Archive for February 2016

"Mesothelioma" A Deadliest Cancer You Must Know........

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mesothelioma

 What is Mesothelioma?
This is a cancer of mesothelial tissue. It is a cancer of the mesothelium, a protective membrane that lines most of the body's internal organs. Three out of every four cases cases of mesothelioma disease begin in the pleural mesothelium of the chest cavity.
Regardless of where they originate, malignant cells from the mesothelium can invade and damage nearby tissues
The mesothelium has different names in different parts of the body

  • The pleura coats the lungs and the space in the chest containing the lungs.
  • The peritoneum lines the inside of the abdomen and many of the organs in the abdomen.
  • The pericardium covers the heart and creates the space that holds the heart in the chest.
  • The tunica vaginalis lines the testicles.

Mesothelial tumors can start in any of these linings. These tumors can be non-cancerous (benign) or cancerous (malignant).

Malignant mesothelioma
A cancerous tumor of the mesothelium is called a malignant mesothelioma, although this is often shortened to just mesothelioma. Mesotheliomas can start in 4 main areas in the body.

  • Pleural mesotheliomas start in the chest. About 3 out of 4 mesotheliomas are pleural mesotheliomas.
  • Peritoneal mesotheliomas begin in the abdomen. They make up most of the remaining cases.
  • Pericardial mesotheliomas start in the covering around the heart and are very rare.
  • Mesotheliomas of the tunica vaginalis are very rare tumors that start in the covering layer of the testicles
Causes of Mesothelioma
The main risk factor for mesothelioma is working with asbestos. 

Asbestos is a group of minerals with thin microscopic fibers. Because these fibers are resistant to heat, fire, and chemicals and do not conduct electricity, asbestos has been mined and used widely in the construction, automotive, and other industries.


If tiny asbestos fibers are released into the air, as they are in the manufacturing process, they can be inhaled or swallowed, leading to serious health problems. As many as 75% of mesothelioma cases can be linked to exposure to asbestos at work.

Symptoms of Mesothelioma


Signs and symptoms of mesothelioma vary depending on where the cancer occurs.
Pleural mesothelioma, which affects the tissue that surrounds the lungs, causes signs and symptoms that may include:
  • Chest pain under the rib cage
  • Painful coughing
  • Shortness of breath
  • Unusual lumps of tissue under the skin on your chest
  • Unexplained weight loss
Peritoneal mesothelioma, which occurs in tissue in the abdomen, causes signs and symptoms that may include:
  • Abdominal pain
  • Abdominal swelling
  • Lumps of tissue in the abdomen
  • Unexplained weight loss