Mesothelioma is a rare and dangerous type of cancer that affects the lining of tissue that covers most of your organs. Shortness of breath, stomach pain, unexplained weight loss or lumps in your chest or stomach are just a few characteristics of this complicated disease. According to Asbestos.com, 2,000 to 3,000 cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed in the United States each year. This comprises 3 percent of all cancers in the United States.
Types
According to the Mayo Clinic, four types of mesothelioma exist. Pleural malignant mesothelioma affects the tissue lining of the lungs and is the most common form of mesothelioma. Pericardial mesothelioma affects the lining around the heart. Peritoneal mesothelioma affects the tissue lining around the stomach. Mesothelioma of the tunica vaginalis affects the lining around the testicles.
Risk Factors
One risk factor for developing mesothelioma is asbestos exposure. Asbestos is a fiber found in the insulation of old homes and industrial work environments in the 20th century. When the fiber is inhaled, it can lead to inflammation in the body and mesothelioma. Other risk factors include smoking, radiation exposure, SV40 (simian virus) exposure and family history, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Symptoms
According to the Mayo Clinic, symptoms of mesothelioma depend on the type of mesothelioma. Some symptoms of pleural mesothelioma include trouble breathing, cough, chest pain and weight loss. Symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma include stomach pain and swelling, weight loss and diarrhea or constipation. Symptoms of pericardial mesothelioma include trouble breathing and chest pain. Symptoms of mesothelioma of the tunica vaginalis include testicular mass.
Treatment
According to the National Cancer Institute, treatment includes surgery to remove the cancerous organ, radiation therapy (energy beams used to kill cancer cells), and chemotherapy (chemicals used to kill cancer cells). Treatment depends on the symptoms and extent of the cancer. New treatments like biologic therapy are also being developed. Biologic therapy uses the patient's immune system (defense system) to fight the cancer cells. Patient's with mesothelioma can also opt to enter a clinical trial (a study of new treatments).
Misconceptions
According to Abestos.com, there exist many misconceptions about mesothelioma. Many people think a large exposure is necessary to develop mesothelioma. This is false because a small amount of asbestos exposure can lead to mesothelioma. Smoking does not cause mesothelioma, but is a risk factor for it. Mesothelioma is not a lung cancer because only the outer lining of the lung is affected. There exist many more misconceptions of mesothelioma than those listed here.
