The disease Mesothelioma is a kind of cancer that in most cases is caused by exposure to asbestos. The disease is characterized by the development of malignant cells in the protective lining of the body’s internal organs – this lining is called the mesothelium – hence the name Mesothelioma. However, it may occur in the heart, tunica vaginalis, or even in the pericardium (a sac surrounding the heart).

1. Prolonged exposure to asbestos can cause this disease, at least 30 to 40 years later.
2. The symptoms of Mesothelioma are shortness of breath (because of pleural effusion – which means accumulation of fluid between the lung and chest wall), chest wall pain, and weight loss.
3. The symptoms of peritoneal Mesothelioma are swelling in the abdominal area, weight loss, anemia, abnormalities in blood clotting, bowel obstruction, and fever.
4. Pain in the chest wall, fatigue, wheezing, and blood in the sputum coughed up are more symptoms of Mesothelioma.
5. When Mesothelioma has metastasized to the abdomen, the symptoms are pain in the abdominal area, weight loss, mass in the abdomen, Ascites (abnormal build-up of fluid in the abdomen), and obstruction in bowel movement.
6. Severe symptoms of the disease are blood clots in the veins (causing Thrombophlebitis), severe internal bleeding in the body’s organs, low blood sugar level, jaundice, blood clots in the arteries of the lungs, and pleural effusion.
7. Mesothelioma is developed by people who have inhaled asbestos particles in the workplace, or people who have suffered exposure to asbestos dust and fiber.
8. Many people make the mistake of thinking that Mesothelioma is linked to smoking, but it is not, however, smoking does increase the risk for other asbestos-induced cancer.
9. If you have been exposed to asbestos particles and have got Mesothelioma as a result, you can seek compensation from your workplace, by filing a lawsuit.
10. Another thing that you should know about Mesothelioma is that its diagnosis is done through chest X-ray and CT scan. The confirmation is done through biopsy and microscopic examination.
11. The prognosis of Mesothelioma is quite poor, even though treatment with chemotherapy, radiation therapy and surgery is done.
12. The bone, brain, and adrenal glands are almost never affected by Mesothelioma.
13. Peritoneal Mesothelioma is defined as cancer of the abdominal cavity’s lining. It accounts for nearly one-fifth of all Mesothelioma cases diagnosed.
14. Like in most cancer cases, the prognosis for Mesothelioma depends on how early it can be diagnosed, and how well it is treated.
15. The diagnosis of Mesothelioma is sometimes difficult, because of the symptoms’ similarity to other conditions.
16. If the Mesothelioma is in the abdomen, the doctor performs a laparoscopy, to get tissue from there.
17. The serum osteopontin level has proved effective in some cases, for screening the people exposed to asbestos, for Mesothelioma.
18. Diagnosis of the disease includes a review of personal medical history, physical examination, chest X-ray, lung function tests, CT scan / MRI, etc.
19. Men are more likely to have Mesothelioma than women, and their risk increases with age.

Mesothelioma is a form of rare cancer which is unfortunately not rare anymore and affects people who have been affected and exposed to asbestos in some way or the other. This form of exposure can be direct or indirect. Thus someone who is coming into daily contact with someone who is being or has been exposed to asbestos in some way or the other stands a very good chance of contracting mesothelioma as well. Mesothelioma gets its name from the areas in the body which it affects. The cancerous cells are developed in the mesothelioma and the latter is a protective lining which covers most of the vital internal organs of the body.

There is many types of mesothelioma depending on which part of the body, or rather which organ and its protective lining has been affected. Here are the major types of mesothelioma:

Pleural Mesothelioma: this is the most common among all the kinds of mesothelioma that do occur in the world. About 75 percent of all the mesothelioma patients in the world are suffering from pleural mesothelioma. Here, the cancerous cells are formed in the pleura which is the lining covering the lungs as well as the chest cavity. Mesothelioma quickly takes over the pleural lining and thus as a result. There is a massive build up of fluid within that cavity. Due to the fluid build up there is a lot of pain which comes along with the development and spread of mesothelioma. When someone inhales a lot of these asbestos fibers, these objects get stuck in the pleura and mutilate the lining and so cause irreparable damage to the organ. As a result, cancer is caused out of the mutations that are created because of the intrusions of these foreign bodies. This form is caused through inhalation of asbestos particles.

Pericardial Mesothelioma: this is the rarest form of mesothelioma that can ever be found among all mesothelioma patients. This kind of cancer affects the lining of the heart which is called the pericardium. Less than 10 percent of mesothelioma patients have this form of mesothelioma. Here again, cancerous tumors are formed around the heart and also there is a fluid build up. This fluid obstructs the natural and normal functioning of the heart. As of now, there is very little information as to how asbestos particles can enter the heart cavity and affect the lining.



Peritoneal Mesothelioma: this is a relatively commoner form of mesothelioma than the previous one. About 10 to 20 per cent of the mesothelioma patients today are of this kind. The lining of the abdominal cavity is called the peritoneum. There is another form of peritoneal mesothelioma which affects the male testicles and this diseases is a very rare one. The cause of peritoneal mesothelioma is the ingestion or the consumption of asbestos fibers which then travel through the length of the body and end up in the gut. Here the cancerous mutations are caused in the abdominal cavity which causes a lot of pain and discomfort as a result.