What is mesothelioma?

1. What is mesothelioma? 

 

Image source: http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/

Malignant mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer, origi-nates in many of the protective linings that cover major organs in the abdomen and chest There are approxi-mately 3,500 people diagnosed each year in the United States. Pleural mesothelioma, the mom common type of mesothelioma grows in the pleural space (the area between the chest wall and lung) and then progresses to the lung itself and other areas in the thoracic (chest) cavity. When it occurs in the abdomen, it is referred to as peritoneal mesothelioma and approximately 300 patients are diagnosed with this yearly in the United States. Other rare sites of occurrence include the peri-cardium (lining of the heart) and tunica vaginalis (lining membrane of the testicles), or scrotal lining.

Mesothelioma is a type of cancer. It is a cancer of mesothelial cells. These cells cover the outer surface of most of our internal body organs, forming a lining that is sometimes called the mesothelium. So this is where this type of cancer gets its name. Mesothelioma can develop in the tissues covering the lungs and the abdomen. 

Mesothelioma in the abdomen 

The tissue lining the abdomen is called the peritoneum. Mesothelioma that develops in this tissue is known as peritoneal mesothelioma. This type of cancer is much less common than pleural mesothelioma.
It is unusual for mesothelioma to spread to other parts of the body. But if it does, it does not usually cause troublesome symptoms.

Mesothelioma is quite a rare cancer but it is becoming more common. In the UK mesothelioma is much more common in men than women.

Asbestos 

By far the main cause of mesothelioma is exposure to asbestos. It is estimated that in the UK more than 9 out of 10 men with mesothelioma and more than 8 out of 10 women with mesothelioma have been in contact with asbestos. Your risk is greater if you were exposed to large amounts of it from an early age for a very long period of time. But some people say they have no history of any heavy exposure to asbestos.

Other risk factors In people who have been exposed to asbestos, contact with a virus called SV40 may make it more likely that they will develop mesothelioma but this is not certain. There is some evidence that exposure to radiation radiotherapy treatment or from a chemical called thorium dioxide (Thorotrast) may raise mesothelioma risk. But the evidence is not very clear. A mineral found in Turkey called erionite, and working as a painter, may raise the risk.

Source:

100 Questions & Answers about Mesothelioma

 Escrito por Harvey I. Pass,Mary Hesdorffer,Sarah Elizabeth Lake,Sarah Ann Lake