Mesothelioma
Overview of Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that is usually caused by previous exposure to asbestos. In this disease malignant cancer cells develop in the mesothelium, which is a protective lining that covers most of the body's internal organs. The most common site of mesothelioma is the pleura, which is the outer lining of the lungs and internal chest cavity. Sometimes it may also occur in the peritoneum, which is the lining of the abdominal cavity, or the pericardium, which is the sac that surrounds the heart. Approximately one fifth to one third of all mesotheliomas are peritoneal.
Mesothelioma is described as localized if the cancer is found only on the membrane surface where it originated. This disease is classified as stage I or II if it is localized to a single organ surface, which is often the lining of the lungs or kidney. Advanced classifications of Mesothelioma is defined as stages III and IV if it has spread beyond the original membrane surface to other parts of the body.
Most cases of mesothelioma occur in people who have worked on jobs where they were exposed to and inhaled asbestos particles or asbestos dust and fibers. Even just washing the clothes of another family member who has worked with asbestos can also put a person at risk for developing mesothelioma. Although mesothelioma is a type of cancer that is associated with the lungs, there is no link between it and smoking. Another important issue in mesothelioma is the compensation one can receive from asbestos funds or lawsuits.
Symptoms of mesothelioma may include shortness of breath, chest wall pain, or even general symptoms such as weight loss. To diagnose mesothelioma chest x-rays and CT scans are used, but a microscopic examination of a tissue sample taken from a biopsy is needed to confirm the diagnosis. There are different types of treatment for this disease, but even with chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and sometimes surgery, mesothelioma carries with it a poor prognosis.
There has not been a universally agreed procedure for screening people who have been exposed to asbestos. Screening tests might be able to help diagnose mesothelioma earlier then conventional methods, therefore it would improve the survival rate for patients. Research about screening tests for the purpose of early detection of mesotheliom is constantly ongoing.
