Mesothelioma Summary "All about Mesothelioma"

Mesothelioma is a cancer of the mesothelium. The mesothelium is a thin membrane that lines the chest and abdomen and surrounds the organs in these areas. The lining around the lungs is called the pleura and in the abdomen it is known as the peritoneum.

Mesothelioma is the term used to describe a cancerous tumor which involves the mesothelial cells of an organ, usually the lungs, heart or abdominal organs. Pleural mesothelioma or cancer of the lung lining is the most common form of mesothelioma cancer.

Mesothelioma is a cancer of the cells that make up the lining of the lungs, the inside of the ribs, and around the abdominal organs. In the past it was thought that cigarette smoking caused mesothelioma. However, with medical research it has been proven that it is caused by asbestos exposures.

Malignant mesothelioma affects the lining or membranes of certain large cavities in the body. These cavities, called the serous cavities, house certain major organs in the body including the heart, lungs, abdomen and others. The membranes that surround these cavities are called the serous membranes.

Tumors of the mesothelium can be non-cancerous (benign) or cancerous (malignant). A malignant tumor of the mesothelium is called a malignant mesothelioma; however, malignant mesothelioma is often simply called mesothelioma.

Its only known cause in the United States is previous exposure to asbestos fibers.

While very thin, this layer of cells is vitally important to organ function and the health of the inner body structures. There are three recognized types of mesothelioma.

In about 10 per cent of mesothelioma cases, asbestos fibres that have been swallowed can move through the stomach wall and cause cancer cells to develop in the peritoneum (peritoneal mesothelioma).

Pleural mesothelioma is the most common form, often presenting with symptoms in the chest area.

Benign mesotheliomas can often be removed surgically, are generally not life-threatening, and are not usually related to asbestos exposure. Malignant mesotheliomas, however, are very serious. Fortunately, they are rare - about two thousand people are diagnosed with mesothelioma in the U.S. each year.

Smoking does not appear to increase the risk of mesothelioma. However, the combination of smoking and asbestos exposure significantly increases a person's risk of developing cancer of the air passageways in the lung.

Once asbestos is inhaled it can effect many of the bodys different organs including the throat, lungs, stomach, heart and testicles.

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 70 percent of cases being pleural in origin.

Most people with malignant mesothelioma have worked on jobs where they breathed asbestos. Usually, this involves men over 40 years of age. Others have been exposed to asbestos in a household environment, often without knowing it.

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