Mesothelioma Asbestos Cancer: Some Important Information

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).

It is extremely easy to make a spelling mistake for mesothelioma. Examples: mezothelioma, mesothelomia, esothelioma, nesothelioma, mesithelioma, mesotheliona

Most people who develop mesothelioma, have worked on jobs where they have inhaled asbestos particles, or have been exposed to asbestos dust and fibre in other ways. Other ways involve washing clothes of a family members who have worked with asbestos. Unlike lung cancer, there has yet to been determination of a link between mesothelioma and smoking.

Mesothelioma is mainly caused by previous exposure to asbestos. In this disease, malignant cells develop in the mesothelium, a protective lining which covers most internal organs.

Causes: Most people who develop mesothelioma have worked in and around jobs containing asbestos. Unlike most other lung cancers, there is no association between mesothelioma and smoking.

Symptoms: Symptoms of mesotheliomamay not appear untill many many years of working with asbestos. Anywhere from 20-50 years is a common cycle. Shortness of breath, cough, and pain the chest area are due to an accumulation of fluids in the pleuralspace which are often symptoms of pleuralmesothelioma.

Peritoneal Mesothelioma Symptoms: Signs and symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma include weight loss and cachexia, which is abdominal swelling and pain due to ascites(Build up of fluids in the abdominal cavity).
Other symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma may include bowel obstruction, anemia, blood clotting abnormalities and fever. If the mesothelioma cancer has spread beyond the mesothelium to other parts of the body, new symptoms such as pain, trouble swallowing, or swelling of the neck or face may occur.

Diagnosing mesothelioma is often a difficult process, this is due to the symptoms being similar to those of a number of other conditions. Diagnosis of mesothelioma usually begins with a review of the patient's medical history. A history of exposure to asbestos may increase the clinical suspicion for mesothelioma.

The next usual step is a physical examination to be performed, this followed by chest X-ray and, usually a lung function test. The X-ray may reveal pleural thickening, commonly seen after asbestos exposure, a main factor in mesothelioma. A CT (or CAT) scan or an MRI is usually performed.

When either procedure is performed, if a large amount of fluid is present, abnormal cells may be detected by cytology if this fluid is aspirated with a syringe. For pleural fluid this is done by a pleural tap or chest drain, in ascites with an paracentesis or ascitic drain and in a pericardialeffusion with pericardiocentesis.

While the absence of malignant cells does not completely exclude mesothelioma, it makes it much more unlikely, especially if alternative diagnosis can be found (e.g. tuberculosis, heart failure).

If cytology is positive or a plaque is regarded as being that of suspicious, a biopsy is needed to confirm a diagnosis of mesothelioma. At this point, a doctor will remove samples of the tissue for examination under a microscope by a pathologist.

At this time, a biopsy may be performed in different ways usually depending on where the abnormal area is located. If the (cancer) is in the chest, the doctor may perform a thoracoscopy. Thoracoscopy allows the doctor to look inside the chest and obtain tissue samples.

If the cancer is found within the abdomen, the doctor may perform a laparoscopy. If any procedures do not yield enough tissue, more extensive diagnostic surgery may be necessary.

Mesothelioma Cancer: Important Information For Sufferers

Mesothelioma cancer is a type of cancer that strikes the tissues of the mesothelium. The mesothelium is the tissue lining that surrounds various organs, such as the abdomen, heart, reproductive organs, and even the lungs. The lining around the organs in the abdomen is the peritoneal membrane and the lining that is around your lungs is known as the pleural member. The pericardium is the the lining around your heart.

These tissue lining perform various functions: they help to protect your organs, producing fluid that keeps them lubricated, and makes it easy for them to easily move around as well. Mesothelioma cancer affects these membranes and the specific names of the cancers are dependent on the specific tissues that the cancer actually affects.

There is pleural mesothelioma, peritoneal mesothelioma, and pericardial mesothelioma. Usually the most common type of this cancer is pleural mesothelioma, and about 70% of the people dealing with this type of cancer have this specific type. About 10-20% of patients with Mesothelioma have peritoneal problems, and the most rare type of this cancer is the type that affects the pericardium.

There are a variety of symptoms that can signify Mesothelioma, the only problem is that these symptoms are often symptoms that are characteristic of other disease as well. This can make it hard to actually diagnose this type of cancer.

A few of the common symptoms include loss of appetite, weakness, pain in the abdomen, abdominal swelling, nausea, and weight loss. For pleural mesothelioma, some other symptoms to look for include chest pain, problems swallowing, coughing, problems breathing, and low back pain.

Believe it or not, the history of this type of cancer goes all the way back to the early 1900's. However, it took many years for information to be gathered on Mesothelioma so that it could be properly diagnosed and treated.

Late in the 1960's, doctors finally figured that it was asbestos exposure that actually lead to the cancer. The first person to actually confirm that this disease was caused by asbestos exposure was J.C. Wagner, who dealt with more than 30 cases of Mesothelioma cancer.

One of the things that can be so scary about this type of cancer is that it can lay dormant for many years. In fact, sometimes it can go for more than 50 years without showing any type of symptoms of this cancer.

Often however, once the cancer is discovered, most people do not live more than about 1-2 years after they have been diagnosed with Mesothelioma. In some cases, if there is an early diagnosis, radiation, chemotherapy, and even surgery can be used to try and treat the cancer. Also, many people who end up dealing with Mesothelioma are able to recover damages from companies that exposed them to the asbestos leading to their cancer.

Common Symptoms of Mesothelioma?

Are you concerned because you or someone you know may have Mesothelioma? Mesothelioma commonly goes overlooked or unrecognized because its symptoms are so similar to many more common less serious illnesses.

A person who has Mesothelioma normally doesn't even start to show symptoms for at least 10 years after being exposed, and can show no symptoms for up to 50 years. Unfortunately there are no early warning signs of the disease, and usually when someone is diagnosed with Mesothelioma they are in a highly progressed stage.

Mesothelioma is a cancer that affects the membranes in your body. It affects the membranes that surround the three main cavities in your body, your thoracic cavity, your pericardium, and also your abdominal cavity. Out of the four different types of Mesothelioma cancers, the most popular is Pleural Mesothelioma, which would be surrounding the thoracic cavity. Even though they are delayed and may not show for some time, there are symptoms for Mesothelioma.

A dry and raspy continuous cough is a common symptom of Mesothelioma, along with minor to severe pain in the chest or rib area and having difficulty breathing on a regular basis or shortness of breath. Some people cough up blood, are often dizzy, faint, have nausea, and have a difficult time swallowing. More noticeable symptoms are rapid or constant weight lots, lumps or bumps on the skin in the stomach area, and irregular or high heart rate.

A person suffering for Mesothelioma will feel tired, restless, and fatigued. Unfortunately most of these symptoms resemble the symptoms of a common cold, sore throat, repertory infection, or flu. The major majority of Mesothelioma cases that are diagnosed are caused from the inhalation of asbestos. If your doctor is unaware of your previous exposure to asbestos than it may difficult for them to diagnose it.

If you or someone you know has been around and exposed to Mesothelioma then you should check with your doctor, and get normal chest x rays to hope for early detection. Early detection would be your best bet for survival and treatment. Many Americans are living with undetected or undiagnosed Mesothelioma.