Cancer Forum

Want to talk about cancer? Need more information.

Join the cancer forums here

Feel free to join and chat!!

Mesothelioma Explanation With Pictures

Article from here

Mesothelioma is a cancer of the mesothelium. The mesothelium is a thin membrane that lines the chest and abdomen and surrounds the organs in these areas. The lining around the lungs is called the pleura and in the abdomen it is known as the peritoneum.

About 2000 people in the UK are diagnosed with mesothelioma each year.

Mesothelioma of the lining of the lungs, known as pleural mesothelioma, is much more common than mesothelioma in the peritoneum. For every one person with peritoneal mesothelioma, there will be about 12 people who have pleural mesothelioma.

• Pleural mesothelioma
• Peritoneal mesothelioma

Pleural mesothelioma

The pleura has two layers: the inner (visceral) layer, which is next to the lung; and the outer (parietal) layer, which lines the chest wall. The two layers of the pleura are usually in contact and slide over each other as we breathe. The membranes produce fluid, which allows them to slide over each other easily.

When mesothelioma develops in the pleura (pleural mesothelioma), the delicate membranes thicken and may press inwards on the lung. Fluid may also collect between the two layers of the pleura: this is known as a pleural effusion.

Structure of the lungs and pleura

back to top

Peritoneal mesothelioma

The lining of the abdomen is known as the peritoneum. It also has two layers: the inner (visceral) layer, which is next to the abdominal organs, and the outer (parietal) layer, which lines the abdominal wall.

If the mesothelioma is in the peritoneum it is called peritoneal mesothelioma and causes thickening of the membranes surrounding the abdominal organs and a collection of fluid in the abdomen. The collection of fluid is called ascites and causes swelling of the abdomen.

Side view of the abdomen. The peritoneum is shown as the thick line surrounding the abdominal organs.

Another interesting fact about Mesothelioma

Article from here

What is Mesothelioma?
The National Cancer Institute states that: "Malignant mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer, is a disease in which cancer (malignant) cells are found in the sac lining the chest (the pleura), the lining of the abdominal cavity (the peritoneum) or the lining around the heart (the pericardium)."

What is peritoneal mesothelioma?
Peritoneal mesothelioma is a cancer of the lining of the abdominal cavity. This form of cancer makes up approximately one-fifth to one-third of the total number of mesothelioma cases diagnosed. More on peritoneal mesothelioma.

How do you get Mesothelioma?
Most people with malignant mesothelioma have worked on jobs where they breathed asbestos. Others have been exposed to asbestos in a household environment, often without knowing it. More about the different ways in which people have been exposed to asbestos.

How much exposure does it take to get the disease?
An exposure of as little as one or two months can result in mesothelioma 30 or 40 years later. Mesothelioma cause.

How long does it take after exposure for the disease to show up?
People exposed in the 1940s, 50s, 60s, and 70s are now being diagnosed with mesothelioma because of the long latency period of asbestos disease.

What is the prognosis for mesothelioma?
Like most cancers, the prognosis for this disease often depends on how early it is diagnosed and how aggressively it is treated. Click on Treatment Options to find out more about traditional and new approaches.

Is there any promising research or are there promising drugs for mesothelioma?
Research is being conducted at various cancer centers all over the United States as well as by pharmaceutical companies. To find more about these studies, click on Clinical Trials. To read abstracts of the latest journal articles on mesothelioma research and to access these articles, click on Medical Journal Articles; or Mesothelioma News for news articles. A recent study of Alimta showed patients living much longer with Alitma than other chemotherapy drugs.

Where can I find information on living with mesothelioma?
Mesothelioma Aid is a good website for resource for families dealing with mesothelioma. It includes advice and referrals to other resources for coping with cancer, caregiving, financial challenges, and support groups. Alternatively, contact us here at Mesothelioma Web for help finding resouces for living with this disease.

What kinds of other resources are available for people with mesothelioma?
There are numerous cancer web sites, some specific to mesothelioma. Because they are often difficult to locate, we have listed some relevant medical sites under Leading Cancer Links. We are always on the lookout for more so check our site often.

Different Types of Mesothelioma

Article from here

A lot of jobs, like mining, require the gathering of a fibrous mineral called asbestos. Generally, this substance is used to manufacture common items like roofing tars, gaskets, acoustical ceilings, stage curtains, fire blankets, fire doors for the interiors, and putty, to name a few. It is even utilized to create firefighters’ fireproof clothing. But what one might not realize is the fact that you can actually get stricken by a disease that, if neglected, may lead to death.

Asbestos gets in a person’s body through inhaling. Once these materials lodge into essential organs like the lungs, they are hard to expel since they are too large. Thus, the body develops diseases because of asbestos, and mesothelimia is a perfect example.

