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Pericardial Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that affects three main parts of the body – the lungs, the abdomen, and the heart. The development of mesothelioma only occurs after exposure to asbestos, a dangerous natural substance. Therefore, mesothelioma is preventable in most cases. Unfortunately, however, thousands of people have died from this deadly form of cancer and thousands more are diagnosed every year. Are you at risk? If you have been previously exposed to asbestos, you may develop mesothelioma, even if your exposure happened decades ago. By learning a bit about asbestos and mesothelioma, you can determine if you are at risk and what you should do to stay healthy.
Of all types of mesothelioma, pericardial mesothelioma is the one that doctors least understand. Pericardial mesothelioma is a cancer that affects the lining of the heart. It all starts by breathing in asbestos fibers. Asbestos was once used in a number of products because it is strong, durable, lightweight, flexible, and heat-resistant. In addition, when compared to the other options, asbestos was extremely cheap to mine, ship, and use in manufacturing. However, another of asbestos’ qualities is that it is very fibrous. Whenever asbestos rock or powder is disturbed, tiny fibers fill the air.
Although very small, asbestos fibers are extremely dangerous because they are jagged and pointy. These sharp fibers can tear tissue and become lodged in the body. This is how mesothelioma develops in the linings of the lungs and abdomen – asbestos is either breathed in or swallowed, and the fibers get stuck in the soft tissue linings of these organs. Please see “Peritoneal Mesothelioma” and “Pleural Mesothelioma” for information about these cancers.
How asbestos attacks the lining of the heart is still open for debate. The most popular theory is that some of the smaller asbestos fibers break through the lining of the lung and enter the blood stream going to the heart. When the heart pumps, the asbestos fibers get stuck in the very sensitive soft tissue lining of the heart – the pericardium. Because this is unlikely to happen, pericardial mesothelioma is extremely rare, with less than 200 new cases diagnosed every year. That also makes it hard to study and thus hard to treat. The life expectancy for a patient dealing with pericardial mesothelioma is lower than other mesothelioma patients.
Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that develops slowly over many years. In some cases, patients are not diagnosed with this cancer until 30 or more years after initial exposure to asbestos. Inhaling asbestos fibers just once is enough to cause cancer, but the risks greatly increase the longer you are exposed.
Because pericardial mesothelioma builds up slowly, some people miss the signs and symptoms that gradually worsen until they become a major problem. At this point, it is likely that the cancer is unable to be effectively treated, and it may have spread through the blood stream to other parts of the body. Some symptoms you should look for include the following: chest pains that worsen over time, irregular heartbeat, pressure on the chest, coughing, and shortness of breath.
If you are diagnosed with pericardial mesothelioma, there are a number of treatment options you should discuss with your doctor. The best path depends on the advancement of the cancer and your personal preferences. Surgery is sometimes a good option, especially if you catch the mesothelioma early. However, because the cancer is located near the heart, surgery is not always an option. Instead, you can opt to try radiation or chemotherapy. Both of these traditional cancer options work at destroying cancerous cells which, left untreated, grow very quickly. For information about treatment, please see “Mesothelioma Treatment Options.”
You can also choose not to treat the cancer, which is often a decision that patients with advanced pericardial mesothelioma consider. Instead, the medical treatments done are used to make you more comfortable. Fine needle aspiration is recommended to help the heart beat and subdue any pain – this technique uses a hollow needle to drain the fluid from your chest. Medications can also be effective, and new clinical trials are testing alternative drugs to see if they are effective against mesothelioma.
If you’ve developed pericardial mesothelioma, it's important to talk with both a medical professional and a lawyer. A mesothelioma attorney can discuss your case with you and talk about your legal rights. In most cases, mesothelioma is the fault of a past employee or of someone else who knowingly put you in harm’s way without your consent. Asbestos corporations chose profit over the health of consumers and employees and, as a result, thousands of people have died. You do have legal rights in this situation to help you get the compensation you deserve to pay for medical bills, lost wages, funeral expenses, and other fees associated with mesothelioma. Please see “Legal Issues and Mesothelioma” for more information

Peritoneal Mesothelioma

Every year, thousands of people are diagnosed with mesothelioma. Unfortunately, almost all cases of this rare and deadly form of cancer could have been prevented. Mesothelioma is caused by an environment substance – asbestos. Asbestos is found naturally in the ground, but poses little threat undisturbed in nature. However, during the industrial revolution, manufacturers began using asbestos in a number of products, especially those used for construction. Asbestos is a great product to use because it is fire-resistant, lightweight, flexible, durable, and cheap, but it also puts people at risk for very serious health problems. Today, the EPA regulates all use of asbestos, but this wasn’t always the case.
