The Three Main Organs Affected by Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is a rare type of
cancer that develops in the lining
of large internal organs. It is
caused by asbestos exposure.
Because asbestos fibers are
minuscule, they become lodged in the lining of the internal organs
and, over time, lead to the
growth of cancerous tumors. The
time period between exposure
to asbestos and the onset of
Mesothelioma cancer can be several decades, which is why
many patients fail to recognize
the initial symptoms of the
disease. Sadly, this leads to a
delayed diagnosis of
mesothelioma, which in turn decreases the patient's life
expectancy.

Patients who develop
mesothelioma often have been
exposed to asbestos at their
workplace, such as navy
shipyards and construction sites.
The repeated exposure to asbestos means that they
inhaled millions of tiny asbestos
fibers that remained in their
bodies. The three organs most
often affected by mesothelioma
are the lungs, heart and stomach.

Lungs: Pleural Mesothelioma

The most common form of
mesothelioma, known as pleural
mesothelioma, affects the lungs.
The disease results when inhaled
asbestos fibers become lodged in
the lining that surrounds the lungs and cause the growth of
cancerous cells around them. This
process causes the lining of the
lungs to fill with fluid, which
obstructs breathing and causes
chest pain. At this point, most pleural mesothelioma patients
notice that something is wrong
and seek the help of a doctor.

Stomach: Peritoneal
Mesothelioma

The asbestos fibers can also
become lodged in the lining
around the stomach. This type of
mesothelioma, which is called
peritoneal mesothelioma, occurs
when a person eats food covered with microscopic
asbestos fibers. The fibrous
material remains in the stomach
lining for a long time (20-50
years) before it prompts the
growth of the cancer cells. Peritoneal mesothelioma is much
rarer than pleural mesothelioma,
accounting for about 10-20
percent of all mesothelioma
cases.

Heart: Pericardial
Mesothelioma

The tiny asbestos fibers can also
become lodged in the lining of
the heart, where they can cause
cancer. This form of
mesothelioma is called pericardial
mesothelioma. It is a very rare type of mesothelioma, accounting
for about 10 percent of all
mesothelioma cases.

Mesothelioma: Medical and
Legal Considerations

The treatment for all forms of
mesothelioma is similar and
typically involves a combination
of surgery, chemotherapy and
radiation. While an aggressively
administered mesothelioma treatment can slow the spread
of the disease, it can rarely cure
it. This is because most
mesothelioma cancers are
discovered at an advanced
stage, when treatment is less effective.

If you have been diagnosed with
mesothelioma or your loved one
has died from this disease, a
knowledgeable mesothelioma
lawyer may help you hold those
responsible for your suffering liable for your medical bills,
physical and psychological pain,
and reduced quality of life.