Mesothelioma is a form of cancer that is almost always caused by previous exposure to asbestos. In this disease, malignant cells develop in the mesothelium, a protective lining that covers most of the body's internal organs. Its most common site is the pleura (outer lining of the lungs and chest cavity), but it may also occur in the peritoneum (the lining of the abdominal cavity) or the pericardium (a sac that surrounds the heart).

Most people who develop mesothelioma have worked on jobs where they inhaled asbestos particles, or have been exposed to asbestos dust and fibre in other ways, such as by washing the clothes of a family member who worked with asbestos, or by home renovation using asbestos cement products. Unlike lung cancer, there is no association between mesothelioma and smoking.

 
 
How Come I've Never Heard of Mesothelioma?
The reason you may not be familiar with the term "mesothelioma" is because it is a relatively rare form of cancer. However, it should be noted that mesothelioma cases have been on the rise in the past 20 years. Men are more likely than women to develop mesothelioma but this doesn't mean that women don't get the disease. Mesothelioma can strike any man or any women at any given age.

Signs and symptoms (How Do I Recognize Mesothelioma?)
Symptoms of mesothelioma may not appear until 20 to 50 years after exposure to asbestos. Shortness of breath, cough, and pain in the chest due to an accumulation of fluid in the pleural space are often symptoms of pleural mesothelioma.

Symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma include weight loss and cachexia, abdominal swelling and pain due to ascites (a buildup of fluid in the abdominal cavity). Other symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma may include bowel obstruction, blood clotting abnormalities, anemia, and fever. If the cancer has spread beyond the mesothelium to other parts of the body, symptoms may include pain, trouble swallowing, or swelling of the neck or face.

These symptoms may be caused by mesothelioma or by other, less serious conditions.

Mesothelioma that affects the pleura can cause these signs and symptoms:

chest wall pain
pleural effusion, or fluid surrounding the lung
shortness of breath
fatigue or anemia
wheezing, hoarseness, or cough
blood in the sputum (fluid) coughed up
In severe cases, the person may have many tumor masses. The individual may develop a pneumothorax, or collapse of the lung. The disease may metastasize, or spread, to other parts of the body.

Tumors that affect the abdominal cavity often do not cause symptoms until they are at a late stage. Symptoms include:

abdominal pain
ascites, or an abnormal buildup of fluid in the abdomen
a mass in the abdomen
problems with bowel function
weight loss
In severe cases of the disease, the following signs and symptoms may be present:

blood clots in the veins, which may cause thrombophlebitis
disseminated intravascular coagulation, a disorder causing severe bleeding in many body organs
jaundice, or yellowing of the eyes and skin
low blood sugar level
pleural effusion
pulmonary emboli, or blood clots in the arteries of the lungs
severe ascites
A mesothelioma does not usually spread to the bone, brain, or adrenal glands. Pleural tumors are usually found only on one side of the lungs.

Diagnosis

Diagnosing mesothelioma is often difficult, because the symptoms are similar to those of a number of other conditions. Diagnosis begins with a review of the patient's medical history. A history of exposure to asbestos may increase clinical suspicion for mesothelioma. A physical examination is performed, followed by chest X-ray and often lung function tests. The X-ray may reveal pleural thickening commonly seen after asbestos exposure and increases suspicion of mesothelioma. A CT (or CAT) scan or an MRI is usually performed. If a large amount of fluid is present, abnormal cells may be detected by cytology if this fluid is aspirated with a syringe. For pleural fluid this is done by a pleural tap or chest drain, in ascites with an paracentesis or ascitic drain and in a pericardial effusion with pericardiocentesis. While absence of malignant cells on cytology does not completely exclude mesothelioma, it makes it much more unlikely, especially if an alternative diagnosis can be made (e.g. tuberculosis, heart failure).

