Family Learning Center

Mesothelioma is a certain type of cancer most commonly caused by an exposure to asbestos. However, mesothelioma may not show up for many decades after the asbestos exposure. There are three types of mesothelioma: Pleural, peritoneal, and pericardial, and they all have devastating effects on the victim and their family.

Mesothelioma is the most uncommon form of cancer and it is also the most serious of all diseases related to asbestos exposure. Keep in mind that just because it is uncommon, it is not considered a rare type of cancer. Because of the symptoms mesothelioma exhibits, it is often difficult to diagnose. By the time a diagnosis is finally reached, treatment may no longer be effective. It is one of the lease responsive cancers to treatment.

Pleural mesothelioma affects the chest and lungs of its victim. From the chest and lungs, it spreads to different organs in the body, including the brain. Pleural mesothelioma is often not easy to detect. Survival rates are usually about a year and a half from the onset of their symptoms. A very small percentage may survive three to five years.

Pleural mesothelioma symptoms include:

· Pain in a specific area of the chest that doesn’t seem to go away.

· Shortness of breath or breathing problems due to fluid buildup in the chest.

· Weight loss

· Fever

· Anemia

· Fatigue

· Coughing up blood

· Jaundice

· Low blood sugar

· Blood clots

· Tumor masses

Peritoneal mesothelioma affects the abdomen and many times spreads to nearby organs, such as the spleen, liver, or bowels. The survival rate is very low, with most patients surviving about ten months after the development of symptoms.

Common peritoneal mesothelioma symptoms include:

· Severe abdominal pain

· Excessive fluid in the abdomen area

· Difficult bowel movements

· Nausea and vomiting

· Fever

· Swollen feet

Pericardial mesothelioma affects the heart and is the rarest of the mesothelioma-related cancers. This type of cancer invades the pericardium, the sac surrounding the heart. When the disease progresses, the heart is unable to deliver the proper amount of oxygen to the rest of the body. The health of the victim declines very rapidly during the progression of the disease. The most common symptoms resemble a heart attack, with nausea, shortness of breath, and pain in the chest.

Mesothelioma is most often treated with surgery, chemotherapy and radiation, though there are some experimental treatments that are taking place while the disease is still in their earlier stages. This serious disease affects more than just the victim; it affects their loved ones as well. Having seen firsthand the devastating effects of this disease, we work hard to protect the rights of working men and women.