Malignant mesothelioma affects the mesothelium, the protective lining of the internal organs like lungs, heart, abdomen etc. It is a rare form of cancer which is often confused with lung cancer. Mesothelioma affects the lining of the lung and the latter infects the lung itself. Mesothelioma patients are the ones who had breathed in asbestos for a considerable period of time.
There are three types of malignant mesothelioma. The most common type, the pleural mesothelioma, affects the pleura, or the outer covering of lungs and internal chest wall while the peritoneal and pericardial types affect the lining protecting the abdominal cavity and heart respectively. The caner is definitely a killer, but mortality rates of these three differ slightly, with the pericardial mesothelioma being touted as the most dangerous.
When asbestos particles are inhaled for a long duration of time, they accumulate in the mesothelium resulting in the malfunctioning of its cells. It is only after several decades that the infection assumes alarming proportions. This is the reason why many of the newly diagnosed mesothelioma patients are those who got exposed to asbestos in the 1940s to 1970s.
Pleural effusion is the main initial symptom of the disease. This is the condition in which the patient experiences shortness of breath due to excessive build up of fluid in the cavities. Incessant dry cough along with shortness of breath is a definite symptom of malignant mesothelioma attack. Other symptoms include fever, fatigue, pain around chest, night sweats, swelling of the abdomen, weight loss etc. In the case of malignant mesothelioma, doctors sometimes misdiagnose the type of cancer resulting in wrong treatment.
Individualized treatment is essential for mesothelioma. Here the doctors have to consider the type and stage of cancer along with the overall health of the victim. Chemotherapy, radiation and surgery are the most common treatment used as in other cancers. Risks are involved in this approach due to the fact that most of the patients would be at the last stage of malignant mesothelioma at the time of diagnosis. If the doctors find the disease incurable, palliative treatment is given to the patient. Still, since research works are going on regarding promising modern techniques of treatment, there is hope.
If you enjoyed this write up about mesothelioma law, then you should check over this different site discussing deadly mesothelioma characteristics.
