Types of Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is a cancer whose cause has been brought to light and officially recognized. As different catalysts are found to bring about cancer in the body and different periods of dormancy for symptoms become known, the types of cancers that exist seem to only increase. Mesothelioma is caused by exposure to asbestos and has an incredibly long latency period for symptoms. People who are at risk for having this disease were exposed to the catalyst some 20 to 50 years before the first symptoms surface. The cancer is often difficult to diagnose because the symptoms mimic those of other, benign, diseases and are typical troubles associated with aging. Mesothelioma is a rare cancer that affects the mesothelium, or lining, of the body’s cavities and is almost exclusively caused by exposure to asbestos. There are three major types of mesothelioma that affect about 95% of all cases and a few lesser known types that affect a significantly small percentage of all mesothelioma cases. The three major types of mesothelioma are pleural (lung cavity), peritoneal (abdominal cavity) and pericardial (heart cavity). The most common of these types is pleural mesothelioma which accounts for 75% of all mesothelioma cases. The other cases account for 20% (peritoneal) and less than 5% (pericardial) of all documented cases. Mesothelioma and its Types Mesothelioma is the rare cancer of the mesothelium, the lining that protects the abdominal organs, lungs, heart and some other areas of the body. Mesothelioma causes the cells in the mesothelium to develop abnormally, have extended life spans and overgrow the normal cells of the mesothelium. About 99% of all known cases of mesothelioma are caused directly by exposure to asbestos, usually from having worked with or around the substance and occasionally from living with someone who did. There are three major types of mesothelioma (and a few lesser known types that occur infrequently) known as: pleural, peritoneal and pericardial. There are symptoms that are common to all forms of mesothelioma as well as many other diseases which results in a delay in the diagnosis of the disease. Because most people are unaware that they have mesothelioma, by the time they are diagnosed the disease is terminal and the expected life span after diagnosis is usually just one year. Pleural Mesothelioma Though mesothelioma accounts for a very small percentage of cancer overall, pleural mesothelioma is the most common of this type by far at 75% of all cases. Pleural mesothelioma affects the lining of the lungs and is a result of inhaling the tiny, threadlike fibers of asbestos. Pleural mesothelioma causes a buildup of fluid between the mesothelium and the chest cavity (known as pleural effusion) which results in such symptoms as: * chronic chest pain * difficulty breathing and swallowing * shortness of breath * persistent cough * coughing up blood * hoarse or raspy voice * fever * weight loss Many of these symptoms can be found in a number of other, considerably less malignant illnesses such a viral pneumonia and emphysema. Chest pain is the most common complaint in these cases and can be relieved by draining the chest fluid or closing the pleural space. This can relieve some symptoms but there is no known cure for the disease. There are actually two types of pleural mesothelioma, cancerous and non-cancerous. Of the non-cancerous variety is a benign mesothelioma that affects the lining around the lung cavity. The tumors formed by the cancer can be easily removed and are not considered life threatening. The disease is not even caused by asbestos exposure. Research is being done to determine the causes for this type of mesothelioma. Malignant pleural mesothelioma is diagnosed in fewer than 3,000 people in the US each year so it is considered a rare type of cancer. This disease has a latency period of 20-50 years which means people who were exposed to asbestos (the primary cause for mesothelioma) are unaware that they carry this terminal disease until it is too late to successfully treat. Once detected, the patient typically has fewer than five years left to live, often just one. There are a variety of treatments for the disease but no known cure. Pleural mesothelioma affects the cells of the mesothelium (lining) of the lung cavity through the inhalation of asbestos fibers. The fibers enter through the nose or mouth and travel to the lungs where they become lodged and migrate through the tissues. When the asbestos reaches the mesothelium it causes the cells in the area to behave abnormally and have incredibly long life spans. This causes the formation of tumors in the mesothelium which can spread throughout the pleural mesothelium and sometimes other areas of the body cavity. With a 20-50 year span for development, the cancerous cells can create massive tumors before they are detected. Often the patient finds out about the tumors or pleural effusion (fluid in the lung cavity) during a routine medical exam without even having had symptoms. When there are symptoms, they include: shortness of breath, chest pain, lower back pain, persistent cough, weight loss, weakness and difficulty swallowing which can all be attributed to other illnesses.

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