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Mesothelioma

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Malignant mesothelioma is an insidious form of cancer that attacks the lining of the organs of the body. The most prevalent form of this asbestos cancer is pleural mesothelioma, which arises in the pleura (the lining of the lungs and chest cavity). Peritoneal mesothelioma affects the lining of the abdominal wall, called the peritoneum. Pericardial mesothelioma affects the pericardium, which is the lining of the heart. 1

Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer in which malignant (cancerous) cells are found in the mesothelium, a protective sac that covers most of the body’s internal organs. Most people who develop mesothelioma have worked on jobs where they inhaled asbestos particles. 2

Mesothelioma is a form of cancer that is almost always caused by previous exposure to asbestos. In this disease, malignant cells develop in the mesothelium, a protective lining that covers most of the body’s internal organs. Its most common site is the pleura (outer lining of the lungs and chest cavity), but it may also occur in the peritoneum (the lining of the abdominal cavity) or the pericardium (a sac that surrounds the heart). 3

The three main types of mesothelioma are pleural mesothelioma, peritoneal mesothelioma, and pericardial mesothelioma. These are so called depending upon the part of the body in which the cancer forms. The most common form of mesothelioma is pleural mesothelioma. This is where the cancer affects the lungs and the protective lining and cavity of the lungs. The symptoms of pleural mesothelioma result from pleural effusion, which is a build up of fluid between the lung lining and the chest cavity. Sufferers of pleural mesothelioma may experience some or all of the following symptoms: difficulty in breathing, difficulty in swallowing, shortness of breath, persistent coughing, weight loss, fever, coughing up of blood, and rasping. 4

The most serious type of mesothelioma, diffuse malignant mesothelioma, is a cancer of the cells that make up the pleura or lining around the outside of the lungs and inside of the ribs and accounts for about 75% of all cases. Fluid build-up from the pleural effusion can generally be seen on a chest x-ray and heard during a physical examination, but a firm diagnosis of mesothelioma can only be made through a biopsy and pathological testing. This is important because there are also benign pleural effusions and other tumors that have a similar appearance to mesothelioma. Diagnosing mesothelioma can be quite difficult; it requires special lab stains, and often considerable experience by the pathologist interpreting the results. 5

Pleural Mesothelioma: This type of mesothelioma develops in the lining of the lungs, known as the pleura. It is the most common form of malignant mesothelioma, with around 70% of cases being pleural in origin. 6

Today many strict regulations have come into force when it comes to asbestos in order to minimize on exposure to asbestos and on the chances of contracting mesothelioma. This type of cancer has cost many lives and bankrupt many businesses, both issues about which governments are most concerned. There are now many specialist law firms that deal with compensation claims for mesothelioma sufferers, working to get them compensation to cover medical bills, pain and suffering and to provide their families with financial security once this fatal disease results in death. The situation is set to get worse, with many hundreds of thousands more cases expected over the next 25 years. But with clinical trials into treatment being carried out continually, it is hoped that by that time an effective treatment will be available to treat the disease, whatever stage it is at. 7

Malignant mesothelioma, also known as mesothelioma cancer is a fatal cancer that affects the lining of the lung (pleura), the lining of the abdominal cavity (peritoneum), and the lining of the heart (pericardium). The most common form of mesothelioma is pleural mesothelioma, although pericardial mesothelioma and peritoneal mesothelioma are less frequent. The main cause of mesothelioma is exposure to asbestos, although other factors such as smoking may result in additional complications. 8

If you know that you have been exposed to asbestos, either through occupational exposure, or exposure in your home, you should find a physician that has experience diagnosing patients with mesothelioma and other lung diseases. The more cases of any disease a doctor sees, the more easily he can diagnose them. If you are at risk for developing any asbestos related disease, choose a doctor that has experience in this area and see him for regular check-ups. 9

Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer (malignancy) that most frequently arises from the cells lining the sacs of the chest (the pleura) or the abdomen (the peritoneum). Pleural mesothelioma is the most common form, often presenting with symptoms in the chest area. Peritoneal mesothelioma is much less common. This can effect the organs in the abdomen, and its symptoms are related to this area of the body, that is, abdominal swelling, nausea, vomiting, and bowel obstruction. The rarest form of mesothelioma is pericardial mesothelioma, which involves the sac surrounding the heart. 10

According to the National Cancer Institute, approximately 3,000 new cases per year of malignant mesothelioma are being reported in the United States, and the incidence appears to be increasing. The disease is three times more common in men than in women. In men, the occurrence of mesothelioma is ten times higher in men between the ages of 60-70 as compared to men between the ages of 30-40. Occupational exposure to asbestos over the past fifty years in the United States is calculated to have occurred in approximately eight million people. 11

Malignant mesothelioma is more common in men, with a male-to-female ratio of 3:1. It can also occur in children; however, these cases are not thought to be associated with asbestos exposure. 12

Mesothelioma treatments can be divided into two main categories: curative treatments and palliative treatments. Curative treatments are those carried out in an attempt to remove all cancer cells and cure the disease. Palliative treatments are designed to ease pain and make a patient more comfortable. 13

Asbestos has been mined and used commercially since the late 1800s. Its use greatly increased during World War II. Since the early 1940s, millions of American workers have been exposed to asbestos dust. Initially, the risks associated with asbestos exposure were not known. However, an increased risk of developing mesothelioma was later found among shipyard workers, people who work in asbestos mines and mills, producers of asbestos products, workers in the heating and construction industries, and other tradespeople. Today, the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) sets limits for acceptable levels of asbestos exposure in the workplace. People who work with asbestos wear personal protective equipment to lower their risk of exposure. 14

Most people with malignant mesothelioma have worked on jobs where they breathed asbestos. Usually, this involves men over 40 years of age. Others have been exposed to asbestos in a household environment, often without knowing it. Interestingly, the number of new cases of mesothelioma has been relatively stable since 1983, the same time that the restrictions on asbestos were instituted by the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). In Europe, the number of new cases of mesothelioma continues to rise. 15

    References

The Panacea offers these health-extracts to help people investigate health-related subjects in greater depth using the references given in each paragraph. Kindly note that these are current extracts from the web, meant for research, and that these are not meant to be medical advise. For all your health-related needs you must consult trained and licensed personnel.

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