Symptoms of Mesothelioma

Malignant mesothelioma (MMe) is a fairly rare type of cancer, but with an increasing incidence among the population. It is also the most serious disease associated with the exposure to asbestos.

A poor response to the treatment currently available, and a difficult diagnosis are among the factors responsible for the severity of its prognosis. In fact, this is a tumor whose specific symptoms appear only when the disease has reached advanced stages.

Like the majority of tumors, malignant mesothelioma owes its name to the tissue of the organism from which it originates: this is a specialized tissue, named mesothelium, comprised of epithelial cells that line the lungs, the heart, the abdominal cavity and most of the internal organs. In the lungs the mesothelium is called pleura, in the heart it is called pericardium, and in the abdominal cavity it takes the name of peritoneum. Its primary role is to protect these organs by producing a lubricating fluid that allows for movement. This lubricating fluid can, for example, allow for respiratory movements of the lungs inside the thoracic cavity. Tumors that originate from the mesothelium can be benign, but the majority of them are of a malignant nature. The following information will pertain to the latter.

Since 1700, mesothelioma was already known as a tumor affecting the pleura, the pericardium and the peritoneum. However, this tumor’s first detailed description and the recognition of asbestos as having the primary role in its development date back to the recent 1960. J.C. Wagner described 32 cases of MMe that had occurred among South African workers of the so called “asbestos hills”. Thanks to his attempts to try to correlate asbestos and mesothelioma, he paved the way for a long series of studies that, from then on, were carried out in many parts of the world.

The National Cancer Institute classifies Mesothelioma among one of the rarest malignant tumors. In United States its incidence is still low (2-3000 diagnosed cases each year) but since 1970 the number has rapidly grown. Unfortunately, in the next few years, we are expecting a dramatic increase of new cases among industrialized countries, so much so that R. Peto has recently declared a future “epidemic” of MMe.

The disease is 3 to 5 times more common among males than females, and the most targeted age ranges between 50 and 70 years of age. Nonetheless, there have been few cases of infantile mesothelioma, whose causes have been difficult to determine. About three quarters of MMe originate in the pleura inside the chest cavity, and are known as pleural mesotheliomas. 10-20% start inside the abdomen, known as the name peritoneal mesotheliomas. A much rarer form is pericardial and testicular mesothelioma. The latter originates from the portion of the peritoneum enclosed inside the scrotum. Based on the characteristics of the malignant cells each of these MMe can be further classified into three types: 50-70% of all Mme belong to the epithelioid type. Mixed tumors, also known as bi-phase, are more rare (20-35%) followed by the sarcomatoid types (7-20%).

Treatment options are the same for all three types, but the epthelioid type generally shows higher levels of responsiveness, and therefore it has a better prognosis. 

Mesothelioma in itself is one of the deadliest diseases ever to have been discovered by mankind. Medically, Mesothelioma as a word itself means a tumor that is more likely to transform in a fast proliferating cancer which affects the mesothelial cells of an organ, which form the protective thin covering over the organs like heart, lungs and abdomen.
Whatever is the verbal definition given out to this deadly disease, but those can never for sure weigh the deadliness of this fatal disease. It is an absolutely fatal disease which has taken many a people into its deadly grip. The maximum period of survival after the disease has been diagnosed, has come to the most of a year or two. It is worse form of cancer which is not curable. However, recent studies have suggested that if the disease can be diagnosed at a very early stage then the life of the individual who gets affected by this deadly disease, can be stretched till at the most of 5 years. The treatment of this disease is very expensive but the treatment doesn’t assure life but a few more days, to procure the huge lump-sum required for the treatment, people also file lawsuits to cover the huge incurring expenses for the treatment.
The main cause of mesothelioma has been detected as to the prolonged exposure to asbestos. Most of the patients that have been diagnosed with the disease, had acquired the disease cause of prolonged exposure to asbestos. The statistics of the mesothelioma patients has revealed the connection between the asbestos and the dangerous cancer syndrome.
And usually this disease is found to affect people and workers who work in industries. Usually, industries use asbestos as an imperative input for carrying on different processes; it is being used in factories, automobile, shipyard and construction. Direct exposure to loose asbestos fibers can develop the symptoms of mesothelioma, but the infected cells can remain dormant in the body for a long period of about 15-20 years.
But the worst par of the disease is the fact that this disease generally gets detected in older days i.e. at the age of 50-60 years and also mostly in the last stage. Thereby, reducing the chances of the individual’s recovery. So this is very necessary that people who are likely to take in much asbestos particles should be scanned regularly for any symptoms of mesothelioma.
Government policies have empowered the mesothelioma patients to claim for compensation. They can file lawsuits with the help of their attorneys for claiming such compensation. The mesothelioma victims can sue the company in which he had been employed into, for not being socially rational, but being more inclined towards the flowing profits, and not undertaking any steps to slacken the use of asbestos or using in a more protective way which has resulted in endangering the lives of the employees.