According to The National Cancer Institute malignant mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer, in which cancer cells are found in the pleura, the sac lining the chest, in the peritoneum, the lining of the abdominal cavity, or in the pericardium, the lining around the heart.

In this section, we will discuss pleural mesothelioma. Both peritoneal mesothelioma and pericardial mesothelioma will be discussed in subsequent articles.

Pleural mesothelioma, like peritoneal mesothelioma and pericardial mesothelioma, can be quite difficult to diagnose. The symptoms of mesothelioma mimic other diseases, including lung cancer. So it is critical to let your physician know if you have had a historical exposure to asbestos so that your physician can review your case history and can correctly identify any mesothelioma symptoms.

Over two-thirds of all cases of mesothelioma cancer have been identified as malignant pleural mesothelioma, making it the most common of all types of mesothelioma. This cancer attacks the area called the pleura or simply put…the lining of the lungs and the chest cavity. Pleural mesothelioma invades those cells that make up the lining inside the rib cage and the lining outside of the lungs.

Pleural mesothelioma can either be diffuse or wide spread and cancerous or it could also be localized and benign. Usually not related to asbestos exposure, benign mesothelioma is generally not life-threatening and can often be removed surgically. However, malignant mesothelioma is quite serious and requires immediate and aggressive treatment.

With asbestos exposure being the primary culprit in the later development of particular types of mesothelioma, it is important to know your prior exposure history. Years ago, many factories and industrial plants exposed their workers to asbestos particles that the employees either inhaled or swallowed while working.

Because of the employers’ failure to provide their employees with a safe work environment, many of these employees are now seeking legal compensation and are working with mesothelioma lawyers to make certain they are financially provided for as they battle the diagnosis of mesothelioma.

Once the workers inhaled or swallowed the asbestos dust, small particles of asbestos worked their way into the passages of the lungs and ultimately into the lining of the lungs. Once in the small passages of the lungs, these particles eventually developed into cancerous cells.

With the presence of cancerous cells, the lining of the lung or the pleura begins to thicken and excess fluid begins to gather as the cancerous cells continue to proliferate. As the pleura continues to thicken it gradually contracts the lungs resulting in shortness of breath.

This can often be the first symptom of pleural mesothelioma. But as you are well aware, shortness of breath could also indicate many other types of diseases, such as pneumonia, bronchitis, asthma or even lung cancer. As the pleural thickening continues and as the excess fluid, pleural effusion, continues to build shortness of breath can continue to worsen.

Pleural mesothelioma is the most common of all types of mesothelioma. It is usually malignant and requires aggressive treatment. So know your history…if you have a known prior exposure to asbestos, please see your physician today and ask to be screened for mesothelioma.

It can literally take decades from the first point of exposure to asbestos to the actual development of malignant mesothelioma. Because of the direct correlation between asbestos and malignant mesothelioma this disease is also known as asbestos cancer. The challenge with managing this disease is that once it takes hold it quickly becomes a very aggressive disease. So the treatment of this disease must not be delayed.

Because of the rarity of this cancer, it is simply critical to locate a physician who specializes in the field of mesothelioma cancers. It is too important to the overall survival not to have a mesothelioma specialist in charge of leading the patient’s care.

Currently there is no cure for malignant mesothelioma. However, there are treatments available. Treatment of mesothelioma may include surgery, radiation and chemotherapy. Although there are other options also available, both traditional therapies and non-traditional therapies, for the purposes of this article we will focus on two of the mesothelioma treatments; surgery and radiation.

Surgery is very common in the treatment of mesothelioma. It may be the first type of treatment utilized after diagnosis. Surgery may include the removal of the pleura, or the lining of the chest, and may also include the removal of the peritoneum, or the lining of the abdomen. Surgery may be quite extensive depending on the spread of the disease. In some instances, an entire lung may need to be removed. Again, this is dependent on how far the cancer has spread.

Radiation therapy is a treatment in which high doses of radiation are used to target cancer cells in order to kill them and are used to target tumors in order to shrink them. External radiation therapy is defined as radiation therapy in which beams of radiation are directed at the body from a large machine. Internal radiation therapy is defined as radiation therapy in which sources of radiation are inserted into the body near the cancer.

Early diagnosis and aggressive treatment is critical. Utilizing a physician who specializes in the treatment of malignant mesothelioma is one of the important “first steps” in this journey.

So even though there is currently no cure for malignant mesothelioma, there are still options available for the treatment of mesothelioma. Seek out those treatment options and hold on to the hope for a cure.

Malignant mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer, in which cancer cells are found in the pleura, the sac lining the chest, in the peritoneum, the lining of the abdominal cavity, or in the pericardium, the lining around the heart. Once the cancerous cells begin to invade the body and crowd out the healthy cells, then many of the early symptoms of mesothelioma begin to appear.

