What is Malignant Mesothelioma?
There are nerve cells running through the entire length of the body and this includes the organs. Have you ever thought why you are not experiencing any forms of pain, when you are stretching? The internal organs, primarily the lungs are rubbing against the chest cavity, and yet you are never experiencing any form of pain. The same can be applied when you are breathing heavily. We are not experiencing pain because almost all the major organs and cavities within the body are lined by mesothelium. This sheath layer protects the organs from sudden shocks and impacts.
Cancer of the mesothelium will lead to mesothelioma. When a foreign substance is present in the mesothelium cells, it will try to get rid of that substance. The foreign substance can be anything literally, but in the case of mesothelioma, it is usually the mineral asbestos. Mesothelioma or malignant mesothelioma will be the result. Since the mesothelium can be found in all parts of the body, the mesothelioma can originate anywhere in the body. Pleural mesothelioma is known to be the most ordinary type of malignant mesothelioma. The pleura is a membrane covering the lungs and the chest cavity.
The condition is also widely known as asbestos cancer mesothelioma. As I had mentioned in the previous passage, the primary cause of mesothelioma is inhalation of fine microscopic asbestos powder. One of the other forms of malignant mesothelioma is the peritoneal mesothelioma. This cancer originates in the abdomen and the abdomen cavity. This is the second most form of mesothelioma apart from the former pleural mesothelioma. The latency period for the various forms of asbestos cancer mesothelioma is large. It is usually during the latter stages that the patient is diagnosed with the disease. By then, the chances of survival might be slim.
The pleural and peritoneal mesothelioma can lead to pericardial mesothelioma. This is caused during the advanced stages of the condition. The infection might spread from the pleura or the abdomen and might spread to the pericardium that covers the heart. The symptoms of malignant mesothelioma include breathing problems and pain related to breathing. The patient might not be able to undertake in the daily chores and might experience fatigue at all times. Cough that is dry in nature is a common symptom associated with asbestos cancer mesothelioma. If the doctor can successfully diagnose the condition during the earlier stages itself, then it can be treated effectively using trimodal procedures.
Surgery is the main form of treatment for all forms of asbestos cancer mesothelioma. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy are the other forms of treatment procedures recommended by doctors. Suitable protection must be provided to the employees who are handling asbestos and those who work in environments filled with asbestos powder. Since the condition is difficult to be diagnosed, most of the patients are known to succumb to the condition. Early detection is also impossible because the patient might never exhibit any form of symptoms during the initial stages. Prevention is the best cure, as they say.
