Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is a cancer (Read about "Cancer: What It Is") that strikes the mesothelium, which is a membrane that encases most of our internal organs. It is strongly linked to working with asbestos.

The mesothelium goes by various names depending on where it is in the body. For example, in the abdominal cavity it's called the peritoneum. The pleura is in the chest and surrounds the lungs and the pericardium is the name for the mesothelium that surrounds the heart. The mesothelium allows the various organs to move against each other easily. The lungs can expand and the heart can beat with ease.

Mesothelioma is most commonly found in the chest or the abdomen, the pleura or peritoneum, according to the National Cancer Institute (NCI). The American Cancer Society (ACS) says that 75 percent of mesothelioma cases start in the chest. The cancer can however spread to other organs. Even when it does spread to adjacent organs, such as the lungs, it is still called mesothelioma because it originated in the mesothelium.

Both NCI and ACS call mesothelioma a rare cancer with fewer than 3,000 new cases each year.

Risk factors

Asbestos is the main risk factor for developing mesothelioma. ACS says that most cases involve people who worked with asbestos over the years. Asbestos was a common building material for years, used in insulation and sprayed on walls and ceilings and also used in floor tiles and the mastic used to glue the tiles down. It also was used in many other things such as roofing, gaskets and patching materials.

NCI says that asbestos exposure can be traced in 70 to 80 percent of all cases, but that there are some cases where the patient reports no asbestos exposure.

Family members of people who worked with asbestos are also at increased risk of developing mesothelioma because of their exposure to asbestos brought home on the clothing and the body of the worker.

Symptoms and diagnosis

The symptoms of mesothelioma take a long time to develop. NCI says it can be 30 to 50 years before the symptoms cause a patient to go to the doctor. ACS says many times the symptoms are so general that they are often ignored.

Shortness of breath and pain in the chest due to an accumulation of fluid in the pleura are often symptoms of pleural mesothelioma. Other symptoms, according to ACS include:

• cough
• hoarseness
• weight loss
• fever
• sweating (Read about "Sweating")
• tiredness and muscle weakness

If the cancer has spread to adjacent areas, NCI says other symptoms can include:

• swelling of the face and arms
• trouble swallowing

Symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma include weight loss and abdominal pain and swelling due to a buildup of fluid in the abdomen, according to NCI. Other symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma may include bowel obstruction, blood clotting abnormalities, anemia (Read about "Anemia") and fever.

Finding mesothelioma isn't that easy. The doctor will start with a medical history. Various imaging tests, such as x-rays, CT, MRI or PET scans can all be used. (Read about "X-rays" "CT Scan - Computerized Tomography" "MRI - Magnetic Resonance Imaging" "PET - Positron Emission Tomography") NCI says a biopsy (Read about "Biopsy") is needed to confirm a diagnosis of mesothelioma.

If mesothelioma is found the next step is called staging. Staging is done to find out whether the cancer has spread and, if so, to which parts of the body. Knowing the stage of the disease helps the doctor plan treatment. (Read about "Cancer Treatments") Mesothelioma is described as localized if the cancer is found only on the membrane surface where it originated. It is classified as advanced if it has spread beyond the original membrane surface to other parts of the body, such as the lymph nodes (Read about "The Lymph System"), lungs, chest wall or abdominal organs.

Staging also involves other issues such as general overall health and age.

Treatment

Treatment for mesothelioma depends on the location of the cancer, the stage of the disease, and the patient's age and general health. NCI says standard treatment options include surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy. (Read about "Radiation Therapy") Sometimes, these treatments are combined. In addition, to help relieve pain and other symptoms, NCI says fluid that builds up may be drained.

Related Information:

    Occupational Respiratory Diseases