Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer in which malignant (cancerous) cells are found in the mesothelium, a protective sac that covers most of the body's internal organs. This is a disease in which cells of the mesothelium become abnormal and divide without control or order. They can invade and damage nearby tissues and organs. Cancer cells can also metastasize (spread) from their original site to other parts of the body. Mesothelioma develops in the lining around the lungs (the “pleura”), abdomen (the “peritoneum”), or heart (the “pericardium”).

Mesothelioma is almost always caused by exposure to asbestos. Most people who develop mesothelioma have worked on jobs where they inhaled asbestos particles.When asbestos particles are inhaled or swallowed, they bypass the body’s natural defense systems, lodging themselves in the lungs and abdomen. The sharp, microscopic asbestos fibers eventually make their way to the outer edge of the chest and abdominal cavities and into a membrane called the mesothelium. The mesothelium, a double-layered protective membrane, surrounds all the organs of the human body and is vital to their proper function. The mesothelium keeps the organs in place while simultaneously lubricating them, allowing them to flex and move with breathing and other movement. Asbestos fibers cause lesions and scarring on the mesothelium, ultimately leading to the formation of tumors. The damaged cells secrete large amounts of a clear fluid that presses on the lungs and other organs, causing severe discomfort. In addition to these fluid secretions, aggressive tumor growth in later stages can lead to the rapid spread of cancer throughout the chest and abdomen, as well as cardiac or respiratory failure. Mesothelioma progresses extremely slowly. The cancer may take anywhere from 25 to 50 years to show symptoms. Often, when a victim is diagnosed with mesothelioma, the disease has already reached an advanced stage and permanent damage has already occurred. Although this cancer can appear in men and women at any age, it occurs more often in men and risk increases with age. Mesothelioma is still somewhat a rare cancer, rates have increased over the last 20 years.

Mesothelioma Symptoms

Mesothelioma is difficult to diagnose because the symptoms associated with this disease closely resemble more common chest and lung diseases.

Symptoms may include:

• Persistent Coughing.

• Coughing Blood.

• Shortness of Breath.

• Chest and Abdomen Pain.

• Fatigue.

• Weight Loss.

• Nausea.

• Headaches.

Mesothelioma severely weakens the immune system, making those afflicted with the disease more vulnerable to secondary diseases like pneumonia and the flu. There are numerous tests available to help medical professionals diagnose mesothelioma; however, such diagnosis is still a difficult and long process.

Mesothelioma is a form of cancer that develops in the lining around the lungs (the “pleura”), abdomen (the “peritoneum”), or heart (the “pericardium”). Mesothelioma is almost always caused by exposure to asbestos. In contrast, lung cancer refers to a malignancy of the lung itself.

Types of Mesothelioma

There are following types of Mesothelioma:

Pleural Mesothelioma.

Peritoneal Mesothelioma.

Pericardial Mesothelioma.

Cell Types of Mesothelioma.