There are three kinds of mesothelioma, each attacking a different part of the body (the lungs, the heart, and the abdomen). While pleural mesothelioma (affecting the lungs) is the most common, peritoneal mesothelioma is the second most common form of mesothelioma. Please see “Pericardial Mesothelioma” and “Pleural Mesothelioma” for information about these cancers.
This type of mesothelioma affects the abdomen and is predominately caused by swallowing asbestos. Of course, no one eats asbestos, and it was never an ingredient in food products, but asbestos can be accidentally consumed in a number of ways:
Children who are teething may stick something containing asbestos in their mouths.
If you naturally breathe through your mouth, you could swallow asbestos.
Eating near an area contaminated with asbestos could cause asbestos fibers to settle on your food.
Asbestos could pollute a drinking water source you use.
Asbestos is so dangerous when it enters the body partly because of the shape of its fibers. These fibers are extremely sharp and jagged, which is why your throat might feel itchy if you’re around asbestos. When you swallow these fibers, they can get stuck in and tear the peritoneum.
The peritoneum is a soft tissue lining in the abdomen. It surrounds the liver, pancreas, stomach, colon, and small intestines for protection. This lining provides a fluid that allows them to glide against one another when moving. However, when asbestos enters the body, it creates a perfect condition for the development of abnormal cells – cancer.
When peritoneal mesothelioma develops, which can happen over the course of decades, the asbestos fibers irritate the peritoneum and cause cells to multiply quickly and overproduce the fluid normally used to keep the body healthy. Therefore, one of the main symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma is the accumulation of fluid in the abdomen. Other symptoms include weight loss (even though your waist size may increase due to the fluid), stomach pains, bowel obstruction, and fever. Some peritoneal mesothelioma patients also develop anemia, a condition that reduces the red blood cells in the body. This strains the heart and can make you feel tired. It is also dangerous if you are injured, as bleeding becomes a problem.
Peritoneal mesothelioma makes up approximately one out of every five mesothelioma cases. While it can take years or even decades to develop, in most cases, it is discovered sooner than other forms of mesothelioma, which is in part due to the build-up of fluid.
There are two types of peritoneal mesothelioma. Dry peritoneal mesothelioma reveals a tumor in the abdomen in a single location. For this kind of cancer, many times the best option is surgery to remove the mass. Wet peritoneal mesothelioma is a bit harder to treat. In this type of mesothelioma, you’ll see a number of smaller tumors growing all over the peritoneum. Surgery is also an option, and patients can also consider chemotherapy, radiation, gene therapy, and other traditional cancer treatments. For information about treatment, please see “Mesothelioma Treatment Options.”
In addition to traditional forms of treatment, there are also alternative options as well. Not that not all of these alternative therapies are recommended by all doctors. Usually, a doctor will prescribe a traditional medical treatment, but if alternative medicine interests you, make sure you talk to a licensed professional about these options as well. For mesothelioma, some of the alternative therapies being studied include ukrain, iscador, vitamin C, ozone therapy, astragalus, and cat’s claw. Techniques like medical massage, acupuncture, and acupressure may help if you’re experiencing a lot of pain due to the mesothelioma.
