Different Types of Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma is specialized form of cancer affecting the upper part of the body namely the heart, pleura sac. and abdomen. The disease manifests in the form of cancer cells and cancerous growths as a direct result of inhaling asbestos dust particles.
There are three types of mesothelioma cancers cells.
Epithelioid cells are the most common cancer cells found in mesothelioma patients. About 70 percent of all mesothelioma cells are of this type. These cells take on a tubular or papillary shape and are found the organs of the upper body and in the lining of these vital organs as well. People exhibiting these cancer cells have the highest survival rate (up to 5 years).
Sarcomatoid are overlapping spindle like cancer cells, which are the most deadly cells. They attach themselves to bones, fat, and other secondary tissue such as cartilage. These cells are not treatable. Patients have the shortest survival rate but fortunately it affects less than 20 percent of the mesothelioma cancer patients.
Mixed/biphasic cancer cells are a mixture of both types of cells affecting about 30 to 40 percent of mesothelioma patients.
Pleural Mesothelioma is the most common form of mesothelioma cancer. The cancer attacks the lining of the lungs known as the pleural sac. The mesothelium (hence the name mesothelioma) is a membrane that is responsible for creating a certain amount of liquid that will help the lungs to move around in order to inhale and exhale. The production of this fluid, is a normal function of the body.
In the case of mesothelioma, the inhaled asbestos fibers that reside in the lungs protrude through the lungs and puncture through the mesothelium to the inner and outer most layer of the pleural sac causing damage to the mesothelium. Cancers forming in this fluid will thicken the fluid making it difficult to breath. Tumors resulting from the cancer involved can rest against the ribcage and other vital organs, causing excessive pressure and extreme pain.
Furthermore, mesothelioma can spread to other parts of the body from the re-oxygenated blood from lungs. It usually takes between 30 and 40 years for pleural mesothelioma to be correctly diagnosed. In the early days it is often mistaken for the symptoms of flu, bronchitis, laryngitis, and broken ribs extreme pain or worst. Still the pleural mesothelioma sufferer may be asymptomatic.
Peritoneal Mesothelioma
About one third of all mesothelioma cases are of the peritoneal type. This type of mesothelioma is diagnosed a bit faster, which is between 20 to 30 years after the inhalation of asbestos fibers. Usually patients are between 60 and 69 when the peritoneal mesothelioma is discovered.
The peritoneum is a thin membrane that covers the gastro intestinal tract. Like the mesothelium, this membrane also produces a liquid to facilitate movement of the stomach, intestines and other vital organs. The fluid helps the body to digest, absorb and process foods. When cancer invades this vital organs and functions, it can cause severe abdominal pain, preventing the stomach and intestines from functioning properly and causing cancerous tumors obstructing vital organs. Again peritoneum mesothelioma is often misdiagnosed in the early stages hindering the treatment and resulting in death.
Pericardial Mesothelioma
Only about 5 percent of all mesothelioma diagnosis result in pericardial mesothelioma. The pericardium is the sac surrounding the heart. This sac or mucous membrane is responsible for producing fluid to maintain a heart beat. If the pericardium is damaged because of the asbestos fibers, it will in turn cause massive heart problems.
Pericardial mesothelioma symptoms include: shortness of breath, coughing, chess pain, irregular heartbeat, and heart palpitations. Treatment is giving to relief the symptoms but there is no cure. Pericardial mesothelioma is fatal.
Benign Mesothelioma is a non-cancerous form of the disease. It is extremely rare and though the tumors are benign and therefore non-threatening, if diagnosed with this disease, it means the patient has been exposed to asbestos fibers. The doctors will be concerned about the exposure and explore for other cancers in the body that may be malignant at this time.
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