• Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer (malignancy) of mesothelium.
• Mesothelium is a membrane that covers and protects internal organs.
• It arises from the cells lining the sacs of the chest (the pleura) or the abdomen (the peritoneum) or the sac lining the heart(pericardium).
• There is a rare form of mesothelioma called testicular mesothelioma ( also called as mesothelioma of tunica vaginalis.)
• Pleural mesothelioma is the most common form.
• There are two main cell types of mesothelioma called epithelial and sarcomatoid.
• Sarcomatoid cells are rare and have poor prognosis.
• There is also a benign form of mesothelioma and it can be treated easily.

• It is a asbestos related cancer.
• It is caused due to asbestos exposure in the household unknowingly or during jobs.
• A little exposure of asbestos for one or two months can cause mesothelioma 30 or 40 years later.
• But rarely in some people mesothelioma can be caused even after 70 years after exposure of asbestos.

• Asbestos exposure
• Living with someone who has asbestos exposure
• Smoking
• Exposure to simian virus 40 (sv40)
• Radiation exposure
• Family history

• shipyard workers
• people who work in asbestos mines and mill
• producers of asbestos product
• workers in the heating and construction industries
• other tradespeople

• Initially history of the patient regarding exposure to asbestos is taken.
• Then physical examination is done on the patient.
• X-rays,CT-scan and MRI are taken.
• Biopsy is done to take small piece of tissue from the affected site and is observed under microscope.
• If the cancer is in the lungs, then thoracoscopy is done to get tissue samples or for biopsy.
• During thoracoscopy a small incision is done on chest wall and a tube called thoracoscope is inserted through the chest wall between the ribs.
• Then using the thoracoscope, biopsy is done.
• If the cancer is in the abdomen,peritoneoscopy is done that is insertion of a tube called peritoneoscope through a cut in the abdomen for obtaining a tissue sample.
• If tissue obtained by these methods is not sufficient then diagnostic surgery needs to be done.
• If staging needs to be done to know extent of disease then more tests will be needed.
• Fine needle aspiration, laparoscopy and laparatomy techniques are used for diagnosis.

General symptoms of mesothelioma are:

• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Coughing
• Pain in chest or abdomen
• Fluid in the chest, lungs, or abdomen
• Weight loss
• Loss of appetite
• Inability to sleep
• Husky voice
• Difficulty swallowing

Symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma are:

• Abdominal pain, acute to severe
• Swelling of the abdominal region due to fluid accumulation
• Breathing difficulties
• Loss of appetite resulting in weight loss
• Bowel obstruction
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Weakness
• Fever
• Anemia

Symptoms of pericardial mesothelioma are:

• Chest pain, ranging from uncomfortable to severe
• Shortness of breath
• Heart palpitations
• Persistent coughing
• Extreme fatigue after minimal activity or exertion

Symptoms of pleural mesothelioma are:

• Chest pain
• Coughing
• Wheezing
• Shortness of breath
• Fluid around the lungs (pleural effusion)
• Hoarseness or difficulty speaking
• Blood clots (less common)

Symptoms of testicular mesothelioma:

• It is a very rare form.

• It shows testicular lumps.

• There may or may not be pain.

* Difficulty breathing
* Chest pain
* Difficulty swallowing
* Swelling caused by pressure on the large vein that leads from your upper body to your heart (superior vena cava syndrome)
* Pain caused by pressure on the nerves and spinal cord
* Accumulation of fluid in the chest (pleural effusion), which can compress the lung nearby and make breathing difficult
* Mesothelioma gradually leads to death

1.Mesothelioma is treated by using surgery,chemotherapy and radiotherapy either separately or in combined form.

2.Surgery:

• For surgery the lining or mesothelium which is affected is removed.
• For pleural mesothelioma,pneumonectomy is done that is to remove the lung
• Sometimes diaphragm the muscle below lungs which helps in respiration is also removed.

3.Radiotherapy:

• It uses high energy radiations to kill cancer cells and to shrink tumors.

4.Chemotherapy:

• Usage of anti-cancer drugs to treat cancer.
• If chemotherapy is used before doing surgery it is called neo-adjuvant chemotherapy.
• If it is used after doing surgery it is called adjuvant chemotherapy. It reduces chances of cancer to return or relapse.

5.Usage of thoracocentesis (removal of fluid from chest) or paracentesis (removal of fluid from abdomen) is done to relieve the pain.

They are:

• Acupuncture
• Relaxation exercises
• Sitting near a fan to reduce breathlessness
• Breath training

• Nowadays they work along with mesothelioma doctors
• Mesothelioma doctors provide health care for the patients
• The mesothelioma attorneys or mesothelioma lawyers take care and plan the financial future of the patients.
• Mesothelioma attorneys also help the patients to file cases against the companies they worked with and due to which they were exposed to asbestos to claim compensation or money.
• Mesothelioma settlements are generally quick and out of the court.