Types of Mesothelioma, Cancer From Asbestos Exposure
Mesothelioma is a rare type of mesothelial cancer, a membrane that covers the internal organs of the body, including the heart and lungs, acquired during exposure to asbestos or other asbestos-containing materials.
There are three main types of mesothelioma, pleural mesothelioma, peritoneal mesothelioma and pericardial mesothelioma. Each type has its own signs and symptoms, although some signs and symptoms are identical to all three types. Patients with this disease usually have no idea that they have mesothelioma since some of the obvious symptoms do not manifest immediately after exposure. This is why the disease is complex to diagnose and has a poor prognosis.
Three main types of mesothelioma
1. pleural mesothelioma
· One of the most common types of mesothelioma, affecting the lungs, its protective membrane and its cavity
· Attacks the body's respiratory system
· Pleural effusion is the resultant symptom of this type, which has a fluid structure between the liner and the cavity
· Due to pleural effusion, the patient may have difficulty breathing, dysphagia, shortness of breath, fever, persistent cough, sudden weight loss, coughing with blood and cramps.
· With other types of mesothelioma, this form can take 20 to 30 years or more to present certain symptoms in a patient directly exposed to asbestos
2. peritoneal mesothelioma
· One of the few types of mesothelioma that affects the stomach and abdomen
· Involves the membrane that protects the contents of the abdomen and also provides a lubricating fluid to allow organs to function properly
· It has been called diffuse peritoneal mesothelioma, in which the cancer cell is already dispersed
· Symptoms include: abdominal pain, body weakness, sudden weight loss, nausea, loss of appetite, constipation and abdominal swelling
· It has a very long latency period, during which symptoms may not be apparent long after exposure
3. Pericardial mesothelioma
· It is the rarest of the types of mesothelioma, which affects the heart and the cavity that surrounds it
· It is characterized by a tumor in the pericardial region
· The patient may have chest pains, breathing difficulties, shortness of breath, persistent cough and palpitations
· It could take decades or more to manifest these symptoms
The most common victims of any of the mesothelioma types are usually people who have been working for a long time in a place where exposure to asbestos is constant. One of the most common factors is the absence or lack of protective equipment for workers. Proper protective equipment is necessary when working in a hazardous environment. To avoid such a dangerous disease, workers should ask their company to provide appropriate protective equipment to ensure their safety. Remember, "prevention is better than cure".