What You Need To Know About Mesothelioma?

Of all the different kinds of cancers, mesothelioma is one of the rarer but more aggressive ones. The mesothelium is a fine layer of tissue that coats all your internal organs. A cancer of this layer is called mesothelioma. There is no cure for this cancer, but treatment can help deal with the symptoms.

Types of Mesothelioma

Depending on which section of the mesothelium is affected, mesothelioma is categorized into four types –

• Pleural Mesothelioma

The pleura are the lining of your lungs. If the cells of this layer become cancerous, it is called pleural mesothelioma. It is the commonest sub-category of this cancer (80% of all cases of mesothelioma).  Very often, it is difficult to detect pleural mesothelioma until it has progressed significantly.

The symptoms of pleural mesothelioma include –

• Difficulty in breathing
• Pain in the chest
• Persistent coughing and exhaustion
• Peritoneal Mesothelioma

About 15-20 % of diagnosed cases of mesothelioma are of this kind (second-most common). The abdominal wall or peritoneum is where these cancer cells grow and develop.

Common symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma are –

• Swelling of the abdomen
• Pain, ranging from mild to severe, in the abdominal region
• A build-up of fluids in the abdominal cavity
• Sudden and rapid weight loss 

Pericardial Mesothelioma

This cancer is detected in the wall that encloses the heart – known as the pericardium. It is a rare form of cancer, with only 1% of all mesothelioma cases being pericardial cancer.  The symptoms show up in the very early stages of cancer.

Pericardial mesothelioma exhibits these symptoms –

• Arrhythmia (irregular heartbeats)
• Severe chest pain
• Accumulation of fluids

Testicular Mesothelioma

It is the rarest form of cancer with less than 1% of people diagnosed with mesothelioma developing testicular mesothelioma. This cancer affects the tunica vaginalis – the lining of the testes and triggers symptoms such as –

• Pain in the testes
• Swelling of the scrotum

Causes of Mesothelioma

No exact reason that initiates mesothelioma has yet been discovered. Like other cancers, a sudden and unexplained mutation takes place in the cell, which splits to form more cells that are abnormal. 

However, there are certain risk factors that increase the likelihood of mesothelioma.

Asbestos,  a group naturally occurring fibrous minerals, is believed to be the chief culprit behind mesothelioma. This mineral is present all around us. Since asbestos is sturdy and heat resistant, it is widely used. But when this mineral is mined or inside factories, parts of asbestos disintegrate into dust. And when this dust enters the human body through inhalation or swallowing, it can trigger mesothelioma.

Prevention of Mesothelioma

People who work with asbestos such as miners, roof constructionists, plumbers, factory workers are advised to wear protective masks to reduce their exposure to this deadly dust and prevent mesothelioma.   

Treatment of Mesothelioma

The stage of mesothelioma when it is detected plays a part in the treatment.

• In the early stages, surgery is a good option. The mesothelium, lymph nodes or part of the afflicted organ may be removed.
• Chemotherapy and radiation will also be recommended, sometimes in conjunction with surgery, if surgery was unable to extract all the cancerous cells.

A mesothelioma is a dangerous form of cancer. Moreover, since asbestos is a major culprit, you must limit your exposure to it at all costs.