbestos fibers which are processed through digestion and become lodged in peritoneum. These other method is through the lungs and lymph nodes, by inhaled asbestos fibers.
Signs and Symptoms of Mesothelioma

The early symptoms of mesothelioma are generally non-specific, and may lead to a delay in diagnosis. Sometimes resembling viral pneumonia, pleural mesothelioma patients may present with shortness of breath, chest pain and/or persistent cough and some patients show no symptoms at all. A chest x-ray may show a build-up of fluid or pleural effusion. For most symptoms of mesothelioma it may not appear until 20 to 50 years after exposure to asbestos, hence it is very silent and deadly, making it more difficult to diagnose.

Common Symptoms Caused By Mesothelioma :-

* chest wall pain
* pleural effusion, or fluid surrounding the lung
* shortness of breath
* fatigue or anemia
* wheezing, hoarseness, or cough
* blood in the sputum (fluid) coughed up
* abdominal pain
* problems with bowel function
* weight loss
* low blood sugar level

PLEASE BEAR MIND THAT THESE SYMPTOMS MAY BE CAUSED BY MESOTHELIOMA OR BY OTHER LESS SERIOUS CONDITIONS. ONLY A DOCTOR CAN MAKE A CONCLUSIVE DIAGNOSIS.
Mesothelioma Treatment Options

Treatment for mesothelioma depends on many factors, including: the stage of the cancer, where the cancer is, how far the cancer has spread, how the cancer cells look under the microscope and the patient’s age and desires.
Choice of treatment for patients with malignant mesothelioma:-

* Surgery (taking out the cancer)
* Chemotherapy (using drugs to fight the cancer)
* Radiation Therapy (using high-dose x-rays or other high-energy rays to kill cancer cells)

Legal Matters

If you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma it is important that you preserve your legal rights. Don’t let time prevent you from taking legal action. Every state establishes set time-frames for filing lawsuits for an asbestos related injury. These time-frames are also known as the state statutes of limitation. The deadlines established in the statutes are fixed so it is important to consult with a legal professional soon after the onset of an asbestos related illness to determine what, if any action may be appropriate.
Category: Health, Mesothelioma
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