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Introduction

Mesothelioma is a cancer which affects the tissue which surrounds and protects various organs in the body. This tissue is called the Mesothelium, and Mesothelioma causes it to become abnormal, divide without control, and invade and damage nearby organs. The most common form is pleural mesothelioma which affects the sac that lines the chest cavity and protects the lungs (the pleura). Other forms are peritoneum mesothelioma (which affects the abdominal cavity) and pericardium mesothelioma (affecting the lining around the heart). The tumours can be either benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous) although they are most often malignant.

Causes

Mesothelioma is caused by the inhalation of asbestos, a fibrous carcinogenic. These fibres lodge themselves in the lining of the lung affecting the mesothelial cells. Sometimes they cause scarring of the lungs (which is called asbestosis) but this is not cancerous. They can, however, trigger tumour growth between 20 to 50 years after they are inhaled (the average is 35 to 40 years). Asbestos fibres which are swallowed can reach the lining of the abdominal cavity where they play a part in causing peritoneal mesothelioma.

It is generally the case that the longer or more intense the exposure to asbestos the more likely Mesothelioma is to occur. However, there are cases of people getting Mesothelioma years after having worked with it for just a few months. The families of asbestos workers are also at risk as they would possibly have been exposed to asbestos fibres on the clothing of their loved ones.

The dangers of asbestos are now well known, but this was not always the case. Before the 1970s asbestos was a primary insulating material with little or no control in its use or handling. The resulting increase in cases of Mesothelioma is a direct cause of these past practices.

Symptoms

Mesothelioma is often advanced before symptoms occur. This means that the prognosis is not usually very good, with the average survival time for all stages of Malignant Mesothelioma being about one year. Symptoms resemble pneumonia, which coughs, breathing difficulties and abdominal pain being common.

Treatments

Mesothelioma can be treated by chemotherapy, radiotherapy or surgery, or a combination of the three.

Surgery
Extra pleural pneumonectomy is where the entire lung and a portion of the lining of the chest, the diaphragm, and some or the entire sac which surrounds the heart is removed.

Wide local excision targets and removes the cancer and a limited amount of the healthy tissue surrounding the cancerous region.

Pleurectomy and decortication removes part of the covering of the lungs, as well as the lining of the chest and portions of the outside covering of the lungs.

Pleurodesis uses a blend of chemicals and/or drugs to create an intentional scar between the layers of the pleura. Post surgery, the space created by the scar must be drained, using either a catheter or chest tube, and is then filled with a chemical which inhibits the accumulation of fluid in the pleura cavity.

Radiation Therapy
Radiation Therapy uses high energy x-rays to kill cancer cells.

In External radiation therapy a machine emits radiation in a targeted stream at a certain portion of the body.

Internal radiation therapy uses needles, seeds and catheters to place radioactive substance directly on or near the cancer.

Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy uses cancer targeting drugs to stop the cells them from dividing and thus prevent their growth.

Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that is found usually among men who are advanced in years. This type of cancer is caused from the effects of exposure to asbestos ad as a result affects the membranes of our vital organs such as the heart and lungs. Mesothelioma cancer is not very easy to diagnose due to the fact that the symptoms this type of cancer presents are very similar to other diseases that are much more common.

Pleural Mesothelioma

Pleural Mesothelioma is the most common form of this disease and as a direct result accounts for around 75% of all cases of this disease. This type of cancer (Pleural Mesothelioma) attacks and affects the lining of the lungs and presents common symptoms such as shortness of breath, coughing and wheezing, chest pains, difficulty in swallowing and even weight loss. As we have said, these symptoms are very common to other diseases but anyone who has any of them we would strongly suggest consulting their doctor right away just to be on the safe side.

Peritoneal Mesothelioma

One of the less common forms of Mesothelioma is called Peritoneal Mesothelioma and this type of cancer affects the abdomen. Peritoneal Mesothelioma cancer affects the abdominal lining and frequently found in people who have been exposed to asbestos and accounts for around 20% of all Mesothelioma cases. Symptoms of Peritoneal Mesothelioma are as follows: abdominal pains, abdominal swelling, weight loss, loss of appetite, weakness and nausea.

The importance of early diagnosis

People who have worked with asbestos or have been exposed to the substance are at risk of developing the disease. One of the most important things that we should remember when dealing with this type of cancer is speed. Early diagnosis of the disease is of utmost importance so that it can be treated quickly. With time being of importance when dealing with Mesothelioma, the earlier it is discovered the more chance we have of success in its treatment.