Mesothelioma

When a patient learns of a mesothelioma diagnosis, confusion is often one of the first emotions experienced. What exactly is mesothelioma? Is it a disease? A virus? Mesothelioma is actually a rare type of cancer. When people refer to mesothelioma disease, they are actually referring to mesothelioma cancer. Mesothelioma develops in the mesothelium, the membrane that surrounds several body cavities. The mesothelium is comprised of mesothelial cells, which become abnormal and divide uncontrollably if mesothelioma is present.

Four different types of mesothelioma exist. Pleural mesothelioma is the most common form of the cancer and develops in the lining of the lungs, known as the pleura. Peritoneal mesothelioma affects the lining of the abdomen, known as the peritoneum. Pericardial mesothelioma is very rare, as approximately 200 cases have been reported internationally. Pericardial mesothelioma develops in the pericardium, the membrane that surrounds the heart and protects the organ. Testicular mesothelioma is the rarest form of mesothelioma and develops in the lining surrounding the testicles, known as the tunica vaginalis.

Approximately 2,000 to 3,000 people are diagnosed with mesothelioma annually in the United States. Many patients are not diagnosed with the cancer until it has reached later developmental stages since it may take 20 to 50 years for a patient to demonstrate symptoms of mesothelioma. The cancer is caused almost exclusively by asbestos exposure and it often takes decades for a patient to express mesothelioma symptoms from the time initial asbestos exposure occurred.

Mesothelioma Symptoms

Diagnosis can be difficult because symptoms often resemble more common illnesses and are non-specific. Patients are often unaware of the severity of their condition until they are diagnosed with mesothelioma. A patient with peritoneal mesothelioma may express symptoms such as a persistent dry or raspy cough, difficulty breathing and swallowing, night sweats and fever, among others. Pericardial mesothelioma patients may complain of swelling or pain in the abdomen, fatigue, nausea, night sweats or the appearance of lumps under the skin on the abdomen. A patient with pericardial mesothelioma may experience heart palpitations or irregular heartbeat, chest pain, difficult breathing, fever and fatigue. Testicular mesothelioma symptoms have been confined to the appearance of testicular lumps.

Mesothelioma Diagnosis

Once a patient demonstrates unusual symptoms and visits a doctor, a medical review and physical examination often follow. Typically, further testing will be needed and an x-ray will likely be requested to pinpoint the location of the cancer and determine whether or not it has spread to other areas of the body. Additional imaging tests such as a CT scan, PET scan or MRI are often recommended for a more detailed image of the cancer. A fluid and tissue test, known as a biopsy is then typically conducted to collect a sample of fluid or tissue to test for the presence of cancerous cells. A pathologist generally examines the sample to determine whether or not mesothelioma is present.

Mesothelioma Treatment

After diagnosis, patients and their loved ones are often anxious to do everything possible to fight mesothelioma. This may involve several different treatment options. The most common treatments mesothelioma patients utilize include surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. Though a cure for mesothelioma does not currently exist, many patients undergo several treatments for relief from symptoms to improve the quality of life. Patients may also experience relief through experimental options and treatments available through clinical trials and alternative therapies.

A patient with mesothelioma often demonstrates symptoms 15 to 50 years after initial exposure to asbestos. The cancer may take decades to develop in the body and symptoms do not arise until after the cancer is present. Many patients are unaware of the severity of their condition since mesothelioma symptoms typically resemble symptoms of less serious illnesses.

If you have a history of asbestos exposure, the leading cause of mesothelioma, it is best to seek immediate medical advice. Informing your doctor of previous asbestos exposure can alert them to the possibility of an asbestos-related disease such as mesothelioma.

Early Symptoms of Mesothelioma

Unfortunately, there are practically no early symptoms of mesothelioma, which is why the disease is commonly diagnosed at a late stage of development. In the interest of early detection, those who were exposed to asbestos but have not yet exhibited symptoms should undergo regular chest X-rays or pulmonary function tests to monitor any adverse affects of asbestos inhalation.

When a doctor informs a patient of a mesothelioma diagnosis, patients and their loved ones are often very confused since the cancer is relatively unknown. Asbestos.com provides a complimentary packet with comprehensive information about mesothelioma symptoms and next-step guidance following a diagnosis.

Pleural Mesothelioma Symptoms

Pleural mesothelioma is the most common form of the cancer, comprising approximately two-thirds of all mesothelioma cases.

