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Mesothelioma is a rare type of cancer in which cancer cells are mesothelioma, a layer of cells surrounding most internal organs of the body. Most people who develop mesothelioma have worked jobs where they sought to asbestos particles, or were exposed to asbestos in everyday life.

What is mesothelioma?

Mesothelioma is a membrane that covers and protects most internal organs of the body. It consists of two layers of cells: One layer directly to the organ comprehensive, and the second creates a bag around it. Mesothelioma creates a lubricating fluid is released between the layers, allowing moving organs (such as the beating heart and the expanding and contracting lungs) to move freely against other organs.

Mesothelioma several names, depending on their location in the body. Peritoneum is the tissue Hmzotlielit covers most organs in the abdomen. Pleura is the membrane that surrounds the lungs and lined the walls of the chest cavity. Pericardium covers and protects the heart. Hmzotlielit tissue surrounding the male reproductive organs is called the mantle vaginalis testis. Little while the serosa uteri surrounds the female reproductive organs.

What is mesothelioma?

Mesothelioma (mesothelioma cancer) is a disease in which cells of mesothelioma divide without control or order. They can invade and damage nearby tissues and organs. Cancer cells can also metastasize from the original location to other parts of the body. Most cases of pleural mesothelioma or peritoneal start.

How common is mesothelioma?

Although the number of reported cases increased by 20 years, mesothelioma is still relatively rare. About 2000 new cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed in the United States each year. Mesothelioma is more common in men than in women and risk increases with age, but the disease can occur in both men and women of all ages.

What are the risk factors for mesothelioma?

Working with asbestos is the major risk factor for mesothelioma. History of asbestos exposure at work reported by approximately – 70% to 80% of the cases. However, mesothelioma has been reported several cases of people with no history of exposure to asbestos.

Asbestos is the name of a group of minerals that occur naturally in the masses of tough, flexible fibers that can be separated strands. Asbestos was used in the past to manufacture many industrial products, including cement, brake linings, roof covering, floor surfaces, textiles and insulating materials. If thin asbestos particles flying through the air, especially during the manufacturing process, then you can swallow or inhale them, then they can cause severe health damage. In addition to mesothelioma, exposure to asbestos increases the risk on lung cancer, asbestos-eclampsia (a noncancerous lung disease) and other types of cancer, such as throat cancer and kidney cancer.

Apparently smoking does not increase the risk of mesothelioma. However, the combination of smoking and asbestos exposure significantly increases the risk of developing lung cancer.

Who is at risk of developing mesothelioma?

Asbestos was dug and is used commercially since the end of the century – 19. Use in man during World War II. Since the beginning of the 40 million American workers were exposed to asbestos dust. At first there were no known risks of exposure. Later found an increased risk of developing mesothelioma among shipyard workers, asbestos miners and manufacturing workers of asbestos products, and more. Today, the U.S. government restrictions set maximum levels of asbestos in the workplace. People who work with asbestos wear special protective equipment to prevent exposure to formaldehyde.

Risk of exposure to asbestos-related disease increases with greater exposure and more prolonged. However, some people were exposed only briefly developed mesothelioma. On the other hand, not all workers exposed to high levels have developed asbestos-related diseases.

There is some evidence that family members and others living with people who work with asbestos are at high risk of mesothelioma and other related diseases. This risk may be related to exposure to asbestos dust brought home from work on the clothing and hair. To avoid this risk, workers are required to wash and change clothes before leaving the workplace.

What are the symptoms of mesothelioma?

Symptoms of mesothelioma may not appear even after 30 to 50 years after exposure to asbestos. Mesothelioma of the pleura signs are chest pain and shortness of breath as a result of pleural fluid accumulation. Signs of peritoneal mesothelioma include weight loss, abdominal pain and swelling from fluid accumulation in the abdomen, as well as intestinal blockage, blood clotting disorders and fever. If the cancer has spread 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 other problem, less severe. So it’s important to see a doctor.

How mesothelioma is diagnosed?

Mesothelioma diagnosis is often difficult, because the symptoms are similar to those of other diseases. Diagnosis begins a review of the patient’s medical history, including history of asbestos exposure. Usually the doctor will conduct a general physical examination, including x-rays of chest and abdomen and lung function tests. Sometimes also carried out CT or MRI examination. CT consists of a series of detailed pictures of different areas inside the body, performed by a computer linked to x-ray machine. On MRI, a powerful magnet linked to a computer is used to take pictures of areas inside the body. These images are projected on a monitor and can also be printed.

To confirm a diagnosis of mesothelioma requires biopsy. Biopsy, a surgeon or oncologist removes a sample of tissue for examination under a microscope by a pathologist. Biopsy may be done several ways depending on the area being examined in the body. If cancer is in the chest, the doctor may perform an endoscopy of pleura. In this procedure, the doctor makes a small incision through the chest wall and inserts a thin, lighted tube called a thoracoscope into the chest between two ribs. The test allows the doctor to see into the chest and take tissue samples. If the cancer is in the abdomen, the doctor may perform testing endoscopy of the peritoneum. for taking a sample for testing, the doctor makes a small cut in the abdomen and inserts a special instrument called a peritoneoscope into the abdominal cavity. If these tests do not yield sufficient samples, it may require a broader diagnostic analysis.

If the diagnosis is mesothelioma, the doctor will want to determine the stage of disease. Staging involves more tests in an effort to know whether the cancer has spread and, if so, what other organs. Staging allows the doctor to choose the appropriate treatment.

Mesothelioma is classified as local if the cancer is found only in a layer of the membrane where it began. If mesothelioma is classified as advanced cancer has spread beyond the membrane it started to other parts of the body, such as lymph nodes, lungs, chest wall or abdominal organs.

How is mesothelioma?

Treatment of mesothelioma depends on the location of the cancer, stage of disease, patient’s age and general health. Standard treatment options include surgery, radiation and chemotherapy. Sometimes, combine these treatments.

Surgery is a common treatment for mesothelioma. The doctor may remove part of the side of the chest or abdomen and some of the surrounding tissue. For mesothelioma of the pleura, sometimes performed resection of a lung operation called pneumonectomy. Sometimes also removed part of the diaphragm.

Radiation therapy, also called radiotherapy, including the use of high-energy rays to destroy cancer cells that, and to shrink tumors. The radiation source can be machine outside the body (external radiation) or the insertion of radiation causing substances through thin plastic tubes into the area placed in the body where cancer cells that are found (internal radiation).

Chemotherapy is the use of anticancer drugs to kill cancer cells throughout the body. Most drugs used in cases of mesothelioma are given by injection into a vein. Doctors are also studying the effect of drugs inserted into the chest or abdomen (chemotherapy while – spacecraft)

For relief of symptoms and control pain, the doctor may use a needle or a thin tube to drain fluid that accumulated in the chest or abdomen. The procedure to remove fluid from the chest is called thoracotomy (Thoracentesis). Drainage of fluids from the abdomen is called paracentesis. Drugs may be given through a tube in the chest to prevent more fluid accumulation. To the relief of symptoms can also be used with radiation or surgery.