MesotheliomaWhat is Mesothelioma?
Different Types of Mesothelioma
Pleural Mesothelioma
Pleural Mesothelioma affects the mesothelium lining between the lungs and the ribs. Malignant mesothelioma accounts for about 75% of all pleural mesothelioma cases, and is typically not diagnosed until symptoms appear, about 20-30 years after infection occurs. While mesothelioma has been diagnosed in patients before symptoms appear, most people with mesothelioma are not aware of the cancer until symptoms become present.
The onset of mesothelioma is usually very slow, the most common presenting symptom is persistent pain localized in the chest. Occasionally the pain is accompanied by shortness of breath, weakness, weight loss, chest pain, loss of appetite, back pain, coughing and difficulty swallowing.
Typically, the average survival rate is about 17 months from the detection of symptoms. Unfortunately, only 10% of patients survive for longer than 3 years, and only 5% of patients are alive after 5 years.
Peritoneal Mesothelioma
Peritoneal mesothelioma is the second-most common form of asbestos-related cancer. It accounts for about 10-15% of diagnosed mesothelioma cases. Peritoneal mesothelioma attacks the lining of the the abdominal cavity, and then typically progresses to the liver, spleen or the bowel. In peritoneal mesothelioma the abdomen fills with fluid and becomes enlarged. The patients can experience nausea, vomiting, swelling of their feet, fever and bowel movement difficulty.
Sadly, the prognosis for peritoneal mesothelioma is poorer than for pleural mesothelioma, with a median survival time of about 10 months from the onset of symptoms.
Benign Mesothelioma:
Cycstic mesothelioma of the peritoneum is a more rare form of mesothelioma. This form of mesothelioma is generally not life threatening, and can be surgically removed. Benign mesothelioma is not usually a result of asbestos exposure, and with prompt treatment benign mesothelioma is easily curable.
Rare Sites:
The Heart: Pericardial Mesothelioma is is a very seldom seen cardiac cancer. Pericardial mesothelioma attacks the lining surrounding the heart, or the pericardium. As mesothelioma progresses in the pericardium, tumors grow to surround the heart, preventing it from effectively pumping blood throughout the body and restrict space used for the heart to expand.
Ovaries and Scrotum: Mesothelioma of the ovaries and the scrotum have also been reported. Treatment options differ based on the stage of the disease, the prognosis for these type of mesothelioma is very poor.
