What is Mesothelioma?
Mesothelioma Mesothelioma: A rare type of cancer in which malignant cells are found in the mesothelium, the membrane lining the chest, pleural mesothelioma, or the abdomen, peritoneal mesothelioma, and in rare cases the testicles. Exposure to asbestos is the only known cause of malignant mesothelioma.
Usually mesothelioma occurs in people who have worked in asbestos related industry. This cancer is tough to detect in early stages and its symptoms start to show only when the cancer reaches an advanced stage. The symptoms can vary from weight loss, abdominal swelling, fever, blood clotting abnormalities and swelling of the face and neck if the cancer has spread to other parts of the body. There are various mesothelioma treatments available for patients and these can be decided by the mesothelioma doctors based on the stage the cancer has reached. Here are some of the types of mesothelioma that can afflict patients who have worked in an asbestos related environment:
· Pleural Mesothelioma: This type of cancer affects the lining of the lungs and it is also the most common type of mesothelioma disorder. The membrane of the lungs mesothelium secretes vital fluids that help the lungs expand and contract while breathing, when a person is exposed to asbestos then this lining can get attached by microscopic asbestos fibers. These fibers can cause inflammation of the tissues and development of cancerous tumors. The symptoms of pleural mesothelioma are chest pain, trouble in breathing, shortness of breath, collection of fluid around lungs. The mesothelioma treatment given for this type of cancer can be surgery, chemotherapy or radiation therapy depending on the patient’s condition.
· Peritoneal Mesothelioma: This type of cancer is the second most common type of mesothelioma cancer. As it affects the lining of the abdomen it is also referred to as abdominal mesothelioma. When asbestos fibers are ingested or they reach the stomach through the nasal path then the fibers can get lodged in the lining of the stomach and cause tumors. The symptoms of this type of cancer can be acute abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, weakness, fever and anemia. Most doctors prefer treating this kind of cancer by radiation or chemotherapy.
· Pericardial Mesothelioma: This type of mesothelioma is the rarest form of mesothelioma. In pericardial mesothelioma, the cancer lodges itself around the lining of the heart and hence, it is considered most serious forms of all mesothelioma. When the asbestos fibers that are absorbed from the lungs by the blood flow reach the heart they attach themselves to the lining of the heart. The type of cancer has symptoms like shortness of breath, heart palpitations, constant cough, and fatigue. For treatment doctors might choose to remove a small part of the cancerous tissue or treat the patient with radiation therapy.
At www.mesotheliomadoctorsgroup.com, you can find information about various forms of mesothelioma, mesothelioma treatments, and legal cases involving mesothelioma.
Morre Information on Mesothelioma:
What does mesothelioma look like?
What is the mesothelium?
The mesothelium is a membrane that covers and protects most of the internal organs of the body. It is composed of two layers of cells: One layer immediately surrounds the organ; the other forms a sac around it. The mesothelium produces a lubricating fluid that is released between these layers, allowing moving organs (such as the beating heart and the expanding and contracting lungs) to glide easily against adjacent structures.
The mesothelium has different names, depending on its location in the body. The peritoneum is the mesothelial tissue that covers most of the organs in the abdominal cavity and the site of peritoneal mesothelioma. The pleura is the membrane that surrounds the lungs and lines the wall of the chest cavity and the site of pleural mesothelioma. The pericardium covers and protects the heart and the site of pericardial mesothelioma. The mesothelial tissue surrounding the male internal reproductive organs is called the tunica vaginalis testis and the site of testicular mesothelioma. The tunica serosa uteri covers the internal reproductive organs in women.