An Insight into the Different Types of Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is a dangerous type of cancer that afflicts the mesothelium, a protective layer found on all of the body’s internal organs like the lungs, abdomen, heart and testis. On average, about 3,000 new cases are reported annually. It mostly affects men who were employed in jobs where they had daily contact with asbestos fibers and is incurable. However, in some cases, some level of management has been discovered but all this depends on how early it was detected as well as the aggressive mesothelioma treatment taken upon discovery. Below are the most common forms in which this disease manifests itself.

Pleural Mesothelioma

This form of cancer manifests itself in the protective liner of lungs and is the most common, afflicting about 70% of all mesothelioma diagnoses. It leads to the making the pleura, a continuous membrane wrapped around the lungs for protection and support, to leak leading to the escaping of the pleural fluid. This escape is called pleural effusion, which leads to physical pain felt by the patient. Other symptoms of this type of mesothelioma cancer include:

·         Chest swelling

·         Coughing fits

·         Chest pain

·         Effusions (the leaking of the fluid into the body’s cavity)

·         Dry coughs

·         General weakness

·         Breaths accompanied by pain

·         Lack of appetite

·         Weight loss

·         Night sweats

·         Visible lamps in the chest

Pericardial Mesothelioma

The pericardium is the protective sheet that is around the heart for protection and when pericardial mesothelioma establishes itself, it causes a buildup of the pericardial fluid eventually leading to pericardial effusion. This situation can also lead to pericardial tampondae, which means that the heart is compressed by the pericardium around it. Due to the location of the afflicted area, the symptoms are different but the most common are:

·         Chest pain

·         Chest swelling

·         Chronic vomiting

·         Difficulty in breathing

·         Effusions

·         Fatigue

·         Heart palpitations

·         Heart murmurs

·         Sweating while sleeping

Peritoneal Mesothelioma

Peritoneum is the membrane that protects, surrounds and supports the abdominal cavity and all the associated organs. Peritoneal mesothelioma is the second most common form of mesothelioma and it affects the peritoneum membrane. Like all other forms of mesothelioma, it leads to the building up of the fluid inside causing it to effuse out of the membrane. The commonest symptoms include:

·         Abdominal pain

·         Abdominal swelling

·         Chronic diarrhea or constipation

·         Chronic nausea and vomiting

·         Fatigue

·         Palpable lumps in the abdomen

·         Stomach pain

·         Night sweats

Testicular Mesothelioma

Testicular mesothelioma is found in the tunica vaginalis, serous membrane covering the testis, and extremely rare leading to the following symptoms:

·         Fatigue

·         Groin pain

·         Groin swelling

·         Lumps on the groin

Please note that the type of treatment recommended by your doctor during mesothelioma treatment will largely depend on the stage of the cancer as well as its position.

It is worthy of noting that with any type of mesothelioma, life expectancy is drastically reduced hence the need for early intervention. This is true if you or a loved one have been exposed to some measure of asbestos either at home or at work. One is eligible to claim for damage because of injury and many lawyers all over the country are willing to fight for the justice of the affected workers as well as their families.