Whatever course of treatment you choose, make sure that you talk to a lawyer in addition to talking to medical professionals. In the vast majority of mesothelioma cases, you are not at fault for developing this condition. Companies that produced asbestos products knew about the dangers involved with this substance since the 1940s. However, asbestos was still commonly used until the 1980s, at which time it became more regulated. Employees were put at risk without consent, as were their families, since asbestos is easily transferred home on clothing or in hair. You have legal rights against those who put you at risk. Please see “Legal Issues and Mesothelioma” for more information

Pleural Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is a rare kind of cancer that attacks the body after exposure to asbestos. Once used commonly in the manufacturing of materials for homes, ships, and other structures, today, asbestos is highly regulated by the EPA. However, the cases of mesothelioma continue to rise. Mesothelioma also takes a long time to develop (typically 15-40 years), so patients today could have been exposed prior to the 1980s when asbestos was not highly regulated.
There are three kinds of mesothelioma, each attacking a different organ. The most common is called pleural mesothelioma. Pleural mesothelioma is cancer of the pleura, which is the lining of the lungs. Other kinds of mesothelioma affect the linings of the heart and abdomen. With all three types of mesothelioma, if the cancer goes untreated, it can easily spread to the surrounding organs or to other parts of the body via the blood stream. Please see “Pericardial Mesothelioma” and “Peritoneal Mesothelioma” for information about these cancers.
About ¾ of all mesothelioma cases are pleural mesothelioma. The average survival rate once diagnosed, according to one study, is less than a year.
When around airborne asbestos, it is easy to breath in small asbestos fibers. You may notice that your throat feels scratchy, but in most cases, you won’t notice any immediate reactions from breathing in asbestos fibers. Fibers fill the air whenever asbestos-contaminated products are disturbed (the same applies to naturally occurring asbestos). Asbestos fibers are microscopic, jagged particles. When you breathe them in, they travel into the lungs and can get stuck in the soft tissue lining – the pleural.
The lung actually has two parts to the pleura. The visceral pleura is the outside of the lungs themselves. This part of the lung is very soft, delicate tissue that protects the lung from abnormal particles. The parietal pleura is, essentially, a sack around the lung, lining the chest wall and diaphragm. This creates a pleural space. The lungs use this space to expand when you breathe.
When the jagged asbestos fibers enter the lung, they can get stuck in the pleura. The body tries to fix this problem, but the result is scar tissue that builds up in the pleural space, making it difficult to breathe since the lungs cannot expand properly. This environment with foreign objects and scar tissue creates the perfect environment for abnormal cell growth. The cells mutate, causing cancer, and these cancerous cells begin to grow quickly into tumors, further preventing you from breathing correctly.
Pleural mesothelioma builds up very slowly , as the scar tissue in the lungs is, at first, unnoticeable. Symptoms of pleural mesothelioma include shortness of breath, coughing, difficulty swallowing, fever, weight loss, and chest pain. That said, because these symptoms progress so slowly, more than 30 years or more in some cases, a patient might not notice them at all. In other words, the symptoms feel normal. Many patients do not catch mesothelioma until a late stage of development.
If diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma, there are a number of treatment options to try. If the cancer is contained in the pleura, one of the best options might be the removal of the cancerous area. Surgery isn’t the best option for everyone, however. You can also try radiation, chemotherapy, intraoperative photodynamic therapy, immunotherapy, and gene therapy. Only you and your doctor can decide on the best course of action for your body. For information about treatment, please see “Mesothelioma Treatment Options.”
You are at risk for developing pleural mesothelioma if you worked in an industry using this substance prior to 1980. Some of the main products manufactured with mesothelioma include the following: insulation, roofing, gaskets, piping, floor tiles, plaster, joint compound, shipbuilding products, and textiles. You’re also at risk if a family member worked in these industries, as asbestos readily sticks to clothing and hair (meaning it can be transferred home easily). In addition, you could be at risk if you live in a home built prior to 1980. You should have your home tested for asbestos to make sure that it is safe. Smokers are especially at risk, as smoking cigarettes weakens the lungs and complicates the chance of developing mesothelioma.
Another risk factor is level of exposure. If you’ve experienced exposure to asbestos for many years, you are more likely to develop mesothelioma and other asbestos-related health problems. The best way to protect yourself is to remove the asbestos from your environment. Exposure to asbestos does not automatically mean that you’ll contract mesothelioma, but the longer your exposure, the more likely you are to develop this condition.
