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Mesothelioma is a form of cancer that is generally caused by previous exposure to asbestos. With Mesotheliomalioma, malignant cells develop in the mesothelium, a protective lining that covers the body's internal organs. Its most common location is the pleura or outer lining of the lungs and chest cavity, but it may also occur in the peritoneum which is the lining of the abdominal cavity. The rarest form locates itself on the pericardium which is a sac that surrounds the heart. Most people who develop mesothelioma have worked in jobs where they breathed in asbestos particles, or have been exposed to asbestos dust in other ways, such as by washing the clothes of a family member who worked with asbestos, or by renovating a home which has used asbestos cement products.
Signs and symptoms Symptoms of Pleural mesothelioma may not appear until 30 to 50 years after exposure to asbestos. Symptoms include shortness of breath, cough, and pain in the chest due to an accumulation of fluid. Symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma include weight loss and cachexia, some abdominal swelling and general pain due to ascites (a buildup of fluid in the abdominal cavity). Other symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma may include some bowel obstruction, blood clotting, anemia, and fever. If the cancer has spread beyond the mesothelium to other parts of the body, symptoms may include severe pain, great trouble swallowing, or swelling of the neck or face. These symptoms may be caused by mesothelioma or by other, less serious conditions. Mesothelioma that affects the pleura can cause these signs and symptoms: - chest pain
- fluid surrounding the lung
- shortness of breath
- fatigue or anemia
- wheezing, hoarseness, or cough
- blood in the sputum
In severe cases, the person may have many tumor masses. The individual may develop a pneumothorax, or collapse of the lung. The disease may metastasize, or spread, to other parts of the body. Tumors that affect the abdominal cavity often do not cause symptoms until they are at a late stage. Symptoms include: - abdominal pain
- abnormal buildup of fluid in the abdomen
- a mass in the abdomen
- problems with bowel function
- weight loss
In severe cases of the disease, the following signs and symptoms may be present: - blood clots in the veins, which may cause thrombophlebitis
- severe bleeding in many body organs
- jaundice, or yellowing of the eyes and skin
- low blood sugar
- pleural effusion
- blood clots in the arteries of the lungs
- severe ascites
A mesothelioma does not usually spread to the bone, brain, or adrenal glands. Pleural tumors are usually found only on one side of the lungs. |
