Mesothelioma - Malignant Mesothelioma Overview
Malignant mesothelioma is an asbestos cancer that affects the thin tissue layer that covers your internal organs, called the mesothelium. Physicians divide malignant mesothelioma into types dependent on the area of the mesothelium affected.
The most common form of malignant mesothelioma is pleural mesothelioma, cancer of the pleura, the lining of the lungs. Peritoneal mesothelioma, the second most common form, is a cancer of the lining of the abdomen, and accounts for between 10 and 20 percent of malignant mesothelioma diagnoses. In much rarer cases, malignant mesothelioma can occur in the pericardium, the lining of the heart, or the tunica vaginalis, the lining around the testicles.
Malignant mesothelioma is caused by asbestos exposure. This form of cancer develops when asbestos fibers are inhaled and lodge in the pleura, peritoneum, or pericardium, causing scarring and inflammation, and - eventually - tumors.
Not everyone who is exposed to asbestos will develop malignant mesothelioma. Some individuals may have no reaction to the toxic mineral at all while others may develop less severe asbestos-related diseases such as asbestosis or pleural plaques.
Types of Malignant Mesothelioma
Histologically, malignant mesothelioma is divided into three types: epithelioid, sarcomatoid, and biphasic. These classifications pertain to the shape and structure of the cancer cells. All are treated similarly though some are handled more aggressively than others as they offer a shorter lifespan. Each case is considered individually and your doctor will decide which treatment(s) is best for you.
- Early Detection of Mesothelioma Crucial
2008-04-28 13:30:11
When Brandon Benoit suffered a football injury last year, he never dreamed that getting treated for that injury could change his life—and perhaps save it. When Benoit was treated for his injuries ... [read more] - Could Caffeine Help Treat Mesothelioma?
2008-04-24 16:46:33
A mesothelioma research group has discovered that treatment with anti-cancer drug Pemetrexed may be more effective if patients are treated with caffeine before r ... [read more] - Mesothelioma Researchers to Receive Innovator Award
2008-04-24 16:44:14
The Kirk A. and Dorothy P. Landon Foundation, in conjunction with the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR), has created two new funding opportunities for scientists working on cancer resear ... [read more]