Unfortunately, for many people, asbestos exposure occurred unknowingly at the workplace. Larger corporations conspired to keep the dangers of asbestos a secret and, as a result, many people were put at risk without consent. If you’ve developed pleural mesothelioma after exposure to asbestos that was not your fault, contact a lawyer today to learn about your rights. Please see “Legal Issues and Mesothelioma” for more information

Diagnosing Mesothelioma

Basic Diagnosis
Diagnosing mesothelioma often means ruling out many diseases with similar symptoms before completing the diagnostic process. The diagnosis of mesothelioma is often difficult and typically occurs in a late stage of development. The patient will give a medical history, which will include answering questions about their history of exposure to asbestos. Other diagnostic tests include x-rays, CT scans, or MRI scans. The purpose of these tests is to try to see any shadowing, or tumor growth. In the case of pleural mesothelioma, lung function tests are performed.
Lung function tests are an extensive battery of tests that show the physician how much air your lungs can hold and how well they transport oxygen through the body and release carbon dioxide. Once a physician makes a preliminary diagnosis, you will be referred to an oncologist.
After a Positive Diagnosis
Most doctors will have an idea about whether you are dealing with mesothelioma or not following tests, but a definitive diagnosis will not be made until after the oncologist completes a biopsy. A biopsy is a medical procedure that removes a small section of tissue from the affected area. This tissue is then sent to a pathologist who will examine the tissue and make the official diagnosis of mesothelioma.
Stages of Mesothelioma
Once a diagnosis of mesothelioma is made, the oncologist will want to determine what stage the cancer is in. Mesothelioma is considered localized if it is contained to the mesothelium. If it has spread to the lymph nodes, the chest or other organs, then it is considered to be in the advanced stages. Staging the tumor is important because it helps the oncologist determine the best course of treatment. When deciding on a treatment protocol, physicians use the acronym TNM to determine the progression of the cancer. The 'T' refers to the size of the tumor, 'N' signifies whether or not there is lymph node involvement, and 'M' stands for metastasis, or whether the tumor has spread to any other organs. The correct assessment as to the stage of the tumor gives the patient the best hope for a positive outcome.
Getting the Earliest Diagnosis
Because mesothelioma mimics so many other diseases, it is important to get an accurate and early diagnosis. If you feel that you may be at risk for developing mesothelioma and begin to suffer from any of the symptoms, you should consult a doctor who will aggressively work to diagnose you. While the "wait and see" approach is fine for many minor health concerns, mesothelioma requires an early diagnosis for any chance of curing the disease.
Mesothelioma is all too often in the advanced stage by the time a diagnosis is made. The tumors in the mesothelium are so thin that they will not show up on an x-ray during early stages. By the time tumors are visible, the mesothelioma may very well have invaded other organs.
While there is currently no screening tool that will allow doctors to test for mesothelioma in the earliest stages, if you are concerned about your odds of developing mesothelioma, there are some precautions you can take.
If you know that you have been exposed to asbestos, through occupational exposure, exposure in your home, or by some other means, you should find a physician that has experience diagnosing patients with mesothelioma and other lung diseases. The more cases of any disease a doctor sees, the more easily he can diagnose them. If you are at risk for developing any asbestos related disease, choose a doctor that has experience in this area and see him for regular check-ups.
Ask your doctor about baseline tests. These tests can be controversial. X-rays, CT scans, or MRIs are not always recommended, and many doctors feel that, in the absence of symptoms, they are a waste of time and money. Some doctors feel that having these baseline tests make it easier to spot subtle changes on follow up tests.
Monitor your health. Early symptoms of mesothelioma are subtle and in order to catch it early you must be attuned to your body. A cough that doesn't go away, heaviness in the chest or shortness of breath can all be signs of a cold or the flu, but with the absence of other symptoms such as a fever or chills, you should question whether it could be something more, such as plural mesothelioma.
If you smoke, stop. Smoking has not been shown to influence the development of mesothelioma, however, it is a risk factor. If you are a smoker when you develop mesothelioma, you will also be putting enormous additional stress on your lungs. When a patient develops plural mesothelioma, their lungs will be severely stressed by excess fluid and their body will be stressed by a decrease in oxygen, as their lungs are unable to work as hard.

