How Many Types of Mesothelioma Cancer Are There?
Mesothelioma is a form of cancer that affects the membrane of various vital organs of the human body, such as the lungs, heart and abdominal organs. The known cause of this disease is exposure to asbestos.
In this type of cancer, the malignant cells begin to form in the protective membrane that covers several internal organs, the latter being called mesothelium. All organs known to have this protective layer are likely to be affected by mesothelioma.
The most common types of mesothelioma encountered, however, are:
- pleural mesothelioma
- peritoneal mesothelioma
- Pericardial mesothelioma
The first, pleural mesothelioma, forms on the lung membrane, called the pleura, which is affected by harmful cells. Pleura is a protective tissue that covers the lungs of the chest cavity. This membrane helps the lungs by producing a serous fluid that does not allow the lungs to dry against the walls of the chest.
Malignant cells, once they enter the pleura, begin to spread and affect the surrounding tissues and organs. This will lead to more complications leading to pain and symptoms that are difficult to treat.
Mesothelioma that affects the pleura is divided into two types: the malignant formation (diffused type) - when it affects the mucosa - and the benign formation (localized type) that affects only certain parts of the body except the pleura. However, this first form - the malignant mesothelioma - can cause a constriction of the lungs that will result in shortness of breath and pulmonary insufficiency - the pneumothorax.
With the second type - peritoneal mesothelioma - the tumor or cancer is located on the peritoneum membrane (lining of the abdomen), thus affecting the organs inside the abdominal cavity, including the stomach. This one is less common, but it is more aggressive with a short life expectancy.
The third type - pericardial mesothelioma - is not very common (less than 10%) and occurs in the heart where the fluid accumulates in the sac that protects this vital organ. Because this disease is very rare, doctors have not been able to understand how this asbestos fiber enters the lining of the heart (the pericardium).
The only logical way for pericardial mesothelioma to form in the heart is because the asbestos fibers are so small that they end up being transported from the lung to the heart through the bloodstream.
New cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed each year - about 2,000 diagnoses are made with this disease. This is due to the fact that at one point, many people were exposed in time to the handling of asbestos, which caused the subsequent onset of a disease called mesothelioma. Detected in time, it can be treated with one of three methods available: chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgery.
I created a website specifically for people who do not know where to start when they discover that they themselves or one of their loved ones has contracted mesothelioma.