Mesothelioma Lung Cancer

Pericardial mesothelioma attacks the pericardium or the lining that surround the heart. Because of the rarity of malignant pericardial mesothelioma, there has been little research on this specific form of mesothelioma. Because of the lack of research, there has not been an absolutely definitive link between asbestos exposure and the development of this terribly rare lung cancer, although research has proven a strong link between asbestos and the development of pericardial mesothelioma.

Even without definitive proof, the development of this rare cancer does seem to be associated with long term asbestos exposure. It is for this reason that patients and their families should consider contacting a mesothelioma attorney in order to understand what legal rights and potential avenues of compensation might be available for you as a result of asbestos exposure in the workplace.

With pleural mesothelioma it is well understood that asbestos fibers are either inhaled or swallowed and then migrate into the small airways of the lungs where they settle into the lining of the lungs. There these asbestos fibers can live for decades, causing chronic inflammation, which can eventually develop into malignant pleural mesothelioma.

With pericardial mesothelioma it is less well known how the asbestos fibers actually invade the pericardium, or the lining of the heart. It is thought that perhaps through the circulatory system, the asbestos fibers are carried through the body where they eventually settle into the lining of the heart, causing chronic inflammation which can develop into mesothelioma.

The symptoms of pericardial mesothelioma take many years to develop. It is literally decades, sometimes even up to thirty or forty years after asbestos exposure before symptoms of mesothelioma develop. The earliest symptoms of pericardial mesothelioma are heart palpitations, chest pain or chest pressure even with the slightest exertion. This pain is generally caused by tissue expansion from the developing tumors or increasing fluid collecting in the area around the heart. Early symptoms might also include shortness of breath.

Of course with symptoms such as these you should seek immediate medical attention. Your physician will use a physical exam, a battery of tests such as lab work, a CT scan an MRI scan, or even a biopsy to determine an actual diagnosis. If the diagnosis is mesothelioma, then your physician will also use these tests to determine the extent of the disease. Your age, general health, other known medical conditions and the staging of mesothelioma will all be taken into account when determining a course of treatment.

Although pericardial mesothelioma can occasionally be treated with surgery, many patients are in advanced stages of pericardial mesothelioma at the time of diagnosis and often choose surgical treatment to deal with the pain and discomfort or the cancer instead of using surgery as a curative approach. Even if surgical treatment is an option, it is thought that the best treatment for pericardial mesothelioma is a combination approach, which might include surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

Pericardial mesothelioma is a rare and deadly form of mesothelioma. With less than 10% of all mesotheliomas being diagnosed as pericardial mesothelioma it demands an aggressive management approach best directed by a physician who specializes in mesothelioma.

People who have been exposed to asbestos such as constructions workers and manufacturing workers have a greater risk of developing lung cancer which is 3 to 4 times greater risk than the workers who have not been exposed to asbestos. There have also been reported incidents of family members of these workers developing mesothelioma lung cancer.

It is believed that the family members developed malignant mesothelioma as a result of the asbestos fibers sticking to the clothing of the workers and then that same clothing being handled by family members. Mesothelioma is a very rare form of lung cancer that arises in the mesothelium. The mesothelium is made up of two layers. The first layer, closest to the body organs, is known as the visceral layer.

The second layer, which is the sac around the body cavities, is known as the parietal layer. The mesothelium surrounds several internal organs and body cavities, such as the peritoneum (the abdomen), the pleura (thoracic cavity) and the pericardium (the sac surrounding the heart). The mesothelium produces a fluid which provides lubrication for movement and helps the organs move easily among the surrounding body structures. For example, in the case of the lungs, it helps reduce friction between the lungs and chest wall during normal breathing as the lungs expands.

Mesothelioma lung cancer is related to asbestos exposure. As with all cancers, abnormal malignant cells begin to divide and replicate without any control. These malignant cells begin to crowd out the healthy cells and can invade surrounding cells, tissue and organs.

Cancer cells can also break away from a malignant tumor and enter the bloodstream or lymphatic system (the tissues and organs that produce, store, and carry white blood cells that fight infection and other diseases). This process, called metastasis is how cancer spreads from the original (primary) tumor to form new (secondary) tumors in other parts of the body.

Mesothelioma lung cancer is a rare and deadly type of lung cancer. Immediate treatment is recommended to prolong the life span and to improve the quality of life for both the patient and their family.