Symptoms of Mesothelioma


Early Symptoms of Mesothelioma
The early symptoms of mesothelioma are very minor, and may be mistaken for symptoms of other, less serious, diseases. Pleural mesothelioma, the most common form of mesothelioma, is cancer in the mesothelium surrounding the lungs. The early symptoms of pleural mesothelioma are shortness of breath, chest pain, or a cough. One common misdiagnosis of pleural mesothelioma is pneumonia.
Peritoneal mesothelioma is cancer that is in the mesothelioma surrounding the abdominal organs. Mesothelioma in this area causes weight loss, nausea, and swelling in the lower extremities. Symptoms of both pleural and peritoneal mesothelioma include the development of an effusion.
An effusion, either in the pleural or peritoneal mesothelium, is a build-up of excessive fluid. The excessive fluid is a result of the imbalance in the mesothelium cells. Their job is to lubricate the organs that they surround. When the mesothelium cells are invaded by cancer they overproduce the protective cells, which in turn cause fluid build-up. The fluid build-up from an effusion can cause side effects such as shortness of breath and chest pain, or, in the case of a peritoneal effusion, bowel obstruction and swelling of the abdomen. For more information about each kind of cancer, please see “Pleural Mesothelioma,” “Pericardial Mesothelioma,” and “Peritoneal Mesothelioma.”
More Advanced Symptoms of Mesothelioma
By the time that a patient is diagnosed with mesothelioma, the cancer is often well advanced. The patient may cough up blood, have abnormal blood clotting, experience fatigue, and suffer with night sweats.
Diagnosis is normally made through x-ray, but CT scans or ultrasound can be used as well. About five percent of the patients that are diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma have it in both lungs at the time of the initial diagnoses. Often, by the time a diagnosis is made, the tumors have metastasized and moved to other areas of the body.
What to do if You Suspect You have Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma is a very serious disease, and diagnosis is complicated. The early symptoms of mesothelioma mimic many other more benign health problems, and many people have no early symptoms at all. The turning point in the progression of mesothelioma is in the development of effusions. At the point where the mesothelium starts to manufacture a surplus of cells, the cancer is often well advanced.
Of course, no one wants to live a life in fear. One can not run to the doctor every time one has a cough or chest pain. However, it is argued that the best prognosis for mesothelioma patients is tied to an early diagnosis. Here are some tips on how to balance concerns for your health with the desire for a normal life:
Assess your risk. Do you, or did you at any time, work in an occupation with a high incidence of exposure to asbestos? If so, it makes sense to be more vigilant about any health issue, particularly any problems associated with your lungs or breathing.
Have regular check-ups. By choosing a doctor that understands the dangers of asbestos exposure and has seen many cases of mesothelioma, you increase the odds that your doctor will recognize the early symptoms, should you develop them.
Have your level of exposure tested. Although there is no definitive amount of asbestos that presents an increased health risk, for your peace of mind you can have a lung wash, which will give your doctor an idea about your level of exposure.
Keep your lungs healthy. Mesothelioma is most common in the pleural cavity. While strong and healthy lungs are not immune to mesothelioma, if your respiratory system is in top shape, through regular exercise, you will be better prepared to undergo the stressful treatments surrounding mesothelioma.
Preventing Mesothelioma
The only sure way to prevent mesothelioma is to avoid exposure to asbestos. Unfortunately, this is easier said than done. Asbestos was widely used throughout the country for both domestic and industrial uses. Once the dangers of asbestos exposure became widely known, use was reduced. Unfortunately, it was too late for an ever-growing number of people. The health risks associated with asbestos exposure may not show up for 50 years. Given the long latency period, it is expected that there will be an increase in the cases of mesothelioma as generations of workers age.
Today, exposure to asbestos often occurs in remodeling and repair projects. While stringent guidelines are in place for the abatement of asbestos in schools and other public buildings, most areas give the homeowner the option of removing or repairing asbestos building materials themselves. However, a licensed professional should perform all forms of repair and abatement of asbestos-contaminated materials.
