Mesothelioma is a type of cancer caused by direct or indirect asbestos exposure. It is characterized by the formation of cancerous tumors on mesothelium membrane which is made up of mesothelial cells and protects internal body organs. In mesothelioma this protective lining gets damaged by the formation of cancerous cells and causes ultimate death to that person. Once these cells produce on mesothelium, they start to proliferate rapidly to assume the form of cancerous tumors. This disease shows its symptoms too lately when it becomes almost impossible for doctors to save patient's life.
Types of Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma occurs in three forms including:
1- Pleural Mesothelioma
2- Peritoneal Mesothelioma
3- Pericardial Mesothelioma
1- Pleural Mesothelioma
In this type of cancer the protective lining around chest cavity (including lungs) called pleura gets damaged due to the proliferation of cancerous cells. It is the most common type of mesothelioma. Its symptoms include persistent dry cough, shortness of breath, coughing up blood (hemoptysis) and night sweats etc.
2- Peritoneal Mesothelioma
In this type of mesothelioma, the protective lining around abdominal cavity is affected by the formation of cancerous cells. This protective covering is called peritoneum. Its symptoms include abdominal pain, unusual weight loss, nausea, fatigue and anemia etc. It makes 10% to 20% of all mesothelioma cases diagnosed till today.
3- Pericardial Mesothelioma
In pericardial mesothelioma the pericardium which protects our heart gets damaged by cancerous cell rapid proliferation. Though it is the rare form of mesothelioma and accounts only for 6% of total cases diagnosed till today but it pauses extreme threat to person's life as compared to other types of mesothelioma cancer. Its symptom resembles with that of other heart diseases therefore it is very hard to diagnose it correctly and timely.
