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| Types Of Mesothelioma |
Types Of Mesothelioma - Mesothelioma can be broken down into three main types, with each affecting a different protective mesothelium in the upper body:
- Pleural Mesothelioma
- Peritoneal Mesothelioma
- Pericardial Mesothelioma
1. Pleural Mesothelioma
WHAT IS PLEURAL MESOTHELIOMA?
Pleural mesothelioma is cancer of the pleura – the protective mesothelium that encases the lungs.
HOW DOES PLEURAL MESOTHELIOMA DEVELOP?
Pleural mesothelioma most commonly develops as a result of asbestos inhalation. Asbestos enters the lungs and the tiny fibers travel into the pleura causing irritation and eventually the formation of cancerous cells. Pleural mesothelioma is the most commonly diagnosed form of mesothelioma.
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS ASSOCIATED WITH PLEURAL MESOTHELIOMA?
- Pleural effusion (fluid in the lungs)
- Lower back or chest pain
- Fatigue
- Weight loss
- Difficulty breathing
- Difficulty speaking
- Chronic coughing
- Difficulty swallowing food
- Fever and sweating
- Coughing up blood
- Hoarseness
HOW LONG AFTER ASBESTOS EXPOSURE DO SYMPTOMS OF PLEURAL MESOTHELIOMA BECOME NOTICEABLE?
Symptoms of pleural mesothelioma may not surface until decades after exposure to asbestos. Some cases have reportedly taken forty to fifty years to present symptoms.
HOW IS PLEURAL MESOTHELIOMA DIAGNOSED?
Diagnostic imaging techniques including MRI, CT scans and x-rays in conjunction with biopsies of abnormal tissue and fluid can accurately determine the presence of pleural mesothelioma.
WHAT TREATMENT OPTIONS ARE AVAILABLE FOR INDIVIDUALS DIAGNOSED WITH PLEURAL MESOTHELIOMA?
Surgery is not typically an option for individuals diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma, as diagnosis often comes once the cancer has reached advanced stages. Radiation and chemotherapy options are common treatments aimed at reducing pain, slowing tumor growth and improving overall quality of life. If pleural mesothelioma is caught early enough for surgical treatment, a pleurectomy can be performed to remove the pleura or a more invasive surgery called an extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP) can remove a lung and the pericardium from the chest as well.
2. Peritoneal Mesothelioma
WHAT IS PERITONEAL MESOTHELIOMA?
Peritoneal mesothelioma is cancer of the peritonium – the protective mesothelium surrounding the abdominal cavity.
HOW DOES PERITONEAL MESOTHELIOMA DEVELOP?
Peritoneal mesothelioma is a very rare form of mesothelioma, making up only about thirty percent of mesothelioma diagnoses. It is hypothesized that peritoneal mesothelioma can develops as a result of asbestos inhalation or ingestion. Once in the lungs or digestive tract, asbestos fibers assumably travel into the mesothelium causing the formation of cancerous tumors and/or buildup of excess fluid in the abdominal cavity.
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS ASSOCIATED WITH PERITONEAL MESOTHELIOMA?
- Abdominal pain
- Abdominal mass
- Abdominal distention / swelling
- Fluid retention in the abdomen
- Fever
- Weight loss
- Fatigue
- Nausea
- Anemia
- Digestive Complications
- Bowel Obstruction
HOW LONG AFTER ASBESTOS EXPOSURE DO SYMPTOMS OF PERITONEAL MESOTHELIOMA BECOME NOTICEABLE?
Like pleural mesothelioma, symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma do not typically appear until the cancer is in the advanced stages, which oftentimes takes decades
HOW IS PERITONEAL MESOTHELIOMA DIAGNOSED?
CT scans and tissue biopsies are important tools in the accurate diagnosis of peritoneal mesothelioma. While abdominal x-rays can detect the presence of fluid and scarring, tumors may be more difficult to locate. Tissue biopsies precisely confirm malignancy and the type of mesothelioma cells present.
WHAT TREATMENT OPTIONS ARE AVAILABLE FOR INDIVIDUALS DIAGNOSED WITH PERITONEAL MESOTHELIOMA?
Depending on the stage of the cancer, surgery, radiation and chemotherapy may all be options for removing cancerous areas and slowing tumor growth. Surgery to remove portions of the peritoneum, called a peritonectomy, can be performed to eliminate tumors from within the abdominal lining.
3. Pericardial Mesothelioma
WHAT IS PERICARDIAL MESOTHELIOMA?
Pericardial mesothelioma is cancer of the pericardium – the protective mesothelium surrounding the heart.
HOW DOES PERICARDIAL MESOTHELIOMA DEVELOP?
Pericardial mesothelioma is the least common type of mesothelioma and results from asbestos fibers traveling into the protective lining of the heart. Overtime, tumors form within the pericardium and fluid can accumulate making the disease progressively more life threatening.
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS ASSOCIATED WITH PERICARDIAL MESOTHELIOMA?
- Difficulty breathing
- Chest pain
- Abnormal heart beat / heart palpitations
- Chronic coughing
- Coughing up blood
- Hoarseness
- Difficulty swallowing
HOW LONG AFTER ASBESTOS EXPOSURE DO SYMPTOMS OF PERICARDIAL MESOTHELIOMA BECOME NOTICEABLE?
Like the other forms of malignant mesothelioma, symptoms of pericardial mesothelioma can take decades after exposure to asbestos to detect. Often once the disease is diagnosed the cancer is in the advanced stages and airways and blood flow may already be severely compromised.
HOW IS PERICARDIAL MESOTHELIOMA DIAGNOSED?
MR angiography and diagnostic imaging of the heart and pericardium can detect mesothelioma related swelling and fluid retention, decreased heart function, lack of circulation, and in some cases tumors present within the pericardium. A malignant tissue biopsy is necessary to diagnose pericardial mesothelioma.
WHAT TREATMENT OPTIONS ARE AVAILABLE FOR INDIVIDUALS DIAGNOSED WITH PERICARDIAL MESOTHELIOMA?
In cases of pericardial mesothelioma that are caught early tumors may be removed through surgery. Additionally, fluid can be drained from the pericardium to achieve a higher degree of patient comfort. Radiation therapies are not used as often to treat this kind of mesothelioma due to the elevated risk of damaging vital organs in the area. Unlike pleural and peritoneal mesothelioma, pericardial mesothelioma does not respond to current chemotherapy treatments.
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