If cytology is positive or a plaque is regarded as suspicious, a biopsy is needed to confirm a diagnosis of mesothelioma. A doctor removes a sample of tissue for examination under a microscope by a pathologist. A biopsy may be done in different ways, depending on where the abnormal area is located. If the cancer is in the chest, the doctor may perform a thoracoscopy. In this procedure, the doctor makes a small cut through the chest wall and puts a thin, lighted tube called a thoracoscope into the chest between two ribs. Thoracoscopy allows the doctor to look inside the chest and obtain tissue samples.

If the cancer is in the abdomen, the doctor may perform a laparoscopy. To obtain tissue for examination, the doctor makes a small opening in the abdomen and inserts a special instrument into the abdominal cavity. If these procedures do not yield enough tissue, more extensive diagnostic surgery may be necessary.

Coping with mesothelioma
It can be very difficult coping with a diagnosis of mesothelioma both practically and emotionally. You are likely to be feeling very upset and confused. Mesothelioma is often diagnosed at quite an advanced stage. As well as coping with your diagnosis, you may be trying to cope with the news that your cancer is very difficult to treat and unlikely to be curable.

As well as coping with the fear and anxiety that any diagnosis of cancer brings, you have to work out how to manage practically. There may be money matters to sort out. Who do you tell that you have cancer? And how do you find the words? There may be children to consider.

It is important that you have enough information to enable you to make decisions about your treatment if that is what you want. At every stage you and your relatives or carers should be offered clear and comprehensive information both verbally and in writing about all aspects of your cancer and its treatment.

There are support groups located around the country where you can discuss your feelings and fears with other people who are in the same situation. Your GP can also help to arrange social and/or psychological support for you as appropriate.

Asbestos: What is Asbestos Anyway?
Asbestos, believe it or not, is actually a naturally occurring, crystallized mineral. Asbestos crystals form long thin fibers that are remarkably strong and resistant to a wide variety of extremes including heat, cold, electricity, acids, alkalis, brine, dust, vibration, corrosion and more! Incredible, eh? As you might have guessed, these properties of asbestos made it a very popular substance used in many different industries throughout the industrialized world.

There are 4 distinct forms of asbestos that have been used in commercial and industrial applications:

Crocidolite (blue asbestos)
Amosite (brown asbestos)
Chrysotile (white asbestos)
Anthophyllite (gray asbestos)
Amosite and crocidolite are considered to be the most dangerous forms of asbestos.

Exposure to the volcanic, non-asbestos fiber erionite can also cause malignant mesothelioma.

Besides causing mesothelioma, inhaled asbestos can also cause asbestosis (fibrosis or scarring of the lungs.) Just a single asbestos fiber lodged in a human lung can cause mesothelioma.

The dangers of asbestos were not understood for many years. As a result, many buildings -- including homes, schools, offices and apartment complexes -- were constructed with asbestos used for insulation, etc. So if you take anything from this website, take this: if you live in a building that was constructed over 30 years ago, make sure that the building has been tested for asbestos, especially if you have young children. Your health and the health of your children may depend on your actions. There are many inexpensive asbestos test kits available.

Treatment for Asbestos Lung Cancer (Mesothelioma)
There are many treatments available to mesothelioma patients including:

Chemotherapy
Surgery
Radiation Therapy
Intraoperative photodynamic therapy (a relatively new procedure where special light and drugs are combined to attack the cancer during surgery.
Unconventional Therapies (like holistic medicine in conjunction with radical lifestyle changes.)
Financial recovery is often the most pressing issue for mesothelioma sufferers. Most often -- and please make a special note of this -- financial compensation can be recovered from the manufacturers of asbestos. Settlements and Awards are often in the millions and there are many excellent law firms that are willing and able to take on mesothelioma cases. So if you think you may have mesothelioma, don't wait to see a doctor! Be fair to yourself and your family and seek legal advice quickly. There are hundreds of solicitors throughout the UK who specialize in mesothelioma cases. Remember, early diagnosis is the key to survival and the asbestos industry can provide adequate monies for the high medical bills.