The term mesothelioma defines a rare form of cancer that affects the mesothelium, a protective membrane covering most of the internal organs. The mesothelium is named differently depending on the organ it covers: peritoneum (lining the organs inside the abdominal cavity), pleura (covering the lungs and internal chest cavity), pericardium (lining and protecting the heart), tunica vaginalis (surrounding the male internal reproductive organs) or tunica serosa uteri (lining the internal reproductive organs in women).
Besides protecting the organs it covers, this membrane also produces a lubricating fluid, released between the two layers of the meshotelium. Mesothelioma occurs mainly in people with a history of direct or indirect exposure to asbestos-direct when the patient works or worked in organizations that produce or use asbestos,and indirect when innocent family members of asbestos industry workers inhale the asbestos fibres that got stuck on their clothing. When the toxic fibers of this mineral are ingested or inhaled, they become lodged in organs and cavities, leading to inflammatory processes and diseases. They usually lead to high cellular damage and overtime they begin to divide uncontrollably. As a consequence, the two layers of the mesothelium become thicker and the fluid between them begins to build up.
In most of the patients it takes up to 20-50 years after asbestos exposure for mesothelioma symptoms to develop. Considering the fact that in early stages this form of cancer is asymptomatic, mesothelioma prognosis depends on how advanced the disease is when diagnosed. Having a diagnosis during the first stages of the illness improves the patient's chances of positively responding to treatment. On the other hand, if the mesothelioma is diagnosed once it has reached the advanced stages,treatment options are really limited and often, prognosis is very poor.
Pleural mesothelioma is the most common form of this cancer and it is usually accompanied with persistent dry cough, dysphagia (difficulty in swallowing), dyspnea(shortness of breath), night sweats and fever, fatigue and persistent pain in the chest area. In this type of mesothelioma, the respiratory function is the most affected.
Peritoneal mesothelioma can be recognized by symptoms like unexplained weight loss, accentuated anemia, fatigue, frequent diarrhea or constipation episodes, abdominal pain, lumps and swelling, nausea and vomiting.Pericardial mesothelioma leads to heart palpitations and chest pain, dyspnea, fever and general fatigue. Testicular mesothelioma is extremely rare and the very scanty number of cases known makes it hard to establish the typical symptoms. The most common sign reported is the appearance of testicular lumps, which may be painful in some patients.
Diagnosis is usually based on the patient's medical history, a physical examination and in case mesothelioma is strongly suspected,additional tests may be required - usually, X-rays, CT, MRI or PET scans. If the result of these tests is positive and tumour is identified, the physician may also order a biopsy, in order to establish if it is benign or malignant.
As for the treatment, the most common alternatives are surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Surgery is used to remove the affected tissues and provide symptomatic relief. Radiation therapy kills the existing cancer cells and prevents the growth of new ones, while chemotherapy uses medication to target the cells responsible for mesothelioma development.
Sadly however,prognosis is usually very poor as the vast majority of cases are diagnosed in the advanced stages of the disease.Treatments are generally unsuccessful and most patients die within 5-14 months.Only about 5% live up to 5 years.Early diagnosis greatly improves the chances of survival.
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