Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma Causes

Mesothelioma is a rare cancer that can develop in the membrane that lines the lungs, called the mesothelium.

Mesothelioma is primarily caused by asbestos exposure, which occurs when asbestos fibers are inhaled or ingested and become lodged in human tissue, causing inflammation or infection. Asbestos is a naturally-occurring fibrous substance that was once widely used in the 20th century in a number of different industries.
When the public became aware of the hazards associated with the mineral, warnings were issued in the mid-1970s and use of the product began to decline. More than 30 percent of those diagnosed with mesothelioma are veterans. Please visit the page on asbestos for additional information about the mineral.

Mesothelioma Types

There are five known types of mesothelioma. The four listed below are malignant cancers, and benign mesothelioma is a non-cancerous condition.

Once asbestos is inhaled it can affectseveral of the body's organs, including the lining of the lungs, stomach, heart and testicles.

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 75 percent of cases being pleural in origin.
Peritoneal Mesothelioma: Comprising approximately 20 percent of mesothelioma cases, this form of mesothelioma develops in the lining of the abdominal cavity, known as the peritoneal membrane.
Pericardial Mesothelioma: This form of mesothelioma develops in the lining of the heart, known as the pericardium. Approximately 5 percent of all mesothelioma cases are pericardial.
Testicular Mesothelioma: Testicular mesothelioma develops in the tunica vaginalis of the testicles and is the rarest form of the cancer.

Mesothelioma Symptoms

Symptoms of mesothelioma typically do not appear until 20 to 50 years after someone's initial exposure to asbestos occurred. Mesothelioma symptoms often resemble less-serious conditions, which can make a diagnosis difficult. Below is a list of several common symptoms mesothelioma patients may experience.
Pleural Symptoms: Shortness of breath, chest pain, persistent cough, fatigue, lumps under the skin on the chest
Peritoneal Symptoms: Weight loss, abdominal pain and swelling, bowel obstruction, nausea
Pericardial Symptoms: Heart palpitations, irregular heartbeat, chest pain, difficulty breathing, night sweats
Testicular Symptoms: Painful or painless testicular lumps

Mesothelioma Diagnosis

A medical exam is the first step in diagnosing an asbestos-related illness.

The process of mesothelioma diagnosis usually begins with a review of a patient’s medical history followed by a physical examination. If a problem is suspected, a doctor may request several diagnostic tests. These typically include medical imaging scans such as:

• X-rays
• CT scans
• PET scans
• MRI scans

A combination of these tests is often used to determine the location, size and type of the cancer. Biopsy procedures are often requested following an imaging scan to test samples of fluid and tissue for the presence of cancerous cells.

Mesothelioma Treatments

After a patient is diagnosed with mesothelioma, the next step is often exploring applicable treatment options to create the best treatment plan possible. Treatment options range from surgery to chemotherapy. Asbestos.com offers mesothelioma patients and their loved ones comprehensive information about treatment options and new developments in a complimentary informational packet available here.

There are a variety of treatment options for mesothelioma patients including radiation, chemotherapy, and surgery.

The most common mesothelioma treatments recommended by doctors include surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Patients often undergo multiple treatments to combat the disease, which is known as multimodality therapy. In recent studies, the combination of several treatments has shown to greatly improve a patient's life expectancy.
Experimental procedures such as immunotherapy, photodynamic therapy and gene therapy are also utilized by mesothelioma patients. However, since these treatments are still in the experimental stage, they are typically only available through clinical trials.
Recent clinical trials on mesothelioma have investigated photodynamic therapy and immunotherapy, both finding resutls that warrent further research. Patients who participate in a clinical trial contribute to the discovery of a mesothelioma cure by testing up-and-coming procedures and medications.

Mesothelioma Legal Issues

The dangers of asbestos exposure were known long before any efforts were made to protect workers. Thousands of American workers were exposed to asbestos during the 20th century and were often unaware of the hazards of exposure. Companies that produced asbestos-containing products or used these products on a daily basis are liable for their negligence in failing to protect their workers.