What is Mesothelioma?
Mesothelioma is a form of cancer that is caused by exposure to asbestos. Malignant cells develop in the protective lining that covers most of the body’s internal organs. It’s most common site is the pleura the outer lining of the lungs. It can also develop in the peritoneum the lining of the abdominal cavity of the sack that surrounds the heart.
Most who develop this disease have worked around asbestos particles and have inhaled them or have been exposed in some other way, such as washing clothes or a fellow human being in the family. Unlike lung cancer, there is no association between mesothelioma and smoking.
Malignant mesothelioma is the most serious of all asbestos-related diseases. Although uncommon, mesothelioma is no longer considered rare. Mesothelioma is a cancer that is particularly difficult to diagnose and one that does not respond well to therapy.
A layer of specialized mesothelial cells surrounds the chest cavity, abdominal cavity, and the cavity around the heart. These cells also cover most other internal organs. The tissue formed by these cells is called mesothelioma.
A special protective lubricating fluid that allows organs to move around in the body is produced by the mesothelium. This protective fluid helps the lungs to move without resistance inside the chest cavity while breathing or moving about. The medical name for the mesothelium of the chest is the pleura and the medical name for the mesothelium of the abdomen is the peritoneum. The mesothelium of the "sac-like" space around the heart is called the pericardium and protects the heart.
Even insignificant exposure to asbestos (commonly reported in such work environments as asbestos mills, mines, shipping yards, some older Navy ships or patients. homes) is known to result in mesothelioma, which in many cases does not occur for decades after initial exposure to this cancer-causing substance. In the recent years 2000-3000 cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed every year. It is also known that family members of workers exposed to asbestos can contract this disease through exposure to the worker’s clothing. Smoking greatly increases the risk of contracting mesothelioma in some cases.
Some of the earliest symptoms of mesothelioma can often be mistaken for less serious illness and are commonly overlooked. Some patients do not show any signs of sickness in the early stages of development of the disease. Most commonly the symptoms include dyspnea, pleuritic pain, lasting cough, fatigue, and weight loss. However, these can not be easily attributed to mesothelioma unless the patient is examined by their health care provider and necessary tests are done, which may include CT scans, x-rays scans, or MRI. Surgery can be one of the treatment options; however, the recurrence rate of cancerous cells is high. It is very important that the disease is diagnosed and treated as early as possible.
This disease is not linked with any race or culture; however it is more common in men. Most cases of mesothelioma occur 30-45 years after initial exposure to asbestos. Once it develops, this cancer will continue to grow until it is treated.
