X

We detected that you're visiting our site from the UK. Would you like to visit the ChaCha UK website?

Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is a rare type of cancer that primarily affects the lining of the lungs, but can also affect the heart and abdomen. Approximately 2,000 to 3,000 cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed each year in the United States, which is approximately 3 percent of all cancer diagnoses. This cancer occurs about four times more frequently in men than in women. More than 30 percent of those diagnosed with mesothelioma are veterans. All forms of mesothelioma, except for benign mesothelioma, are terminal because there is no cure.

Top Questions Asked on ChaCha.com for Mesothelioma

In the Last:
Month

  1. Is there a cure for mesothelioma lung cancer?

    Unfortunately, there is no cure for Mesothelioma at present. ...

  2. Is mesothelioma a terminal disease?

    It is not always terminal, although it may be. Treatments inc...

  3. What are the types of mesothelioma?

    Pleural mesothelioma: when individuals may accumulate some fl...

  4. Is there a cure for mesothelioma?

    At present, mesothelioma patients are faced with three major ...

  5. What are the symptoms of mesothelioma?

    Shortness of breath & chest pain, or weight loss, abdominal p...

Top Questions Asked on ChaCha Mobile for Mesothelioma

In the Last:
Month

  1. What are the symptoms of mesothelioma?

    Shortness of breath & chest pain, or weight loss, abdominal p...

  2. What is mesothelioma cancer?

    Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer (malignancy) that most ...

  3. What does mesothelioma do to you?

    Complications from spreading cancer As pleural mesothelioma s...

  4. What is the chance of surviving mesothelioma?

    Despite treatment with chemotherapy, radiation therapy or som...

  5. Mesothelioma symptoms?

    Mesothelioma patients often demonstrate symptoms such as pers...

About Mesothelioma

The life expectancy for mesothelioma patients is generally reported as less than one year following the diagnosis. A patient’s prognosis is affected by factors such as how early the cancer is diagnosed and how aggressively it is being treated.

Mesothelioma is caused by asbestos exposure. It occurs when the asbestos fibers are inhaled or ingested and they become lodged in human tissue. This causes inflammation or infection. Asbestos is a naturally occurring fibrous substance that was once widely used in the 20th century in a number of different industries. When the public became aware of the hazards associated with the asbestos, warnings were issued in the 1970s and the use of the product began to decline.

There are five known types of mesothelioma:

Pleural Mesothelioma: This type of mesothelioma develops in the lining of the lungs, known as the pleura. It is the most common form of malignant mesothelioma, with around 75 percent of cases being pleural in origin. Pleural Symptoms: Shortness of breath, chest pain, persistent cough, fatigue, lumps under the skin on the chest.

Peritoneal Mesothelioma: Comprising approximately 20 percent of mesothelioma cases, this form of mesothelioma develops in the lining of the abdominal cavity, known as the peritoneal membrane. Peritoneal Symptoms include weight loss, abdominal pain and swelling, bowel obstruction and nausea.

Pericardial Mesothelioma: This form of mesothelioma develops in the lining of the heart, known as the pericardium. Approximately 5 percent of all mesothelioma cases are pericardial. Pericardial Symptoms include heart palpitations, irregular heartbeat, chest pain, difficulty breathing and night sweats.

Testicular Mesothelioma: Testicular mesothelioma develops in the tunica vaginalis of the testicles and is the rarest form of the cancer. Testicular Symptoms include painful or painless testicular lumps.

Symptoms of mesothelioma often do not appear for 20 to 50 years after initial exposure to asbestos occurred. Mesothelioma symptoms often resemble less serious conditions, which can make the diagnosis of mesothelioma difficult.

The process of mesothelioma diagnosis usually begins with a review of a patient’s medical history followed by a physical examination. The doctor will order imaging scans (such as an x-ray, CT scan, PET scan or MRI scan) if a problem is suspected.

A combination of these tests is often used to determine the location, size and the type of the cancer. Biopsy procedures are often requested following an imaging scan to test samples of fluid and tissue for the presence of cancerous cells.

The most common mesothelioma treatments recommended by doctors for patients include surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Patients often undergo multiple treatments to fight the disease, which is known as multimodality therapy. The combination of aggressive treatments helps to fight the cancer in various ways and helps to improve the patient's life expectancy.

vickiz

Recent Mesothelioma Questions

PREV 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 ... 11 NEXT
205 Answers
Advertisement
›
›
›
›
Mesothelioma