Mesothelioma is a very malignant form of cancer that is almost always in a progressive state by the time that symptoms have developed. This makes diagnosis difficult for both the doctors and the patient because the association between the symptoms and the most common cause of mesothelioma, asbestos exposure is not made.
What is Mesothelioma?
Mesothelioma is a cancer of the mesothelium, which is a sac like covering that covers many of the vital organs of the body, namely the pleura that covers the lungs, peritoneum which covers the abdominal cavity, and pericardium, the sac that covers the heart. These membranes serve two functions in that they produce a lubricating fluid and to allow smooth movement of the organs with adjacent structures.
Pericardial Mesothelioma
The rarest type of mesothelioma is the pericardial variant which affects about only 10 percent of the patients with mesothelioma. This variant can cause palpitations, abnormal heart rhythms, and breathing problems.
Peritoneal Mesothelioma
Peritoneal mesothelioma is cancer of the peritoneum. Approximately 10 to 20 percent of all mesothelioma patients have the peritoneal variant. This cancer can metastasize to other areas of the body. Usually the symptoms that the patient experiences are more severe with this type of mesothelioma and can result in nausea, blood clots, and pressure on the surrounding organs, which create unpleasant sensations.
Pleural Mesothelioma
The most common variant of mesothelioma is the pleural type, affecting 70 to 80 percent of the patients with the disease. Symptoms of mesothelioma include difficulties in swallowing and breathing, and being able to walk and move about without coughing. Weight loss may also be present. Symptoms of mesothelioma cancers are same as of other common diseases. Other symptoms of mesothelioma cancer include abdominal pain and swelling, fatigue and weakness, appetite loss, chest pains, lower back pains and difficulty swallowing.
Sub-types, or cell types, of mesothelioma are epithelioid, the most commonly seen, and considered the most receptive to treatment, sarcomatous, the more aggressive form, and biphasic or mixed, having characteristics of both cell types.
The appearance of cells when viewed under the microscope determines the cell or sub-type of mesothelioma. Epithelioid is the least malignant; sarcomatoid, the most malignant. The biphasic or mixed cell type shows physical characteristics of both of the other two types.
Mesothelioma has a long latency period; sometimes symptoms do not appear until 50 years after exposure. Survival rates for this type of cancer is extremely low with life expectancy after diagnosis being 12-24 months. Surgery, if diagnosed early enough, radiation, and chemotherapy are all treatment options for persons with mesothelioma.
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