Information on Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma

What is Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma?

The rare type of cancer, Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma is a cancer that affects a protective tissue or mesothelium in some internal organs of the body. This cancer is developed from asbestos exposure. Since 1920s, asbestos-exposed workers have been reported to suffer from lung cancer. Meanwhile, according to documentation at Massachusetts General Hospital, Malignant Mesothelioma was first published in 1947. The United State then began tracking this cancer as a recognized reason of death in the nation.

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Pleural Mesothelioma Symptoms

Disease Overview

Pleural mesothelioma affects pleural membranes surrounding the lungs. It is often called as pleural malignant mesothelioma. This rare cancer is caused by a carcinogenic substance called asbestos. Formerly, this substance was often used in the plumbing materials, cooling or heating systems, insulation, building constructions, and some other household items. When someone suffers from this cancer, they will feel some signs and symptoms’.

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Two Main Types of Mesothelioma

What is Mesothelioma?

There are some types of Mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is a kind of cancer that typically affects the tissues covering the abdomen or the lung. It causes by the growth of mesothelial cells on the outer surface of the lung, abdomen, and other internal body organs. These cells then form the mesothelium, a kind of lining in the infected area. Its types can be determined by the location of the cancer or the type of the cancer cells. Depending on how the cells look, there are three types named Sarcomatoid or fibrous, Epithelioid, and mixed type.

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Peritoneal Mesothelioma Diagnosis Methods

Computed Technology (CT Test) and Sonography

Peritoneal mesothelioma is one type of mesothelioma cancer which occur in the abdominal cavity. In fact there are some other types of mesothelioma which infect other internal body organs such as heart and chest cavity. Different types of mesothelioma may need different treatment. In order to decide the most appropriate treatment for each type, doctors will diagnose it first.

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Options for Treatment of Mesothelioma

What is Mesothelioma?

When you suffer from Mesothelioma, you should find the best treatment of Mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is a cancer that suffers the tissue around the lungs. It begins in the thin tissue layer which lone the testicles, cavities, heart, and chest. This cancer can be caused by swallowing or breathing asbestos fibers. Asbestos is a strong fiber that can be found a number of products.

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What is the Cause of Mesothelioma?

Asbestos exposure as the only cause of Mesothelioma

Asbestos exposure upon inhalation is known as the cause of mesothelioma. Asbestos fibers are very durable. They are obviously occurring and tiny mineral used in many industrial compounds. These fibers are very difficult to drive out from the body once they reach the internal tissue. The fibers affect the lung tissue through thin membrane called pleura. As it is delicate membrane, the fibers can form pleural plaques on the surface which further can develop into tumor cells. The asbestos exposure does not directly develop into cancerous cells but it may take many years for the exposure to develop into adverse health complications.

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Information on Pericardial Mesothelioma Cancer

Pericardial Mesothelioma Symptoms

Pericardial mesothelioma is a type of mesothelioma cancer which grows in the pericardium or delicate membrane covering the heart. Compared to other types of mesothelioma such as pleural and peritoneal, pericardial is the rarest one. In all cases of mesothelioma, only one percent is known as pericardial type. As other mesothelioma types, this cancer usually is discovered in a later stage. The symptoms are also quite the same as other mesothelioma types like shortness of breath, fatigue, murmurs, cough, night sweats or fever, dyspnea especially when ling down, and heart beat palpitations.

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Mesothelioma: Cancer from Asbestos Exposure

The risks of Asbestos exposure

Cancer from Asbestos exposure is called mesothelioma. There are some other diseases caused by this substance exposure such as other cancers, asbestos poisoning, lung disease, and other related condition. Although it rarely happens, Mesothelioma cancer is the worst risk of too much Asbestos exposure. In the late stage, this cancer won’t only affect lung but also abdominal cavity, heart and other body organs. Meanwhile, sufferers of Mesothelioma have a poor life expectancy because there is no cure. As the medical technology develops, there are more alternative treatments and therapies that can increase the percentage of prognosis.

How to diagnose the cancer

Mesothelioma as a cancer from Asbestos exposure is diagnosed through some options. Only considering the patient’s symptoms is not enough to determine the patient’s disease. Before doctors diagnose the patients, there will be preliminary considerations which include prior Asbestos exposure, medical history, and a physical examination. Further, imagine scans are also required. They can in the form of X-Rays, CT Scans, PET scans, or MRI. The most effective method to diagnose this cancer is Biopsy test. It determines the presence of cancer cells by examining collected tissue samples of small fluid under a microscope. For earlier Mesothelioma detection even before some symptoms appear, the doctor will use blood tests as the diagnosis method.

Staging systems of Mesothelioma

According to Brigham and Butchart staging system, this cancer is divided into four stages. In stage one the tumors are restricted to the pleural envelope only thus do not affect the lymph nodes. In the second stage, the tumor spreads to the lymph nodes. Meanwhile, the third stage is the condition when the tumors have reached the mediastinum, or attacked the chest wall. The tumor spreads broader all over the body through the bloodstream in the terminal stage. If patients have reached this stage, solely palliative treatments are recommended.

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What Are the Symptoms of Mesothelioma?

Symptoms of Pleural and Peritoneal Mesothelioma

The symptoms of Mesothelioma greatly vary depending on the location of the cancer itself. Pleural and peritoneal are two types of Mesothelioma which often happen. Pleural type affects the tissue surrounding the lung. The symptoms or signs which may occur are chest pain especially under the cage of the rib, sudden appearance of lumps of tissue below your chest, painful coughing, unexplained weight loss, and shortness of breath. While pleural type affects the lung, peritoneal type occurs in the abdomen. As the cancer locations are different one to another, the symptoms are also a little bit different. You will feel pain in your abdomen. It also gets swelling. Lumps of tissue will often appear in the abdomen.

Symptoms of other types of Mesothelioma

Actually there are other types of Mesothelioma. If the cancer occurs in the testicles, the type is called tunica vaginalis while if it affects the tissue near the heart, it is called Pericardial Mesothelioma. These two forms rarely happen. That is why the signs and symptoms of Mesothelioma on these locations are not very clear. If you find out your chest is pain and you are difficult to breath, you may suffer from Pericardial Mesothelioma. Meanwhile if you notice your testicle swelling, it may be a Tunica Vaginalis Mesothelioma.

What to do if you get the symptoms

Mesothelioma is a rare disease and the symptoms are sometimes similar to other diseases. So, when you feel one or some of the symptoms, it does not always mean that you have a cancer unless you have ever been exposed to asbestos fibers. In order to know what really happen to you, seeing a doctor is very important. The doctor will evaluate the symptoms you feel and diagnose whether it is a cancer or other diseases.  

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