What is Mesothelioma Cancer?

The type of cancer that develops in the tissues of cells that line the stomach, lungs, and heart. Inhaling particles of dust from asbestos fibers causes infection in these tissues. These tissues are commonly known as mesothelial cells. Fluids that surround these major organs of the body begin to be dried by the infected mesothelial cells and hence tumors begin to develop. Pleural mesothelioma is the most common form as it accounts for 75% of all malignant cases. Second to pleural mesothelioma is peritoneal followed by pericardial.

What are the symptoms associated with mesothelioma cancer?

Identifying the symptoms associated with mesothelioma cancer is often difficult because of the fact that it takes a long time to develop inside a human body. Often there are no symptoms whatsoever in the early stages. However, when the symptoms do appear early, they are shortness of breath and chest pains, which often get misdiagnosed as asthma or other respiratory problems.

How is it diagnosed?

Diagnosing mesothelioma cancer is a very difficult challenge for doctors and the medical community as this disease takes a long time to develop within a human body before symptoms may appear and cause suffering to the cancer. Furthermore, the damage done by it or its manifestation can take 15 to 20 years, which makes it more difficult to diagnose. In more than 90% of the cases patients of mesothelioma cancer are not aware that they have it.

What is the treatment?

Treatment of mesothelioma cancer entirely depends on a variety of factors. They include:

• The location of the tumor,
• The stage of the disease,
• How far the cancer has spread in the patient,
• Age of the patient, and
• Overall health of the patient.

Once the factors are evaluated, a treatment procedure can be recommended. The treatment may be consisted of one or more of the following.

• Drug Treatments (Alimta {Pemetrexed}, Onconase {Ranpirnase}, Navelbine {Vinorelbine}, Carboplatin {Paraplatin}, Cisplatin {clear fluid}, Gemcitabine, Platinol)
  
  
• Therapy (Taxotere, Taxol, Radiation Therapy, Brachytherapy, Angiogenesis Therapy)

• Surgery (Pneumonectomy)
  
  
• Pleurodesis Treatment