Mesothelioma is a highly rare kind of cancer that fundamentally acts on the lining of the lungs, yet it is also known to have the ability to affect the abdomen and something as serious as the heart. There are roughly 2,000 to 3,000 occurrences of this kind of cancer that show up every year in the United States, which basically makes up about three percent of all cancer diagnoses. Oddly enough, mesothelioma occurs more often in men than in women, and unfortunately every type of benign mesothelioma is terminal because there is simply no cure.

The average life expectancy that goes along with a mesothelioma diagnosis is roughly one year after the diagnosis, yet a patient’s situation can deviate slightly from case to case based on any number of factors, which often include the time in which the cancer was diagnosed and how it is treated.

In order to help patients understand everything that surrounds mesothelioma, asbestos.com will offer a helpful, free packet that has within it treatment options designed for the patient’s particular needs. In addition, the packet includes details about the best doctors regarding mesothelioma as well as all of the particulars involved in lowering the overall medical costs. In order to receive the cancer packet, simply enter your information in the area provided below.

Mesothelioma Causes

Basically, there are five different kinds of mesothelioma, and four of which are malignant, whereas the fifth mesothelioma is a non-cancerous condition. Pleural mesothelioma begins within the lining of the lungs, namely the pleaura, and it happens to be the most common type o f mesothelioma. Three out of four cases are pleural in nature.

Peritoneal mesothelioma makes up about twenty percent of all cases, and this type forms inside the abdominal cavity, namely the peritoneal membrane. The Pericardial mesothelioma is found in the heart’s lining, which is known as the pericardium, and basically only five percent of all mesothelioma cases belong in the pericardial realm. Lastly, testicular mesothelioma begins in the tunica vaginalis in the testicles, and it is the most rare form belonging to the mesothelioma family.

Mesothelioma Symptoms

The symptoms that are often involved with mesothelioma are not often apparent for roughly twenty to fifty years after the very first exposure to asbestos. Some of the symptoms often mimic less serious maladies, which makes the diagnosis very difficult at times. The following is a list of a few symptoms that many patients may experience:

As far as pleural symptoms are concerned, typically shortness of breath takes place, a recurring cough, fatigue, and lumps beneath the skin on the chest. Peritoneal symptoms include unexplained weight loss, abdominal discomfort, swelling, bowel issues and obstructions, and lastly nausea. Pericardial symptoms include heart issues, namely palpitations and irregular heartbeat, chest pain, night sweats, and difficulty with breathing. Lastly, testicular symptoms include painless or painful lumps in the testes.

Mesothelioma Diagnosis

The process involved in diagnosing mesethelioma consists of reviewing the patient’s medical issues and then beginning a physical examination. If the physician believes there may be an issue, a series of diagnostic tests, which include X-rays, CT scans, PET scans, and MRI scans, will need to be undertaken.

In most cases, by combining these tests, it will be possible for a physician to determine where and what kind of cancer is involved, and then biopsies will be performed after an imaging scan is taken in order to test the samples of tissue and fluids to make sure there are in fact no cancer cells present.

Mesothelioma Treatments

At the point in which a patient begins to demonstrate symptoms of mesothelioma and a subsequent diagnosis takes place, it will be fundamental to explore the various treatment options in order to create the best treatment. Some options include chemotherapy and surgery, and there is comprehensive research available at asbestos.com that covers all of the options as well as current trends in new treatments.

The most common methods of treatment for mesothelioma is radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and surgery. But often patients will take on all kinds of treatments in addition to these in order to try to thwart its presence, often known as multimodality treatments. By taking on a multifarious treatment plan, the patient’s life expectancy can be improved at least to a certain degree.