What is the cause of mesothelioma
Mesothelioma is a cancer that affects the thin membrane protecting several of the body’s most important organs, including the lungs, abdomen and heart. Treatment for this disease includes surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy.. Three out of every four cases cases of mesothelioma disease begin in the pleural mesothelium of the chest cavity. Mesothelioma can also begin in the abdominal cavity and around the heart.Regardless of where they originate, malignant cells from the mesothelium can invade and damage nearby tissues. Cancer cells can also metastasize, or spread, to other parts of the body.
Often by the time mesothelioma is diagnosed, the disease is advanced. The five-year survival rate is around 5% to 10%. Most patients with mesothelioma die as a result of respiratory failure or pneumonia. Some patients develop a small-bowel obstruction when a tumor extends through the diaphragm. A smaller number die of cardiac complications when the tumor invades the pericardium -- the thin membrane that surrounds the heart -- and the heart itself.
What is the symptoms of mesothelioma
Most mesothelioma symptoms take decades to appear after exposure to asbestos occurred. The symptoms of mesothelioma are also found in many other other more common diseases, making mesothelioma hard to diagnose. The symptoms of mesothelioma vary with each stage and location (chest, abdomen, heart) of the disease.
Mesothelioma is unique in that it has a long latency period, which is the amount of time between the initial exposure to asbestos and the appearance of noticeable symptoms. The latency period for most symptoms caused by mesothelioma ranges from 10 to 50 years.
When signs of the cancer start to arise, the most common mesothelioma symptoms include: Dry cough or wheezing. Shortness of breath (dyspnea) Respiratory complications. Pain in the chest or abdomen. Fever or night sweats. Pleural effusion (fluid around the lungs) Fatigue. Muscle weakness.
Symptoms by Location
Pleural mesothelioma: The symptoms of pleural mesothelioma originate in the chest. Pleural effusions (fluid buildup in the chest around the lungs) make it harder to breathe and causes chronic chest pain.Peritoneal mesothelioma: The symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma start in the abdomen. Ascites (fluid buildup in the abdomen) causes pain and fatigue that is often mistaken for gas or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
Pericardial mesothelioma: This type of mesothelioma, originating in the heart, also causes chest pain. Fluid builds up in the protective sac lining the heart, causing the heart to work harder.
Some groups of people are at a higher risk of mesothelioma than others because of regular, everyday exposure to asbestos. Higher risk groups include factory workers, miners, construction workers and military veterans.