Mesothelioma, or the cancer of mesothelium, is a fatal tumor that affects pleura, peritoneum, and pericardium - linings nearby lungs, abdomen, and heart respectively. It is a fatal disease caused by exposure to asbestos, a plainly occurring mineral.
Mesothelioma cancer be benign, i.e. It can be non-cancerous and non-spreading or it can be malignant i.e. Cancerous and spread to other parts of the body important to death. Its traditional cause is continued exposure to asbestos and it has a latency duration of about 30 to 50 years.
Types of Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma can be classified into three types depending on the area of body affected by it.
There are 3 coarse types of mesothelioma:
1. Pleural Mesothelioma
2. Peritoneal Mesothelioma
3. Pericardial Mesothelioma
Pleural Mesothelioma
The most coarse form of mesothelioma, Pleural Mesothelioma (cancer of pleura) is a tumor of the protective lining nearby the lungs. It can be either benign or malignant.
The pleura is a sac-like membrane made of two layers between which the pleural fluid is released. This fluid in turn acts like a lubricating agent and helps the lungs to function smoothly during breathing.
Symptoms
Common symptoms of Pleural Mesothelioma are:
o Shortness of breath
o Chest pain
o Back pain
o Pain in the rib cage
Other symptoms of Pleural Mesothelioma, for both benign and cancerous forms, include:
o Fluid build-up in the lung lining
o Hoarseness
o Coughing up blood
o Swelling of the face and arms
o Muscle weakness
o Paralysis
o Sensory loss
Peritoneal Mesothelioma
Another coarse form of mesothelioma is peritoneal mesothelioma or cancer of the peritoneum that causes tumor in the abdominal lining. Like pleural it can be benign or malignant.
The peritoneum is the membrane that covers most of the organs in the abdominal cavity and also includes:
o Tunica Vaginalis Testis (mesothelial tissue lining the male internal reproductive organs)
o Tunica Serosa Uteri (mesothelial tissue lining the female reproductive organs).
Symptoms
The fluid released in the peritoneum helps in the level functioning of these organs. When the peritoneum is affected, some coarse symptoms experienced are:
o Stomach pain
o Weight loss
o Nausea
o Vomiting
o Hernia
o Bowel obstruction
o Fluid in the abdominal cavity
If the cancer spreads beyond the abdominal cavity, further symptoms can be found, such as:
o Anemia
o Blood clotting abnormalities
o problem swallowing
o Swelling of neck, face or arms
Pericardial Mesothelioma
Pericardial Mesothelioma or the cancer of pericardium is a tumor of the protective sac-like lining nearby the heart.
Pericardium protects the heart by:
o Smoothening its petition against surrounding organs
o Limiting its petition so that it stays in the chest cavity
o Preventing it from over-expansion during excess influx of blood
Symptoms
When pericardium's function is affected by mesothelioma, the following symptoms may occur:
o Chest pain
o Shortness of breath
o Fluid accumulation in the lining
If the mesothelioma cancer spreads to other organs of the body, it can work on their general functioning and cause painful symptoms. Thus, it is important that mesothelioma cancer is diagnosed on time and proper rehabilitation is given to save the patient's life.
Obstructive Lung Disease:Mesothelioma Types and Their Symptoms
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