A cancer of mesothelial tissue, associated especially with exposure to asbestos.
What is Mesothlioma?
It is an aggressive and deadly form of cancer that occurs in the thin layer of tissue that covers the majority of internal organs.
Types of Mesothlioma
- Pleural mesothelioma- affects the tissue that surrounds the lungs (pleura).
- Peritoneal mesothelioma- affects the tissue in the abdomen.
- Pericardial mesothelioma- affects the tissue around the heart.
- Mesothelioma of tunica vaginalis- affects the tissue surrounding the testicles.
Asbestos
- It is a mineral that is found naturally in the environment.
- Asbestos fibres are strong and resistant to heat, making them useful in a wide variety of applications, such as in insulation, brakes, shingles, flooring and many other products.
- Mesothelioma can be develop after 20 to 60 years of exposure of Asbestos.
Causes of Mesothelioma
Cancers, including mesotheliomas, occur when the DNA in cells is damaged. DNA is the chemical in each of our cells that makes up our genes – the instructions for how our cells function.
We usually look like our parents because they are the source of our DNA. But DNA affects more than how we look. Some genes control when cells in the body grow, divide into new cells, and die.
Changes in these genes may cause cells to grow out of control, which can lead to cancer.
Asbestos exposure is the main cause of pleural mesothelioma. About 8 out of 10 people with mesothelioma have been exposed to asbestos.
Symptoms? How to know whether type is Mesothelioma?
- Abdominal pain
- Abdominal swelling
- Breathing difficulty
- Chest pain
- Painful coughing
- Unusual lumps of tissue under the skin on chest
- Unexplained weight loss
Who can treat Mesothelioma?
There are various types of doctors on your treatment team, based on the stage of your cancer and your treatment options. They may include:
- A pulmonologist: a doctor who specializes in medical treatment of diseases of the lungs
- A surgical oncologist: a doctor who treats cancer with surgery
- A radiation oncologist: a doctor who treats cancer with radiation therapy.
- A thoracic surgeon: a doctor who treats diseases of the lungs and chest with surgery
- A medical oncologist: a doctor who treats cancer with medicines such as chemotherap