Mesothelioma is a malignant cancer that affects vital organs of the body. It was only in recent years that this disease has been subject to serious study. It targets mainly the mesothelium, a protective sac that serve as vital organs’ lining such as in the lungs and heart. If one is struck from mesotheliomia, the cells in these linings become abnormal, and a tumor develops.

Mesothelioma occurs if a person is constantly exposed to asbestos. From there, one may suffer from major forms of mesothelioma. These three do share some common symptoms, although other warning signs are specific to the kind of disease an individual is suffering. The major disadvantage of mesothelimia is that its symptoms do not surface until many hears have passed. This, somehow, makes earlier diagnosis difficult, and worse, treatment may prove to be futile as there’s nothing else medical science can do.

Pleural Mesothelioma

This is the most common type of mesothelioma. Important organs affected are usually the lungs as well as its cavity. Normally, the early signs of pleural mesothelioma start with the fluid buildup between the chest cavity and the lung lining, which is medically termed as pleural effusion. If a person suffers from this sickness, he is likely to have difficulty in swallowing and breathing, persistent coughing, fever, rasping, weight loss, and shortness of breath.

Peritoneal Mesothelioma

Peritoneal Mesothelioma is a rare type of cancer. It generally affects the lining in the abdomen as well as in the stomach. The disease normally begins in the abdominal cavity and then later spreads to other body parts. When the tumor starts growing in the abdomen, a person may experience breathing problems, bowel obstruction, chest pain, loss of appetite, anemia, inability to clot blood, fever, abdominal swelling, vomiting, and nausea.

Pericardial Mesothelioma

Like the Peritoneal Mesothelioma, the Pericardial Mesothelimia is also a unique kind of cancer. It targets the lining of the heart as well as the cavity surrounding the heart. Common symptoms of this disorder are shortness or difficulty in breathing, palpitations, persistent coughing, and chest pain.

Asbestosis

Another variety of asbestos-related illness is known as asbestosis. Asbestosis is an inflammatory health problem that affects parenchymal tissue found in the lungs. It is generally characterized by shortness of breath due to overexposure to asbestos. If a person suffers from asbestosis, most likely than not, he will develop a lung cancer.

It is practically important therefore that a person who is constantly exposed to asbestos must see his or her doctor as often as possible for regular checkup, especially that some of these associated symptoms are also present in common diseases. Families and friends can also help too by encouraging asbestos-exposed relatives to reveal their present medical problems to a doctor. If vital information are not mentioned to the doctor, he might mistaken your illness as ordinary and neglect the possibility that it could have been mesothelioma. Remember that the earlier a person shares his medical problem to a professional, the earlier the necessary treatment is applied. Both the doctor and the patient must establish awareness of mesothelimia in order to save their and other people’s lives in the process.

Recovery, if undergoing treatment, may take a while, but the sufferer can help speed up everything by being in constant communication with the doctor as well as keeping in mind the latter’s instructions and medical prescriptions.

Arizona Mesothelioma Lawyer

Article from here

Mesothelioma is a rare type of cancer that most frequently arises from the cells lining the sacs of the chest (the pleura) or the abdomen (the peritoneum). It is usually caused by exposure to asbestos. Arizona mesothelioma lawyers are there to help you claim damages when a former company may have been at fault by not telling you that you were working with asbestos. Settlements can often bring a million dollars - most of which will go to cover the cost of medical treatment.

Arizona ranks 22 in the nation for mesothelioma cases. If you are living with mesothelioma or with someone who has it, you are not alone in your struggle. Anyone suffering from this dangerous disease has a right to file a lawsuit. In Arizona, mesothelioma laws come under the personal injury category, and there are many lawyers who specialize in these cases.

A mesothelioma lawyer, with the help of a private investigator, can find out where the exposure to asbestos took place and pinpoint the company or individual responsible for the exposure. Once, the guilt is proved, a mesothelioma lawyer can help you cover medical treatment that is aggressive and life extending and cost thousands of dollars. They will also help you win compensation for pain and suffering. A good lawyer can help you force asbestos manufacturers to reimburse you for your sufferings and take life long responsibility for your livelihood.

The timely process of selecting and hiring the right lawyer can make the difference by securing a multimillion-dollar compensation for you and your family.

Arizona Lawyers provides detailed information on Arizona Lawyers, Arizona DUI Lawyers, Arizona Criminal Defense Lawyers, Arizona Divorce Lawyers and more. Arizona Lawyers is affiliated with Colorado Employment Lawyers.

More information on Asbestos Cancer and Mesothelioma

I found more information on Asbestos cancer and Mesothelioma here

It's a good website if you want to know more about cancer especially asbestos cancer

ASBESTOS CANCER (MESOTHELIOMA) & ASBESTOSIS

Information from Medic8® Family Health Guide here

Asbestosis

Asbestosis is a non-cancerous, chronic lung illness caused by exposure to asbestos.