Because of the long period of time between the exposure to asbestos and the development of symptoms of mesothelioma it can be very difficult for even the most experienced physician to diagnose mesothelioma. The challenge for your physician is that the early symptoms of mesothelioma are generally non-specific and this may lead to a delay in diagnosis. The early symptoms are so general and non-specific that they could be attributed to numerous common diseases, such as pneumonia.

Some patients with pleural mesothelioma, the most common type of mesothelioma, may present to their personal physician with a persistent cough, chest pain, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, weight loss, difficulty swallowing, swelling of the neck or face, a change in the voice, such as the development of a raspy voice, fever, night sweats or perhaps something as simple as just not feeling well. Initial work up by a physician might include a chest x-ray as well as a complete physical exam. However, it is equally as important to remember that some patients may show no symptoms of mesothelioma at all.

Peritoneal mesothelioma, one of the less common types of mesothelioma, may present with early symptoms such as loss of appetite, weight loss, nausea, vomiting, bloating or abdominal pain. This type of mesothelioma begins in the abdomen and can progress from the abdomen to other parts of the body. If the mesothelioma cancer has invade other areas outside of the abdomen, the patient can also present with difficulty breathing or chest pain demonstrating that the chest region may already be involved. Peritoneal mesothelioma patients like those with pleural mesothelioma can be very difficult to diagnose.

The least common type of mesothelioma is pericardial mesothelioma. In this type of mesothelioma cancerous cells invade the sac lining the outside of the heart and can metastasize, or spread, from there. The earliest symptoms of mesothelioma involving the pericardium include chest pain, palpitations or what is commonly described as feeling like the heart is racing, shortness of breath, and a persistent cough.

Since we know that most patients diagnosed with mesothelioma do not begin to show symptoms until decades after exposure, it is critical that a diagnosis be made as quickly as possible after symptoms appear. Tell your physician if you suspect that you were ever exposed to asbestos. This would include either working directly in an area where you might have been exposed to asbestos dust or even if you were the person handling the clothing or laundry of a family member that might have been exposed. This knowledge will allow your physician to have a more complete picture when evaluating your situation.

Symptoms of mesothelioma are symptoms that can easily be mistaken for symptoms of a less-threatening disease. Seek out a competent physician, one who will listen closely to your history and will complete a physical exam and screening based on your symptoms and your history. Listen to your body…symptoms of mesothelioma are ones that deserve to be taken seriously and deserve to be checked out completely.

Mesothelioma cancer can show up as pericardial mesothelioma, peritoneal mesothelioma or pleural mesothelioma, meaning it can invade the mesothelium or the lining of the heart, the abdomen or the lungs.

Even though asbestos has been mined and used commercially since the late 1800s, we now realize that beginning in the early 1940s that millions of American workers were routinely exposed to asbestos dust. People who worked in shipyards, in mines, in mills, in construction, and of course people who worked in factories which produced asbestos products could all be at an increased risk of developing malignant mesothelioma because of their exposure to asbestos dust and particles.

Because of this direct link between exposure and the risk of disease, a mesothelioma attorney may be a good place to start to learn about compensation options for those exposed to asbestos through their place of employment. Although I am not a proponent of a lawsuit happy culture, it is indeed heartbreaking to see the loyal worker who slaved for years in an environment that was unsafe and one that exposed them to asbestos which could ultimately cost them their life. So a mesothelioma lawyer or a law firm that specializes in mesothelioma cases may be a consideration for you.

Asbestos is defined as “any of several minerals that readily separate into long flexible fibers”. These fibers can then be separated into thin thread and woven. In the production of items containing asbestos, if minute particles float into the air and are swallowed or inhaled they can ultimately lead to very serious health problems.

It is important to remember that from the time of exposure to asbestos to the development of mesothelioma may be anywhere from 20-50 years. Not only can the exposure to asbestos lead to mesothelioma it can also lead to other cancers, such as cancer of the lung or larynx.

It could also lead to a non-cancerous disease called asbestosis, which is a chronic lung condition directly related to exposure to asbestos particles.

As mentioned earlier, mesothelioma has been reported in some individuals without any known exposure to asbestos. In areas where asbestos producing factories are located, people in the area may have been exposed by inhaling or swallowing particles of asbestos simply floating in the air.

Even families at home may have been exposed to asbestos particles by handling the clothes of a family member who was working with asbestos and came home with microscopic particles of it on their clothing.

The risk of developing malignant mesothelioma cancer is in the majority of cases directly related to a person’s exposure to asbestos and the exposure can occur many years before the actual development of the cancer.

Exposure to asbestos can occur by swallowing or inhaling tiny particles of asbestos which can even occur when doing the laundry and handling the clothes of a family member who has been exposed. Know the facts and know the risks… malignant mesothelioma is directly related to the exposure of asbestos… so prevention is key.