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Mesothelioma Types And Their Symptoms
By Laura Russell
Mesothelioma, or the cancer of mesothelium, is a fatal tumor that affects pleura, peritoneum, and pericardium - linings around lungs, abdomen, and heart respectively. It is a fatal disease caused by exposure to asbestos, a naturally occurring mineral.
Mesothelioma cancer be benign, i.e. it can be non-cancerous and non-spreading or it can be malignant i.e. cancerous and spread to other parts of the body leading to death. Its primary cause is prolonged exposure to asbestos and it has a latency period of about 30 to 50 years.
Types of Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma can be classified into three types depending on the area of body affected by it. There are 3 common types of mesothelioma:
1. Pleural Mesothelioma
2. Peritoneal Mesothelioma
3. Pericardial Mesothelioma
Pleural Mesothelioma
The most common form of mesothelioma, Pleural Mesothelioma (cancer of pleura) is a tumor of the protective lining around the lungs. It can be either benign or malignant.
The pleura is a sac-like membrane made of two layers between which the pleural fluid is released. This fluid in turn acts like a lubricating agent and helps the lungs to function smoothly during breathing.
Symptoms
Common symptoms of Pleural Mesothelioma are:
* Shortness of breath
* Chest pain
* Back pain
* Pain in the rib cage
Other symptoms of Pleural Mesothelioma, for both benign and cancerous forms, include:
* Fluid build-up in the lung lining
* Hoarseness
* Coughing up blood
* Swelling of the face and arms
* Muscle weakness
* Paralysis
* Sensory loss
Peritoneal Mesothelioma
Another common form of mesothelioma is peritoneal mesothelioma or cancer of the peritoneum that causes tumor in the abdominal lining. Like pleural it can be benign or malignant.
The peritoneum is the membrane that covers most of the organs in the abdominal cavity and also includes:
* Tunica Vaginalis Testis (mesothelial tissue lining the male internal reproductive organs)
* Tunica Serosa Uteri (mesothelial tissue lining the female reproductive organs)
Symptoms
The fluid released in the peritoneum helps in the smooth functioning of these organs. When the peritoneum is affected, some common symptoms experienced are:
* Stomach pain
* Weight loss
* Nausea
* Vomiting
* Hernia
* Bowel obstruction
* Fluid in the abdominal cavity
If the cancer spreads beyond the abdominal
What is mesothelioma?
Mesothelioma (pronounced mee-so-thee-lee-oma) is a cancer of the mesothelium. The mesothelium is a thin membrane that lines the chest and abdomen and surrounds the organs in these areas. The lining around the lungs is called the pleura and in the abdomen it is known as the peritoneum.
Mesotheliomas are uncommon ...
Pleural mesothelioma
The pleura has two layers: the inner (visceral) layer, which is next to the lung and the outer (parietal) layer, which lines the chest wall. The two layers of the pleura are usually in contact and slide over each other as we breathe. The membranes produce fluid, which allows them ...
Peritoneal mesothelioma
The lining of the abdomen is known as the peritoneum. It also has two layers: the inner (visceral) layer, which is next to the abdominal organs and the outer (parietal) layer, which lines the abdominal wall.
If the mesothelioma is in the peritoneum it is called a peritoneal mesothelioma and ...
What causes mesothelioma?
Up to 9 out of 10 cases of mesothelioma are caused by exposure to asbestos. Asbestos is a natural mineral, mined from rock found in many countries. It is made up of tiny fibres that are as strong as steel but can be woven like cotton and are highly resistant ...
What are the symptoms of mesothelioma?
Mesothelioma often starts as many tiny lumps (nodules) in the pleura, which may not show up on scans or x-rays until they are quite large. The main symptoms of pleural mesothelioma are pain in the chest and breathlessness. Some people also notice that their voice becomes hoarse and they have ...
How it is mesothelioma diagnosed?
Most people begin by seeing their GP when they have symptoms. Your GP will examine you and may arrange for you to have some tests or x-rays. You may be referred to hospital for these tests and for specialist advice and treatment.
At the hospital the doctor will take your ...
Stages of mesothelioma
The stage of a cancer is a term used to describe its size and whether it has spread beyond its original site. Knowing the extent of the cancer helps the doctors to decide on the most appropriate treatment.
A staging system has not yet been established for peritoneal mesothelioma
There are ...
Treatment of mesothelioma
The treatment for mesothelioma will depend on whether it is only in one place or has spread. Currently, there is no cure for mesothelioma, unless it can be removed by an operation.
Unfortunately, when mesothelioma is diagnosed, it has usually already spread beyond the point where it could be removed ...
Surgery
In the uncommon situation where the cancer is only in one area of the pleura (localised), surgery can be used to treat mesothelioma. It may involve removing part, or all, of the pleura and the lung tissue close to it, which is known as pleurectomy/decortication.
Sometimes the pleura, diaphragm and ...
Radiotherapy treatment
Radiotherapy treats cancer by using high-energy x-rays that destroy the cancer cells while doing as little harm as possible to normal cells. As a treatment for mesothelioma, radiotherapy is usually given to help relieve symptoms such as pain and breathlessness, rather than to try to cure the mesothelioma. Often, only ...
cavity, additional symptoms can be found, such as:
* Anemia
* Blood clotting abnormalities
* Trouble swallowing
* Swelling of neck, face or arms
Pericardial Mesothelioma
Pericardial Mesothelioma or the cancer of pericardium is a tumor of the protective sac-like lining around the heart.
Pericardium protects the heart by:
* Smoothening its motion against surrounding organs
* Limiting its motion so that it stays in the chest cavity
* Preventing it from over-expansion during excess influx of blood
Symptoms
When pericardium's function is affected by mesothelioma, the following symptoms may occur:
* Chest pain
* Shortness of breath
* Fluid accumulation in the lining
If the mesothelioma cancer spreads to other organs of the body, it can affect their normal functioning and cause painful symptoms. Thus, it is important that mesothelioma cancer is diagnosed on time and proper treatment is given to save the patient's life.
Laura Russell is a professional health writer having expertise in the field of Mesothelioma Cancer. To view more of her articles, please visit: Mesothelioma Cancer Info
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