Known symptoms of pleural mesothelioma include:

• Persistent dry or raspy cough (typically non-productive, meaning there is little or no phlegm)
  
• Coughing up blood (hemoptysis)
  
• Difficulty in swallowing (dysphagia)
  
• Night sweats or fever
  
• Unexplained weight loss of 10 percent or more
  
• Fatigue
  
• Persistent pain in the chest or rib area, or painful breathing
  
• Shortness of breath (dyspnea) that occurs even when at rest
  
• The appearance of lumps under the skin on the chest

Symptoms of pleural mesothelioma occur as a result of thickening of the pleural membrane, caused by the rapid production of cancerous cells which can lead to the buildup of fluid between membrane layers. Tissue thickening and fluid buildup place pressure on the lungs, leading to reduced respiratory function.

Peritoneal Mesothelioma Symptoms

Peritoneal mesothelioma accounts for approximately 25 to 30 percent of mesothelioma diagnoses and symptoms may include:

• Night sweats or fever
  
• Unexplained weight loss
  
• Swelling or pain in the abdomen
  
• Anemia
  
• Fatigue
  
• Diarrhea or constipation (in general, any change in bowel habits or regularity)
  
• Nausea or vomiting
  
• The appearance of lumps under the skin on the abdomen

Symptoms are caused by the thickening of the peritoneal membrane and the resulting build-up of fluid between membrane layers. These changes in membrane composition put pressure on the abdominal region and organs, causing a patient to demonstrate symptoms of the cancer.

Pericardial Mesothelioma Symptoms

Pericardial mesothelioma accounts for less than 5 percent of all mesothelioma. Symptoms are caused by thickening of the pericardial membrane and fluid buildup. Known symptoms include:

• Heart palpitations or irregular heartbeat
  
• Chest pain
  
• Difficulty breathing, even when resting (dyspnea)
  
• Fever or night sweats
  
• Generalized fatigue

Pericardial mesothelioma is so rare that the recognized body of symptoms is not as well-developed as with more common types of mesothelioma. It is a particularly difficult type of mesothelioma to diagnose, and this correlates to a poor prognosis among pericardial mesothelioma patients.

Testicular Mesothelioma Symptoms

Testicular mesothelioma is an extremely rare form of cancer, as less than 100 cases of testicular mesothelioma have been recorded in the last 60 years. With so few cases recorded, very little is known about the symptoms of this disease. The only known symptom of testicular mesothelioma is the appearance of testicular lumps, and the lumps may or may not be painful.

Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that can arise in the mesothelial lining of the lungs, heart or abdomen. Some cases have even been reported to develop in the lining of the testicles as well. These four types of mesothelioma are called pleural mesothelioma (lung), pericardial mesothelioma (heart), peritoneal mesothelioma (abdomen) and testicular mesothelioma.

Combined, these cancers affect 2,000 to 3,000 people in the United States each year. Receiving a diagnosis can be difficult due to the similarity of symptoms to other, more common conditions and doctors may overlook mesothelioma as a diagnosis. Another contributing factor that makes these cancers difficult to diagnose is the severe latency period of symptoms. From the time of someone's initial exposure to asbestos, the primary cause of mesothelioma, signs of development may take as long as 20 to 50 years to arise.

Asbestos and the Development of Mesothelioma

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that was incorporated into thousands of products throughout the majority of the 20th century. Common items that contained the hazardous substance included insulation, roofing materials, drywall, ceiling and flooring tiles, cements, valves, seals and other construction products. Asbestos was primarily used because it was cheap, fire-resistant and had insulating capabilities.

Mesothelioma may develop after someone has either inhaled or ingested asbestos fibers. This most often occurs when asbestos-containing materials are damaged or disturbed and those in the area fail to wear protective equipment. Once the microscopic fibers that make up asbestos have entered the body, they typically attach to the lining of the lungs and become lodged. Overtime, these fibers create enough irritation and inflammation to cause tumors to develop. Unfortunately, these tumors do not cause symptoms until they have reached an advanced stage of development, leaving a person with limited treatment options and a poor mesothelioma prognosis.

Mesothelioma Symptoms

Unfortunately, there are no early symptoms of mesothelioma. A patient's best chance of detecting mesothelioma at an early stage of development is through receiving regular checkups for signs of asbestos exposure with a qualified physician. Symptoms of pleural mesothelioma may include shortness of breath, difficulty while swallowing, or having a persistent raspy cough. Pericardial mesothelioma symptoms may include chest pain, coughing, fatigue or having an irregular heartbeat. Peritoneal mesothelioma may carry symptoms involving fatigue, nausea, abdominal pain or swelling and the development of lumps under the skin on the abdomen. Due to the rarity of the cancer, very little information has been reported concerning symptoms of testicular mesothelioma.

Treatment Options

Although a cure for mesothelioma does not exist, many patients elect to undergo alternative therapies or clinical trials that test experimental treatments. Some of the more common methods of mesothelioma treatment options for patients include surgery, chemotherapy and radiation, which are designed to relieve symptoms and improve their overall quality of life. In some cases, such treatments may cause the cancer to go into remission and will prolong a patient's life.