If you decide to undertake an asbestos abatement project, it is important to understand the importance of wearing protective clothing and breathing apparatus, as well as cleaning the areas thoroughly and preventing dust from the project area from contaminating the rest of the home. If done incorrectly, you run the risk of exposing not only yourself, but the rest of your family to asbestos.

Mesothelioma Information

Diagnosing Mesothelioma
Basic Diagnosis
Diagnosing mesothelioma often means ruling out many diseases with similar symptoms before completing the diagnostic process. The initial diagnosis of mesothelioma is often made through the family doctor. The patient will give a medical history, which will include answering questions about their history of exposure to asbestos. Other diagnostic tests include x-rays, CT scans or MRI scans. The purpose of these tests is to try to see any shadowing, or tumor growth. In the case of pleural mesothelioma, lung function tests are done.
Lung function tests are an extensive battery of tests that show the physician how much air your lungs can hold as well as how well they transport oxygen through the body and release carbon dioxide from the body. Once your general physician makes a preliminary diagnosis, you will be referred to an oncologist.
After a Positive Diagnosis
Most doctors will have an idea about whether you are dealing with mesothelioma or not following the battery of tests, but a definitive diagnosis will not be made until after the oncologist completes a biopsy. The biopsy is a medical procedure that removes a small section of tissue from the affected area. This tissue is then sent to a pathologist who will examine the tissue and make the official diagnosis of mesothelioma.
Levels of Mesothelioma
Once a diagnosis of mesothelioma is made, the oncologist will want to determine what stage the cancer is in. The mesothelioma is considered localized if it is contained to the mesothelium. If it has spread to the lymph nodes, the chest, abdomen or other organs, then it is considered to be in the advanced stages. Staging the tumor is important because it helps the oncologist determine the best course of treatment. When deciding on a treatment protocol, physicians use the acronym TNM to determine the progression of the cancer. Tumor refers to the size of the tumor, N for whether or not there is lymph node involvement, and M for metastasis, or whether the tumor has spread to any other organs. The correct assessment as to the stage of the tumor gives the patient the best hope for a positive outcome.
Getting the Earliest Diagnosis
Because mesothelioma mimics so many other diseases, it is important to get an accurate and early diagnosis. If you feel that you may be at risk of mesothelioma and begin to suffer from any of the symptoms, you should consult a doctor who will aggressively work to diagnose you. While the wait and see approach is fine for many minor health concerns, mesothelioma requires an early diagnosis.
Mesothelioma is too often in the advanced stage by the time that a diagnosis is made. The tumors in the mesothelium are so thin that they will not show up on an x-ray during the early stages. By the time the tumors are visible, the mesothelioma may very well have invaded other organs.
While there is currently no screening tool that will allow doctors to test for mesothelioma in the earliest stages, if you are concerned about your odds of developing mesothelioma, there are some precautions that you can take.
If you know that you have been exposed to asbestos, either through occupational exposure, or exposure in your home, you should find a physician that has experience diagnosing patients with mesothelioma and other lung diseases. The more cases of any disease a doctor sees, the more easily he can diagnose them. If you are at risk for developing any asbestos related disease, choose a doctor that has experience in this area and see him for regular check-ups.
Ask your doctor about the wisdom of baseline tests. These tests can be controversial. Unnecessary x-rays, CT scans or MRIs are not recommended, and many doctors feel that, in the absence of symptoms, they are a waste of time and money. Some doctors feel that having these baseline tests make it easier to spot subtle changes on follow up tests.
Monitor your health. Although no one likes a hypochondriac, early symptoms of mesothelioma are subtle, and, in order to catch it early you must be attuned to your body. A cough that doesn't go away, heaviness in the chest or shortness of breath can all be signs of a cold or the flu, but with the absence of other symptoms such as a fever or chills, you should question whether it could be something more.
If you smoke, stop. Smoking has not been shown to influence the development of mesothelioma, however, it is thought to be a risk factor. If you are a smoker when you develop mesothelioma, you will also be putting enormous additional stress on your lungs. When a patient develops mesothelioma, their lungs will be severely stressed by excess fluid and their body by a decrease in oxygen as their lungs are unable to work as hard. Do you really want to further tax your lungs by damaging them with smoke?