Mesothelioma Cancer

Mesothelioma (cancer of the mesothelium) is a disease in which cells of the
mesothelium become abnormal and divide without control or order. They can
invade and damage nearby tissues and organs.

Risk factors for Mesothelioma

Working with asbestos is the major risk factor for mesothelioma. A history of
asbestos exposure at work is reported in about 70 percent to 80 percent of
all cases. However, mesothelioma has been reported in some individuals without
any known exposure to asbestos.

The risk of asbestos-related disease increases with heavier exposure to
asbestos and longer exposure time. However, some individuals with only brief
exposures have developed mesothelioma. On the other hand, not all workers who
are heavily exposed develop asbestos-related diseases.

Symptoms of Mesothelioma

Symptoms of mesothelioma may not appear until 30 to 50 years after exposure
to asbestos. Shortness of breath and pain in the chest due to an accumulation
of fluid in the pleura are often symptoms of pleural mesothelioma. Symptoms of
peritoneal mesothelioma include weight loss and abdominal pain and swelling
due to a buildup of fluid in the abdomen.

Diagnosis of Mesothelioma Cancer

A biopsy is needed to confirm a diagnosis of mesothelioma. In a biopsy, a surgeon
or a medical oncologist (a doctor who specializes in diagnosing and treating
cancer) 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.

Mesothelioma Treatment

Treatment for mesothelioma depends on the location of the cancer, the stage of
the disease, and the patient’s age and general health.
The common treatments are

• Surgery
• Radiation Therapy
• Chemotherapy