What is Mesothelioma?

Mesothelioma is a cancer that develops within the mesothelium of the body. The mesothelium is the protective covering in the body. It covers various organs, including the lungs. The mesothelium is made up of two thin layers. When cancer develops in the mesothelium it is between these layers. The narrow space makes it very difficult to diagnose mesothelioma in the early stages.

Mesothelioma is a difficult cancer to treat. Once a diagnosis of mesothelioma is made, the majority of patients will not live longer than eighteen months. There are a variety of reasons for this, including the advanced nature of the disease once it is diagnosed and the lack of an effective surgical method of removing the tumors.

Combined, these cancers affect 2,000 to 3,000 people in the United States each year. Receiving a diagnosis can be difficult due to the similarity of symptoms to other, more common conditions and doctors may overlook mesothelioma as a diagnosis. Another contributing factor that makes these cancers difficult to diagnose is the severe latency period of symptoms. From the time of someone's initial exposure to asbestos, the primary cause of mesothelioma, signs of development may take as long as 20 to 50 years to arise.

Pleural mesothelioma

This is the most common form of mesothelioma. It is a cancer of the lining of the lungs called the pleura. The pleura, fibrous sheets that help protect the lungs, produces a lubricating fluid that allow the lungs to move smoothly as we breathe. Pleural mesothelioma is uncommon and may be misdiagnosed as lung cancer. Lung cancer, however, is different from pleural mesothelioma. Lung cancer is a malignant tumor that originates in the lungs; pleural mesothelioma occurs in the lining of the lungs. Approximately 75% of all malignant mesothelioma is pleural mesothelioma.

Peritoneal mesothelioma

This cancer is much less common than pleural mesothelioma. It accounts for about 10 to 20% of mesotheliomas. Peritoneal mesothelioma is a cancer in the lining that surrounds the stomach or abdomen called the peritoneum. The peritoneum, cells that produce a lubricating fluid that protect the stomach, allows the stomach to move freely when food is digested. Peritoneal mesothelioma can start in the abdomen and spread to other parts of the body.

Pericardial mesothelioma

This is the rarest form of mesothelioma - only about 5 to 15% of mesothelioma is pericardial mesothelioma. It is a cancer in the lining surrounding the heart called the pericardium. The pericardium, cells that produce a ubricating fluid that protects the heart, allows the heart to move freely when it is pumping blood to other parts of your body.

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