Mesothelioma Cancer
Mesothelioma is the term used to describe a cancerous tumor, which involves the mesothelial cells of an organ, usually the lungs, heart or abdominal organs. Pleural Mesothelioma or cancer of the lung lining is the most common form of mesothelioma cancer. Peritoneal Mesothelioma is cancer of the stomach lining and is the next most common form.
The onset of Mesothelioma usually very slow. The most commonly noted mesothelioma symptoms are chest and lower back pain. Sometimes the pain is accompanied by difficult breathing, coughing, weight loss, and fever. As Mesothelioma progresses quickly, it’s very important that one seeks medical treatment as soon as possible.
Fact: Pleural Mesothelioma is the most common form of Mesothelioma accounting for 80-90% of mesothelioma cases.
In general, the clinical presentation of mesothelioma may include the following: Cough, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, difficulty sleeping, and pain in the chest and abdominal regions.
Management of Pleural Mesothelioma depends largely on the stage of the tumor when discovered. Early diagnosis is an important part of treating Mesothelioma, and through the means surgical intervention, the life expectancy of the patient is greatly increased. However, depending on the age and physical condition of the patient, surgery may not be a viable option.
Malignant Mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer, is a disease in which cancer (malignant) cells are found in the sac lining the chest (the pleura) or abdomen (the peritoneum). Most people with Malignant Mesothelioma have worked on jobs where they inhaled asbestos fibers.
Pleural (malignant) Mesothelioma is a malignant tumor of the mesothelium — a tissue formed by mesothelial cells, which lines the chest cavity, abdominal cavity, and the cavity around the heart as well as the surfaces of most internal organs. These mesothelium cells produce a special lubricating fluid enabling organs to move around. For example, the fluid producing cells allow the lungs to move inside the chest when breathing. The cancer may spread from the lungs to other cavities and organs such as the heart, abdomen and even the lymph nodes or brain.
When the symptoms of peritoneal Mesothelioma appear, they typically
include abdominal pains, abdominal weakness, and weight loss, loss
of appetite, nausea, and abdominal swelling. Fluid often accumulates
in the peritoneal space, a condition known as ascites. Over time
the wasting symptoms can become more and more severe. The growing
peritoneal Mesothelioma tumor can exert increasing pressure on
the organs in the abdomen, leading to bowel obstruction and distention.
If the peritoneal mesothelioma tumor presses upward, it can impair
breathing capacity. If the peritoneal Mesothelioma tumor pushes
against areas with many nerve fibers, and the bowel distends, the
amount of pain can increase.
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