Significant exposure to asbestos increases the risk of lung cancer, mesothelioma and non-malignant lung and pleural disorders.

Risk depends on duration, frequency, concentration, & type of asbestos fibres.

Diseases from asbestos exposure take a long time to develop. Most cases of asbestosis occur in asbestos workers 15 or more years after initial exposure to asbestos.

Smoking greatly increases the likelihood of lung cancer in workers exposed to asbestos (although smoking does not appear to increase the risk of mesothelioma).

Mesothelioma (asbestos cancer)

Mesothelioma is a rare cancer which may affect the lining of the lungs (pleura) and the abdominal cavity (peritoneum).

Most mesotheliomas are caused by exposure to asbestos.

Most cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed 30 years or more after the first exposure to asbestos.

Mesothelioma occurs more often in men than in women.

Risk increases with age.

Symptoms & Signs

Shortness of breath (this is the primary symptom)

A persistent and productive cough

Chest tightness

Chest pain

Loss of appetite/weight loss

A crackling sound in the lungs while inhaling.

Diagnosis

History of asbestos exposure.

Chest X-rays are the most common method of detecting asbestos-related disorders.

Other tests:

Physical Examination
Pulmonary Function Tests
Biiopsy/Bronchoscopy
CT scan

Treatment

Treatment for mesothelioma depends on the location of the cancer, the stage of the disease, and the patient's age and general health. Standard treatment options include surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. Sometimes, these treatments are combined.

Getting Help

Only a doctor can make the diagnosis of mesothelioma. It is important to see a doctor if you have been exposed to asbestos and have any symptoms.

What is Mesothelioma?

Article from wikipedia here:

Mesothelioma is a form of cancer that is almost always caused by previous exposure to asbestos. In this disease, malignant cells develop in the mesothelium, a protective lining that covers most of the body's internal organs. Its most common site is the pleura (outer lining of the lungs and internal chest wall), but it may also occur in the peritoneum (the lining of the abdominal cavity), the pericardium (a sac that surrounds the heart) or tunica vaginalis.

Most people who develop mesothelioma have worked on jobs where they inhaled asbestos particles, or they have been exposed to asbestos dust and fiber in other ways. Washing the clothes of a family member who worked with asbestos can be all that it takes. Unlike lung cancer, there is no association between mesothelioma and smoking.^[1] Compensation via asbestos funds or lawsuits is an important issue in mesothelioma (see asbestos and the law).

The symptoms of mesothelioma include shortness of breath due to pleural effusion (fluid between the lung and the chest wall) or chest wall pain, and general symptoms such as weight loss. The diagnosis may be suspected with chest X-ray and CT scan, and is confirmed with a biopsy (tissue sample) and microscopic examination. A thoracoscopy (inserting a tube with a camera into the chest) can be used to take biopsies. It allows the introduction of substances such as talc to obliterate the pleural space (called pleurodesis), which prevents more fluid from accumulating and pressing on the lung. Despite treatment with chemotherapy, radiation therapy or sometimes surgery, the disease carries a poor prognosis. Research about screening tests for the early detection of mesothelioma is ongoing.

Cancer Donation Again

Please support Macmillan cancer support

You can donate here

About MacMillan (facts from wikipedia):

The charity was founded, as the Society for the Prevention and Relief of Cancer, in 1911 by Douglas Macmillan following the death of his father from the disease. In 1924 the name was changed to the National Society for Cancer Relief, which it retained until 1989 when it was changed to Cancer Relief Macmillan Fund, later changed again to Macmillan Cancer Relief. From 5 April 2006 Macmillan Cancer Relief became known as Macmillan Cancer Support as this more accurately reflects its role in supporting people living with cancer. It has adopted the principles of being a "source of support" and a "force for change".

Macmillan Cancer Support is one of the 50 largest UK charitable organizations ranked by annual expenditure. The Charity is based in London

Read more about Macmillan here

What causes cancer?

Information from Cancer Research UK here
Please donate to Cancer research UK here

The many causes of cancer

There are about 200 different types of cancer affecting all the different body tissues. What affects one body tissue may not affect another. For example, tobacco smoke that you breathe in may help to cause lung cancer. Over exposing your skin to the sun could give you a melanoma on your leg. But the sun won't give you lung cancer and smoking won't give you melanoma.

Apart from infectious diseases, most illnesses are 'multifactorial'. Cancer is no exception. Multifactorial means that there are many factors involved. In other words, there is no single cause for any one type of cancer.

Carcinogens

A 'carcinogen' is something that can help to cause cancer. Tobacco smoke is a powerful carcinogen. But not everyone who smokes gets lung cancer. So there must be other factors at work.

