Malignant Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma is a form of cancer most commonly caused by exposure to asbestos. The cancer develops in the mesothelium; the protective lining that covers many of the human body’s internal organs. It is typically found in the outer lining of the lungs and internal chest wall in an area known as the pleura. It may also occur in the heart, in the lining of the abdominal cavity known as the peritoneum, and in very rare cases, the tunica vaginalis, which is a covering of the testicles. Mesothelioma is more precisely called malignant mesothelioma.
Malignant mesothelioma develops when asbestos fibers are inhaled or ingested into the human body and become lodged in the organs. Over the period of years, the asbestos fibers cause scarring and inflammation, causing cellular damage. This can eventually lead to the development of mesothelioma, which is a type of cancer. The rapid division of cancer cells causes the affected membrane to thicken, resulting in fluid buildup in the spaces between the membrane layers. Tumors form as the cancerous cells continue to divide and grow, which is an advanced stage of mesothelioma.
Mesothelioma can develop from industrial exposure to inhaled asbestos particles or other types of exposure to asbestos fibers and dust. It is a very aggressive type of cancer that can spread to other organs and tissues in the body. Malignant mesothelioma is very difficult to cure. Metastatic mesothelioma is a more advanced form of the cancer, when it has grown and spread from an initial or primary area of the body into another part of the body.
Detection at an early stage of malignant mesothelioma gives the patient diagnosed the best chance for treating the disease. Shortness of breath is a primary symptom, along with chest wall pain and other general symptoms such as weight loss. Fluid between the lung and chest wall known as pleural effusion causes shortness of breath and chest pain symptoms. Persons who have been exposed to asbestos at work and have these symptoms should see a doctor immediately.
There are different types of malignant mesothelioma with different names, based on the area of the body affected. The most common form of the cancer is pleural mesothelioma, which affects the pleura. The second most common form is peritoneal mesothelioma, when the disease attacks the lining of the abdomen. Other types are pericardial mesothelioma, which developed in the membrane that surrounds the heart, and testicular mesothelioma, which is the rarest form of the disease, found in the tunica vaginalis.