"This outstanding mesothelioma resource written by Dr. Kaplan in easy
to understand terms will greatly benefit patients and their families."
- Zach Modis
"I wish I had this book when my dad was diagnosed with mesothelioma.
It explains so much. "
- Sundi
"Well written, informative, helpful…"
- Julia Baker
Types of Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma is a very deadly cancer that affects the mesothelium, which is the
protective lining or sac that covers the most important organs of the body like
liver, abdomen and heart. The main cause of mesothelioma is due to the exposure
of the persons to asbestos and its fibers. Hence this disease is mostly seen among
people who have worked in asbestos factories or who have lived close by the asbestos
factories or in some cases, the family members of the people who have worked in
the asbestos factories. Inhalation or ingestion of these asbestos dust and fibers
will result in blocking of the cells which in turn will become malignant. But symptoms
for mesothelioma will be visible only after a minimum of 30 years and by that time
the mesothelioma would have spread like fire all over the body.
There are three main types of mesothelioma that occur in a human body. They are
pleural mesothelioma, peritoneal mesothelioma and pericardial mesothelioma. Depending
upon the part of the body in which the cancer occurs, these types of mesothelioma
are named.
Pleural Mesothelioma
It is a malignant cancer that affects the lining or the protective membrane of
the lungs. It is believed to be caused by the ingestion of asbestos dust and fibers.
About 80% of the persons affected by mesothelioma are found to be suffering from
pleural mesothelioma. Pleural mesothelioma can be either non cancerous or cancerous.
It is diagnosed when there is a build up of fluid inside the pleural space. This
is called pleural effusion. The common symptoms of pleural mesothelioma include
persistent cough, breathing problems, sudden weight loss, fever and muscle wasting.
Peritoneal Mesothelioma
Another common type of mesothelioma is the peritoneal mesothelioma. It affects
the lining of the peritoneum or the membrane of the abdominal cavity. The asbestos
fibers or the products of asbestos are the main cause of peritoneal mesothelioma.
These fibers are trapped in the mucous lining the trachea and are swallowed inside
which eventually pass through the intestinal walls and finally land on the peritoneal
space. The common symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma include abdominal pain and
swelling, sudden weight loss, abnormalities of blood clotting, fever, anemia and
disturbances in bowel movements.
Pericardial Mesothelioma
It is a type of malignant cancer that is rarely seen and accounts for only 5% of
all the people suffering from mesothelioma symptoms. The asbestos fiber that enters
the body affects the lining that covers the heart. This is a very dangerous type
of malignant cancer and if not treated in the early stages will be fatal. This occurs
mostly in males and is treated by performing a surgical excision or removing of
the pericardium. Some of the symptoms of pericardial mesothelioma are: chest pain,
difficulty in breathing, non-stop coughing, irregular beating of the heart and building
up of fluid around the heart.
Since the mesothelioma occurs in a person very long before he has realized or has
been diagnosed, it will be very difficult for the person to recover from this bout
of illness. So if you have been affected by or involved with asbestos and its products
in any way for longer periods, it is advisable to consult a doctor and take the
necessary steps to check whether you are affected by mesothelioma or not.