Age
Most types of cancer become more common as we get older. This is because the changes that cause a cell to become cancerous in the first place take a long time to develop. There have to be a number of changes to the genes within a cell before it turns into a cancer cell. The changes can happen by accident when the cell is dividing. Or they can happen because the cell has been damaged by carcinogens and the damage is then passed on to future 'daughter' cells when that cell divides. The longer we live, the more time there is for us to accumulate these genetic mistakes in our cells.

Genetic make up

There have to be a number of genetic mutations within a cell before it becomes cancerous. Sometimes we are born with one of these mutations already. This does not mean we will get cancer. But with one mutation from the outset, it makes it more likely statistically that we will. Doctors call this 'genetic predisposition'.

The BRCA1 and BRCA2 breast cancer genes are examples of genetic predisposition. Women who carry one of these faulty genes have a higher chance of developing breast cancer than women who do not.

The BRCA genes are good examples for another reason. Most women with breast cancer do not have a mutated BRCA1 or BRCA 2 gene. Less than 5% of all breast cancer is due to these genes. So although women with one of these genes are individually more likely to get breast cancer, most breast cancer is not caused by a high risk inherited gene fault.

This is true of other common cancers where some people have a genetic predisposition, for example colon (large bowel) cancer.

Researchers are looking at the genes of people with cancer in a study called SEARCH. They also hope to find out more about how other factors might interact with genes to increase the risk of cancer. Information about this study is on our clinical trials database. Please note that you cannot volunteer for this study.

The immune system

People who have problems with their immune systems are more likely to get some forms of cancer. This group includes people who

• Have had organ transplants and take drugs to suppress their immune systems to stop organ rejection
• Have AIDS
• Are born with rare medical syndromes which affect their immunity

The kinds of extra cancers that affect these groups of people fall into two, overlapping groups

• Cancers that are caused by viruses, such as cervical cancer or some lymphomas
• Lymphomas

Chronic infections or transplanted organs can continually stimulate cells to divide. This continual cell division means that immune cells are more likely to acquire mutations and develop into lymphomas.

Diet

Cancer experts estimate that changes to our diet could prevent about one in three cancer deaths in the UK. In the western world, many of us eat too many animal fats and not enough fresh fruit and vegetables. This type of diet is known to increase your risk of cancer. But how exactly we should alter our diets is not clear. There is more about this in the page on diet causing cancer.

Sometimes foods or food additives are blamed for directly causing cancer and described as 'carcinogenic'. This is often a distortion of the truth. Sometimes a food is found to contain a substance that can cause cancer but in such small amounts that we could never eat enough of it to do any harm. And some additives may actually protect us. There is more about food additives in the page on diet causing cancer.

Day to day environment
By this we mean what is around you each day that may help to cause cancer. This could include

• Tobacco smoke
• The sun
• Natural and man made radiation
• Work place hazards
• Asbestos

Some of these are avoidable and some aren't. Most are only contributing factors to causing cancers - part of the jigsaw puzzle that scientists are still trying to put together. There is more about this in the page on causes of cancer in the environment.

Viruses

Viruses can help to cause some cancers. But this does not mean that these cancers can be caught like an infection. What happens is that the virus can cause genetic changes in cells that make them more likely to become cancerous.

These cancers and viruses are linked

• Cervical cancer and the genital wart virus, HPV
• Primary liver cancer and the Hepatitis B virus
• T cell leukaemia in adults and the Human T cell leukaemia virus

There will be people with primary liver cancer and with T cell leukaemia who haven't had the related virus. But infection may increase their risk of getting that particular cancer. With cervical cancer, scientists now believe that everyone with an invasive cervical cancer will have had an HPV infection beforehand.

Many people can be infected with a cancer-causing virus, and never get cancer. The virus only causes cancer in certain situations. Many women get a high risk HPV infection, but never develop cervical cancer. Another example is Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). These are some facts about this common virus

• Most people are infected with EBV
• People who catch it late get glandular fever but this does not cause cancer
• In sub-Saharan Africa, EBV infection and repeated attacks of malaria together cause a cancer called Burkitt's lymphoma that affects children
• In China, EBV infection (together with other unknown factors) causes naso-pharyngeal cancer
• In AIDs patients and transplant patients EBV can cause lymphoma
• In the UK, about 4 out of 10 cases of Hodgkin's disease seem to be related to EBV infection

Donate to Cancer Research UK

Hey people, let's do our bit to help the society. Why don't you donate to cancer research uk?
Your help will mean alot to them.

Donate here.

What is cancer research uk?
Extract from wikipedia here :

"Cancer Research UK is a cancer research and awareness-promotion charity in the United Kingdom, formed on 4 February 2002 by the merger of the Cancer Research Campaign and the Imperial Cancer Research Fund. It is the foremost cancer charity (charity number 1089464) in the United Kingdom, and the biggest cancer research organisation outside the USA. It is accredited by the UK's National Health Service as a health information provider."

Main website can be found here.