By Jill Kane
What is Mesothelioma?
Mesothelioma is a form of cancer located in
the lining of either the lungs, abdomen or the heart. These linings are thin
layers of tissue covering the organ.
The pleura is the tissue covering the lungs
and the wall of the chest cavity which cushions and protects the lungs. The
peritoneum lines the abdominal wall and surrounds most of the organs in the
abdomen. The pericardium is the tissue surrounding the heart.
Mesothelioma is a rare but very serious
cancer. There are three types of mesothelioma based on the types of cancerous
cells. The most common type is epithelioid and consists of 50-70% of total
cases and has the best prognosis. The second type is called sarcomatoid,
consists of 10-20 % of mesothelioma cases and is more unpredictable in nature.
The third type of mesothelioma is called biphasic, it is a combination of the
other two types and consists of 20-35% of all cases.
There are an estimated 2000-3000 new cases
of mesothelioma in the United
States
The pleura is a thin lining of mesothelial
cells. There are two pleuras in the chest, the parietal pleura and the visceral
pleura. The parietal pleura lines the chest wall including the inside of the
ribs, diaphragm and pericardium. The visceral pleura covers the lungs and
filters fluid to and from the chest. If the pleura becomes diseases it is not
effective at eliminating fluid from the chest resulting in pleural effusion or
too much fluid in the chest.
Mesothelioma is usually the result of
exposure to asbestos. Most people who are diagnosed with mesothelioma have had
jobs where they breathed asbestos fibers. It may take up to 60 years from the
time of asbestos exposure until mesothelioma develops.
Although rare, mesothelioma is a serious
form of cancer which is often in its advanced stage when a diagnosis is made.
In general, prognosis for mesothelioma patient is poor, however, some patients
live with the disease for a long time. As mentioned earlier, the type of
mesothelioma has an impact on the prognosis, as well as, the age of the
patient, how much tumor has developed and if treatment is rendered. There are
many variables in evaluating a mesothelioma case, so only the patients doctor
can determine the best treatment and possible prognosis on an individual basis.
About The Author
Jill Kane provides useful information and
resources regarding mesothelioma and asbestos at www.mesothelioma-101.org.
Comments