Mesothelioma is a rara form of cancer in which malignant(cancerous) cells are found in the mesothelium,a protective sac that covers most of the body's internal organs.
Mesothelium:-
The mesothelium is a membrane that covers and protects most of the internal organs of the body. It is composed of two layers of cells: One layer immediately surrounds the organ;the other forms a sac around it. The mesothelium produces a lubricating fluid that is released between these layers,allowing moving organs (such as the beating heart and the expanding and contracting lungs) to glide easily against adjacent structures.
The mesothelium has different name , depending on its location in the body.The peritoneum is the mesothelial tissue that covers most of the organs in the abdominal cavity. The pleura is the membrane that surrounds the lungs and lines the wall of the chest cavity. The pericardium covers and protects the heart.
Mesothelioma:-
Mesothelioma (cancer of the mesothelium)is a disease in which cells of the mesothelium become abnormal and divide without control or order. They can invade and damage nearby fissues and organs. Cancer cells can also metastasize (spread) from their original site to other parts of the boby.Most caces of mesothelioma begin in the pleura or peritoneum.
Common is Mesothelioma :-
Over 2,000 new cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed in the United States each year . Mesothelioma occurs more often in men than in women and risk increases with age, but this disease can appear in either men or women at any age. see statics for more details.
Risk Factors for mesothelioma :-
Working with asbestos is the major risk factor for mesothelioma. A history of asbestos exposure at work is reported in the majority of cases. However, mesothelioma has been reported in some individuals without any known exposure to asbestos.
Increased risk for developing mesothelioma :-
Since the early 1940s,millions of American workers have been exposed to asbestos dust. An increased risk of developing mesothelioma was originally found among shipyard workers , people who work in asbestos mines and mills,producers of asbestos products, workers in the heating and construction industries, and other trades people. Today , the U>S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) sets limits for acc ceptable levels of asbestos exposure in the workplace.People who work with asbestos wear protective equipment to lower their risk of exposure.
There is evidence that family members and others living with asbestos workers have an increased risk of developing mesothelioma,and possibly other asbestos-related diseases.
Thes risk may be the result of exposure to asbestos dust brought home on the clothing and hair of asbestos workers.
SYMPTOMS OF MESOTELIOMA :-
Symptoms of mesothelioma may not appear until 30 to 50 years after exposure to asbestos. Shortness of breath and pain in the chest due to an accumulation of fluid in the pleura
are often symptoms of pleural mesothelioma . Symptoms of peritoneal mesotheliama include weight loss and abdominal pain and swelling due to a buildup of fluid in the abdomen . Other symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma may include bowel obstruction , blood clotting abnormalities, anemia , and fever . If the cancer has spread beyond the mesothelium to other parts of the body . Symptoms may include pain , trouble swallowing , or swelling of the neck or face .